Are Outdoor Movie Projectors Better Than Traditional Movie Theaters? Yes, Yes, They Are

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As much as we welcome warm weather, sometimes summer days are too hot, so the only time to enjoy being outside is at night. That's when the best outdoor projectors come in handy. So if you're not exactly a chef and the idea of inviting your friends over for an alfresco feast gives you a headache, skip it and do a movie night under the stars instead. The best part? Sometimes outdoor flicks are even better from the comfort of your own backyard hangout than they are from a theater.

Allow us to set the scene (no pun intended): You're relaxing in your yard amid a sea of plush blankets and outdoor pillows (atop a picnic blanket so that they don’t get ruined or dirty), plenty of bowls filled with snacks, and the crisp audio and visuals of the film of your choice. Though you don’t always need a screen to make this dream a reality, it can come in handy. Otherwise, if you have a smooth, white surface onto which you can project your favorite movie or show (like a bed sheet or the side of your house), you can skip the screen.



Ahead, we've rounded up our favorite outdoor projectors that will surely make warm summer nights that much more fun. So make your house the go-to place to hang out for your friends and family, and snag a portable projector that can handle any weather thrown its way. Now that we're already a few days into summer, there's officially no excuse to wait—especially because almost all of our top picks are on sale!

The Freestyle FHD HDR Smart Portable Projector

We're coming in hot with this Samsung find. It's almost $600, but it's worth it in our opinion. It's called The Freestyle because it's pretty flexible: Just place it, tilt it, and enjoy your favorite flicks. All of that aside, it's also smart—literally. Once you start the show, the Freestyle auto-levels and auto-focuses so the picture looks perfect on your screen. The best part? This whole process happens in seconds. It comes with 360-degree audio that's capable of filling just about any space—no matter how big. One reviewer says, "I've been using the product for past couple months and its a great product for the price!I use bare wall to project and the picture quality is great. Built is good, sound is okay for the small room.I would like to see 4K projector from Samsung with improved sound quality in near future."

Product Dimensions: 3.7" L x 4" W x 6.7" H

Weight: 1.8 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 100 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Outdoor Movie Screen

Before you strain your eyes searching for the projector, we'll tell you now that you won't find one. This is a polyester outdoor movie screen. As much as we like the idea of projecting our favorite movies, shows, and even workout classes on the side of a building, sometimes we just need a screen for better quality (and a more luxurious experience). This solid white backdrop is weatherproof and easy to assemble and take down. You can also move and store it, courtesy of the zip-up bag.

Dimensions: 112" W x 93-100" H

Mini Projector with 5G WiFi and Bluetooth

Back to the projectors. Full disclosure: One of the reasons we love this find is because it kind of looks like an antique camera complete with the leather handle. Of course, if you try to record something with it, you'll be disappointed because it's actually a super-high-tech projector that connects to both WiFi and Bluetooth. And at just six inches tall, it's perfectly portable and compact. "For the price this Wimius model is impressive. This projector combines HD visuals with the ability to dial in the keystone adjustments," a reviewer says. "I took a video of the projector in action mirroring my iPhone screen using the projectors 'screen mirroring' feature. It makes a connection over WiFi and I was able to stream an entire movie using this feature. It's a little clunky to get it setup, but it works."

Product Dimensions: ‎5.3" L x 4.1" W x 6.1" H

Weight: 1.9 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 300 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Mini Projector

At just $50, this is one of the best outdoor projectors on our list. It's much more high-tech than you'd expect, too. For instance, it's complete with a 7500 lumens LED light source and 1080P full HD-supported resolution, both of which make the edges of the projection brighter and clearer. It's also only a little taller than two and a half inches, making it easy to tuck away in a drawer when you're not using it. "The projector arrived and was a sweet upgrade from the previous version. Easy to set up, and very portable. It has a lighter plastic feel to it so I was originally worried about the quality, but was surprised that it was as good as it was for being so light," a reviewer says. "I've had it 6 months now and still use it almost every day with no issues. I use an amazon fire stick, my Nintendo Switch, and my laptop to cast whatever I'm doing onto a wall and it works great."

Product Dimensions: ‎6.69" L x 4.9" W x 2.64" H

Weight: 1.6 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 210 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Mini Projector

Another affordable option that deserves a spot on our list is the CiBest mini projector. The 2023 version features a few subtle improvements that make alfresco movie marathons much more enjoyable. For instance, there's a 6,000:1 contrast ratio and diffuse reflection technology offers a softer projection image to protect your eyes. There are also a lot of goodies included, such as an HDMI line, an AV cable, a power cord, a remote control, and an adjustable foot. One stunned reviewer notes, "2023 Projector is SO BRIGHT AND VIVID it is hard to believe its not a tv or monitor compared to the other brand projector I have."

Product Dimensions: ‎7.91" L x 5.51" W x 2.76" H

Weight: 2.8 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 200 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

WiFi6 Projector

WeWatch is a company that describes itself as "a research team obsessed with projectors. We love watching movies, we understand what makes a good projector, we listen to what consumers think about our products, and we provide professional and fast customer support services." We don't beg to differ because this WiFi-enabled projector is proof that WeWatch is, indeed, telling the truth. Plus, the vertical keystone correction and four-corner correction makes it theater-worthy. "This has great sound quality, high resolution. Easy to navigate thru the menu, it's great for home theater or replace as TV, no installation required just plug in and go, got this for my kids play room, so they don't have keep watching the TV or the tablet, which we all know it's bad for the eyes, so with this can have some distance for them. Overall great product and recommended," a reviewer says.

Product Dimensions: ‎12" L x 12.4" W x 5.44" H

Weight: 6 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 120 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Portable Projector with 1700 LED Lumens

The unique and sleek stand aside, the most impressive element of this portable projector is the built-in dual Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, which deliver room-filling audio. And if you're outdoors, prepare to bother your neighbors because this thing gets loud. Also, depending on where you are, you can use it with Bluetooth, WiFi, USB, or HDMI, so you have plenty of options. "This is a nice portable sized projector. The size of the picture is dependent upon the distance from the wall. The picture quality is very good for a portable device with vivid colors. Brightness and contrast are adjustable. There are different default settings but I find adjusting parameters myself is better," a reviewer says.

Product Dimensions: 8.9" L x 8.9" W x 2.2" H

Weight: 3 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 120 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Ultra Mini Portable Projector

We've included a few projectors small enough to stow in a drawer or cabinet, but none are quite as little as this one, which is so tiny that you can slide it right in your pocket. Rest assured it does not skimp on quality. It includes an advanced DLP optical engine, superior LED brightness, exceptional color accuracy, and pristine picture quality (it looks best in dark spaces, like night skies). "The quality and clarity of the Kodak Ultra Mini 150 projector is awesome. With an Apple adapter (the generic version was shoddy and returned), an iPhone serves as a great video source," a reviewer says. "It can also be directly connected to Apple TV, and other sources, by way of an HDMI cable. The projector’s focus wheel and moving the device closer or further from the screen determining the picture size, offer a great viewing experience."

Product Dimensions: 3.1" L x 3.1" W x 0.79" H

Weight: 5.3 ounces

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 100 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Mini Projector with WiFi and Bluetooth

Another tiny outdoor-friendly projector is this ELEPHAS one that comes with its own tripod stand. It utilizes DLP technology (over LED) that delivers high-quality, crisp, and high-contrast images, so if you're looking for something a bit different, this is a good find. Did we mention you can score $20 off with an Amazon coupon? Just check the little box marked "coupon," and the savings are yours. "It is a fantastic product that is easy to use. For instance, it has an intuitive interface for setting up movies from all different types of media, and is easy to connect the device to WiFi," a reviewer says. "It is also easy to physically set it up for use, even within a car. The display is beautiful, and it has great sound quality, too.

Product Dimensions: 10.31" L x 7.83" W x 3.07" H

Weight: 2.7 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 100 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Outdoor Projector

And now, back to the regular-size outdoor projectors. This one, by HISION, which is eight inches tall and looks more like a speaker than it does a projector. It has a built-in 5W high-power speaker that pairs well with the adjustable screen, which can get as big as 200 inches. If you're not into the green, this sleek and slender find also comes in white. A reviewer says, "I enjoy it! It's perfect, sleek and is super cute. I wish the software had a feature where I can change the shape of the picture because currently I have it showing where the top is wider than the bottom. I'm ordering a stand for it though, so still 5 stars. Not a bad purchase! I like it!"

Product Dimensions: 3.9" L x 5.5" W x 7.9" H

Weight: 3.4 pounds

Maximum Viewing Size: up to 100 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Our Tips for Buying the Best Outdoor Projector

Consider where you'll be using it: If you're using it outside, make sure it's at least moisture resistant (none will be fully waterproof). Secondly, take a peek at the conditions under which the projectors work best. Some prefer broad daylight, while others perform better in the dark. Next, if you're outside, the acoustics will definitely be affected. So opt for something with a built-in speaker that projects.

Think about size: If your projector is a gadget you'll use consistently in the same place, you don't need to go for a tiny one that's easy to transport. If you want to be able to toss your projector in your purse or suitcase to bring on camping trips or vacations, go with a small one that weighs less than a few pounds.

Factor in the stand: Most of the projectors on our list come with a stand, but if the one you like doesn't you may want to snag one. If there's no adjustable stand, you'll have to angle and tilt the projector using materials lying around, which won't make for the best viewing experience.

How Many Lumens Do I Need for an Outdoor Projector?

You'll want at least 500 lumens, the unit of luminous flux, for an outdoor projector. It's basically a measure of the total quantity of visible light you can actually see. Because most outdoor projectors work best at night, you'll want one that comes with a high lumens so that you don't have to strain your eyes trying to watch the movie.

Why Trust Us?

The House Beautiful shopping editors love summer and are doing everything we can to stay outside for as long as possible. So imagine how happy we were to find the best outdoor projectors to break out now that temperatures are on the rise. Because tech tends to be pretty expensive, most of our picks are on sale.

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