The Best Outdoor Projectors of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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The best outdoor projector makes backyard movie night a truly cinematic experience, especially if it suits the host’s style, space, and budget. Here are some top choices to consider.

Editor’s Note: Testing for this article took place in late 2023 and these products remain our current top recommendations for 2024 until we revisit this category. Stay tuned for our 2024 updates.

An outdoor projector offers a wonderful way to enjoy an entertaining evening with family and friends. Before hosting another backyard movie night, users should consider upgrading their current model to one of the best outdoor projectors on our list, which have all been hands-on tested.

Though similar to their indoor classroom-office counterparts, projectors for outdoor movies are significantly brighter, have a clearer picture, and can be used on larger screens than models intended for slideshow presentations.

Outdoor projectors are becoming increasingly popular, and there are many to choose from with varying prices and specifications. We tested the following models extensively for ease of setup and operation, included features, audio quality, and picture quality in both low- and bright-light conditions.

Our top pick is the BenQ GS50 Portable Projector. We chose it as the best overall because of its 500-lumen brightness, 1080p HD picture resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, and its smart connectivity or remote-controlled operation. We also appreciate that it’s lightweight and portable.

Our top picks have all the features shoppers will want to consider when looking for the best backyard projector for their needs.

1. BEST OVERALL: BenQ GS50 Portable Projector
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: DBPower L23 9000L Native 1080P WiFi Video Projector
3. UPGRADE PICK: Epson Home Cinema 3800 4K PRO-UHD Projector
4. BEST FOR GAMING: Optoma UHD38 4K Home Theater and Gaming Projector
5. BEST PORTABLE: Anker Nebula Solar Portable Projector
6. BEST BLUETOOTH: Fangor Native 1080P WiFi/Bluetooth Projector
7. ALSO CONSIDER: Anker Nebula Cosmos Projector

How We Tested the Best Outdoor Projectors

To help shoppers find the best outdoor projectors, we put every model through extensive, real-world use. We evaluated each one on its setup, including the physical positioning and the setup of internal functions, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and projector settings; picture and audio quality; brightness performance during the day, dusk, and night conditions; user-interface operation; and any additional features included in each projector.

We tested every unit with a variety of demanding materials, including big-budget action movies, 3D animated movies, and sporting events. For a consistent reference, among all the other material, we made sure to watch and evaluate clips on every projector from “Avatar” and the IMAX-enhanced “Avengers: Endgame” on Disney+.

Our Top Picks

All of the projectors we tested rank high for technical specifications, price, and performance but vary regarding ease of setup and operation, included features, audio quality, and picture quality in both low- and bright-light conditions. Here are the best outdoor movie projector options for backyard entertainment.

Best Overall

BenQ GS50 Portable Projector

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Product Specs

• Brightness/contrast: 500 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) lumens/100,000:1
• Picture: 1080p (1920 x 1080) full HD; 16:9 aspect ratio
• Connectivity: Built-in Android TV (including “Hey Google” voice control), Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, Chromecast, HDMI, USB-A for thumb drives, USB-C for Displayport, Wi-Fi

Pros

• Beautiful picture with sharp details, vibrant colors, and deep contrast
• Loud, high-quality audio with Bluetooth-speaker capability
• Comprehensive design for convenient portability
• Super-accurate autofocus accessible from remote-control button

Cons

• Short battery life of 2.5 hours under restricted conditions
• Netflix playback only over HDMI or with desktop browser Chromecast
• Moderate brightness for daytime use

The BenQ GS50 1080-pixel (p) Outdoor Projector has it all: fantastic image quality, built-in Android TV streaming apps, high-quality audio, ample wireless and wired connectivity, and the size and durability for truly portable use.

This 5-pound cube-shaped mini outdoor projector was built with IPX2 splash protection and drop protection from 2.3 feet high, and it comes with a sturdy zip case for the BenQ GS50 and all of its accessories. That includes a handy remote control that helps set up and operate this portable outdoor projector. After positioning it and powering it up, the GS50 autofocuses its picture very effectively, and the remote has easy-to-operate corner correction with the flexibility to place the projector in a variety of positions away from the projector screen or wall. An adjustable stand allows angling the GS50 by as much as 15 degrees.

It’s easy to connect the BenQ GS50 mini outdoor projector to a Wi-Fi network, and the enclosed HDMI Android TV stick gives access to 7,000+ apps for movies, TV, music, games, news, and more. Unfortunately, Netflix does not support the GS50, but it can connect to Netflix via another device through the HDMI input. Other mobile devices and drives can connect over USB-C and USB-A, making offline entertainment possible when there’s no Wi-Fi to be had.

The unit’s digital light projection (DLP) technology doesn’t have the brightest output, but picture colors, contrast, and detail do stand out. The BenQ GS50 portable outdoor projector looks best in dimmer daylight or low-light conditions, making it wonderful for outdoor use. For best daylight use results, this mini outdoor projector should be moved forward to create a more compact picture. Otherwise, it looks great at the recommended max size of 110 inches (about 9 feet away).

We also tried it with the picture size closer to 150 inches, and it still looked acceptable. The 2.1-channel speaker system sounds clean, balanced, and potentially quite loud for a projector of this size. The GS50 mini projector can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker streaming from other devices. All in all, the GS50 is the most well-rounded outdoor video projector we tested. It costs a little more than comparable compact projectors, but users will get their money’s worth.

Get the BenQ outdoor projector at Amazon, Best Buy, or BenQ. 

Best Bang for the Buck

DBPower L23 9000L Native 1080P WiFi Video Projector

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Product Specs

• Brightness/contrast: 9,000 “lux” lumens/10,000:1
• Picture: 1080p (1920 x 1080) full HD; 16:9 aspect ratio
• Connectivity: Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, HDMI x2, USB-A for powering a device, USB-A for thumb drives, VGA, analog video input (with included adapter cable), Wi-Fi

Pros

• Many connectivity options to suit individual user preferences
• Generous assortment of accessories compared to similar options
• Excellent value for the price point

Cons

• Runs a little loudly from the fan
• Not the most durable build quality
• Some limitations for streaming from mobile devices

Users cannot get much more out of a portable outdoor projector for under $200 than what’s offered with the DBPower L23 projector. It has many connectivity options, including the ability to screen mirror iOS and Android mobile devices, or to play video, audio, and photo slideshows from a USB drive of up to 64 GB (as long as it’s properly formatted).

It also has Bluetooth audio streaming to speakers and headphones, should the rather low-powered 3-watt internal speaker not be enough. The L23’s 50,000-hour light-emitting diode (LED) lamp driving the liquid-crystal display (LCD) is powerful, although its listed 9,000 lumens are “lux” lumens, which seem to correspond to the rough conversion of 3,750 ANSI lumens. Regardless, it’s plenty bright enough for daylight viewing, although users may need to increase the brightness setting manually, as the several preset picture modes don’t go higher than 60 percent of the max brightness.

Beyond the connectivity, the DBPower portable projector is also generous with the accessories, which include an HDMI cable, a three-prong RCA A/V to 3.5-millimeter adapter cable, a remote control, lens cap, and a good-quality zippered and handled carrying case, making the 3-pound 3.5-inch-tall by 8.7-inch-long by 6.9-inch-deep projector all the more portable. We welcome that case because the build quality of the L23’s chassis does not inspire the most confidence for durability. The remote control also feels a bit flimsy, and the springs that connect to the batteries are weak.

However, the picture quality is a projector’s bottom line, and the L23 puts out a satisfying and detailed 1080p image with smooth motion handling. When compared with 1080p DLP projectors like the BenQ GS50, the L23’s colors and contrast are not as vibrant, but again, the overall picture at this price point looks very good. An image size of 35 to 300 inches can be achieved by placing the unit 4 to 25 feet from a surface, with the sweet spot for best results being between around 50 to 100 inches.

Unlike other portable projectors we tested, the L23 will not focus properly when placed too close to a projector screen. There were also some limitations to the screen mirroring from mobile devices over Wi-Fi. For example, the technology used for mirroring Android devices is not supported by a large number of smartphones made by Google, Motorola, and Samsung. And the L23 seems to support 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks only, which provided less stable AirPlay connections in our testing compared to AirPlaying to a TV over a 5 GHz network.

Those issues aside, the L23 offers enough options for projecting various sources that users can always find something that will work. It’s a good outdoor projector, but when it comes to value for the money, it stands alone within this guide.

Get the DBPower outdoor projector at Amazon or DBPower. 

Upgrade Pick

Epson Home Cinema 3800 4K PRO-UHD Projector

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Product Specs

• Brightness/contrast: 3,000 ANSI lumens/100,000:1
• Picture: 4K ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160); 16:9 aspect ratio
• Connectivity: Bluetooth aptX, HDMI 2.0 x2, RS-232C, and USB

Pros

• Accommodates large screens of up to 300 inches
• High brightness for daytime use as well as night-time movies
• 4K HDR video at a 60Hz refresh rate—good for gaming and sports
• Rich colors and processing for upscaling images to 4K

Cons

• No weatherproof features
• A little large for true portability
• No battery power listed

For those looking for the best backyard projector for a cinema-style experience, step up to the Epson Home Cinema 3800’s 4K resolution. With four times the pixel count of a 1080p full-HD projector, the Home Cinema 3800 drives its 4K picture with powerful 3,000 ANSI lumen brightness, a three-chip LCD array, and full 10-bit high-dynamic range (HDR) technology, which together ensure a dazzling moving image with luscious colors, deep contrast, and minute details even when projecting a very large screen size. Epson counsels a maximum of 300 inches for the projection size; we tested it at around that size with no appreciable loss in detail quality. Internal processing can also “upscale” a 1080p full-HD video source to 4K resolution.

While setting up the projector is an easy affair of plugging in, powering on, feeding it a video input, and adjusting the picture with the manual lens shift and zoom controls, the Home Cinema 3800’s size (6.5 inches tall by 16.1 inches wide by 13.75 inches deep) and weight (15.2 pounds) make it best for backyard movie nights rather than grab-it-and-go scenarios.

The larger projector also has a longer throw than the short-throw portable projectors, so it needs to be placed away from the screen a little more than others. Its two internal 10-watt speakers get reasonably loud enough for close quarters, but they don’t exhibit a lot of bass. For more wide-open spaces, or just to enjoy fuller sound, the Home Cinema 3800 has Bluetooth aptX technology for connecting to speakers. And fortunately, the aptX Bluetooth standard has very low latency, which is important when audio needs to match the video.

While the Home Cinema 3800 does not have Wi-Fi, it does have two high-bandwidth HDMI 2.0 inputs for connecting multiple devices at once, such as an iPad and a gaming console. The portable projector supports 3D content and can also accommodate gaming on the latest-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 with 4K HDR video at 60 frames per second (fps). These kinds of high-level features come at a price and a larger footprint than compact outdoor projectors, but this is still a gem of a backyard projector for those with the space and the budget for it.

Get the Epson outdoor projector at Best Buy.

Best for Gaming

Optoma UHD38 4K Home Theater and Gaming Projector

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Product Specs

• Brightness/contrast: 4,000 ANSI lumens/1,000,000:1
• Picture: 4K ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160); 16:9 aspect ratio
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.0 x2, VGA, USB-A (for supplying power only), 3.5-millimeter audio input, 3.5-millimeter audio output, S/PDIF digital audio output

Pros

• Spectacular colors pop off the screen; suitable for movie nights and video games
• Handles action movies, sports, and games smoothly
• Very bright for daytime viewing, but also has deep-black levels

Cons

• Built-in speakers sound a little flat
• Takes a little time to get the best picture after first setting up
• Remote-control buttons occasionally stick in place

Gamers usually prize large TVs or computer monitors, and they often pay a premium for sizable 4K screens. But why do that when it’s around the same price for a picture of up to 300 inches? That’s the largest recommended projection size for the Optoma UHD38 4K projector, a great indoor/outdoor video projector for any use but with particular appeal to gamers.

That comes from the UHD38’s speedy refresh rates, which gamers covet for handling demanding fast-motion scenes smoothly. The UHD38 can run 1080p video at 240 fps from a PC (because only PCs can output 240 fps at this time), or 1080p at 120 fps from a new game console like the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. Alternatively, the projector can play back full 4K material at 60 fps. Its 4.2-millisecond response time is not as fast as some high-end monitors, but it is still more than adequate for gaming.

Regardless of whether it’s being used for shows, games, live sports, 3D movies (which it also fully supports), or anything else, the Optoma UHD38 portable projector treats viewers to a stunning picture. Its clarity of detail is marvelous, and it features extraordinary color reproduction and contrast. The DLP lamp lasts up to 4,000 hours at its brightest level (or up to 15,000 hours in lower modes), and it’s bright enough for daytime use while also looking brilliant at night.

At about 4.5 inches high by 12.5 inches wide by 10.5 inches deep and weighing 10 pounds, the UHD38 is noticeably smaller and lighter than the smallest projector we reviewed but also larger than the other compact projectors in this guide. It has neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth, but it does have two HDMI 2.0 inputs as well as a Video Graphics Array (VGA) input.

The two 10-watt internal speakers can get reasonably loud, but the sound is a bit dull and flat compared to better-sounding competitors. Fortunately, the UHD38 comes equipped with both analog 3.5-millimeter and digital (S/PDIF) audio outputs for connecting to larger speakers. Despite its lack of any wireless tech, the Optoma UHD38 could be the best backyard projector for any high-level video performance—especially gaming.

Get the Optoma outdoor projector at Amazon or Best Buy.

Best Portable

Anker Nebula Solar Portable Projector

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Product Specs

• Brightness/contrast: 400 ANSI lumens/1,000:1
• Picture: 1080p (1920 x 1080) full HD resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI 2.0, USB-A for thumb drives, USB-C for power, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Chromecast, built-in Android TV (including “Hey Google” voice control)

Pros

• Easy to take and use almost anywhere
• High picture quality for a portable projector
• 1-touch autofocus for quick and easy adjustments
• Good wireless connectivity options

Cons

• Not extremely bright; may not be best for use at night
• Only 3 hours of video playback on battery power
• No Netflix from built-in Android TV

Everything about the Anker Nebula Solar Portable projector points toward compact portability. Its flat, square shape is 2.3 inches tall by 7.6 inches wide by 7.6 inches deep, and it weighs slightly more than 3 pounds. It doesn’t include a carrying case, but it tucks easily into a laptop bag. Even the power supply takes up a low footprint: A small AC power brick connects a standard USB-C cable (included) to the Nebula Solar Portable.

That USB-C port is for power only, but it also charges the internal battery, which provides 3 hours of operation in its battery-life mode (or 2 hours in the standard mode). There’s also a USB-A port to connect a thumb drive for media playback, as well as one HDMI 2.0 input, which accepts 4K signals that the projector will play back as 1080p.

The Anker Nebula Solar Portable Projector also runs the Android TV operating