Portable DVD Players Test

Reviews on Portable DVD Players

"Sony DVP-FX850 portable DVD player review"

Published on: 5/2008

On test: Sony DVP-FX850

Watch all your movies on the move. → More

"Philips PET1030 Portable DVD Player"

Published on: 3/2008

On test: Philips PET1030

Along with Toshiba and Sony, Philips is one of the biggest players in the portable DVD market, flying the flag for removable media while all around them are turning to hard-disk devices. The Dutch company's success lies in the fact that its portable decks are consistently the most attractive and technologically advanced on the market - and its latest flagship model is no exception. → More

"LG DP271 - Portable DVD Player"

Published on: 2/2008

On test: LG Electronics DP-271

Before the advent of PMPs and iPods, portable DVD players were some of the coolest and most coveted gadgets on the technology scene - not to mention some of the most expensive. But the rise of hard-disk video players from the likes of Archos and Apple have made them a lot less fashionable, and their prices have dropped considerably. You can now pick them up for peanuts, which is great news if you're looking for a convenient, cost-effective way of keeping the kids quiet in the car, or entertaining yourself on long journeys. And it's worth remembering that not everyone has the time, patience or computer literacy to deal with hard-disk devices that require encoding or downloading of video content. → More

"LTECHi ClearFrame Plus"

Issue: 11/2007

On test: LTECHi ClearFrame Plus

The ClearFrame Plus sounds like a digital photo frame, and looks like one, and indeed you can use it as one - but it's also a TV/DVD combo that can play video DVDs and audio CDs, show terrestrial TV with its built-in tuner, or display your own video source via composite, S-Video, SCART and VGA connectors. The only omission is an HDMI digital video input, but the screen is the wrong shape for HD anyway. → More

Portable DVD Players

When the summer sun demands a trip to the beach but once you get there you realise you would much rather be watching your favourite film a portable DVD player is just the gadget you need. Resembling a small laptop and with all the functions of a normal DVD player, a portable DVD player is perfect for watching films in the open air or while on the move. The deciding factor in the choosing of such a player is the battery life, most manufacturers have decided that around two and a half hours is enough, a larger battery would add too much weight and as not everybody is interested in watching Gone with the Wind with the wind in their hair or Lawrence of Arabia in the middle of the Arabian Desert, this does not hinder the enjoyment of most movies. The LCD panel is also an important part of the device and in some less expensive models the display has a tendency to smear when presented with fast changing scenes. A useful feature of some portable DVD players is the ability to connect the display to other sources such as a camcorder or games console. Try and see a display model in action before committing yourself to buy as some players feature especially loud drives that could detract from the enjoyment of a film, especially when the built in speakers often leave something to be desired. Most players come with a remote control as standard and some even feature a bonus carry case with space for the player, cables and a few discs. A good quality portable DVD player will set you back around 150 pounds.