Best Overall
Nebula by Anker Solar Portable Projector
AMAZON
- Design4.5/5
- Setup5/5
- Image Quality5/5
- Sound Quality4.5/5
- Connectivity4.8/5
- It has an autofocus feature that keeps the image sharp when switching between different viewing media.
It has an autofocus feature that keeps the image sharp when switching between different viewing media.
- Those seated near the front side of the projector may have a slightly more muted sound experience.
Those seated near the front side of the projector may have a slightly more muted sound experience.
After testing nine devices first-hand, we found this Nebula option to be the best outdoor projector. What we liked most about this gadget was how easy it was to set up and connect to our Android device. It only took around 20 minutes on initial setup, as all our information copied over from the Google account on our phone. We also appreciated how user-friendly both the projector and its remote were.
When it comes to the projector’s picture quality, the image was both bright and clear. We tested the projector 10 feet away from the screen (as was recommended for the 120-inch screen we used). It is important to note that this projector is only able to project images via its front side. As for its sound, its speakers are plenty loud and located on the back of the device. Those sitting in front of the projector may find the sound to be quieter because of this.
We liked the projector’s autofocus feature because it made it easier to transfer the image between viewing media without diminishing its quality. However, we weren’t fans of the short, 2-foot-long USB-C cord, which made it necessary to use an extension cord to place the projector where we needed it. But if that’s not a deal breaker, we recommend this small and compact outdoor projector for its good value, high-quality imaging, and simple setup.
How It Performed After Three Months
While testing this option for three months, we used it a few times for camping and outdoor movie nights. We didn't notice any changes in quality and as long as we had a decent connection, we didn't experience any issues either.
This projector had great auto focus and its battery life lasted through an entire movie. We would have liked the speaker to have been stronger, but we'd still recommend the product overall.
Product Details: Dimensions: 7.6 x 2.3 x 7.6 inches | Projection Size: Up to 120 inches | Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 400 ANSI lumens | Connectivity: USB, HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / TAMMY GARDINI
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / TAMMY GARDINI
Best Budget
Purshe Bluetooth Projector
AMAZON
- Design5/5
- Ease of Assembly3/5
- Durability3/5
- Screen Quality/Clarity4/5
- Value4/5
- While it’s not the most high-tech gadget, this outdoor projector comes with a movie screen for an all-in-one purchase.
While it’s not the most high-tech gadget, this outdoor projector comes with a movie screen for an all-in-one purchase.
- We had a hard time angling the projector using its adjustable screw and needed to add in our own wedge to project at the correct angle.
We had a hard time angling the projector using its adjustable screw and needed to add in our own wedge to project at the correct angle.
If you’re looking for a quality outdoor projectors but are on a budget, the Dr. J Bluetooth Projector is a solid option. In addition to its affordable price, the projector comes with its own 120-inch movie screen so you won’t need to purchase one separately. The image quality was clear and vibrant for the most part, especially when viewed directly in front of the projection.
When testing its sound, we thought its built-in speaker provided an adequate amount, but we did connect our Bluetooth speaker to enhance its quality. We also appreciated that the projector came with a headphone port for a more intimate viewing experience.
Despite a few hiccups during setup, connecting to the device was fairly straightforward thanks to easy-to-follow instructions. We used the HDMI and AV adapter cables to connect to gaming systems and an iPad. The projector also offers the option to connect via WiFi, a helpful feature especially if you want to bring it indoors where there’s a stronger WiFi signal.
The power cord was a decent length at 6 feet, but we did need to use an extension cord for our backyard setup. We also struggled with angling the machine despite using its adjustable screw, and we had to add a wedge for better precision. Furthermore, we encountered issues when it came to mirroring our iPad and had to plug into the HDMI port several times.
While the projector is basic, it does provide a solid image and sound experience. The challenges we encountered with the angling was minimal compared to the rest of the positive features we experienced during testing, especially for the affordable price.
Product Details: Dimensions: 12.13 x 6.46 x 8.9 inches | Projection Size: Up to 250 inches | Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 13,000 light source lumens | Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, AV, and WiFi
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / KIMBERLY SOUZA
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / KIMBERLY SOUZA
Best Splurge
Samsung The Freestyle Gen 2
BEST BUY
- Design4.8/5
- Setup5/5
- Image Quality4.5/5
- Sound Quality5/5
- Connectivity5/5
- It’s a smaller outdoor projector that can easily be moved from place to place for movie marathons thanks to its long battery life.
It’s a smaller outdoor projector that can easily be moved from place to place for movie marathons thanks to its long battery life.
- If you plan on using the projector cord-free, it takes three hours to fully charge.
If you plan on using the projector cord-free, it takes three hours to fully charge.
Although this outdoor projector from Samsung may be expensive, we think it’s worth the splurge. In addition to the simple and straightforward 22-minute setup, we found it quick to adjust the projection thanks to its auto-leveling feature. The device can be used cord-free after charging its battery (which took us three hours to fully charge) or by being plugged into the wall. We tested it as a cordless model and were pleasantly surprised by its long battery life, which still read “full” even after playing an entire movie.
Considering the small size of this projector and its speaker, we were pleasantly surprised by its sound quality. At 230 ANSI lumens, the projector’s brightness is less than Prouty’s minimum recommendation of 300, but we still found the projection to be clear and bright during nighttime testing. However, when we tested its front projection from 10 feet at dusk, we were unable to see the picture.
It is one of the smaller outdoor projectors on our list, making it easily portable and simple to take on trips or over to a friend’s house for a backyard movie night. Aside from the fact that it was difficult to see the photo at dusk, we highly recommend this outdoor projector for its versatility, exceptional sound quality, and travel-friendly size.
How It Performed After Nine Months
Even during the cooler months, we still found ourselves using this projector indoors at home. It's a great option for any room in your home that doesn't have a television as it's simple to set up and you don't need an outlet to use it. It's also compact and easily portable.
We used it to stream football games in our garage, on the side of our patio when we're sitting around our fire pit, and on the ceiling of our kids' rooms when they're sick. We even used it to run a video of ghosts in our window during Halloween.
Product Details: Dimensions: 4 x 6.8 x 3.7 inches (with stand) | Projection Size: Up to 100 inches | Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 230 ANSI lumens | Connectivity: HDMI, WiFi, and Bluetooth
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JODI ESPINOSA
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JODI ESPINOSA
Best Portable
BenQ GS50 Outdoor Projector
AMAZON
- Design5/5
- Setup3.8/5
- Image Quality4.5/5
- Sound Quality5/5
- Connectivity4/5
- The device comes with a carrying case to hold the projector and its remotes and cords.
The device comes with a carrying case to hold the projector and its remotes and cords.
- The initial setup took us longer than most of the other projectors we tested.
The initial setup took us longer than most of the other projectors we tested.
Looking for an outdoor projector that’s easily portable? The BenQ GS50 1080p Wireless Outdoor Projector earned this title after our testing period. We specifically liked that this projector came with a carrying case to hold its remotes and cords.
Its initial setup time took about 45 minutes, which was slightly longer than the setup of other projectors we tested. The reason this was challenging for us is that the projector is an Android product, and we were using an iPhone, which required us to download several apps. And although the device’s website has a user guide, it was not easily searchable. However, after the initial steps of downloading the correct apps, we found the projector easy to use.
When we tested its battery, we discovered that it can last longer than two hours, especially on lower volume and brightness settings, which is beneficial for viewing longer movies. The projector has both front and rear projection—which allows you to project from behind the screen—but the front projection is the best option when using its built-in speaker. Although we didn’t get to test its ability to withstand water, it promises to be “splash-proof” which may prove useful if you happen to encounter a rain storm and need to quickly bring the machine inside.
When evaluating the projector’s image quality, we did so from a variety of distances and found them all bright and clear, especially from a close distance. Its autofocus and angle adjustment features were helpful in ensuring the best picture quality for each viewing setup.
How It Performed After Nine Months
After nine months of testing, this projector still works well. We used it for entertaining friends during the winter months and they always noted how clear the picture was. The projector is high-quality and lightweight, and once we got the hang of it, it was quite easy to use as well.
Product Details: Dimensions: 7.32 x 6.06 x 5.75 inches | Projection Size: Up to 112 inches | Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 500 ANSI lumens | Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, Chromecast, Apple Airplay, HDMI, USB-C, and screen mirroring
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / KIM VOGT
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / KIM VOGT
Best Speaker
XGIMI MoGo 2 Portable Projector
AMAZON
- Design4/5
- Setup3.5/5
- Image Quality4/5
- Sound Quality5/5
- Connectivity4/5
- At less than 2.5 pounds, it’s one of the lightest projectors we tested.
At less than 2.5 pounds, it’s one of the lightest projectors we tested.
- The projector needed to reset its autofocus every time someone walked in front of it, which may not be ideal for households with small children.
The projector needed to reset its autofocus every time someone walked in front of it, which may not be ideal for households with small children.
We found this XGIMI outdoor projector to be a solid choice, especially when it came to its speaker and sound quality, considering the small size of the device. The sound was crisp, and we did not feel the need to connect an additional speaker to enhance the quality. Thanks to speakers on all sides of the projector, we didn’t notice any change in sound quality as we moved around the device.
When it comes to connectivity, we had the easiest time using WiFi to stream content. When we used HDMI to display an image from our computer, streaming became more inconsistent: The video would start, stop, and fast forward frequently.
We ran into some difficulty when it came to correctly sizing the picture on our designated viewing area, which in this case was our shed wall. We also found it to be a bit bothersome that the machine needed to reset focus each time someone walked in front of it, which happened often while watching with younger children. With that being said, the image quality met our expectations when we placed the projector 10 to 12 feet from the screen.
At 2.42 pounds, and just over 6 inches tall, the projector is easy to transport. Considering its moderate price, we think this outdoor projector is worth the value, especially if a machine with high-quality sound is important to you.
How It Performed After Three Months
Overall, the quality of this projector was consistently good. We were particularly impressed with this model's sound as it features wraparound speakers that really enhanced our viewing experience. We took down the screen and stored it between uses, so it remained clean through the testing period.
Our only issue was that each time someone walked in front of the screen it would refocus, which was frustrating. However, we weren't sure if it was an issue with a projector or any settings we may have been using. That being said, we thought this was a great product overall.
Product Details: Dimensions: 4.68 x 6.33 x 4.25 inches | Projection Size: Up to 200 inches | Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 400 ISO lumens | Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Aux, Chromecast, and Android TV
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / LUCY SILBERMAN