Portable DVD Player Review

Finding the best bets for movie watching on the go

Experts have called portable DVD players a dying breed for some time, but manufacturers continue to release new models, even with little fanfare. Reports indicate that portable DVD players are trending towards higher resolution, particularly 800 pixels by 480 pixels or more, and larger 9- or 10-inch screens. Many portable DVD players are also trumpeting DivX video compatibility, so you can play downloaded videos. Cheaper 7-inch DVD players are still available, but only a few get decent reviews.

Finding expert reviews of portable DVD players is a bit of a challenge. CNET does the best job by far, with a respectable number of recent reviews. Other reviews are more dated. For example, most of the recommended portable DVD players at ConsumerReports.org and Good Housekeeping are now either discontinued or in very limited supply at retail. That said, both reviews are worth a look-see as some of the covered portable DVD players are currently being made, and some discontinued players can still be found at a handful of retailers.

Reviewers based outside of the United States can be a useful resource. For example, British reviewers such as TrustedReviews.com and TechRadar.com cover some portable DVD players that have versions made for sale in the U.S. Though some technical details vary, performance should be similar, if not identical, to their U.S. counterparts.

Given the limited number of professional reviewers that are staying current with portable DVD players, user reviews become even more valuable. Amazon.com leads the way in terms of feedback, with some players drawing more than 100 comments. Walmart.com, Newegg.com and Buzzillions.com have fewer reports but are still useful. Some of the portable DVD players with the most feedback might be discontinued, but a limited number are available at retail.

Portable DVD players aren't your only option for watching movies and videos on the go. If you want the biggest screen for the money, you might consider an inexpensive laptop instead of a portable DVD player. You can purchase a bare bones 15-inch laptop for less than $300 and it would do a lot more than just play DVDs. (See the ConsumerSearch report on cheap laptops.) Disadvantages include the laptop's heavy weight compared to a portable DVD player -- and if you just want something to entertain the kids in the car, you might not want them fiddling with a laptop.

Another option to consider is a portable media player, which plays video and music downloaded from a computer, but not DVDs. Now that you can buy individual episodes of TV shows as well as full-length movies online, it might make more sense to handle video through your computer rather than on DVDs. Right now, screen sizes hover in the 4- to 5-inch range, which is fine for solo viewing.