Top 10 Best Portable DVD Player for Car (MUST READ) in 2023
The only way to enjoy a road trip and make it less strenuous is to do something constructive.
Some people may read or write but what is more enjoyable than watching your favorite clip or playing that engaging game while on the go?
Videos and games keep you busy and distract you from stretching and glancing out of the window every now and then so that the journey seems far much shorter.
It can also be a better source of cognitive learning than reading or writing.
If you have kids traveling with you, their favorite movie or Xbox series on a portable DVD player will make you forget their tantrums until you reach where you are going.
But with hundreds of video players out there, it can be tricky selecting the one that will realize the best value for your money.
That’s why we’ve done a thorough job researching and testing until we came up with the best portable car DVD player worth your time and money.
Without further ado, read on to discover the best portable DVD player for car in 2022.
10 Best portable DVD player for car in 2022
Editor's Pick for the best portable car DVD player
Keep your kids hooked to their favorite videos or games while on long road trips with DBPower high-resolution portable DVD player that features a 270 degrees swivel and 180 degrees flip.
Features
DBpower is not only a battery operated portable DVD player, but it can work from 3 power sources in total. A 2500 mAh rechargeable lithium battery provides you with up to 5 hours of uninterrupted view. It also comes with a free car charger and an AC adaptor thus enabling you to use it whether you are on the road or at home. The charger and adaptor are each 1.8 meters long and thus you don’t have to worry about having to discontinue a game or movie in order to charge the player.
Its multimedia support means that you can switch between different types of movies, music videos, and games when the going gets long. We love the fact that you can directly play CDs, DVDs, CD-R/RW, DVD -R/+R, DVD+RW/-RW, VCDs, and SVCD. You can also directly play content in SD and USB storage and for this, it supports VOB, AVI, MPEG 1, MPEG 2, MPEG 4, XVID video formats, MP3 and WMA audio file formats, JPEG image format, among others.
If your child is the active type that love game joysticks, the player perfectly supports game controller USBs for this entertainment.
To support the versatile use, you can rotate this best rated portable DVD player through 270 degrees or flip and fold it through 180 degrees for mounting on your car headrest.
What it if you have two kids in the car backseat? No worry. You can connect two video players through an AV to AV cable and simultaneously play the same film on both screens. One screen connects to the DVD player by setting it to the DVD mode and the second player connects to the first by setting it to AV mode.
Don’t want to use the small screen at home? Don’t worry. You can connect this DVD player to your TV screen by plugging one end of the AV cable into the AV output port of the player and the other end into the RCA port of your TV.
Last but not least, what if your kid accidentally shuts it off or the battery charge dies in the middle of a movie? Most probably you don’t like having to restart a film or trying to guess where you had stopped. Luckily, with DBpower, you don’t have to stress about this as it features a last memory function that lets you pick up from where you left.
The long hours we spend staring at screens tend to cause what is called digital eye strain, characterized by symptoms such as itchy and red eyes, headache or physical fatigue. To prevent or at least minimize this, COOAU best portable DVD player for kids adopts an eye-protective LCD screen so that your toddler or other users can watch for as long as they want without straining.
Straining your eyes is not the only discomfort when you are using a DVD player. Your back aches when you stay hunched for long and you would want a comfortable view depending on the setting. You can freely rotate this travel DVD player screen through 270 degrees or flip it through 180 degrees for the perfect view whether you want to attach it to a car headrest, lay on your desk or hang it above your bed.
A 2500mAh upgraded capacity battery provides you up to 5 hours of continuous play time. If 5 hours are not enough, a high-quality car charger and a certified AC power charger accompany the kit so that you can top it up whether you are on a road trip or at home.
Just like DBpower, you don’t have to restart a video after a shutdown, since this player features a break-in memory function.
The best buy DVD player supports multimedia use: all types of disc formats; VOB, AVI, MPEG 1, MPEG 2, MPEG 4, XVID video formats; MP3, and WMA audio file formats; JPEG image format.
Video and audio play is not the only capability of this device, but it comes with a free game controller which your kid can use to play up to 180 kinds of retro games.
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Screen size: 9.5 inch Screen rotation: 270˚swivel 180˚ turn over
<center>What Reviewers Like<center>
Screen features eye-strain protection technology
Multimedia support
Rechargeable battery
270˚ rotation and 180˚ flip
<center>What they Don’t Like<center>
Relatively pricey
The battery has no indicator for full charge
A DVD player cannot play blu ray discs due to differences in the laser reader. If you have already upgraded to blue ray, you need to get yourself a blu-ray player. Click here to see the best portable bluray player in 2022.
Sylvania swivel screen portable DVD/CD/MP3 player brings to life your favorite movies and videos while on the go, thus turning that boring journey into a memorable event.
Features
It has a 7 inch wide, 16:9 aspect ratio screen that swivels the display through 180 degrees.
Noisy movies and games may not be the preference of everyone in the car and you may want to use head or earphones. For this, it features a built-in stereo output that accepts any standard 3.5mm headphones or earphones.
On the contrary, a built-in speaker enables you to play the movie out loud if all occupants wish so.
In case you feel the 7 inch screen is too small, there is an AV output and cable through which you can connect the disc player to a larger external screen.
The progressive scan DVD player supports multimedia use, such as DVD, DVD+/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW disc formats, MP3 music and JPEG images burned onto CD-R/RW discs. USB and SD memory card slots enable you to play digital music and videos, such as MP3 and MPEG4.
Full functionality of the device when on a journey, outdoors or indoors has been taken into serious consideration. The package comes with an AC main adapter, DC car charger, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, remote control, AV cable, carrying bag and car headrest mounting straps. You can buy and start enjoying your entertainment wherever you are almost without the need for any other accessory.
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Screen size: 7 inches Screen rotation: 180˚
<center>What Reviewers Like<center>
Lightweight and durable
Price friendly
Head/ear phone or loudspeaker option
DVD player for car headrest with straps
<center>What they Don’t Like<center>
Doesn’t have last memory function
Some customers have complained about the plastic hinge and lid being too fragile
SYNAGY is a premium disc player, cool for the whole family use and designed for unparalleled convenience. SYNAGY is also one of the few direct manufacturers selling their device on Amazon, thus assuring you of superb satisfaction as a customer.
Features
SYNAGY provides the best way to watch movies in the car by rotating through 270 degrees (90 degrees to the right and 180 degrees to the left) and a 180-degree vertical flip-over into a tablet shape. You can watch your video from any angle without the need to hold the player, thus freeing your hands to do something else as you enjoy.
Several customers of other portable DVD players for automobile tend to shut off when the car hits a bump and what could be worse than if the device does not feature a last memory function thus forcing you to start afresh? SYNAGY features built-in shock absorption function to keep steady on a rough drive. In case you have to pause it yourself, you can continue where you had stopped through its break-in memory function.
The personal video player supports multimedia disc formats, video, audio and image formats as well as USB and SD memory cards.
It can also work from 3 power sources; AC mains through an AC charger, car cigarette lighter socket through a DC adapter and from a rechargeable lithium battery that can last for 4 hours.
The 9″ TFT LCD screen and 800*480 resolution is convenient for the whole family to enjoy a video, or the kids to study.
With a larger than average screen and 360 degrees swivel, ieGeek portable disc player is the best gift for your baby on her birthday or Christmas.
Features
Do you wish to attach your portable video player to the car seat headrest? Lay it flat on your desk like a tablet? Hang it on your bed headboard? Or place it beside your bathtub? ieGeek best rated car DVD players rotate through 360 degrees and fold through 180 degrees to enable all this convenience.
An advanced 2500 mAh lithium battery can last up to 5 hours ensuring that you don’t miss your favorite video when you are outdoors.
Just like COOAU, the latest eye protective LCD screen technology has been used to make use of the player more comfortable and healthier.
Some portable disc players have short DC chargers such that you have to either discontinue watching in order to top up the battery or buy an extension cord. ieGeek has a 1.9 meters best quality car charger that you can use when the player is at any position in the car.
It supports multiple video and audio formats, disc formats, as well as direct USB and SD card playing. It is also one of the few portable DVD players that have the function to copy CD files to USB and SD cards.
The mobile DVD player for cars supports sync screen playing. You can connect the AV output to a TV monitor for a larger view and you can also connect two video players for simultaneous view through an AV to AV cable.
Philips PET741M/37 is a premium quality mobile DVD player that lets you enjoy your favorite music, movies, and audio in high resolution and vibrant colors.
Features
Its 7 inch TFT color LCD screen displays your content in rich detail and dazzling colors. The small and 1.5 lb weight is convenient to carry anywhere even into hotels and airplanes.
The widescreen aspect ratio is 16:9, meaning that you get a horizontal video playback without annoying black side, top or bottom bars, considering the small screen size. It also avoids loss of picture quality caused by video scaling.
Besides the DVD playback, these aftermarket car DVD players support multiple media formats such as DVD+/-R and +/-RW, (S) VCD, and CD. You can also play your MP3 and JPEG files saved on CD.
Its build quality may not be military grade but it is sturdy enough to fall from 5 feet without breaking.
A rechargeable built-in lithium battery provides you with up to 2 hours of uninterrupted video playback.
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Screen size: 7 inches
<center>What Reviewers Like<center>
Lightweight, small and convenient to carry
3 power sources with battery backup
16:9 screen aspect ratio removes side, top & bottom bars on video playback
Sturdy material
<center>What they Don’t Like<center>
Package does include the carry bag
The 2-hour battery storage may be too short for outdoor use
If you are globetrotter who can’t live without memories from home, then you need to get the Ematic Personal video/audio player that lets you play different media formats.
Features
Many video player buyers later discover that their entertainment system cannot support European and Asian media formats (PAL), but with this device, you don’t need to worry. It supports multi-language on-screen display and either PAL (Europe and Asia) or NTSC (USA and Canada) media format.
The 7 inch LCD display can tilt and swivel through 180˚ for convenient view wherever you decide to use it.
The portable DVD player for automobiles comes with matching classy headphones that produce a crystal clear audio.
It also comes with a swanky carrying case to keep your video player safe while on the go while providing additional storage space.
You don’t need to keep on replacing batteries as it features a built-in rechargeable battery that can last up to 3 hours.
If you don’t like the bothersome cords that go for earphones and headphones, then you need to consider XTRONS portable DVD players for the car headrest that feature built-in IR and FM transmitters.
Features
The best portable DVD players for car headrest are specially engineered to a ultra-thin design with a touch button.
Compared to most of the other mobile video players, this 10.1 inches 1024*600 HD screen gives you ultra-clear and wide display that produces sharper images and amazing graphics.
You may not want to disturb other travelers as you watch a video or play games but you may also need comfortable head/ear phones that you can use at distance from the player. The built-in wireless transmitter allows you to enjoy audio files with dual channel wireless headphones. The second source of sound is directly playing the built-in speakers. The third source of sound is built-in FM transmitter that you can use to send the audio signal to the car stereo and share the content with other listeners.
What if you have games, movies and music are in your phone memory? XTRONS HD101 has a built-in HDMI port through which you can connect your phone and display a game there or share a movie or song with others instead of watching alone.
It features a removable design for both in-car and home use and an optional AC power adapter is available for the home use.
A number of customers have complained that the games are old school type and may bore kids used to 3D and Xbox games
Installation is an easy procedure and you don’t need to worry about damaging your car upholstery or security system. The best aftermarket DVD player for car comes with a mounting bracket, a drive pipe and fixed screws for a less than 5 minute DIY installation process.
If you are looking for a portable video player that will display the highest definition videos, then what you need is NAVISKAUTO portable car headrest DVD player.
Features
The upgraded 10.1″ 1024*600 TFT LCD screen supports 1080P high definition videos. The display mode is 16:9 wide, providing you with perfect playback without side bars. It also features touch keys that are convenient to use.
The innovative design is removable such that you can use the video player both in-car and at home. It also comes with two adjustable mounting brackets for compatibility with most car models.
Baby proofed corners and edges– it features a chamfered design in order to protect your kids from sharp corners and edges of the DVD when you apply emergency brakes or hit a bump.
It supports multiple CD and DVD formats and USB, SD and MMC card slots. It is the perfect video player to carry in the airplane when you are flying overseas because it supports both PAL and NTSC video formats.
Besides wireless IR and FM transmitters, it has a HDMI port such that you can sync and play your videos, audios, and games from your computer, smartphone, kindle fire, raspberry pie, and so on.
You can also play the same video on two headrests by synchronizing two screens in DVD mode through an AV to AV cable.
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<center>What Reviewers Like<center>
1080P HD display
Supports PAL and NTSC with auto search function
Synchronization function with slave screen, TV, computer, cell phone, etc
If you are looking for a portable DVD player with bluetooth capability such that you can enjoy all your favorite movies anytime anywhere, then Sylvania has it!
Features
Sylvania SDVD7027 mobile video player supports Xtreme over the Ear Bluetooth Headphones for wireless enjoyment and comfort.
The 7 inch screen of this movie player can spin 360 degrees, thus providing you convenient viewing angles and the ability to mount it on your car headrest.
It can play multiple DVD, CD, video and audio formats and it supports both PAL and NTSC formats.
16:9 screen aspect ratio enables you to watch your favorite videos without letterboxing or zooming that cuts off part of the cast.
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<center>What Reviewers Like<center>
PAL/NTSC adaptability
Portable DVD player for car with Bluetooth capability
Small and lightweight
<center>What they Don’t Like<center>
Bluetooth transmitter is not built-in but a separate transmitter and receiver pair, thus there is a risk of loss.
Relatively higher price
A buyer’s guide for portable car DVD players
When shopping for the best portable DVD players for car, there a number of options that you may want to weigh in order to maximize your comfort and utility of the device.
These include;
(i) Screen size
Portable DVD players have different screen sizes and you may want to consider a larger screen size if you expect it to be entertaining a number of viewers. However, it is important to note that a large screen does not always equate to a high resolution. A small screen, on the other hand, tends to be lightweight thus convenient for shoving into your bag as you catch a flight or book into a hotel.
(ii) Resolution
The lower the screen resolution, the more blurred the display and vice versa. Some screens have as low as 480 x 234 resolution while others go up to 1280 x 800.
(iii) Media format compatibility
You don’t want to travel with a video player that can only play a DVD-R, only to realize that you’ve carried all your movies and videos on a USB flash drive. Make sure that the device can support multiple disc, video, and audio formats as well USB and SD cards.
Some travel DVD players even have a HDMI port through which you can sync your videos and games from your phone, computer and so on.
The device should also support both PAL and NTSC media formats if you plan to use it with international content.
(iv) Multiple power sources and battery life
Be on the lookout for a video player that you can charge from your car DC source, an AC source at home and battery storage. The battery should be preferably rechargeable and its life should be at least 3 hours so that you don’t have to interrupt your movie in order to top it up.
How to safely mount your portable DVD player on your car headrest
When you want to install your car headrest DVD player, caution is important so that you don’t end up with damages such as;
Damage to the video player
Damage to your car headrest and interior
The DVD player may loosen or fall and spoil when the vehicle vibrates
There are a number of ways to mount your mobile video player, but the good thing is that they are all DIY.
Installing with a car headrest strap
For this, you just need to loop the straps around the headrest and buckle the video player tightly.
Installing with a mounting bracket
For this, you need a mounting bracket, a pair of drivepipes suitable for your car and fixing screws
Adjust your vehicle headrest to a suitable height
Install the pair of drive pipes into the hole of your car headrest.
Take the mounting bracket and fix it while adjusting to the appropriate length that matches the pole distance of your auto headrest
Carefully flip the portable DVD player into tablet shape and install it into the mounting bracket.
Fasten the video player using the screw(s).
Plug in the power adaptor and the other relevant cables
Please have a look at this short video on XTRONS HD101 car headrest installation
Installing with headrest mount holder and straps
Make sure that your screen will match and line up with the opening of the headrest mount holder.
Wrap the elasticated Velcro headrest strap around your car seat headrest. For an adjustable height headrest, wrap the strap around it vertically and for a fixed height headrest, wrap it horizontally.
Flip the video player into a tablet shape and fix it into the headrest mount holder
Attach the mount holder onto the headrest strap, Velcro to Velcro
Please have a look at this short clip on how to use the mount holder for car headrest portable video player
If yours is an overhead DVD player for mounting on the roof of your vehicle, you can still DIY by following this clip
Conclusion
Videos and games from a portable DVD player can keep you busy and help you and your kids enjoy a road trip. The best portable DVD player from our review will give you real value for your money.
Sarah
I consider myself a car girl, having grown up messing things at my dad’s auto repair workshop in Springfield, MO.
When I was 16 my father bought me a 1981 Isuzu Piazza, through which I first experienced the power of turbo charger and the smooth Lotus inputs.
I did my Bachelors at the University of Michigan where I got involved in outdoor activities such as hiking and backpacking in Ann Arbor.
After college I worked in the car insurance industry where I got to appreciate the importance of good car parts for safety and claims issues. I later settled down to manage my dad’s garage.
In 2016 I combined my 15 years of experience in the automobile industry and launched this site to provide expert advice on car safety, car care, and outdoor stuff.
I am also active on social media and you can find me on Pinterest.
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