Outdoor projectors are just the thing you need to enhance a camping trip or upgrade your backyard entertainment experience. While smartphones or tablets can download and stream films or TV shows themselves, it’s not comparable to having a large-scale projection that can be easily enjoyed by a group, all watching a film together.
Outdoor projectors tend to have limited battery life — usually only for a single film or two — though many can also function separately as Bluetooth speakers for far longer. And, if you have one of the best portable power stations, you can get many more hours of use out of an outdoor projector.
Whether you’re planning on traversing the great outdoors or creating a powerful entertainment system outside your own home, here are the best outdoor projectors, according to experts.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best outdoor projectors | The best outdoor projectors | How to shop for the best outdoor projectors | Why trust NBC Select?
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How we picked the best outdoor projectors
When picking these suggestions, I drew on the advice of other gadget testers and projector experts at Optoma, while also using my expertise as the Home Cinema Editor for TechRadar and an AV reporter for NBC Select. When choosing individual models, I kept the below criteria in mind:
- Weather resistance: The difference between an indoor and outdoor projector is that the latter should be able to handle the elements. We looked for outdoor projectors with some measure of water resistance to make sure they could handle a little rain as well as dust and drop resistance where possible.
- Portability and battery life: If you’re taking a projector outdoors, you may not have access to a power socket, making a decent battery life (at least one movie’s worth) and wireless capabilities an important feature.
- Projection and brightness: For picture clarity, we looked for models with HD or 4K projection, with sufficient lumens or brightness to ensure visibility either in the dark or the evening light.
The best outdoor projectors
Nebula Mars 3
- Water, dust, drop resistance
- Built-in kickstand
- Pricey
Gadget tester Antwan Richardson, who is the creator and host of the New Stuff TV YouTube channel tells us the top pick should easily be the Nebula Mars 3, calling it “the complete package”. This portable projector comes with “IPX3 water resistance, dust resistance and even drop resistance” to help it weather the great outdoors. It also offers sharp and bright images on an expansive 200-inch projection, with HDR (High Dynamic Range) support. Richardson says, “The built-in kickstand is a huge help when getting it set up [and] the user interface is friendly to people who may not know much about projectors.”
Brand: Anker | Resolution: 1080p | Projection size: 200 in. | Brightness: 1000 ANSI lumens | Battery life: Up to 5 hours projection (eco mode), or 15 hours audio | Weight: 9.9 lbs | Dimensions: 6.29 x 10.23 x 9.84 in. | Water resistance: IPX3 | HDR: Yes | Speakers: 40W | Ports/Connectivity: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
- 180-degree rotation
- Great smart platform
- Not the brightest
- Battery base sold separately
The Freestyle portable Samsung projector was recommended by Erin Lawrence, a tech reviewer who focuses on testing TVs, streaming devices and projectors. This second-generation model builds on an already-excellent projector, adding a dedicated gaming interface to Samsung’s sleek smart TV platform, as well as motorized zoom and lens shift to better calibrate the projection to your needs. There is also voice assistant support for Alexa or Bixby. However, to use this as an outdoor projector, you’ll either need a nearby power source or Samsung’s optional battery base, which provides The Freestyle with three hours of charge.
Lawrence worked on a Nebula review two years ago but does not have any current or ongoing relationship, financial or otherwise, with Anker or any other brand listed in this story.
Brand: Anker | Resolution: 1080p | Projection size: 30-100 in. | Brightness: 230 ANSI lumens | Battery life: 2.5 hours projection, or 10 hours audio | Weight: 1.8 lbs | Dimensions: 3.7 x 4 x 6.8 in. | Water resistance: N/A | HDR: Yes (HDR10/HDR10+/HLG) | Speakers: 5W | Ports/Connectivity: USB-C, Micro-HDMI, Bluetooth
Nebula Capsule 3
- Google TV integration
- Highly compact
- Slightly dim projection
Lawrence also recommends the Nebula Capsule 3, a highly portable, can-shaped projector that retails for half the price of the Nebula Mars 3 but matches it for resolution (1080p), while cutting back on brightness (only 200 lumens). It lacks HDR but the projection size is still a roomy 120 inches. It’s a little dim compared to other models on this list, but those intent on watching in the dark should manage just fine. At 1.83 lbs, it’s lightweight and its compact form factor makes it very easy to carry around.
Brand: Anker | Resolution: 1080p | Projection size: 120 in. | Brightness: 200 ANSI lumens | Battery life: 2.5 hours projection, or 10 hours audio | Weight: 1.83 lbs | Dimensions: 2.67 x 2.67 x 4.72 in. | Water resistance: N/A | HDR: No | Speakers: 8W | Ports/Connectivity: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth
BenQ GS50
- 2.1 channel speakers
- Splash and drop resistance
- Slow interface
The BenQ GS50 comes recommended by Richardson, who praises its “built-in battery and speaker as well as its weather and drop resistance.” Specifically, it comes with a 2.1-channel audio system, including a 10W woofer for bass, which is far more powerful than the other options on this list, making this a good choice for outdoor moviegoers who care about audio. A 2.5-hour battery life is decent and should last for most movies. Richardson’s only complaint is that “the interface can be slow or glitchy at times”, but its overall sound quality and stylish form factor make up for those small hiccups.
Brand: BenQ | Resolution: 1080p | Projection size: 30-112 in. | Brightness: 500 ANSI lumens | Battery life: 2.5 hours | Weight: 5.07 lbs | Dimensions: 5.75 x 7.32 x 6.06 in. | Water resistance: IPX2 | HDR: Yes | Speakers: 2.1 channel (2x5W + 10W woofer) | Ports/Connectivity: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth, AirPlay
Yaber T2
- Built-in handle
- Stylish design
- Nothing to note at this time
This Yaber projector is rated 4.5/5 stars on Amazon, and for good reason. It’s a sleek model: with a tasteful beige colorway and built-in handle. It looks more like a high-end coffee flask or compact picnic basket than it does a piece of AV hardware. The handle even doubles up as a stand to help angle the projection where you need it. But with a speaker developed by JBL, and 18 hours of battery life when sticking to music playback, the Yaber T2 makes a strong case for itself as a portable speaker as well as an outdoor projector.
Brand: BenQ | Resolution: 1080p | Projection size: 40-120 in. | Brightness: 450 ANSI lumens | Battery life: 2.5 hours projection, 18 hours audio | Weight: 8.07 lbs | Dimensions: 11.41 x 5.51 x 11.4 in. | Water resistance: N/A | HDR: N/A | Speakers: 2x8W | Ports/Connectivity: USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6
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How to shop for the best outdoor projectors
- Brightness: “One of the most important things to understand is that ambient light is the enemy of almost any projector,” says Richardson. “There are very few projectors that can put up top quality video imagery in a very bright room or outdoors in daylight.” He also adds that the ideal viewing conditions will be later at night or in a dark setting. If you plan to use the projector during the daylight hours, just ensure it has a decent number of lumens, which determine how bright the projection can get.
- Screens: Richardson also advises shoppers to think about what they will be projecting onto, as the side of an unpainted brick wall probably won’t cut it: “If you’re going to invest in a projector make sure you invest in a proper screen. You can certainly hoist a sheet or project video onto a white wall in a pinch, but if you’re really going to go all out, getting a good quality screen makes a massive difference in how the image is viewed.”
- Connectivity: “Another consideration for an outdoor projector is to make sure either that your Wi-Fi will reach the area where you’re planning to view your videos, or that your projector can play downloaded content off a thumb drive or storage drive,” says Richardson. Otherwise, you may end up in the great outdoors without anything to watch.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Erin Lawrence is a gadget expert and professional tech reviewer for TechGadgetsInternational.com, with years of experience testing TVs, streamers and projectors.
- Antwan Richardson is the creator and host of the New Stuff TV YouTube channel, which offers candid perspectives on home theater hardware, including projectors, TVs and soundbars.
- Billy Harrison is a Product Manager at Optoma, an electronics manufacturer specializing in projectors for business, education, professional audio/video and home entertainment.
Why trust NBC Select?
I have worked as a gadget reporter since 2017, covering the latest developments in consumer hardware, from TVs and headphones to smart speakers and VR headsets. I previously worked as the News & Features Editor at TechRadar and now freelance for NBC Select, Healthline and The Independent.
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