Top 5 Best Projectors for iPads in 2023 (Reviews & Buying Guide)

Watching your favorite videos, shows, and movies on an iPad is a lot of fun. But what can make that experience even better is using a projector.

With so many options available, finding one that suits you can be hard. Luckily, we have done the research for you and narrowed them to down to five. They all have something they excel at as you’ll see later in this post.

We have taken the ease of setup, picture quality, brightness, connectivity, smart features, and sound into consideration. 

Epson Pro EX9210 Projector

Our Best Overall Pick

Specifications Comparison Table

Epson Pro EX9210CiBest 7500L Mini ProjectorViewSonic M1ViewSonic M2LG PF50KA
Native Resolution1920 x 12001920 x 1080854x4801920x10801920 x 1080
Brightness (lumens)3,400 ANSI8500 Lux250 LED1,200 LED600 ANSI
Contrast Ratio15,000:16000:1120,000:13,000,000:1100,000:1
Throw Distance3.0-29.5 ft2.6-14.8 ft2-8.9 ft2.1 – 8.9 ft2.6-10.5 ft
Size of Screen30" – 300"30″-200”24”-100”24” – 100”25.2”-100”
Speakers2.0 Watts x 123.0 Watts × 23.0 Watts × 21.0 Watts × 2
Lamp Life (hours)10,000500030,00030,00030,000
Dimensions11.9” x 9.8” x 3.4”7.91” x 5.51” x 2.76”5.7"x1.6"x5.0”8.8"x2.9"x8.8"6.7” x 6.7” x 1.9”
Weight (lbs)6.202.801.652.92.20
Inputs• HDMI
• USB
• VGA
• RCA
• Wireless
• USB
• Wireless
• VGA
• HDMI
• HDMI 1.4
• USB
• MicroSD
• HDMI 2.0
• USB
• MicroSD
• Wireless
• HDMI
• Wireless
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Best Projectors for iPad: Our Top Picks

Here are our top picks for the best projectors for iPads:

Best Overall: Epson Pro EX9210-740

Epson Pro EX9210 Projector

Our Best Overall Pick

We chose the Epson Pro EX9210 as the best overall projector for iPads because of its high lumen rating, many connectivity options, large screen size, and low weight.

It has a brightness of 3400 ANSI lumens, which beats all others on our list. That means that you can use it for making presentations, watching movies and shows, and playing games in daylight or lights-on environments with no change in picture quality.

Combine that with a WUXGA resolution and a decent 15:000 contrast ratio, and you end up with high-quality images.

Installing the Epson Pro EX9210 is standard; plug it into a power outlet, turn it on and adjust its position for the best image quality. It does have vertical and horizontal keystone correction but it’s best to avoid them as they may cause artifacts.

It’s not the lightest or smallest on our list, but it’s portable enough to move into position. It also comes with a soft carrying case which can be handy when moving from room to room or the office for presentations.

The Epson Pro EX9210 has two built-in speakers that produce room-filling sound. Most users won’t need an external speaker.

And the icing on the cake is that you can get images of up to 300 inches from only 29.5 feet away that are free of rainbow artifacts. That is thanks to a 3 LCD-chip display that shines all the primary colors (red, green, blue) at the same time.

Pros

  • Bright enough for rooms with ambient light
  • Free of rainbow artifacts
  • Multiple connectivity options
  • Amazing sound quality from onboard speakers
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • No audio output

Best Budget: CiBest 7500L Mini Projector

CiBest 7500L Mini Projector

Our Best Budget Pick

The CiBest 7500L mini projector is our best budget pick because it has the lowest price tag on our list. It costs just under $250 at the time of writing this piece. But that’s not the only thing that makes it a good contender for the best projector for iPad.

It has an impressive brightness of 8500 Lux which is sufficient for low-light spaces and 1080p resolution. This implies bright and clear images that are free of rainbow artifacts due to the use of LED display technology.

Setting up the CiBest 7500L is easy and can be completed in a few minutes. And that is due to its low weight of just under 3 pounds, small size, and the keystone correction feature. It also comes with a manual which can be useful when you get stuck.

The CiBest 7500 mini projector allows you to project images of up to 200 inches from only 14.8 feet away. That means that you don’t need large rooms to enjoy entertainment on a big screen.

When it comes to sound, it comes with two internal speakers that produce good sound quality. But in case, you need a higher quality and volume, it has an audio out port to connect peripheral devices like speakers or soundbars.

It also has other inputs including HDMI, USB, and VGA, and supports wireless connectivity. So, connecting your iPad to it should be an easy task.

Pros

  • 1080p resolution for quality images
  • Good sound from internal speakers
  • Several inputs
  • High brightness
  • Easy installation

Cons

  • Short lamp lifespan
  • Does not support 4K sources

Best Portable: ViewSonic M1

ViewSonic M1 Projector

Our Best Portable Pick

The ViewSonic M1 projector stands out due to its low weight of just under 2 pounds, small size, and sleek design. This makes it easy to move around from room to room, to the backyard, or a friend’s house.

Its lightweight feature also simplifies positioning during installation. Plus, it comes with a stand that allows a 360-degree motion and also doubles as a lens cover when transporting it. Although we don’t advocate for the use of keystone correction for image alignment because of the artifacts that may result, the ViewSonic M1 supports it.

Another exciting feature of the M1 is the internal battery that lasts up to 6 hours on a full charge. This allows you to watch videos, movies, and shows outdoors and in rooms with no power outlets continuously.

It also boasts dual Harman Kardon speakers that deliver incredible sound. I bet you won’t need an external speaker to boost its quality or volume.  

The M1 has only USB and HDMI ports and supports Micro SD, but these are enough to connect your iPad. You can pair wireless dongles like Amazon TV fire stick and GoogleCast for streaming.

Now, not everything about the M1 is impressive. The resolution is low compared to today’s home theater standards and the brightness is only good for dark rooms or environments.

Pros

  • Good sound from onboard speakers
  • Beautiful design
  • Built-in battery for convenience
  • Affordable
  • Long lamp lifespan for minimal maintenance

Cons

  • Low resolution
  • Low lumen rating that can’t stand ambient light

Best Smart Projector: ViewSonic M2

ViewSonic M2 Projector

Our Best Smart Pick

The ViewSonic M2 projector has many smart features that distinguish it from other options we’ve discussed. It supports voice control via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and has a feature that cuts off the light beam when there’s an object close to the lens for eye protection.

It has a weight of just below 3 pounds, making it light enough to travel with from place to place. Positioning it during the setup process should also be easy. The M2 also has vertical keystone correction for image alignment if a need arises. But it’s best to avoid it to keep the projected images free of artifacts.

The M2 has the ViewSonic proprietary SuperColor+ technology and 125% Rec.709 for colorful and clear images. You also get Full HD pictures with a brightness of around 500 ANSI lumens or 1200 LED lumens. Now, this is great for watching videos, shows, or movies in the dark but not in daylight or light-on conditions.

Connectivity-wise, the M2 supports Wireless connectivity and also has HDMI, USB, and Micro SD ports for wired connections. You can screen mirror your iPad via Wi-Fi or even use it as a remote by downloading the ViewSonic vCastSender app.

This projector also comes with two Harman Kardon speakers that produce a stunning sound. For larger rooms or areas with background noise, there’s an audio port for hooking up external speakers for even better sound quality and volume.

Pros

  • Great sound from internal speakers
  • Smart features like voice control
  • Full HD images
  • Portable
  • Good-looking

Cons

  • Limited to a screen size of 100 inches

Also Great: LG PF50KA

LG PF50KA Projector

A great contender for iPads

Another good contender for the best projector for iPads is the LG PF50KA projector. It weighs just over 2 pounds which makes it incredibly portable. You can tag it along as you travel to different places or from room to room without a struggle.

Installing is straightforward and consists of plugging it into an outlet, turning it on, and positioning it for the best image quality.

The LG PF50KA has an internal speaker that can last up to 2.5 hours on a full charge. This is great for continuous viewing but it’s shorter than what you get from the ViewSonic M1 projector.

It has amazing internal speakers that produce great sound quality. But you can also connect external audio devices like headphones or soundbars through the audio out port.

In terms of connectivity, the LG PF50KA has HDMI and USB ports to hook up your iPad and other video sources.

You get Full HD images from this projector, which is great, but you’ll be limited to spaces with low light. That’s because brightness is a mere 600 ANSI lumens.  

Pros

  • Full HD resolution for quality pictures
  • Great sound from the internal speakers
  • Onboard battery for continuous viewing
  • Many connectivity options
  • Easy setup

Cons

  • Limited to low-light environments
  • Image size is limited to 100 inches

Choosing the Best Projectors for iPads: Buying Guide

In this section, we’ll cover the factors you should consider when selecting the best projector for your iPad.

Ease of setup

When selecting an iPad projector, be sure to consider how easy it would be to put it up and take it down. Some projectors are difficult to install and you can spend hours reading through the manuals to figure it out. For others, you may not even need a guide because they are so easy to set up.

Picture Quality

The standard for home projectors these days is 1080p. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore projectors that don’t match it. Any resolution upwards of 480p should give you decent-quality images.

Brightness

Brightness goes hand in hand with picture quality. The reason you should pay attention to it is that it distinguishes between indoor and outdoor projectors. Projectors with a brightness level of under 1000 ANSI lumens are best used in dark spaces because they can’t stand up to ambient light.

If you plan to use it outdoors or in areas with lots of ambient light, you should look for one that has at least 2,000 ANSI lumens like the Epson Pro EX9210 projector.

Connectivity

Some projectors support wired and wireless connectivity while others only support the former. For most users, wired connectivity is sufficient. But if you can get both, the better. Inputs like HDMI, USB, and Micro SD should be at the top of your checklist. These are essential for connecting most video sources.

Smart features

Smart features like voice control and eye protection are only available in a few projectors like ViewSonic M2. If you like such features, be sure to add this factor to your checklist.

Sound

Great sound can significantly enhance your viewing experience. You want to look for a projector that has good-quality internal speakers so that you don’t have to invest in an external audio device.

But if you find such projectors to be out of your budget, be sure to check for audio-out ports that will allow you can hook up external devices like headphones, soundbars, and speakers.

Final Thoughts

Shopping for a projector to use with your iPad can be challenging. In this article, we’ve gone over the top contenders for the best projector for iPads and what sets them apart. We’ve also provided a buying guide to help you make an informed decision.

Let us know which one on the list you end up purchasing!

Epson Pro EX9210 Projector

Our Best Overall Pick