Nec NP64

NEC NP64

The more portable a projector is, the lower the level of brightness that it's likely to offer, so an ultra-lightweight like the NP64 from NEC Display Solutions of America ($1,099 direct) isn't supposed to throw a large, bright image that can stand up to ambient light. The NP64, however, is the exception. It not only offers more lumens per pound than any projector we've ever tested, but more total lumens than a number of bigger, heavier projectors. If you're looking for a highly portable, bright projector, this alone is enough to put it on your short list. The NP64 weighs just 3.7 pounds, but it's rated at 3,000 lumens, and essentially matched its rating in our tests. To help put this in perspective, the Samsung P410 ($749 list, 4 stars) that I reviewed last year weighs substantially less than the NP64, at only 2 pounds, but it's rated at only 170 lumens, and I measured it at 136 lumens. Similarly, the 5-pound Casio Green Slim XJ-A145U ($999 direct, 3.5 stars) that I reviewed recently is rated at 2,500 lumens, but I measured it at less than 2,000. The Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite Presenter ($899.99 direct, 4 stars) came in at 2,452 lumens (close to its 2500 lumen rating), but it weighs 9.5 pounds.