10 Best Portable DVD Players in 2023

We know what you’re thinking. DVD player? In this day and age? We agree that the technology is pretty outdated. But most of us still have a stash of old DVDs lying around, and while there are subscription services these days, sometimes it’s nice to just play the old movies.

Plus, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to keep the kids entertained on long car trips. So it’s really a win-win situation. That’s why today we welcome you to our list of the 10 best portable DVD players. Whether you’re looking for a device to take on the road or for nostalgia reasons, we’ve got you covered.

10 Best Portable DVD Players

So how did we go about this review? Basically, we listed all the basics and features that are important to you, the end user, and sorted them by value in each category. So sit back, relax, and read.

1. DBPOWER 11.5″ Portable DVD Player

DBPOWER 11.5

Highlighted Features

  • Supports all known media formats
  • 800x480p 9.5-inch screen swivels and rotates
  • Includes the breakpoint memory feature
  • Premium 2500 mAh Lithium battery
Buy now on Amazon

We start our test list with the device with the highest scores, both in points and purchased raw, the DBPOWER 11.5″. It tops our list of the best portable DVD players, and it’s not hard to see why. A high capacity battery, a swivelling screen – this device simply has it all.

Let’s take a closer look at the device. The battery has a capacity of 2500 mAh, which is pretty good in itself. DBPOWER goes one step further and uses a high-quality lithium-ion battery. We’ll go into the importance of lithium-ion batteries a bit later in our buying guide.

Back to the device itself: The 2500 mAh battery means you should have an estimated operating time of at least 5 hours. The device itself supports 3 modes of operation. You can either run it from the battery or from your car’s cigarette lighter (with the included adapter, of course) or from the included AC power adapter.

This player supports most popular media formats and plays them with minimal to no latency. It gets an A+ in the playback category. The device also supports a SD card (up to 32 GB), a feature that many portable DVD players do without.

Now for the screen. The device has a 9-inch screen. It’s quite small and has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, which can be rotated up to 270 degrees. The screen also rotates 180 degrees, so you can view your content in tablet form.

What sets this device apart from many other offerings on the market is the breakpoint storage feature. This means you can resume your media or content where you left off. Wow!

2. HD JUNTUNKOR 12.5″ Portable DVD Player

HD JUNTUNKOR 12.5

Highlighted Features

  • Long battery life
  • Sharp, contrasty display
  • Swivel action up to around 270 degrees
  • Supports a whole array of DVD formats
Buy now on Amazon

Are you looking for a sharp, high-contrast display without glare and with great viewing angles? Then we recommend you this HD JUNTUNKOR 12.5-inch DVD player. This device is extremely easy to use and a real eye-catcher (no pun intended).

The images on the display are crisp and sharp. The high contrast keeps the images vivid, but not overdone. Some sort of anti-glare coating has been used on the display, which significantly improves viewing angles. If you don’t like laptop mode, you can simply rotate the display and use it in tablet mode.

The device itself is very easy to use. You don’t need a manual to get it set up and running. Two adapters are included, one for connecting to the car cigarette lighter and one for any power outlet ( AC ).

You should get at least 5 hours of playtime from the battery. The LCD screen consumes a lot of power, but not so much that it affects the charge too much. Also, the device supports quite a few different formats, and we’re not tied to a specific region when it comes to sorting our favorite DVDs.

The button layout is also the best in this test list. It’s two different rows of buttons, one for tablet mode and the other for laptop mode. The screen or display can be rotated almost 270 degrees, so you can be sure you won’t miss any features if you choose this device.

 

3. MyDash 14.9″ Portable DVD Player

14.9

Highlighted Features

  • The screen swivels to up to around 270 degrees
  • Support for SD cards & USB
  • Region-free DVD support
  • Included AV in and AV out ports
Buy now on Amazon

You want a portable DVD player without a region code, but you don’t want to break the bank? Then Dr. J has the device you need. The 14.9-inch variant has all the features of the other, more expensive units, but is by no means inferior to them.

It’s one of the most rugged devices in the MyDash lineup. It’s powered by a powerful battery that will let you play continuously for at least five hours. It comes with a cigarette lighter adapter, so you can use it in the car without worrying about running out of precious battery life.

The 1024×600 inch screen swivels up to 270 degrees, which guarantees the best possible viewing angle for this device. It also supports all popular multimedia formats, both video and audio.

Also, the device supports SD cards and USB drives (up to 32GB), so you don’t have to miss out on your entertainment. This experience is further enhanced by the AV in and AV out ports.

 

4. ieGeek 11.5″ Portable DVD Player

ieGeek 11.5

Highlighted Features

  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Battery upgrade over its predecessor
  • Awesome sounding speakers
  • The speaker unit sounds outstanding
Buy now on Amazon

You care about the quality of the speakers when choosing a portable DVD player? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here we introduce you to the ieGeek 11.5″. It’s two powerful speakers in a compact package and all we can say is that it sounds pretty good.

In terms of looks, it’s not the best. It looks pretty childish. The black color variant seems to be the obvious choice. But hey, any of the other bright and bold colors should keep the kids entertained for two seconds.

As far as dimensions go, it’s pretty compact. We’ve seen more compact units, but they’re in a completely different price range. Since it’s so compact, it’s very travel-friendly and we can imagine using it anywhere, anytime. Travel is its strong point.

The standout feature of this unit is, of course, its speaker cabinets. They sound excellent, considering how compact the device is overall. Of course, the sound isn’t quite as overwhelming, but among the speakers of these portable DVD players, it’s right up there.

It also gets pretty loud and the upper frequencies are clear and crisp. This makes watching movies on the go a real experience. For an immersive experience, we recommend using the 3.5mm audio ports. Got a plain old headset lying around? Just plug it in and enjoy the media experience even more intensely.

Also, the screen has a so-called HD eye protection feature, but we need to do more testing before we can give our opinion.

 

5. Pyle 17.9″ Portable DVD Player

  • Very compact considering the 17.9-inch screen
  • Supports a whole host of media formats and extensions
  • Easy to operate
  • Conveniently placed buttons and disc tray
Buy now on Amazon

Are you looking for something that you can easily take with you and pack in your luggage? Something you can unpack in the middle of your trip to watch your favorite shows? Then take a look at this offering from Pyle. With its huge 17.9-inch screen (the largest on our review list), it promises you a premium media experience.

Despite the gigantic 17.9-inch screen, the device is very compact and lightweight. You can easily stow it in the laptop compartment of your backpack. This makes it ideal for movie nights at airports and on planes. Its compact size really puts it at the top of our review list.

But the best part for us is its hassle-free usability. Anyone can just pick it up and start watching movies on it, it’s that easy. And when you’re done, you just stow it in your backpack.

It’s not just the ease with which you can play your favorite movies. It’s one of the most versatile movie players you’ll find on the market, because it supports a whole bunch of different formats and extensions that you can play on it, both audio and video. You can be sure that you’ll get a top-notch experience in terms of usability and media content support.

The display, well, it’s 17.9 inches. Pretty big. Also, this huge display is foldable and we can adjust the swivel range according to our needs. The control center buttons are quite conveniently placed on the surface along with the disk tray.

6. Sylvania Portable DVD Player

Sylvania SDVD9321 Portable DVD Player with 9-Inch Screen, USB, Card Reader and 4-hour Battery

Highlighted Features

  • A vibrant and vivid 7-inch display
  • A small display means that it is quite compact in size
  • Compatible with a host of different media formats
  • Stereo speakers built right in
Buy now on Amazon

Every time we take a look at this unit, we’ve to look twice. That’s partly because of the unique name and partly because of the beautiful high-resolution display. This portable DVD player from Sylvania is a true all-rounder when it comes to playing media content in high quality, no matter where you’re.

Granted, at first glance it looks pretty old-fashioned, but that changes as soon as you turn it on. Although the display is only 7 inches, it looks good and has a relatively high brightness. The viewing angles are also very commendable.

We highly recommend this device if you want to entertain your kids in the backseat. This device can take a beating, so it should hold up well. Plus, the beautiful display is sure to keep your kids entertained for quite a while.

The number of supported formats and extensions surprised us. Along with the multimedia voice support, it’s secured a place in our rating list.

A 7-inch screen means the device is quite compact. You can easily stow it in any backpack and take it with you on trips. With the adjustable and angled screen, the Sylvania Portable DVD Player is a real bargain.

7. UEME 10Portable DVD Player  

UEME Portable DVD Player for Car with 10.1

Highlighted Features

  • Region free support for DVDs
  • Auto resume from where you left off
  • Very durable construction
  • AV-in and AV-out support
Buy now on Amazon

Are you looking for something extremely durable for little money? Something you can bang on a lot without worrying about it letting you down? Then this 10-inch portable player from UEME is just what you need. It’s inexpensive and very durable, and we recommend this device for entertaining your kids as well.

It’s by far one of the easiest devices on our list, if not the easiest to get set up and running. There’s no two ways about it. Included is a remote control that lets you control the device remotely.

The best feature? This device has a AV port. That means you can easily connect the device to your TV and enjoy your media on a bigger screen. You can also connect the device to your camera via the AV port and view your pictures both in the player and on your big TV.

In addition, the device has two built-in speakers and the popular headphone jack (why smartphone manufacturers forgo this is beyond us).

Plug in your handy headset and you’re ready to immerse yourself in your media content. The device supports a variety of disk types, including CDs and DVDs, but also a variety of other formats and extensions, both audio and video.

Note, however, that the device doesn’t support H.264 and the resolution of said media can’t exceed 720×576. With this device, we can pick up where we left off. So, you can take the device with you wherever you go and be sure that you can continue watching your media right where you left it.

 

8. SUNPIN 11″ Portable DVD Player

SUNPIN 11

Highlighted Features

  • Premium compact design
  • Exemplary battery life
  • Dual 3.5 mm audio ports
  • Last memory function feature
Buy now on Amazon

Want something that feels much more premium without breaking the bank? Then the Sunpin 11-inch is just what you need. The brilliant screen, long battery life, and high-quality design are more than enough to win over even the toughest critics.

Let’s start with the screen. It’s big and bright. That’s all we need to know. The colors are very accurate and the viewing angles are top notch. It doesn’t swivel like our other offerings, but the vibrant display more than makes up for that.

The device also scores in terms of battery performance. The 2500 mAh battery can deliver up to 6 hours of media playback. A lithium-polymer battery has also been used, which improves the experience even more. We’ll go into more detail about the importance of lithium batteries later in our buying guide.

Now let’s move on to the feature we can’t overlook. It’s two 3.5 mm ports. Yes, you heard it right. It’s two audio ports. No more bickering between individuals for headphones. You’ve separate ports for separate listening pleasure.

This device also has a ” Last Reminder” feature. It picks up the content where we left off, so we don’t have to go through what we’ve seen again. Awesome!

 

9. YOTON 9.5” Portable DVD Player

YOTON 9.5

Highlighted Features

  • NES Support
  • 5 hours of battery life
  • The display can be swiveled
  • Supports a full array of DVD class formats
Buy now on Amazon

This is the newer version of the older Yoton 9.5-inch DVD player, greatly improved in all categories. For the price, it’s a very competitive unit. And it doesn’t sacrifice any of the features of the more expensive, more powerful units.

For the budget, you get a very good screen and over 5 hours of battery life thanks to the 2500 mAh battery. A display that you can rotate and fold, similar to a tablet. It all sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

You won’t be short of formats and extensions either. It supports a whole range of DVD-class formats (and more), plus AVI and MPEG4 formats. The sound from the speakers is okay at best, so we recommend plugging in a pair of headphones.

There’s also support for SD cards and USB. The DVDs don’t seem to be region locked, and we recommend investing in a proper car seat mount for this fine piece. The device supports NES, so you can keep your kids entertained with games on the go. That makes it one of the best devices you can buy in this price range.

10. COOAU Portable DVD Player 12.5″

Highlighted Features

  • A vivid screen that swivels to up to almost 270 degrees
  • 5 hours of playtime from the lithium-ion battery
  • Dual speakers also include a 3.5 mm port
  • Support for region wise DVDs

Buy now on Amazon

If swiveling and battery life are a must, then we recommend this portable DVD player from COOAU. Together with the 12.5-inch screen, you’ve a very powerful DVD player in your hands.

The outstanding feature is the swiveling screen. It can be rotated up to 270 degrees. The screen itself can also be rotated 180 degrees, so you can also use it as a tablet. It’s equipped with reasonably good stereo speakers, but you can improve the sound even more with the help of the two 3.5-inch audio jacks.

Included in the box is a long adapter for your car’s cigarette lighter and an even longer power outlet ( AC ), so you don’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of a movie. Put it all together and you can be sure of great battery life and a great movie experience with this device.

We’d describe the quality of the built-in speakers as okay at best. But with the included 3.5mm audio jack, you can improve the audio quality a bit more. Just plug in a headset and you’ll have an impressive sound experience that’s worth watching.

The device also offers support for DVDs from various regions. And you also have a good selection of formats and extensions. All in all, this is a highly recommended portable DVD player from COOAU.

 

Portable DVD Players Buying Guide

Maybe you’ve decided that it’s high time to get yourself a portable DVD player. Of course, it’s not a must that you choose a device from our test list.

That’s why we decided to go all the way and include a buying guide while we’re at it. So what’re the features or must-haves you should be on the lookout for? They’re:

The Battery

We can’t stress enough how important a good battery is. After all, this is a portable device, so you’ll need to rely on the battery when you’re out and about with it. In general, the higher the capacity, the better.

As for the battery type, we recommend you invest in a device that uses lithium-ion batteries, if they’re available. They do have a higher price tag than their counterparts, but the battery retains its capacity over a longer active life cycle and is unlikely to degrade in a short cycle.

Oh, and while you’re at it, look for devices with fast charging capabilities. 2500 mAh is the minimum standard we recommend for battery capacity. With such a battery, your portable DVD player should run for at least 4.5-5 hours.

The Screen

Oh yeah, what good is a portable DVD player if it doesn’t have a decent screen? Let’s talk about resolution first. These players usually come in 3 resolutions: 1080p, 720p and 480p. There are also screens with 360p, but we don’t recommend buying one with low resolution.

Now let’s move on to the swivel and viewing angles. We recommend buying a device with a good viewing angle. This isn’t a must. What’s a must, however, is a screen that can swivel or rotate. We think that these devices should be able to rotate at least 270 degrees. Bonus points if the screen can be rotated into a tablet.

The Audio

The sound makes the movie. So your portable DVD unit should have some audio capability. And the speakers need to sound good. Of course, you won’t get immersive audio with the built-in speakers, but there should be a minimum level of quality.

Your portable DVD device should also have a 3.5 mm audio jack (which is no longer used on smartphones). 3.5mm is the standard, you can basically plug in any pair of headphones or earphones you’ve lying around at home. We recommend using headphones for a more immersive movie experience.

Format Support

Your DVD should support the general video and audio formats, if not others. These include DVD, CD, R & RW, VCD, WMA, MP3 and VOB. Some devices also support lesser known formats such as MKV and MPEG4. Bonus points if you buy a device that supports Blu-ray playback.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

And that’s about it. That concludes our list of the best portable DVD players. We took a look at some of the best devices in different price ranges and features. The title of best portable DVD player goes to the DBPOWER 11.5″ , because there’s nothing else in this category.

Close on its heels is the ieGeek 11-inch, which coincidentally also gets the title of best portable DVD player for kids. We hope that this article was an enrichment for you, and you can always read it again.

Josef is a freelance tech writer who specializes in writing gadgets reviews. His love for technology started at an early age and he has been writing tutorials about various aspects of technology ever since. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with other people and helping them understand the latest innovations in this field.

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