Portable projectors have long been pigeonholed as specialized tools for traveling sales professionals. Most past models have been so bulky and expensive that only hardened presentation pros would choose to lug them around. As with all technology, though, the times are changing. The latest portable projectors are lighter and cheaper, and they deliver markedly better performance. This makes them more attractive, not only for presentations, but increasingly for home entertainment as well.

The six entry-level portables reviewed here are great examples. All of them have a default resolution of 800x600 pixels (SVGA). Currently, these projectors hover in price at just more than $1,000, and they weigh less than most laptops. Yet the best models offer features and image quality that will shine in both the conference room and the living room. Click the images on the right to dive into our reviews of these low-cost, portable powerhouses or keep reading for a primer on projector technology.

Projector basics
There are two basic types of projector technology: LCD, or liquid-crystal display, and DLP, or Digital Light Processing. (Some higher-end home-theater projectors use a third type of technology, called LCOS, or liquid crystal on silicon.) LCD projectors have three glass panels--red, green, and blue--each containing thousands of pixels that can be opened or closed to compose a color image. DLP, by contrast, uses a color wheel and an array of tiny mirrors, each corresponding to a single pixel, that tilt back and forth to control the amount of light hitting the lens.

For this roundup, we tested both LCD and DLP models; each type has its pros and cons. The three DLP models we tested--the BenQ SL705S, the Dell 2100MP, and the Gateway Projector 205--were also the smallest and lightest, weighing around four pounds each. The LCD counterparts, the Boxlight SP-45m, the Toshiba TLP-S30, and the ViewSonic PJ-501, by comparison, weighed five to six pounds. DLP also has some image-quality advantages: it delivers a higher contrast ratio with truer blacks, and it doesn't suffer from the pixelation (known as the screen-door effect) that plagues LCD projectors, especially low-resolution devices. But LCD projectors have their pluses, as well; they are brighter, watt for watt, and they produce sharper, more saturated images.

Size and weight questions aside, the qualities of LCD projectors make them better suited for business presentations, while DLP projectors are winning over home-theater enthusiasts because they can deliver smooth, high-contrast video at a price that, inch for inch, easily beats still-costly plasma and LCD TVs. At least, that's the theory. Unfortunately, you can't decide which projector to buy based solely on specs. The technology on both sides is continually improving, minimizing many of the performance differences between DLP and LCD projectors. Furthermore, many of the manufacturers' specs for brightness, contrast, and other qualities are completely unreliable. And that's why we test them.

How we tested
Of course, we rate each projector for its design, ease of use, and features, such as connectors, remotes, and wireless capabilities. But for this story, CNET Labs also devised a suite of quantitative performance tests, all conducted at each projector's default settings. The most important tests measured brightness in lumens and the contrast ratio, but we also measured grayscale range and image uniformity. Finally, CNET Labs measured several factors that affect usability, including start-up and shutdown time, fan noise in decibels, and the temperature of the heat exhausted from the unit.

No single projector aced all of CNET Labs' tests, but that's not surprising--these are budget models after all. Of the six, the Dell 2100MP, however, comes closest to perfection. It weighs only 4.1 pounds, yet it's easy to use; it produces a bright, high-contrast image and costs only $1,149, including an excellent carrying case. The 2100MP is the clear choice in this category for all-around business and home use.

Read the full review:

BenQ SL705S Boxlight SP-45m

Dell 2100MP Gateway Projector 205

Toshiba TLP-S30U ViewSonic PJ501 LCD