If you're looking to take your projector outside, many options are available depending on your needs. Are you looking for a unit for your patio or to take with you on a camping trip? For a patio projector that you can take inside when the weather turns sour, you'll want one that offers great image quality with many smart features and isn't too unwieldy to carry inside and back out. Inversely, if you want to take the projector with you on a trip to the woods, then size and weight are the primary factors, as well as having an internal battery. The smaller projectors on this list can't compete with the bigger units in terms of image quality, but some small portable models provide a decent viewing experience. Ultimately, your choice of an outdoor projector will vary significantly based on context, so the products on this list cater to a range of uses. If you're not sure how large a picture you can throw from your patio or deck, our projector throw calculator can help you check what each model can do at your distance.
We've bought and tested more than 60 projectors, and below, you'll find the best outdoor projectors to buy. We only cover consumer models, not high-end products meant for enthusiasts. If you want to carry your projector with you and don't necessarily need it to be used outdoors, look at our best portable projector recommendations. Or, if you're shopping at a price point, read our best projectors under $500 and best projectors under $1,000 lists. You can also vote on which ones you want us to purchase next and test.
Quick Look
We've independently bought and tested over 60 projectors, and we've published all the detailed results for each so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodology is also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
-
Best Outdoor Projector
Movies8.6Gaming7.4Brightness8.7Contrast8.1Portability6.0Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLaserNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kSee all our test resultsWeight13.8 lbs (6.2 kg)If you're looking for the best outdoor projector for your patio, look up the Anker Nebula X1. Its triple-laser light engine is very bright for this type of unit, so it easily holds up on a dark evening, even with a few patio or string lights on. It projects a sharp 4k image (via pixel-shift) with a wide color gamut and great contrast for a portable-style projector, so movies and sports look punchy and saturated once the sun goes down. Outdoors, where you almost always have some ambient light from the city or the moon, that combination of brightness and contrast is exactly what you want. It's impressively accurate out of the box, so you don't need to fuss with calibration before movie night. It also supports Dolby Vision, which is great for watching movies and for Xbox users. For gaming, it's capped at 60Hz, but Game Mode keeps input lag low enough for slower single-player titles, while still being too sluggish for most fast or competitive games.
The X1 also feels purpose-built for outdoor use. The chunky chassis and retractable carrying handle make it easy to bring it outside for an evening and back in before the weather turns. There's no built-in battery, but you can plug it into an outlet, a power station, or spring for Anker's bundles that add a carry case, wireless satellite speakers, microphones, or a battery pack. Google TV is built in for streaming, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for casting and wireless audio, and the integrated speakers are loud and full enough to cover a typical patio. All these features combined make the Nebula X1 our top pick for outdoor movie nights, and it also doubles as a decent gaming unit in a pinch.
-
Best Small Outdoor Projector
Movies7.1Gaming5.3Brightness5.5Contrast8.3Portability8.0Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLaserNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kSee all our test resultsWeight3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)If you want a truly compact projector for balconies or small patios, look up the LG CineBeam Q. It's a small 4k (via pixel-shift) RGB-laser projector with a rotating metal handle that doubles as a stand, so it’s easy to carry in one hand and set down almost anywhere. There's no built-in battery, but it can run from AC power or a 65W (or higher) USB-C Power Delivery power bank, making it a flexible option for outdoor spaces where outlets aren't ideal. Image quality is good for its size: you get a sharp 4k picture, a wide color gamut, and great contrast as long as you're watching after dark on a modest-sized screen, as its brightness is sub-par. For gaming, it's limited to 60Hz with relatively high input lag, so it's fine for slower single-player sessions but not ideal for fast or competitive titles.
LG's webOS smart platform is built in, with major streaming apps (including Netflix), AirPlay/Screen Share, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, so you don't need a streaming stick. The integrated speaker is okay for a quiet balcony, but pairing a Bluetooth speaker gives you a much bigger, cleaner soundstage. Overall, the LG CineBeam Q is our favorite small outdoor projector when you care more about size and smart features than maximum brightness or volume. It's certainly the best outdoor movie projector if you're looking for a compact unit.
-
Best Budget Outdoor Projector
Movies7.0Gaming4.4Brightness8.4Contrast5.3Portability5.0Imaging TechnologyLCDLight SourceLampNative Resolution1080pSee all our test resultsWeight5.9 lbs (2.7 kg)If you're looking for an affordable outdoor projector, consider the Epson Home Cinema 1080. It doesn't support HDR, and its color gamut is fairly limited, but it projects a sharp 1080p image and is bright enough to easily overcome a few patio lights during an evening movie marathon. Its contrast is on the weak side, so blacks look gray in a dark room, yet that's much less of an issue outdoors, where nights are rarely pitch black. At 5.9 pounds, it's light enough to carry outside, though you'll need an outlet since there's no internal battery. It also lacks autofocus, but automatic vertical keystone correction helps; you only need to adjust focus and horizontal keystone manually. For gaming, it's a 1080p @ 60Hz projector with noticeable input lag, and Game Mode doesn't improve latency, so it’s fine for slow turn-based single-player titles but not a good choice for fast or competitive games.
It also lacks a smart OS and Bluetooth, but it does include Wi-Fi 5 with Miracast support. In practice, you'll probably want an external streaming dongle for Netflix and other apps and to route audio to a soundbar or Bluetooth speaker. The single integrated 2W speaker is only good for quick setups. Connectivity is otherwise solid, with two HDMI ports, a USB-B port that can mirror a computer, and a USB-A port for media from a USB key. Overall, the Home Cinema 1080 is a compelling budget outdoor option: not fancy, but bright, simple, and affordable, making it the best outdoor movie projector for brighter patios.
-
Best Battery Outdoor Projector
Movies5.8Gaming6.0Brightness6.0Contrast5.1Portability7.0Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLEDNative Resolution1080pSee all our test resultsWeight10.2 lbs (4.6 kg)The best battery-powered outdoor projector we've tested is the Anker Nebula Mars 3. It's bigger than a typical ultra-portable, but still easy to carry thanks to its suitcase-style handle and rugged design with basic water and drop resistance, which makes it much better suited to campsites and patios than most tiny battery models. The built-in battery is the real star: it can last long enough for a full movie (or even a double feature) in its lower-power modes, so you don't have to drag out an extension cord or power station. It's also noticeably brighter than most battery projectors outside of the XGIMI Halo+ below, which helps a lot outdoors after sunset on a larger screen. Android TV is built in, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for streaming and casting, and the 40W speakers are loud and full enough that you can skip a separate Bluetooth speaker for many situations. For gaming, it's limited to 60Hz with input lag that's fine for slower single-player titles, but it's not what we’d recommend for fast or competitive games.
Still, the unit isn't without its faults, as its image quality is sub-par. Its 1080p picture is sharp enough, but contrast is disappointing, with elevated blacks that look washed out in truly dark scenes; it fares better with brighter content or a bit of ambient light, which is typical outdoors anyway. That trade-off is acceptable here because the extra brightness, long battery life, rugged design, and strong speakers matter more once you leave the living room. The XGIMI Halo+ still has slightly better overall picture quality in a dark room, but the Anker's toughness and much larger battery are why it earns our Best Battery Outdoor Projector spot.
-
Best Budget Battery Outdoor Projector
Movies6.3Gaming6.1Brightness6.0Contrast6.8Portability8.5Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLEDNative Resolution1080pSee all our test resultsWeight3.7 lbs (1.7 kg)The best budget battery-powered outdoor projector you can easily carry is the XGIMI Halo+. It's compact and weighs about 3.7 pounds, so it fits comfortably in a backpack, and the built-in battery is rated for up to 2.5 hours of playback, enough for most movies without hunting for an outlet. It also packs XGIMI's full image-correction suite, with autofocus, auto-keystone, intelligent screen alignment, and obstacle avoidance, so it quickly cleans up the image if you move it or point it at something uneven, like the side of a tent. Android TV, Chromecast, AirScreen, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0 make it easy to stream over your phone's hotspot or pair a wireless speaker, and the dual 5W Harman/Kardon speakers are loud enough that you often don't need one. For gaming, it accepts a 4k @ 60Hz signal (downscaled to 1080p) but doesn't support 120Hz, and input lag in Game Mode is on the high side, so it’s fine for slower single-player titles but not ideal for fast or competitive games.
Image quality is typical of compact LED projectors: overall brightness is modest, but it's still noticeably brighter than many other battery-powered ultra-portables, and its 1080p image looks decent once it's fully dark outside. Contrast is only okay, with raised blacks that look gray in a dark room, but that's less of an issue outdoors, where there's usually some ambient light. It supports HDR10 and HLG, though it isn't bright enough to really show off HDR highlights. There's a single HDMI input with ARC and a USB port for local media playback. The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is brighter, tougher, and has a much larger battery, but if you want a smaller, more affordable battery projector for casual outdoor movie nights, the Halo+ is the best option we've tested.
-
Best Cheap Outdoor Projector
Movies6.3Gaming5.2Brightness5.1Contrast8.8Portability6.0Imaging TechnologyLCDLight SourceLEDNative Resolution1080pSee all our test resultsWeight5.8 lbs (2.6 kg)The NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is a solid pick if you're looking for the cheapest projector that still works for relaxed outdoor movie nights. It isn't as tiny as ultra-portables like the XGIMI Halo+ or LG CineBeam Q, and it doesn't have a battery, but it's still compact enough to carry from the living room to the patio without much hassle. Vertical auto-keystone helps you get a usable image quickly. It isn't very bright, so it's not a good choice for daytime use or patios with lots of lights on; in fact, if you want to watch with more ambient light, the brighter (but pricier) Epson Home Cinema 1080 is a better fit. Where the NexiGo shines is in darker spaces, where its excellent contrast delivers deep blacks and a more immersive image, even though colors are muted and accuracy is poor out of the box. For gaming, it can accept 4k and 1440p signals downscaled to 1080p, but input lag is high at all resolutions, and there's no 120Hz support, so it's only suitable for slow single-player titles.
It's also loaded with features for the price: Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, Miracast and Apple AirPlay support, two HDMI inputs, HDR10, and a Game Mode toggle. The built-in 20W speakers are loud enough for casual use. Its biggest weakness is the bare-bones Android TV implementation, which doesn't really offer any usable apps, but adding a Chromecast or Fire TV Stick fixes that quickly. If you want something inexpensive, reasonably small, and good enough for laid-back after-dark patio viewing, the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is a great value.
Notable Mentions
-
BenQ X3100i:
If you want a projector that’s great for both movies and gaming, the BenQ X3100i is a strong alternative to the Anker Nebula X1. It offers lower input lag and better gaming performance than any of our outdoor picks, but it’s bulkier, lacks a handle or battery, and is really designed for a fixed indoor setup, which is why the more outdoor-focused Nebula X1 keeps the top spot.
See our review -
XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max:
If you care more about the best overall image than outdoor-specific features, the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max is a fantastic choice: it’s extremely bright, very sharp, and better for gaming than most of our outdoor picks. Still, the Anker Nebula X1 is better for the outdoors, as the XGIMI has no handle or battery and is really meant as an indoor long-throw projector that you occasionally carry outside.
See our review -
BenQ HT2060:
If you mostly watch at night in a well-controlled space, the BenQ HT2060 is a great alternative to the Epson Home Cinema 1080. It has better contrast and overall movie picture quality, but it's not as bright, so it handles stray patio lights less effectively.
See our review -
Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01:
If you need something very bright and relatively easy to move, the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is an appealing alternative to the Epson Home Cinema 1080. However, its lower 1280x800 resolution, lack of smart OS and Bluetooth, and very basic connectivity make it less versatile for outdoor movie nights, so the 1080 stays our preferred bright budget option.
See our review -
XGIMI MoGo 2:
If ultra-small size and low cost are your priorities, the XGIMI MoGo 2 is a fun alternative to the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) and XGIMI Halo+. It's much tinier and cheaper, but it's also significantly dimmer and has no battery, so it can't compete with the PJ40's dark-room image or the Halo+'s off-grid convenience.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 19, 2025:
The Anker Nebula X1 replaced the XGIMI HORIZON ULTRA as the 'Best Outdoor Projector' due to its handle and outdoor-oriented feature set. The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is now our 'Best Battery Outdoor Projector,' thanks to its rugged design and impressive battery life. In contrast, the XGIMI Halo+ is our 'Best Budget Battery Outdoor Projector,' owing to its excellent value and image quality.
May 08, 2025:
Added the BenQ HT2060 to the Notable Mentions, as it's a good and cheaper alternative to the BenQ X500i.
Apr 11, 2025:
We made sure that our recommendations are still accurate and available for purchase. The XGIMI MoGo 2 is a bit hard to find at the moment; we'll be keeping an eye out on its availability.
Feb 06, 2025:
We briefly modified our introduction and made sure that all of our picks are widely available for purchase.
Jan 08, 2025:
Verified that our picks are still available for purchase.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best projectors to take outdoors for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper projector wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no projectors that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of the best outdoor-friendly projectors. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no projector is perfect, many are good enough for most uses; however, avoid the worst models to ensure adequate quality.