Created By : Abhinandan Kumar

Reviewed By : Phani Ponnapalli

Last Updated : May 17, 2023


The coronavirus has prompted millions of people to withdraw from society and stay at home. Now is the time to pick up our game in terms of self-entertainment. Why not make your own projector and watch your favorite movies (again), but this time on your own projected screen? It's surprisingly simple and inexpensive. All we need are the proper measurements, which we shall demonstrate using our smartphone projector calculator.

Tools and Materials Required

The following materials and tools are required for this project

  • A shoebox (or any other box made of cartons);
  • A magnifying glass or a convex lens;
  • Some corrugated cardboard; hot glue; adhesive tape
  • Optional: black paint or black paper
  • A pen or pencil
  • Scissors or a craft knife
  • Measuring tape
  • A metre stick, or a yardstick; and
  • As a projection screen, a blank wall (preferably white).

These supplies are most likely lying around your house right now. If you don't already have a magnifying glass, you can acquire one for as little as $3 per piece online, which is much cheaper than a $100 portable projector! It's incredible how a few simple materials and a little physics can save you so much money!

Get acquainted with different types of physics concepts along with their calculators to make your calculations quick and simple on Physicscalculatorpro.com a trusted portal for all your needs.

How do you build a Smartphone Projector?

If you've ever wondered how to turn your smartphone into a home projector, here are the steps to take:

  • Step 1: The first step is to cut a hole in the short side of the shoebox large enough to fit your lens firmly inside. You can achieve this by tracing the lens' perimeter on the box's surface using a pen. After you've traced the circle that represents the lens, carefully cut the hole with your scissors or craft knife.
  • Step 2: After you've cut the hole, use a dab of hot glue or some tape to secure the lens in place. To maximise the aperture of your projector, avoid using too much glue or tape during this process. You don't need to remove the magnifying glass frame if you're using it. You can leave it on and attach the frame to the box instead.
  • Step 3: Check to see that the lid of the box covers the lens. If it only covers a section of the lens, cut the lid so that the full lens is visible.
  • Step 4: The next step is to create temporary support for your smartphone, now that we've completed the main body of our DIY smartphone projector. This holder will keep your smartphone safe in the box while allowing you to change the distance between it and the lens. To do so, cut two rectangles of corrugated cardboard the length of your shoebox's width. Glue them together in the shape of an inverted T, as indicated.
  • Step 5: To ensure that your stand can sustain your smartphone, you can add reinforcements such as triangular counterforts constructed of corrugated cardboard. Fix your smartphone to the vertical portion of your homemade stand with some strips of adhesive tape.
  • Step 6: Optional. You can improve the image by painting the inside of the box black or covering it with black paper to prevent light from "bouncing" inside. Reduced bouncing light ensures a crisper image projection, while it is optional.

FAQs on Smartphone Projector Calculator

1. How far away from the wall should I place my smartphone projector?

Once you know your lens' focal length, you can use our smartphone projector calculator to find out where to put your smartphone in your projector and how far the projector should be from the wall to create a sharp image. To do so, first lock the Focal length of the lens variable in our calculator so that it is not recalculated when u or v values are entered. To lock this variable, pick the padlock icon by tapping or clicking on the area to the right of the focal length unit.

2. Is it possible to transform my phone into a projector?

Aside from Wi-Fi, you may also use the projector with your Android phone by connecting it to the projector using a tiny HDMI or MHL connection. If your phone doesn't support MHL or mini HDMI, you can connect it with an MHL-HDMI adapter and a USB-C to HDMI adaptor.

3. Is it possible to project my phone onto a wall?

Yes, you may use your Android smartphone to project images and videos. Or, if you don't want to use the projector, you can use your iPhone. All you'll need is a smartphone projector that you make yourself.

4. Is there an app that allows you to turn your phone into a projector?

Epson iProjection is a wireless projection app that works with Android and Chromebooks. Epson iProjection allows you to wirelessly display your device's screen, documents, and photographs to an Epson projector.