The best outdoor projectors can keep you entertained no matter the time of year, outside of those warmer summer months. That said, getting ahead of the weather and researching the right model for you can certainly pay off once that sun does start to show.
For context, cinemas aren’t dark just so you can cuddle up in the back row; the light from the projector wouldn’t be able to make the colors so strong and vivid if it was competing with house lights. Similarly, even the best home projector is no match for a gigantic ball of fire in the sky. Any projector is going to struggle with a sunny day, even in a shady area. That’s why we’d recommend keeping even the best outdoor projector for the twilight hours.
We’ve rounded up all the best outdoor projectors currently available right now, so you can make the most of those long evenings heading our way.
Best outdoor projectors 2023
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1. BenQ GS50
Our expert review:
Specifications
Resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)Brightness: 500 ANSI lumensContrast: 100,000:1Clear image size (diagonal): up to 112 inchesThrow ratio: 1.21 (fixed zoom ratio)Weight: 2.3kgConnections: 2 x HDMI (including for streaming stick), 1 x USB A, 1 x USB C, Bluetooth and wifi
Reasons to buy
+Excellent sound+Strong battery life+16GB internal storage+Great HD picture
Reasons to avoid
-No zoom or lens shift-Slightly pricy for HD pictures (but worth it for the portability)
The BenQ GS50 is a terrific candidate for the best outdoor projector this year, and is one of your top premium choices should you be looking to splash out. BenQ claims the 2.1 Bluetooth sound is a first for a portable smart projector, and it’s likely the loudest we’ve heard on a portable projector. Volume was kept below 10 out of 50 at home for the most part in our testing, but even when cranked right up to full volume there was no noticeable distortion – so you can listen outdoors without the need for extra speakers.
It’s truly built for portability, with a hard-wearing outer case that is splash resistant, is drop tested to about two feet (or “carrying height”), and comes with a smart carry case. We found the battery to last well over two hours, but this can be stretched out to almost three, while you can also charge via a USB-C power brick.
The HD picture is crisp with good colour reproduction. There’s no game mode and input lag is measured at 62ms – not noticeable unless you’re a competitive gamer but showing that gaming isn’t the focus of the GS50. You could get a higher-end home projector for this money, and although it’s more than fine for casual home watching, the features mean this has to be, first and foremost, a front runner for the best outdoor projector money can buy right now.
Read more: BenQ GS50 review
2. TMY V08 720p Native Projector
The best budget outdoor projector
Specifications
Resolution: 720p Native (supports 1080p HD)Brightness: 4,500 lumensContrast: 2,000:1Features: Dual-stereo speaker, multiple ports, remote controlThrow: Standard
Reasons to buy
+Free screen and case+Incredible value
Reasons to avoid
-Some focus issues
When putting a projector indoors, there’s a reasonable chance of having a white wall that the image will look great on. Outside, this is less likely. So not only is the TMY V08 great value in itself, but it includes a free 100-inch screen sheet, saving you having to buy one separately. It’s a small touch, but a very useful one that few brands provide.
It’s a bright outdoor projector which will give as good an image and clear sound as you’ll find in this price range. Some users have reported issues having all areas of the screen in focus but this is only noticeable if you’re using it as a secondary monitor with lots of text, and not something which interferes with your home drive-in watching pleasure. It’s well worth the low price.
3. Anker Nebula Capsule II
The best portable outdoor projector
Specifications
Resolution: Native 720p (1280 x 720)Brightness: 200 ANSI lumenContrast: Not statedFeatures: Projector mode, speaker mode, Android operating system, 3 hours of video playback on batteryThrow: Short
Reasons to buy
+Watch it anywhere+Connect wirelessly to Android phones+Stream direct to the projector+Short input lag
Reasons to avoid
– Inferior image quality to mains units
At the size of a large drinking glass, the Anker Nebula Capsule II is slightly bigger than its predecessor but upgrades on it in several ways. It now has Android TV installed which means all your favorite streaming apps can run on it (although you need a quick workaround to install Netflix). Set up is a breeze as you can connect your Android phone to import WiFi and app account details, and even use the phone as a controller rather than needing to type using the remote. Automatic focus and keystoning means you’ve got a clear picture fast.
If you’re venturing out to camp, be sure to pack this. You can take it anywhere with three hours of video playback (30 hours of music) on a single charge and 8GB of storage (plus a USB port for a memory stick or external hard drive). The picture isn’t the sharpest, brightest, or the biggest, with a throw distance of about 60cm to 3m (around two to ten feet), but this can be used anywhere, in seconds. This isn’t about perfect high fidelity, this is about fun and portability.
4. BenQ TK850
The best 4K outdoor projector
Specifications
Resolution: 4K UHD (3840×2160)Brightness: 3,000 lumensContrast: 30,000:1Features: Motion enhancer, CinemaMaster audio and video, Sports ModesThrow: Standard/Short
Reasons to buy
+Amazingly bright picture+4K and HDR support+Great for sport
Reasons to avoid
-Longer impact lag than expected
BenQ is one of the biggest names in projectors because they offer great quality at a price well below similarly specced competitors. The TK850 gives true 4K UHD for incredibly sharp pictures and intense, detailed color. Its 3000 lumens mean this unit is incredibly bright and will be watchable when other projectors are still waiting for nightfall, while the backlit remote means you’ll still be able to change settings in the dark.
For anyone who wants to replace the full stadium experience while the stands are empty, the TK850 is made for whatever sport you’ve been missing. It has custom sports modes, helped by its low lag so you can watch even the fastest matches seamlessly. This includes sound settings, which gives you every bit of the dubbed crowd or shout from the pitch through its chambered 10W speakers. Projector speakers can be a mixed bag but these are loud and clear enough to not require dragging a sound system outside.
It’s a simple unit to set up, and as well as vertical keystoning offers a lens shift wheel to move the image up or down – making it easier to get a great picture when you don’t have the perfect spot for it to rest. The only downside is that the input lag of 83ms is slower than the ideal for gaming, although it would take a keen eye to spot this. At the premium end of the spectrum, this is the best outdoor projector.
5. Epson EF-12
The best outdoor projector for dual-use
Our expert review:
Specifications
Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080)Brightness: 1,000 Lumen / 500 Lumen (economy) Contrast: 2,500,000:1Clear image size (diagonal): 30-150 inchesThrow ratio: 1.00 – 1.00:1 (Short)Weight: 2.1kgConnections: USB 2.0 Type A, USB 2.0 Type B, Stereo mini jack audio out, HDMI ARC, HDMI (HDCP 2.3)
Reasons to buy
+Sharp picture+Great sound +Strong aesthetic +Good built-in OS
Reasons to avoid
-Lack of native apps -Lack of zoom
The Epson EF-12 is an excellent outdoor projector that has plenty of features to make it an attractive proposition – both for in-home use as well as on the go.
The native 1080p picture (it also supports UHD images) looks sharp with instant autofocus and kearning to give quality display wherever you set it up. In our testing we found that it gave wonderfully clear images up to 150 inches, which is a huge picture from such a small projector. The 100ms+ input lag is an issue though and is a real drawback for gaming, though.
While it has some of the drawbacks that beset most of the best outdoor projectors such as a lack of zoom controls, and limited app availability, the EF-12 does have more than enough advantages to make up for them – not least two excellent built-in 5W Yamaha speakers and a great built-in Android OS which gives this the functionality of a smart TV with easy streaming. The three-chip LCD processing gives great depth of colour and no rainbow effects, while the strong laser light means that it’s more than watchable with ambient light in the room.
For some folks, the EF-12 will be a hybrid unit for both home use and outdoor entertainment, however the latter will be held back a little due to its lack of battery. But if you’re looking for a great unit for everyday watching at home which you can also take out to easily set up in other places, this fulfills that niche wonderfully.
Read more: Epson EF-12 review
6. DBPower L21 LCD Video Projector
The best outdoor projector for sound quality
Specifications
Resolution: 720p Native (supports 1080p HD)Brightness: 5,000 lumensContrast: 3,000:1Features: Dual-stereo speakers, 256K color reproduction, multiple ports, daul fan cooling, remote controlThrow: Standard
Reasons to buy
+Great sound, in stereo+Easy to use
Reasons to avoid
-Loud fans
The sound of one of the best outdoor projectors might not be the first thing on your mind, but not having to carry out speakers every time you want to use it makes set up much less of a chore and lets you get on with what you want to do: sit down and enjoy your own outdoor cinema. The L21 boasts not one but two great speakers, and it’s a rare treat to get stereo at this price.
Convenience is key here – the L21 is quick to set up and a glance at the simple and unfussy remote reflects the commitment to keeping things simple. BDPower boasts about the quality of its dual-fan cooling system, but the drawback is that this fan noise means both speakers will have to be turned up loud to drown it out.
7. BenQ GV1
A robust and portable outdoor projector
Our expert review:
Specifications
Resolution: 856x480Brightness: 200 ANSI lumensContrast: 100,000:1Features: Speakers, portable design and carry case, auto keystoning, good remote, 3hr battery lifeThrow: Short
Reasons to buy
+Very bright+Solid build+Good auto keystoning
Reasons to avoid
-Quiet sound-Fiddly zoom control
The Benq GV1 is a robust portable unit that gives decent picture for a projector the size of a pint glass that you can take anywhere. It’s not a home cinema experience or even full HD but this is about portability rather than perfect picture. The most impressive thing is the brightness when plugged in – excellent for any unit let alone one this size. A solid three-hour battery life gives plenty of viewing time when out and about – but you’ll need to have media downloaded to the device you cast from if you’re not on a wifi connection.
It’s built solidly and will stand up to transportation, plus the solid plastic looks the part and is neat and clean in design to boot. It runs Android OS and most streaming apps are readily available for download with good casting from phones, tablets, and wifi. The downsides: the sound is good but doesn’t offer quite enough volume. It’s frustratingly fiddly to set up, with very sensitive zoom control and D-pad keyboard input, but it’s easy to cast to it to once set up, and auto-keystoning is helpful. There is notable input lag when playing games which require precise timing, although for a casual play of a slower-paced game it’ll be adequate.
Read more: BenQ GV1 review
Best outdoor projectors: FAQ
Overall, you have some fine options here, and we will keep adding to as often as we can. If you’re looking for the more traditional gaming screens then you have to check out our guides on the best gaming monitors and the best gaming TVs.
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