Buying guide for best portable dvd players

When it comes to enjoying movies and TV shows, streaming video and Blu-rays get a lot of the glory, but if you travel a lot, or you’re often in places without WiFi, there’s a better option: a portable DVD player.

Portable DVD players are designed to be one-stop shops for watching movies: they have built-in screens that can swivel in any direction for the best viewing angles, and onboard controls for pausing or skipping around. They also take portability seriously – most models have a built-in battery that can last anywhere from four to six hours, which can make all the difference on a long trip.

If you’re getting ready for a vacation with your kids, or you’re a frequent traveler looking for your best entertainment options, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about portable DVD players, as well as a few of our favorites.

Key considerations

Before you start comparing features and specifications, start by answering these questions. They’ll help you narrow your search from the get-go.

How big of a screen do you need?

Portable DVD player screens range anywhere from 6 to 15 inches, so there are a lot of options. Just remember that the bigger the screen, the heavier the player. If you don’t want to carry around a lot of extra weight, you might want to opt for a smaller model. Thankfully, screen size doesn’t have a big impact on price in this instance, so you can find the right size no matter what your budget is.

Will you be using your portable DVD player in the car?

If you’re thinking of buying a portable DVD player specifically for use in the car, there are a lot of good options. Players made for car trips often include special mounts for attaching the screen to your car’s headrest, as well as car power adapters so you never have to worry about running out of battery.

How many people will be watching DVDs at one time?

Some portable DVD players are made with sharing in mind, so they include multiple headphone jacks and, in some cases, multiple screens. They’re a little pricier, but if you’ve got multiple kids (who are still learning how to share), the money’s worth it.

Portable DVD player features

Portable DVD players are all good at playing movies, but some models go above and beyond. Here are the additional features that can turn any normal player into an entertainment center. 

USB or SD card support

If you’ve got your own digital movie collection, get a portable DVD player that’s got a USB port so you can watch them along with your DVDs. While you won’t be able to play any copy-protected content, you can use your portable DVD player to watch your personal videos (and most will play MP3 files, too, if you just need a music player).

Built-in games

Some portable DVD players include games, so you can take a break from your movies and enjoy a little interactivity. In most cases, only one controller is provided, so if you’ve got multiple players, they’ll need to take turns.

Region-free DVD support

Most DVD players in the United States are designed to only play “Region A” discs, so if you’ve got movies from other countries, you’ll need a DVD player that ignores region restrictions.

Portable DVD player prices

Inexpensive: In the $30 to $50 range, you’ll find entry-level DVD players, but we recommend avoiding them. Portable DVD players in this price range are often poorly made, and they lack extra features like a remote control or USB-drive compatibility.

Mid-range: The best values in portable DVD players are between $50 and $70. Models in this price range offer dazzling screens, easy-to-use menus, and handy extras like multiple headphone ports. If you just need a basic DVD player that will last several years, you don’t need to spend more than this.

Expensive: Portable DVD players that cost between $70 and $130 pull out all the stops. If you’re willing to spend this much, you can find one that’s got USB ports, built-in games, and even multiple screens. If you need a portable DVD player that can keep you entertained for hours with all kinds of media, plan on spending closer to a hundred bucks.

Tips

• Plan on buying headphones. Even if you buy a portable DVD player that includes them, plan on buying a separate pair of headphones anyway. There’s no easy way to say it: the headphones that come with portable DVD players are usually pretty awful. If you’re into enjoying all of the audio from your DVDS – like sound effects, music, and dialogue – you’re going to want to use your own headphones.
• Consider buying a portable battery. If you’ll be using your portable DVD player on a road trip and you need it to last more than a few hours, get one with a car power adapter or consider buying a portable battery. Many portable DVD players are designed for use in the car, but not all of them are, so it’s important to keep an eye on your charging options. Plugging yours into the car is the best way to make sure you never run out of juice, but if that’s not an option, you can always buy a portable battery to keep a few spare charges on hand.
• Get to know the remote. Most portable DVD players include a remote control, and, oddly, most of those remotes have way too many buttons on them (sometimes as many as 40). When you first unbox your portable DVD player, spend some time understanding the button layout, and find the most important buttons – like the volume control – so you don’t have to fumble around finding them later.
• Buy a case. If the portable DVD player you buy doesn’t come with a case, we definitely recommend buying one to keep all of your gear together and protected.

Other products we considered

If you need a portable DVD player with multiple screens, we recommend the NAVISKAUTO Dual Screen Portable DVD Player[1] . It has two separate 10.1-inch screens, each with its own headrest mount, so both of your backseat passengers get their own, and it’s even got a USB port so you can bring your own content on a flash drive. It’s so entertaining that it might just be the best antidote for the dreaded, “Are we there yet?” One of our favorite big-screen models is the Pyle Portable DVD Player. If you’re into big screens, this is the one to get. Its 15-inch screen is among the biggest available, and it rotates a full 270°. It’s also got plenty of extras, like USB support, a car charger, and a pair of speakers that do a good job of providing quality stereo audio.

FAQ

Q. Why do different portable DVD players have different screen resolutions?
A. Portable DVD player screens come in different screen resolutions, but the difference isn’t as important as you might expect. All DVD content has a resolution of 720 x 480, which is low by modern standards, so any DVD player you buy should be able to show off every pixel. Some players have screens with higher resolutions, which can be useful if you have personal video files. If you have a lot of personal high-resolution content, you might want to check out models with higher resolutions (like 1366 x 768), but otherwise, any model you pick will display your DVDs just fine.

Q. Some DVD players come with video games installed. What are those games like?
A. Built-in games on portable DVD players are closer to mobile games than they are console games, so expect games more along the lines of Tetris than Call of Duty. While you probably won’t go for marathon gaming sessions with your portable DVD player, you can find unique games that are good enough to keep you or your kids entertained for a half hour at a time.
 

Q. If I want to put movies on a USB drive for my portable DVD player, what format should my files be in?
A. Format support will vary between models, but in general, MP4 is the most widely accepted video format. If you have digital movies in other formats that aren’t copy protected, you can find software on the web (like HandBrake) to convert them to MP4 or whatever format your portable DVD player requires.