What We Have Covered
Nowadays, everyone loves to watch movies or their favorite web series on the big screen while sitting in the comfort of their home. While projector and TV serve as the best most obvious choice to cater to that need.
But not every person has the capability to invest in a projector just for having entertainment on the big screen. So what would be an affordable alternative to the projector? Well, what if I tell you that in modern times you can use your phone as a projector? We will use a DIY method that will turn your phone into a makeshift projector.
Before we embark on the journey of how to use your phone as a projector, we need to gather certain materials and items ready for the DIY project.
Materials and Items Needed
Here is a list of items and materials you will need to turn your phone into a projector:
- Magnifier for magnifying the screen of the smartphone.
- Carton for creating the primary frame.
- Tape for attaching the magnifying glass to the smartphone.
- Scissors for making adjustments for fitment.
- A marker.
6 Steps to Turn Your Phone into A Projector
Step 1: Prepare the Carton and Insert the Magnifying Glass

Your first task is to find a small carton. You shouldn’t go for large boxes as the size of the box will determine the screen size you want to achieve. After arranging it, you need to take the magnifying glass and place it on one side of the box.
Make a mark around it. Using the scissors, you need to cut the circle. Once cut, put the magnifying glass into the space. Use transparent tape to clamp it to the box. You should avoid making a bigger hole than the magnifying glass.
Step 2: Place the Smartphone
In this step, you will have to make arrangements for placing the smartphone. You need to place it on the opposite side of the carton where the magnifying glass is placed. Make an appropriate hole to place the smartphone.

While placing, you will have to maintain an appropriate distance so that the screen is fully projected on the magnifying glass. Take the transparent tape and attach the smartphone to the box. The screen of the smartphone should be projected onto the glass.
Step 3: Making All The Adjustments
Now, you will have to make all the adjustments for a clear projection. First, you need to adjust the distance between the smartphone’s screen and the magnifying glass. Move the smartphone to glass until it makes clear output.
Once you have adjusted the distance, cover the other side of the box. You need to ensure outside light doesn’t hamper the projection. To enhance the quality and clarity, switch off all the lights and eliminate all the ambient light in the room. Cover all the windows so that you can create a dark surrounding.
Step 4: Download the appropriate app
Before finally placing the smartphone in the box, you need to download a projection app. These applications will modify the display to project clear visuals. Usually, these apps play the video in full screen and high brightness to project the visuals in a better fashion.
Step 5: Playing the Content

Now you will have to play content on your smartphone to project it on the screen through the DIY projector. While playing, you should lock your smartphone’s rotation to prevent any sudden change.
While playing the content, you should flip the screen so that the visuals are properly projected through the magnifying glass. Nowadays, most media players let you play the content in an inverted mode.
Step 6: Creating the Sound Setup
In the end, you need to set up the sound system for optimum visual experience. You can use any 2.1 or soundbar to connect it to the smartphone through Bluetooth. However, you can use a large wireless speaker system to get a better audio output for your videos or movies.
Tips For Better Viewing Experience Through Phone Projector
Here are some useful tips you can follow to get the best result:
- Using Black Paint: You can paint the interior of the carton with black to prevent unnecessary reflection.
- Ensure a Dark Environment: Cover all the external light sources in the room. Try to make the room as dark as possible. It will help you achieve better image quality.
- Make Use of Lens Hood: If it is possible, you can attach a lens hood over the magnifying glass. It will direct the light towards the projector screen and enhance the clarity.
- Get a Smartphone Projector Dock: If you are thinking of using the setup more frequently, you can get a smartphone projection dock. It will ease up the setup process and help you make easy adjustments.
Conclusion
As technology is evolving with time, turning a smartphone into a projector will become easy. Many applications will be developed that ease up the process of projecting images through the phone. This kind of setup is suitable for users who want to use it for an impromptu gathering. Or travel frequently and want to enjoy large-screen entertainment wherever they go.
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