Toy Box: Mobile projectors

These little wonders play films or display photos on the move. And with 3-D and wireless control by tablets also available, there’s a lot to weigh up before putting yourself in the big picture.

Philips PicoPix PPX2055

Is this the pocket-sized projector you've been waiting for? Measuring a mere 72x72x57mm and weighing just 310g, the PicoPix (HK$3,380) has been created for laptops; just attach it via USB to feed it both power and pictures. Capable of creating a maximum HD image of 120-inches (although 80-inch and below look best), the LEDs in the PicoPix are just about bright enough for viewing photos, although it works best in gloomy conditions.

BenQ GP10

It may not be as small as the PicoPix, but the similarly LED-illuminated BenQ GP10 (HK$6,890) is just as useful on the road. Much brighter, and able to create a 40-inch HD image just a metre from a screen, or a 240-inch image from further away, the GP10 is reasonably compact at 220x177x62mm and weighs 1.5kg. Unusually, it's got two tiny speakers, which could be helpful to liven-up presentations, while its detachable DVD player means relaxing with a film after work.

ViewSonic PJD6544w

The ViewSonic PJD6544w (HK$6,049) can be controlled by up to four people each using a tablet or smartphone. That's thanks to a free app, although presentations can also be read straight from a USB stick, or over Wi-fi from a laptop. Like the BenQ, speakers are built-in, but the PJD6544w can also be networked. At 294x113x219mm and weighing 2.1kg, it's the biggest here. But it's also the brightest and it's 3-D-ready, too.

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