Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
November 19, 2025: With this update, we added the Anker Nebula X1 as Best 4K Outdoor Projector for High Brightness and the Aurzen Eazze D1G as Best Budget Outdoor Mini Projector (1080p). We also removed the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 and the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser. Since our last update, we tested and evaluated two new projectors for possible inclusion in this roundup and our other projector roundups.
(Credit: Anker)
(Credit: Anker)
Pros & Cons
1080p native resolution, with support for 4K input and HDR
Integrated Android TV 11
Long-lasting, solid-state LED light source
Resists water, dust, and drops
Long battery life
No optical zoom
Battery status light can be distracting when watching from behind the projector
Why We Picked It
It may look like a car battery with a handle on top, but that’s at least partly because the Nebula Mars 3, which is rated at 1,000 ANSI lumens, comes equipped with an internal battery boasting a 2-hour life at its brightest power setting or a 5-hour life in Eco mode. It also features water, drop, and dust resistance, which means it can survive a rough-and-tumble den full of kids, a movie night in the yard with gloomy weather threatening, or being bounced around in the back of an SUV if you bring it to watch movies on a camping trip. It also doesn’t hurt that it delivers both 1080p native resolution and onboard audio quality that’s pretty good for the projector’s size, or that it can work as a big Bluetooth speaker or as a power bank to charge other gear.
Who It’s For
People who watch TV outside: As with any model with water and drop resistance, the more often you plan to watch outside, the more attractive the Mars 3’s durability will be—whether for special occasions like backyard movie nights, regular TV watching by the pool on warm nights, or rainy-day entertainment on camping trips.
People who don’t mind a heavy projector: If you don’t want to lug around its nearly 10-pound bulk, you can find lighter choices. But if you can handle the weight, the Mars 3’s balance of durability, brightness, and battery life is hard to beat.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
1000 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1, USB-C, USB-A
Dimensions (HWD)
9.8 by 6.3 by 10.2 inches
Weight
9.9 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Anker Nebula Mars 3 Review
Best Rugged Outdoor Projector for Light Weight (1080p)
BenQ GS50
Pros & Cons
1080p resolution
500 ANSI lumen rating
Acceptable color accuracy
Impressive audio quality and volume
Included Android TV dongle for streaming and Chromecast
Durable and water-resistant
No 3D support
Brightest mode has an obvious green tint
Awkward setup for Android TV dongle
Why We Picked It
On its release, the 1080p BenQ GS50 was the first projector we know of that was touted specifically as an outdoor model. Designed to survive mistreatment better than most, it offers an IPX2 rating for water resistance and is rated for up to a 2.3-foot fall. That means you don’t have to worry about it being destroyed by an unexpected light rain shower or by accidentally dropping it. It also offers 1080p native resolution, comes with a bundled Android TV dongle, and is bright enough to throw a watchable 90-inch image in low levels of ambient light.
Who It’s For
People who watch movies outside: The GS50’s water and drop resistance should appeal to anyone who plans to take their projector outside, as the more often you plan to watch outside, the more likely it is that something will happen where the extra protection will make a difference.
Families with pools: If your outdoor movie-watching area is near your pool, or you want to watch outside now and then from spring through fall, or you have a rambunctious toddler who might jar a table and send the projector to the ground, the GS50 should grab your eye.
People who prefer app controls to physical ones: Four buttons on top let you turn the projector on and off, activate a Bluetooth speaker, and adjust volume. All other adjustments require the remote or a BenQ app on your mobile device.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
500 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
USB-C, HDMI 2.0b
Dimensions (HWD)
5.7 by 6.1 by 7.3 inches
Weight
5.1 lbs
Warranty
3 years
Learn More
BenQ GS50 Review
(Credit: M. David Stone)
(Credit: M. David Stone)
Pros & Cons
Supports HDR10
Built-in Google TV with licensed Netflix
On-point color accuracy and shadow detail
Small and light
PowerBase stand adds a battery rated at 2.5 hours of running time
At default settings, shadow detail doesn’t hold well
SDR image quality is better than HDR
No 3D support
Why We Picked It
You can buy the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro with or without a stand, but it’s the combination of the two that makes it one of our top choices. The $50 boost for the two bundled together not only gives you a handy way to position and aim the projector—which by itself is worth the extra money—but it also adds a built-in power pack, freeing you from having to use an AC outlet.
The projector itself offers 1080p resolution, built-in Google TV for streaming, a licensed Netflix app, and decent sound quality, loud enough for a family room. Most important, in our tests, the MoGo 3 Pro delivered good image quality for both SDR and HDR input, at high enough brightness with the settings we used to achieve a highly watchable 90-inch diagonal image in a dark room, or a 40-inch image on a sunny day.
Who It’s For
People who want easy, flexible setup: If you opt for its optional stand with a built-in battery, the MoGo 3 Pro is easy to set up nearly anywhere, even far from a power outlet.
People who don’t like red/green/blue flashes: The MoGo 3 Pro will be of special interest—even without the stand—to anyone concerned about the red/green/blue flashes that single-chip DLP projectors are prone to showing. Like virtually all of its direct competitors, the MoGo 3 Pro is built around a DLP chip and an LED light source, which means it can exhibit these rainbow artifacts. However, the good news for those who find them annoying is that, despite being sensitive to them, I saw very few during my testing.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
450 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080 using 960-by-540 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
1920 by 1080
Inputs and Interfaces
micro HDMI, USB-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
8 by 3.7 by 3.7 inches
Weight
2.4 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro Review
(Credit: Xgimi)
(Credit: Xgimi)
Best Battery-Powered Outdoor Mini Projector for Brightness (1080p)
Xgimi Halo+
Pros & Cons
Small and light
Image quality easily good enough for casual viewing
Built-in Android TV 10 for streaming via Wi-Fi
Rated at 900 ANSI lumens using AC power
Supports 4K input (native resolution is 1080p)
Android TV doesn’t include a Netflix app
Although HDR input is watchable, SDR input looks better
Why We Picked It
The Xgimi Halo+ is our top pick for high brightness in a mini projector. It also offers robust audio, built-in streaming, and image quality that is good enough by most people’s standards. It’s rated at 900 ANSI lumens, but even when set for best picture quality rather than highest brightness, it lit up a 90-inch screen in low levels of ambient light in our tests. It also delivered good-enough audio quality at high-enough volume to fill a large family room.
Although its native resolution is 1080p (1,920 by 1,080 pixels), the Halo+ can accept and downconvert 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) input, as well as support HDR. In our tests, color accuracy and shadow detail were better for SDR than for HDR, but it handled HDR well enough to deliver a watchable picture, which is more than many 1080p models with HDR can manage. Another plus: The onboard rechargeable battery’s got you covered should you find yourself too far from a power outlet to plug in. Using it reduces brightness and usable image size, but the 2.5-hour battery life is sufficient to let you watch a full-length movie.
Note that the original version of the Halo+, as we tested it, uses Android TV for streaming, and is still available at this writing. However, Xgimi has since introduced a new version with the same name, which the company claims is upgraded to Google TV, but is otherwise identical.
Who It’s For
People who live in urban areas: Its high brightness makes the Halo+ a particularly good choice for outdoor use in neighborhoods that don’t get pitch-black on a moonless night.
People who watch in multiple locations: It’s a strong candidate for anyone who wants a smart (streaming) portable projector that’s easy to carry and set up as needed.
People who need both audio and video without a power outlet: The Halo+ provides robust audio without needing an external sound system, and it can run on a rechargeable battery when needed.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
900 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 HDR; Full HD 3D
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI, USB 2.0
Dimensions (HWD)
6.9 by 4.5 by 5.7 inches
Weight
3.5 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Xgimi Halo+ Review
Pros & Cons
1080p native resolution
Guaranteed not to show rainbow artifacts
HDR10 support
Google TV with licensed Netflix
Includes a standard brightness setting for adjusting black level (and improving shadow detail)
Only 200 ANSI lumen brightness rating
No 3D support
Negotiated HDR connection for streaming only, not with our Blu-ray player
Why We Picked It
If you need a projector with as much capability as you can get at a bargain-basement price, check out the Aurzen Eazze D1G. In our tests, it delivered appropriate detail for its 1080p resolution and the level of image brightness we expect from the rated 200 ANSI lumens. Additionally, we observed solid image quality for the price, featuring strong contrast, nicely saturated colors in brightly lit scenes, and a satisfyingly dark black level in dark scenes.
Even better, the D1G’s single-LCD-chip design ensures that it can’t show rainbow artifacts. It also offers fully integrated Google TV with a licensed Netflix app for streaming, complemented by dual 8-watt speakers and Dolby audio on board for quite usable sound quality and volume.
Who It’s For
Frequent travelers: The D1G is limited to AC power, but at 4.4 pounds, it’s light enough to carry easily to the backyard (if you have a place to plug it in) or stow in a backpack to take elsewhere.
People who watch movies outside: The low brightness will limit the image size you can use at any given brightness level, but the D1G can still be a good fit for anyone who wants to watch movies occasionally outside at night on the cheap. It’s also a good projector to have handy for casual use indoors, to set up as needed for movies or gaming on a rainy day.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
LCD
Rated Brightness
200 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-A (2)
Dimensions (HWD)
3.2 by 9.1 by 6.9 inches
Weight
4.4 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Aurzen Eazze D1G Review
(Credit: M. David Stone)
(Credit: M. David Stone)
Pros & Cons
4K resolution
Hybrid laser/LED light source
Supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision
Automated image adjustment for fast setup after moving
Built-in handle for easy carrying
Black level is high enough to hurt contrast in a dark room
Why We Picked It
The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is our top pick for a low-cost room-to-room 4K portable. It isn’t cheap, but it’s barely more expensive than its 1080p competition. It also offers more than you might expect for the price, starting with a laser/LED hybrid light source rated at 1,800 ANSI lumens, a color gamut rated at 123.3% of BT.709 (the standard for HDTVs), and support for Dolby Vision, along with the more common HDR10 and HLG HDR.
Other features include fully integrated Google TV for streaming, a comprehensive set of automatic adjustment features for easy setup, and robust audio, thanks to two 15-watt speakers that deliver both high volume and high-quality sound. Most important, in our tests, it delivered solid color accuracy, shadow detail, and sense of three-dimensionality across the board.
Who It’s For
People who prefer function over form: The Cosmos 4K SE is shaped like a tall car battery with a handle on top, which can make it a poor fit if you’re looking for a projector with a sleek design. However, if you want one you can take from room to room, out to the backyard, and beyond, and you care more about how well it works than how good it looks, it’s a solid choice.
People who seek good image quality: The handle makes it easy to carry, and it scores better on both image quality and audio than some competition that costs more. If you’re looking for a high-quality image from a bright 4K projector and don’t want to pay significantly more than you would for an equivalent 1080p model, the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is the model to consider.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
1800 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1, HDMI (eARC), USB-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, USB Thumb Drive
Dimensions (HWD)
8.7 by 6.5 by 10.4 inches
Weight
9.9 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE Review
(Credit: M. David Stone)
(Credit: M. David Stone)
Pros & Cons
4K resolution
Bright; rated at 3,300 ISO lumens
Supports HDR10 and HLG HDR
Includes Google TV OS for streaming
Good audio quality, suitable for a family room
Rated at 110% BT.2020 color gamut coverage
Wi-Fi only; no Ethernet
No support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Filmmaker, or IMAX Enhanced modes
Why We Picked It
JMGO was the first to offer a gimbal mount on its projectors, and the version on the N1S Ultimate is among the best of them. The two gimbals, which let it pivot vertically and horizontally, are easy to adjust in either or both planes with one hand, and they are stable when released—a feature that isn’t true for all gimbal mounts. Once the projector’s in place, it takes just a few seconds to aim the lens precisely and position the picture on target. A complete set of automatic adjustment features—from focus to screen fit and more—can handle the rest of the setup for you.
Beyond that, the N1S Ultimate’s strong points include integrated Google TV for streaming; a tri-color laser engine with a color gamut rated at 110% of the standard for 4K TVs (BT.2020, also known as Rec.2020); and good enough onboard audio to let you use it without an external sound system in most cases. It’s also bright enough that a power setting of 1 (out of 10) lit up the 90-inch screen we normally use for testing in a dark room. On a 130-inch screen, a setting of 8 was sufficient for comfortable viewing in low to moderate levels of ambient light.
Who It’s For
People who prioritize brightness: The most compelling argument for the N1S Ultimate is its high brightness, especially useful in outdoor environs that won’t get fully dark.
Audiophiles: The N1S Ultimate is also worth considering simply for its image and audio quality, which are both good enough by most people’s standards.
Gamers and 3D aficionados: This model offers 3D support and suitably short input lag for all but the most serious gamers.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
3300 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz, HDR; Full HD 3D
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1, USB-A
Dimensions (HWD)
9.3 by 9.5 by 8 inches
Weight
9.9 lbs
Warranty
3 years
Learn More
JMGO N1S Ultimate Review
(Credit: M. David Stone)
(Credit: M. David Stone)
Pros & Cons
4K resolution
Supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision
Three-color laser light source
Leading-edge automated image adjustment for fast setup after moving
Retractable handle for easy carrying
Expensive
Hefty for a room-to-room portable
Frequent rainbow artifacts in our tests
Why We Picked It
The Anker Nebula X1 is a premium room-to-room portable projector at a premium price. The full list of strong points is too long to give here, but it starts with 4K resolution and unusually high brightness. It’s rated at 3,500 ANSI lumens, which makes it the brightest portable projector we’ve seen.
Other key features include a color gamut rated at 110% of the standard for UHD TVs, combined with a level of color accuracy usually reserved for home theater projectors, plus support for SDR, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision input with good image quality across the board.
Who It’s For
Users who require peak possible brightness: If your yard is surrounded by ambient light you can’t control, the X1 is a prime pick among portable projectors.
Audiophiles: The natural home for the X1 is with someone who won’t be satisfied with anything less than a big, high-quality image paired with robust sound, even when viewing outdoors. The onboard 40-watt sound system, by itself, produces a high enough volume for most purposes, even outdoors, and adding the optional 80-watt wireless speakers only makes it more impressive.
People seeking a high-quality image on the go: The X1 combines equally impressive brightness, image quality, and audio in a single, easy-to-carry package.
Specs & Configurations
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
3500 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz, HDR; Full HD 3D
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1, USB-A, USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
9.7 by 7.3 by 11.1 inches
Weight
13.7 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Anker Nebula X1 Review
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The Best Outdoor Projectors for 2025
Compare Specs
Buying Guide: The Best Outdoor Projectors for 2025
What Are the Kinds of Outdoor Projector?
First, a word about categories of projectors for outdoor use: A few of the models here are specifically “outdoorsy,” with some combination of water resistance, drop-proofing, and battery power. Others have none of those features. Most of the models in the second category are what we call “room-to-room portables.” But what moves conveniently to another room also moves conveniently to the backyard. In addition to being light enough to carry over short distances, room-to-room portables feature robust audio designed to offer both high volume and quality, eliminating the need for a separate sound system. Most also have features like auto-focus to help you set up quickly, and they offer streaming, so you can skip the step of attaching a video source, as long as you stay close enough to your house to connect to your network via Wi-Fi.
We’ve also included portable mini projectors—defined in part by their smaller sizes and more limited audio systems compared with room-to-room portables. But keep in mind that you still have the option of using virtually any projector you like outdoors, as long as you can run a power cable to it. Note also that the street prices for these models (with widely available discounts) start at around $300 at the time of writing, but street pricing changes frequently as discounts and sale events (and tariffs) come and go. If even that is more than you want to invest in a projector, check out our related story for tips on hosting a backyard movie night without breaking the bank.
Outdoor Projectors: Are You Planning a Permanent or Temporary Setup?
Now that you’ve seen our favorite tested picks above, you might have gathered from our assessments of each that paying attention to the nuances when shopping for a projector can mean the difference between an A-list experience and a B-movie one.
Rule one is that every projector choice you make stems from a single decision: Do you want a permanent installation, or an ad hoc setup? At one extreme, you can install all your projection equipment outdoors, fixed in place and weatherproofed: projector, video source, ancillary sound system, and screen. At the other, you can lug everything out to set up only when needed. In between, you might install, say, an outdoor screen and speakers, and carry the rest of the gear out and back as needed.
(Credit: Shutterstock)
For permanent setups, only the projector, the video source, and additional audio components need to be protected from the weather. That can be easy if you have, say, an enclosed Florida room with a sliding door to the outside. With everything set up, you can simply open the door to let the projector illuminate the screen. For anything short of a permanent setup, room-to-room portables let you minimize how much you need to carry back and forth before and after every movie night. But note that you might want to store even outdoor screens inside for winter or before a storm. (They make terrific sails.)
If you’re looking at a true, permanent outdoor installation of all the bits, we’d leave that approach to a local pro A/V installer, who can consult on your property’s specific needs for optimization and ensure all the proper wiring, for both power and data connections, is appropriately hidden and implemented safely. We’ll concentrate here on the DIY approach, in which you set up and break down all or most of your setup as needed.
How Big Can Your Projected Image Be? Brightness Matters
Brightness requirements for a given projector follow the same rules outdoors as indoors. It’s all about ambient light and the target image size (which we’ll get to shortly).
The ambient-light level outdoors after dark will likely be in the range between a dark room—if you’re way out in the country, far from light pollution, and it’s a moonless night—and a family room at night with dim lighting. But don’t just assume that. Check your backyard at night, including on nights with a full moon, as well as when your closest neighbors have their backyard lights blazing. Then pick a projector that’s bright enough to stand up to the brightest light level you’ll use it under at the image size you want—an issue we discuss in our reviews.
(Credit: Shutterstock)
You can watch a movie outdoors at night even with a pocket projector that puts out 100 lumens or less, but you’ll have to huddle around a small image to do so. For a true movie-watching experience, consider a screen size of at least 80 inches, preferably larger.
For a comfortably watchable image at that size in dim lighting, you need a projector that produces about 800 lumens—a level of brightness that rules out most small projectors, from pocket-size models to lightweight portable projectors.
Keep in mind, also, that the highest brightness most projectors can deliver comes at the cost of image quality. Put another way: The best-quality picture mode for any given projector is generally the dimmest. Whatever brightness level you need has to be for the picture mode you want to use—which is often just 40% or 50% of the brightest choice.
Should You Just Use the Garage Door for a Screen? (Spoiler: You Can, But Don’t)
You can use just about any flat surface for a screen, including a hanging bed sheet, a garage door, or a stucco wall of your house. For a step up from that, seamless photography paper and even white foam board can be good, inexpensive screen materials. For the best image, though, you absolutely want a dedicated projector screen, and you should take a look at our tips on how to choose the right screen for your projector.
It’s easy to find outdoor frames for permanent, seasonal, and temporary setups, but the screen material is the more important part. The key choices are the same as for an indoor screen, starting with a spec called gain, which can increase image brightness.
(Credit: Shutterstock)
A 1.0-gain screen reflects light equally in all directions over a 180-degree viewing angle. A higher gain reflects the light over a smaller angle, making the image brighter within that angle and dimmer outside of it. It’s essentially the same situation as with older LCD screens that have a sweet spot for viewing dead-on in front of them, but show a dimmer image outside of the viewing cone. For projector screens, a 1.2-gain would give you a peak 20% brighter image within the cone. The key thing is the angle, though: You’ll want to make sure nobody will be sitting so far off to the side of the screen that they’ll be outside the specified viewing angle.
If you’re screen-shopping, also look for the resolution the screen is designed for. Many are not designed for showing even 4K images, while others are intended for future-looking 8K output. Even if you’re currently using a 720p-resolution projector, you may want a 4K-rated screen, allowing you to use the same screen over the lifetime of two or more projectors.
Finally, be sure the screen offers the correct aspect ratio—typically, 16:9 for watching movies or TV shows. Common choices range from the nearly square 4:3 ratio, once standard for TV and movies, to Cinemascope widescreen.
What Is Throw Distance, and Why Does It Matter?
Throw distance is measured in feet or inches between the projector lens and your screen. For any projector or projector lens, it falls into one of four categories.
As the name implies, a standard throw is the most common. It requires roughly 10 feet to the screen for a 90-inch image (measured diagonally), give or take a couple of feet depending on the lens. A long throw allows you to place the projector farther away for the same-sized screen.
(Credit: Shutterstock)
A short throw allows you to position the projector closer than the standard throw range, which is particularly beneficial in tight spaces and also helpful for a backyard movie night. That may seem counterintuitive, but if everyone is sitting behind the projector, rather than between the projector and screen, no one can cast shadows when they stand up mid-movie to get another skewer of shrimp from the barbecue.
Last, ultra short throws, or USTs, let you put the projector just inches away for the same image size. However, these are usually best avoided for outdoors, in part because they are finicky about being positioned “just so” relative to the screen, which adds to setup time. They also require a screen that’s much flatter than will serve well for longer throws, and with absolutely no tendency to move from a wind gust. Even a slight deviation from perfectly flat will distort the image.
Do You Need Separate Speakers for Your Outdoor Projector?
Most projectors you’re likely to consider for backyard movies have a built-in speaker or speakers. But with the exception of room-to-room portables, which offer good audio systems by definition, and the growing category of laser UST projectors meant as large screen TV replacements (which really aren’t suitable for repeatedly lugging to and from the backyard), you’ll often be better off using an external audio system, or at least external speakers. The reason: It’s difficult to deliver good-quality audio at high volume levels from the small spaces most projector chassis leave for the sound system.
Room-to-room portables offer either extra-wide or taller, cubical shapes than traditional projectors, and fill the extra space with low- and high-frequency speakers (technically, “drivers,” in audio terminology), often using chamber speakers. They usually boast plenty of wattage to provide sufficient volume even for outdoor use. (Most laser UST projectors are much wider than traditional projector designs, and many use the side facing the seating area for what amounts to a soundbar.)
Of course, regardless of how good the audio quality and volume are for the projector you pick, you might want even more robust audio. If so, consider getting outdoor speakers, and look for analog or digital audio-out ports or Bluetooth speaker support in the projector. Bluetooth can be especially handy if you already own a robust Bluetooth speaker set, but with a caveat that we’ll address in a moment. Some home theater projectors don’t offer even a pass-through audio port, however. They’re designed with the assumption that you’ll use a separate audio system connected directly to your video source.
As for Bluetooth speakers? Due to the complexities of both video and audio processing, it’s common to lose sync between the image on the screen and the sound from a Bluetooth speaker. To avoid this, look for audio delay adjustments for Bluetooth in projectors and external audio systems. Note also that most room-to-room portables, as well as many smaller portables, offer a Bluetooth speaker mode, allowing you to use them with other audio sources.
One last thing: A booming audio system might be great in your backyard, but consider your neighbors’ comfort when you set the volume. (Or consider skewering extra shrimp, popping extra popcorn, and inviting them over.)
What Resolution Do You Need From Your Outdoor Projector? (720p, 1080p, or 4K)
Any given projector offers a native resolution, which indicates the number of pixels it can display on the screen. More pixels mean finer detail. For projectors most suitable for movies, you have three basic choices: 720p (1,280 by 720), also known as HD; 1080p (1,920 by 1,080), also called Full HD; and 4K (3,840 by 2,160), also called Ultra HD or UHD.
In some cases, the native resolution for the imaging chip may be slightly greater, as with 1,280 by 800, but when you’re viewing a movie, the actual number of pixels that will light up will be 1,280 by 720 or fewer, depending on the movie’s aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height). All three of the resolutions you care about have a 16:9 aspect ratio.
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Choosing among these resolutions depends almost entirely on how big your budget is and how much you care about seeing fine detail. Higher resolution costs more, shows more detail, and has a sharper look. However, resolution doesn’t affect color, contrast, or any other aspect of image quality. A lower resolution just gives the image a slightly soft-focus look in comparison. Note also that most 720p and 1080p projectors can accept higher-resolution input and downconvert the image to their native resolution, so they behave like higher-resolution projectors with a soft focus. That’s not always true, however. It’s a good idea to check the highest-resolution input a projector supports before making a purchase.
(Credit: M. David Stone)
More and more projectors also support HDR, which can do more to improve the visual impact of movies than higher resolution does. Unfortunately, the key phrase in that sentence is “can do more.” Many of the projectors suitable for carrying outside for backyard movies at the time of writing fail to deliver on HDR’s promise of improving image quality. In fact, it’s not unusual for a projector to put a better-looking image on the screen with the 1080p SDR versions of movies than the 4K HDR versions. While you can count on 4K projectors providing more detail than 1080p projectors (assuming you’re using a large enough screen and watching from a close enough distance to see the difference), don’t rely solely on HDR support for improved image quality. Check how well the projector actually handles HDR, which is something we cover in our reviews.
Should Your Outdoor Projector’s Power Source Be Battery or AC?
Plan on using AC power for all your equipment. Some small projectors (but few room-to-room portables) can run off battery power, and some even claim to run for long enough to watch a movie. But they typically drop brightness significantly when using batteries, and most aren’t bright enough for a backyard movie night at a suitably large size, even using AC power. Beyond that, simply as a matter of convenience, the more individual battery-powered devices you’re using, the more of a chore it is to make sure each one is charged enough before you start.
(Credit: M. David Stone)
For safety’s sake, add a professionally installed outdoor outlet near the equipment location, so you don’t have to use a trip-me-up extension cord or a chain of cords and power strips. And be sure any outlet you plug into has ground fault protection to safeguard against electrical hazards.
The Video Source: How Will You Send Movies to Your Outdoor Projector?
Unless you’re playing movies stored on a flash card or USB drive connected to a projector that can read the files, you’ll need to pipe in your video from somewhere. With most room-to-room portables, the simplest choice is usually to utilize the built-in streaming or a bundled streaming stick that virtually all models in the category offer, often using Google TV, Android TV, or Android OS. Don’t confuse the third choice on that list with the second. Like the newer Google TV, Android TV offers a wide range of capable streaming apps. Most Android OS implementations offer fewer apps, and many of the apps they do offer don’t work all that well.
Streaming over a Wi-Fi connection can be a convenient way to access streaming services like Hulu or share files on your home network via an app like Plex. However, note that while most projectors with Google TV make a point of highlighting their Netflix support, many models with Android TV either don’t offer a Netflix app at all or offer one that’s difficult to use. If Netflix is your go-to streaming service, try to confirm whether there is a Netflix app and, if so, how well it works, before you make a purchase. If there’s no app, or only a flawed one, a good workaround is to connect your phone to your network via Wi-Fi, stream using the Netflix phone app, and set up your projector to mirror your phone’s screen.
(Credit: Shutterstock)
Note that it’s easy enough to add a streaming stick to projectors that lack built-in streaming. If you’re not satisfied with the streaming options that come with the projector you want (or already have), you can disregard the built-in or bundled choice and plug in a different dongle. (See our guide to selecting the best media streamer.)
Almost all current home projectors offer a USB port to provide power for an HDMI dongle, typically near an HDMI port and often with no other function. Check for one when choosing a projector. If you wind up with a model without one, a robust power bank connected to a USB power cable may do if a power cord can’t reach.
When you’re outdoors, connecting a larger discrete video source to the projector can be a challenge. Active optical HDMI cables and HDMI extenders can let you connect over hundreds of feet, but typical HDMI cables are limited to 25 feet long, at best, and cables much shorter than that often have problems providing a reliable connection for 4K HDR content. You may otherwise need to haul a Blu-ray player or laptop outside to plug into the projector.
If the projector supports Wi-Fi, and the video source can connect to your network by either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you can connect wirelessly, of course. But for any of the video sources mentioned here to connect via Wi-Fi, including the streaming sources, you may need to add a Wi-Fi extender to your network to get a strong enough signal to your backyard. Whether you’ll actually need one depends on the configuration of your home network and the output strength and location of your router. Another alternative is to convert your home network to a mesh system for more complete coverage that could extend to the backyard. (See our primer Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What’s the Difference?)
Still another possibility, which works with any projector and video source with HDMI ports, is a wireless HDMI kit. These kits include a transmitter that plugs into the video source’s HDMI output and a receiver that plugs into the projector’s HDMI port, essentially functioning like an HDMI cable without the need for one.
Finally, as mentioned above, if you want to play content downloaded (legally, mind you) to a USB drive or a flash-memory card, make sure to pick a projector with an appropriate card slot or USB port. One wrinkle to that: Verify that the projector not only supports playing movies from the memory card or key, but also supports playing them at the target resolution you want to use. That’s not always a given.
Ready to Buy the Right Outdoor Projector for You?
We trust that our advice has clarified things a bit. In our product pick summaries above and in the spec table of this article, we’ve selected some of the best projectors on the market for specific outdoor projection situations. For more projector reviews and our latest coverage of the category, check out our projector-coverage summary page, as well as our top picks for home projectors.
