How to Turn a Cardboard Box into a Cheap DIY Smartphone Projector

Smartphones and tablets are great for watching movies and videos while you're out, but at home, the screen is just too tiny. There are quite a few projectors on the market that work with mobile devices, but they can get pricey.

The good news is that it's pretty simple to hack your own projector with items that you probably already have. This DIY projector made by the folks at Photojojo is made out of a cardboard shoebox, magnifying glass, a paperclip, and some electrical tape.

Start by tracing the outline of your magnifying glass onto one end of the box. Use an X-Acto knife to cut around the line, then cut a small hole in the other end for the power cord.

Image Credit photojojo.com

Next, use electrical tape to attach the magnifying glass to the box. Make sure you get it to fit tightly so that no light escapes.

Now, take your paperclip and bend it into a little stand for your phone. Here's the tutorial where they got the idea, for reference. You'll have to experiment a little to figure out the best placement for your stand (it will also depend on how high-powered your magnifying glass is).

Your projector is now finished. In order to see the picture correctly since it will appear upside down when it goes through the lens, you'll need to flip your screen.

On an iPhone, you can do this by going to Settings -> General -> Accessibility, then switch Assistive Touch to ON. Tap the little white circle to bring up the menu, then go to Device -> Rotate Screen.

For Android users, there isn't a way to force your screen to rotate without an app. Photojojo suggests using Ultimate Rotation Control, which is free to download from Google Play, but after a 7-day trial you'll have to pay to keep using it. I wasn't able to find any free alternatives, so if anyone knows of one be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Image Credit photojojo.com

For more details on building the projector and setting everything up, check out the full tutorial over on Photojojo. You can also try this other DIY projector created by one of our users here at WonderHowTo.

Need a screen? You can paint one on your wall for less than fifty bucks, or build a more professional-looking screen using a wooden frame and some spandex.