Mars M1 Mini Ultra Portable Projector

A television fixes the size of the screen and the place you have to sit to watch it. The Mars M1 Mini does neither: it is a projector small enough to hold in one hand, so the screen is whatever wall, ceiling or bedsheet you point it at, and it moves from the lounge to the roof to a hotel room in a pocket.

No socket needed

The built-in rechargeable battery runs it away from power, which is what separates a portable projector from a small one. Camping trips, a film on the roof, a load-shedding evening, the back of the car for the kids — all of it works without hunting for an extension lead.

Plug in whatever you already own

HDMI takes a laptop, a TV stick, a console or a set-top box; USB-C takes a phone with display output. There is nothing proprietary to buy and no app you are forced through to get a picture up.

A picture that holds at a real size

Sharp HD projection that stays clean when you back it up to a large image — big enough for a room full of people rather than the postage-stamp picture cheap pico projectors settle for.

Small enough that you actually take it

It weighs little and takes up less bag space than a hardback book, which is the difference between a projector that travels and one that lives in a cupboard.

• Compact, lightweight body — fits in a bag or a large pocket
• Built-in rechargeable battery for use away from power
• HDMI and USB-C inputs — laptop, phone, console or TV stick
• Sharp HD projection that scales to a large image
• Ready to use in under a minute — point it at a wall and play

This is the exact projector filmed for the review above, inspected before listing — which is why it is half the price of a new one. Charge it before your next trip and take the big screen with you.