by Rich Malloy on Sunday, December 31, 2006
The two major trends in lightweight projectors this year are much lower prices and increased power. Entry-level models now can be had for less than $700. Even higher-resolution XGA units have begun to move en masse below $1,000, and a few below $900.
At the same time, the minimum brightness is now 1500 lumens, which is good enough for most business applications. Most new models can beam out 2000 lumens or more, capable of handling all but the largest or most sun-drenched rooms.
Buyers should be aware that low prices often entail a certain amount of compromise. Be sure that the features most important to you have not been trimmed. In particular, check to see that the remote control has the functions you might need, such as a laser pointer or page up/down buttons.
In this roundup we have organized our top picks for both portable (four to six pounds) and ultraportable (less than four pounds) projectors into three price categories: Bargain, Midrange, and Splurge. For each price category we have selected the model with the best combination of power, features, and value.
You really can't go wrong with any of our six picks, but with the small price difference between SVGA- and XGA-resolution projectors, we suggest that you opt for an XGA model, as it will better match your notebook's resolution, as well as any high-definition entertainment gear you own.
Best Projectors of the Year
