Yahoo Lifestyle8 Best Outdoor Projectors, According to Tech Pros
- 1/9
8 Best Outdoor Projectors, According to Tech Pros
Home movie night used to mean curling up on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn. That still works, but more families are moving the activity outside, watching a film or favorite show projected onto a portable screen from the comfort of a picnic blanket and patio furniture, cozied beneath a patio heater.
While you can get an outdoor television, home projector is the key to making the experience possible — though not any old model will do, according to the tech experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute. In evaluating more than 10 of the latest home projectors, we focused on the features that do the most to enhance outdoor viewing, including brightness, ease of streaming, image crispness and clarity, and portability, knowing that most people will carry the equipment back inside once the show is over. As with our reviews of home projectors for indoor use, the following roundup is based upon comprehensive categorical testing, road testing of newer models and reviewing updates to past favorites. Here are the top projectors for outdoor use that the Good Housekeeping Institute recommends:
- Best Overall Outdoor Projector: Nebula Solar Outdoor Projector
- Best Value Outdoor Projector: GooDee HD Outdoor Movie Projector
- Best Outdoor Projector for Mirroring: ViewSonic M2 Portable Smart Wi-Fi Projector
- Best Outdoor Projector for Sports: ViewSonic 1080p Projector
- Best Outdoor Projector for Beginners: Anker Mars II Pro Portable Projector
- Best 4K Outdoor Projector: Optoma UHD65 Cinema Projector
- Best All-In-One Outdoor Projector: LG HU80KSW CineBeam Projector
- Best Outdoor Projector for Android TV: Epson EF-100 Mini Laser Streaming Projector
How to choose an outdoor projector for your home
Keep these factors in mind as you shop for an outdoor projector:
- Streaming capabilities: Think about where your content will come from. If your home’s WiFi signal is strong enough to reach outside, you can connect the projector to a laptop, Blu-ray player, or streaming stick. Adding a mesh network to your home's WiFi can help extend the signal outdoors. Alternatively, you may need to look for a model with built-in WiFi, sometimes referred to as all-in-one or one-box systems.
- Power source: Some outdoor projectors have built-in batteries, eliminating the need for power cords, but most need to be plugged in. The safest practice is to have an outdoor outlet installed by a professional; its ground fault circuit interrupter (or "GFCI") will protect against electrical hazards. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it's a surge protector rated for outdoor use, and watch out for tripping hazards, especially after nightfall.
- Screen: Sure, you can watch on an old sheet tacked to the side of the house or garage. But for the best viewing experience, invest in a proper projector screen, since brightness and picture quality will be vastly improved. You can find high-quality pop-up screens with their owns stands for between $100 and $200. It might be worth spending more on a 4K-rated screen, since the technology is becoming more common — even if your current projector doesn't feature it, your next one might.
- Screen size: Screen size is critical, since there’s likely to be a large crowd gathered around; much less than 100 inches will start to feel small and cramped. You also want to make sure it's the right shape, which is usually measured by aspect ratio (16:9 is the norm for outdoor projectors).
- Throw distance: This is the distance between the projector and screen. Standard throw projectors need to be about 10 feet from the screen, while short throw projectors can be placed a couple feet or closer to the screen, which can be helpful in tight outdoor spaces.
- Brightness: Brightness is important too, because even on a moonless night it’s not going to be pitch black out there. Brightness is measured in lumens: Between 2,000 and 2,500 lumens should provide adequate brightness in most outdoor settings. If there's a lot of competing light for street lamps or the neighbor's house, you might want to go as high as 3,000. One important note: Some manufacturers use ANSI lumens, which are proportionally brighter than standard lumens. For example, if you see a projector with 900 ANSI lumens, that's generally comparable to 2,200 standard lumens.
- Resolution: This is overall picture quality, measured in pixels (p). For a satisfactory outdoor viewing experience, you want a minimum of 720p. A resolution fo 1080p is even better. Or go big on 4K, the latest and greatest in resolution, delivering exceptional picture quality, but at an extremely high price.
- Sound/audio source: Onboard speakers are helpful, though you’ll probably want to spend on separate speakers, given all the ambient outdoor sounds. Bluetooth-enabled speakers are a good option, including smart speakers like Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod and Google Nest Audio that can double as digital assistants.
- Portability: Since you’ll be bringing the projector inside and out, look for one that’s lightweight and easy to transport. A built-in projector stand to adjust the angle of projection is a helpful feature.
- 2/9
1) Solar Outdoor Projector
Nebula
amazon.com
$399.99
As the same implies, this Nebula projector is meant to move around, thanks to its on-board rechargeable battery that delivers three hours of power on a single charge, plenty of juice for most feature films. Our testers also like built-in speakers and projector stand, helpful for getting set up outside without a lot of add-on equipment. The 120-inch image is plenty big and there are many ways to project content, including casting from your Android or iOS device or streaming through a laptop via the built-in HDMI connection.
- 3/9
2) HD Outdoor Movie Projector
GooDee
amazon.com
$122.39
This bargain-priced projector has the same feature set of much pricier models, including full HD 1080p resolution and a massive 200-inch image size. The user experience is exceptional — 4.5 stars based on more than 5,000 reviews on Amazon, with many consumers singling out the bright picture quality and solid sound from the pair of built-in speakers. It’s also plenty versatile with connections, whether you want to hook up your smart phone, laptop, or streaming stick.
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- 4/9
3) M2 Portable Smart Wi-Fi Projector
ViewSonic
amazon.com
$649.00
Weighing a svelte two pounds, this ultra-compact home projector is one of the most portable around. What our testers really like, though, is how easy it is to mirror content from your smart phone, tablet computer, or other mobile device, thanks to the WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The 100-inch image size isn’t as big as other top picks, but it should do the trick in most open-air viewing parties, especially with its 1080p resolution.
- 5/9
4) 1080p Projector
ViewSonic
amazon.com
$499.99
While movie buffs will find plenty to like about this ViewSonic projector, backyard gamers and sports fans will especially appreciate its low lag time and zippy refresh rate, ideal for projecting action-packed images. The resolution is exceptionally crisp and the 3,200-lumen brightness holds up even with there’s still some light left in the night sky. Last but not least, the image size can go as high as 300 inches, so the crowd of onlookers won’t miss any of the gaming action.
- 6/9
5) Mars II Pro Portable Projector
Anker
amazon.com
$549.99
Even tech-challenged users should find the Mars II Pro easy to operate. For starters, the Nebula app allows you to turn your smart phone into a remote control for the projector. You can then easily mirror content from the phone onto the screen, with its maximum image size of 100 inches. If you prefer, you can also use the USB and HDMI connections to hook the projector up to any compatible laptop, tablet, or gaming device. The carry handle is a nice design touch that highlight’s the projector’s user-friendliness and portability.
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- 7/9
6) UHD65 Cinema Projector
Optoma
amazon.com
If you take your movies seriously (no talking! put the phone away! sit through the credits!), you’ll want to invest in a projector that delivers exceptional picture quality. The Optoma does just that, thanks to its 4K capabilities (delivering the best possible picture quality) and HDR (that’s “high dynamic range”) color contrasts. The 2,200 lumens of brightness will ensure picture crispness even as the sun is still going down. Connectivity is everything you’d expect in a premium projector: HDMI, Ethernet, and a USB for streaming sticks.
- 8/9
7) HU80KSW CineBeam Projector
LG
amazon.com
$2277.90
So-called one-box systems make for great outdoor projectors, because all the components are baked into the device. The LG CineBeam is a perfect case in point. For starters, there’s the built-in LG smart hub, which makes it easy to download apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube. Thanks to its on-board WiFi, the CineBeam can also mirror content from your smartphone, tablet or laptop without the use of cables. Our testers also like the projector’s integrated handle and power cord, along with the compact design, which makes it easy to transport.
- 9/9
8) EF-100 Mini Laser Streaming Projector
Epson
amazon.com
$899.99
Epson’s mini laser is powered by Android TV, so if that’s your preferred OS, you’ll be right at home with the process of streaming content from a range of familiar apps, including Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube. It’s a highly sophisticated projector that uses laser technology instead of the standard lamp for an exceptionally crisp picture, even when there’s some daylight remaining. The 150-inch picture benefits from 2,000-lumen brightness, so viewers will be able to enjoy the show from various angles.
