Most of the choices on our list could easily double as indoor projectors as well, so if you don’t want to spend a bunch of money buying a pair of projectors, one for each use case, our selections have you covered. Read on to see the best outdoor projectors to get. There’s a single 10W speaker that’s louder than that found in much of the competition, and should be enough for most outdoor uses. If not, there’s a standard audio out jack, to go along with the HDMI, USB inputs, VGA, and component inputs. An inexpensive dongle adds wireless support for streaming from a phone or tablet as well. You can happily watch 3D movies with the HT2050A as well — it’s not quite as good for this as our Optoma top pick, but you’re very unlikely to be disappointed with the result regardless. Unlike much of the competition, it includes true vertical lens shift (rather than the inferior software-driven version). The lamp will last up to 6,000 hours depending on which projection mode you use, although official replacements aren’t cheap. Resolution: 1920x1080 | Brightness: 2200 ANSI lumens | Contrast ratio: 15000:1 | Projection size: 120 inches What you get with this device is truly portable entertainment, from the 8-watt built-in speaker all the way down to the 2.5-hour battery life — a figure that’s pretty impressive considering how many pixels this thing is pushing. But what’s truly impressive about this standalone media device is its built-in app functionality. There’s Android TV compatibility right on-board, and Anker has even loaded in a Chromecast so that you can stream media via more than 3600 apps from your phone, tablet, or computer. This comes in handy whether you’re taking the device camping or just bringing it to your front yard on a nice summer night. No need for wires or a separate playback device. Resolution: 1280x720 | Brightness: 200 ANSI lumens | Contrast ratio: 600:1 | Projection size: 100 inches Our reviewer didn’t find any such problem with Anker’s Nebula Capsule, however, as a quick glance suggests—it looks like a proper portable speaker, and sounds like one, too. In Eric’s testing, the 5W omnidirectional speaker pumped out plenty of sound in all directions, while the 100-lumen, 854 x 480 display can project in sizes up to 100 inches. At up to four hours, battery life is enough to get you through even the longest movies. Running Android, with a wide range of apps available, it’s easy to play much of your favorite content directly from the projector. If not, there’s always USB, HDMI, and screencasting over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi instead. The size of a soda can and weighing about a pound, the Nebula Capsule makes for a flexible, useful, and highly-portable outdoor projector for your next camping trip. Resolution: 854x480 | Brightness: 100 ANSI lumens | Contrast ratio: N/A | Projection size: 100 inches The APEMAN Mini M4 is tiny, at just 3.9 x 3.9 x 0.9 inches and 1.2 pounds. According to our reviewer, it was the same surface area of a phone and a wallet, making it easy to carry around though the glossy surface picked up fingerprints and dust easily Input options are limited but sufficient—you can play from a USB stick or hard drive, or stream via HDMI. A standard ⅛-inch audio jack lets you plug in headphones or an external speaker. While the specs sound relatively low (854 x 480 native resolution, 50 lumens, 1000:1 contrast ratio), the M4 is designed to be used within a few feet of whatever it’s projecting onto, so video looks noticeably better than you’d expect. Lasting 90 to 120 minutes on a full charge, the video projector can usefully also act as an external battery for charging your phone or another device. Both HDMI and USB charging cables are included in the box, as is a small tripod. Resolution: 854x480 | Brightness: 100 ANSI lumens | Contrast ratio: 2000:1 | Projection size: 100 inches During testing, Gannon found the projector to be equally at home in the boardroom or backyard. He didn’t need a particularly dark environment to use the VS355 — it’s fine even in moderate sunlight or a well-lit room. At 11.9 x 3.2 x 9.3 inches and 5.5 pounds, it’s compact and lightweight enough to move around easily. With several input options, including USB, HDMI, VGA, and others, plus an optional Wi-Fi adapter, you’ve got plenty of choices when it comes to playback. As with many projectors, though, the built-in speaker is relatively weak—expect to plug it into an external speaker to fill larger areas or noisy environments. Running costs are lower than average, due to the projector’s inexpensive replacement lamps that last up to 10,000 hours in Eco mode. Resolution: 1280x800 | Brightness: 3,300 ANSI lumens | Contrast ratio: 15000:1 | Projection size: 100 inches HDR10 ensures rich, vibrant colors, with up to 4K HDR input and HD (1920 x 1080) native resolution with another flat surface 50,000:1 contrast ratio. 3D video is supported and looks great, as long as you’re wearing the company’s 3D glasses (not included) and are using an appropriate HDMI cable. Weighing 6.2 pounds and measuring 12.4” x 4.3” x 9.7”, this isn’t a projector you’ll fit in your pocket, but it’s not too large or heavy to move around either. You’re not limited to three-dimensional movies, of course, and the HD27HDR performs admirably with normal 2D video as well. The 10W speaker puts out enough sound for many outdoor situations, but there’s a standard audio output if not. Resolution: 1920x1080 | Brightness: 3,400 ANSI lumens | Contrast ratio: 50000:1 | Projection size: 120 inches Eric Watson has more than five years of experience as a freelancer for numerous tech and gaming sites. He specializes in mobile tech, smartphones, general consumer technology, gaming, and more. Gannon Burgett is a professional photojournalist who’s been writing for Lifewire since 2018. He specializes in photo equipment, PCs, photo editing software, and general multimedia. He’s previously been published in Gizmodo, Digital Trends, PetaPixel, Imaging Resource, and many others.
What to Look for in an Outdoor Projector
Brightness
While most projectors can play a decent image in a dark home theater, outdoor projectors are plagued by ambient light. This makes brightness, measured in lumens, particularly important. Solid options will produce somewhere between 1,500 and 3,000 lumens, but high-end models (with 3,300 lumens or more) allow you to start watching movies before the sun even sets. Of course, even high-end models will struggle in full daylight, so at the very least you’ll want to find some shade.
Throw Distance
Throw distance refers to the distance between the projector and the image on the screen. Projectors with a short throw must sit close to the screen, whereas those with a throw of eight feet or more can sit reasonably further away. Depending on the setup of your outdoor theater, the throw distance will make a difference. By contrast, short-throw projectors don’t require much space at all. They can be right up against the screen, making them practical for use in living rooms or crowded outdoor settings.
Resolution
Will you be watching 4K or mostly HD? The type of video you’ll be viewing will impact the quality of resolution you need. For 4K (also known as Ultra HD), you’ll need 3840 x 2160 pixels, but for the average DVD, 800 x 480 native resolution should be just fine. A nice middle ground is 1080p, since most content supports that resolution and it’s a nice, crisp step up from 480p.
