The Best Outdoor Projectors for 2026

Looking to watch movies in the backyard—whether during balmy summer evenings or bundled up with the patio heater on? Almost any modern projector can make an outside wall a cinema, but a growing number make it easy . Consider, for example, the mix of projectors we've assembled here—some designed specifically for the outdoors, some simply portable enough to take outdoors as needed, and all thoroughly vetted in our testing. I'm PCMag's projector expert; I've reviewed hundreds of projectors over several decades, and designed our tests for them. We evaluate image quality for all models using a standard set of test clips and movies, and also evaluate brightness, usability, design, connectivity, input lag, and value. Our current top outdoor projector picks are both from Anker: the 1080p Nebula Mars 3, chosen for its durability and battery life, and the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE, for overall excellence. But we stand behind all the recommendations below for different budgets and use cases. Read on for more about those models, selected for particular uses and budgets, plus all the shopping advice you need.

Best Overall Outdoor Projector (4K)

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + 4K resolution

• + Hybrid laser/LED light source

• + Supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision

• + Automated image adjustment for fast setup after moving

• + Built-in handle for easy carrying

• - 4K resolution

• - Hybrid laser/LED light source

• - Supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision

• - Automated image adjustment for fast setup after moving

• - Built-in handle for easy carrying

Why We Picked It

The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is our top pick for a low-cost room-to-room 4K portable. It isn't cheap, but it's barely more expensive than its 1080p competition. It also offers more than you might expect for the price, starting with a laser/LED hybrid light source rated at 1,800 ANSI lumens, a color gamut rated at 123.3% of BT.709 (the standard for HDTVs), and support for Dolby Vision, along with the more common HDR10 and HLG HDR.

Other features include fully integrated Google TV for streaming, a comprehensive set of automatic adjustment features for easy setup, and robust audio, thanks to two 15-watt speakers that deliver both high volume and high-quality sound. Most important, in our tests, it delivered solid color accuracy, shadow detail, and sense of three-dimensionality across the board.

Who It's For

People who prefer function over form:The Cosmos 4K SE is shaped like a tall car battery with a handle on top, which can make it a poor fit if you're looking for a projector with a sleek design. However, if you want one you can take from room to room, out to the backyard, and beyond, and you care more about how well it works than how good it looks, it's a solid choice.

People who seek good image quality:The handle makes it easy to carry, and it scores better on both image quality and audio than some competition that costs more. If you're looking for a high-quality image from a bright 4K projector and don't want to pay significantly more than you would for an equivalent 1080p model, the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is the model to consider.

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: DLP

Rated Brightness: 1800 ANSI lumens

Native Resolution: 3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting

Maximum Resolution: 3840 by 2160 @ 60Hz

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI 2.1,HDMI (eARC),USB-A,Wi-Fi,Bluetooth,Wi-Fi Direct,USB Thumb Drive

Dimensions (HWD): 8.7 by 6.5 by 10.4 inches

Weight: 9.9 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Best Rugged Outdoor Projector (1080p)

Anker Nebula Mars 3

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + 1080p native resolution, with support for 4K input and HDR

• + Integrated Android TV 11

• + Long-lasting, solid-state LED light source

• + Resists water, dust, and drops

• + Long battery life

• - 1080p native resolution, with support for 4K input and HDR

• - Integrated Android TV 11

• - Long-lasting, solid-state LED light source

• - Resists water, dust, and drops

• - Long battery life

Why We Picked It

It may look like a car battery with a handle on top, but that's at least partly because the Nebula Mars 3, which is rated at 1,000 ANSI lumens, comes equipped with an internal battery that delivers 2 hours at its brightest setting or 5 hours in Eco mode. It also features water, drop, and dust resistance, which means it can survive a rough-and-tumble den full of kids, a movie night in the yard with gloomy weather threatening, or being bounced around in the back of an SUV for a camping trip. And it doesn't hurt that it delivers both native 1080p resolution and pretty good onboard audio for the projector's size, or that it can work as a big Bluetooth speaker or as a power bank to charge other gear.

Who It's For

People who watch TV outside:As with any model with water and drop resistance, the more often you plan to watch outside, the more attractive the Mars 3's durability will be—whether for special occasions like backyard movie nights, regular TV watching by the pool on warm nights, or rainy-day entertainment on camping trips.

People who don't mind a heavy projector:If you don't want to lug around its nearly 10-pound bulk, you can find lighter choices. But if you can handle the weight, the Mars 3's balance of durability, brightness, and battery life is hard to beat.

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: DLP

Rated Brightness: 1000 ANSI lumens

Native Resolution: 1920 by 1080

Maximum Resolution: 3840 by 2160 @ 60Hz

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI 2.1,USB-C,USB-A

Dimensions (HWD): 9.8 by 6.3 by 10.2 inches

Weight: 9.9 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Best Battery-Powered Outdoor Mini Projector (1080p)

Xgimi MoGo 4 Laser

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Solid image quality, with wide color gamut, nicely saturated color

• + Supports HDR10

• + Built-in Google TV with licensed Netflix

• + Weighs less than 3 pounds

• + Built-in battery; extra-cost stand doubles battery life

• - Solid image quality, with wide color gamut, nicely saturated color

• - Supports HDR10

• - Built-in Google TV with licensed Netflix

• - Weighs less than 3 pounds

• - Built-in battery; extra-cost stand doubles battery life

Why We Picked It

Before we tested the Xgimi MoGo 4 Laser, we had separate categories for the brightest battery-powered outdoor mini projector and for the one with the best image quality. The 1080p (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) MoGo 4 Laser comes in a close enough second on both counts to join the two categories into one as simply the best overall. One of the projector's strongest points is its tricolor laser light source, which offers a wider color gamut (range of colors) than competitors' LED-based systems. Its rated gamut is larger than the standard for 4K UHD projectors and TVs, which means far better color quality than typical for a mini projector, particularly for SDR input. 

As for brightness? The rating for the brightest mode is 550 lumens. With the settings we used for best quality, it delivered roughly what we expect from about 350 to 400 lumens. That translates to a suitably bright 80-inch image even at the ambient light level typical of a family room at night with lights on. There are other important features as well—including a built-in battery rated at 2.5 hours in Eco mode, a 2.9-pound weight, and an optional PowerBase stand ($129) that, in addition to being a stand, doubles the battery life. But the key argument for the MoGo 4 Laser remains its balance of brightness and image quality. 

Who It's For

People who insist on above-average brightness, image quality, and portability:Mini projectors have to make compromises, because there's only so much you can shoehorn into a small device. But the key compromises are most often on brightness and image quality. The MoGo 4 Laser delivers the best balance between the two that we've seen, and is a close second to the best scores we've seen for each. And it does that while still weighing less than 3 pounds. 

People who want the option of using a stand with its own battery:Adding any stand to a portable projector can help speed setup, since you don't need to find something else to rest the projector on. If the stand also has its own battery to double the effective battery life, as here, it makes the projector even more useful in situations without access to a power outlet.

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: DLP

Rated Brightness: 550 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)

Native Resolution: 1920 by 1080 using 960-by-540 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting

Maximum Resolution: 1920 by 1080 60Hz, HDR

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI (Arc),USB-A,Wi-Fi,Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD): 8.2 by 3.8 by 3.8 inches

Weight: 2.9 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Best Outdoor Ultra Short Throw Projector

LG CineBeam S 4K UHD Smart Triple Laser UST Projector PU615U

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Ultra short throw (UST) lens throws a big picture at just inches from a screen or wall

• + Highly portable

• + Native resolution of 4K (3,840 by 2,160)

• + Tricolor laser light source

• + Solid image quality and brightness

• + Streaming via LG webOS

• - Ultra short throw (UST) lens throws a big picture at just inches from a screen or wall

• - Highly portable

• - Native resolution of 4K (3,840 by 2,160)

• - Tricolor laser light source

• - Solid image quality and brightness

• - Streaming via LG webOS

Why We Picked It

We generally advise against using ultra short throw (UST) projectors as portables, much less outdoor portables, but there are very few that are as small or light as the LG CineBeam S, or as easy to set up quickly, which is one reason why it's our first Editors' Choice pick for its category. As of this writing, it's the only 4K UST model that you can pick up easily with one hand. It weighs only 4.2 pounds. It's also the only current mini projector that you can place just inches from a screen and get a large picture. It's rated at 500 lumens, and in our tests, it was bright enough to light up a 90-inch screen in a dark room, though the image brightness was a little lower than we prefer. The picture was even watchable (though a little washed out at that size) in a low level of ambient light. 

Beyond these basics, the CineBeam S includes a tricolor laser light source, which gives it a wide color gamut (the range of colors it can reproduce). LG webOS adds built-in support for the most popular streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Netflix. And the onboard stereo audio system delivers usable, but not great, sound quality. (LG offers portable Bluetooth speakers as an accessory, which you might want to check out.) The combination of a UST lens and 4K resolution translates to a fairly hefty price ($1,299.99 list, though available for less on Amazon). However, if you want a portable UST 4K projector, it's not only our Editors' Choice pick, it's currently the only choice we know of.

Who It's For

People who need an ultra short throw:If your outdoor viewing—whether for movies or the season's big game—involves people standing up and moving around, they can get between a typical projector and the screen to cast shadows that block the on-screen action. A UST projector sitting just inches from the screen can solve that problem. And among UST projectors, the CineBeam S stands out for being small enough to both carry outside and set up easily. 

People who can either pair the projector with a perfectly flat screen, or tolerate some distortion:The one issue for using a UST projector outdoors that the CineBeam S's small size doesn't solve is the distortion that comes from even small variations in screen flatness when projecting from inches away. Ideally, you should pair it with a screen that's suitably flat and held firmly in place. Failing that, you'll need to be comfortable with any distortion that comes from slight variations in flatness, including changes in screen shape from slight breezes . 

People who need to avoid tripping hazards:One of the trickier issues when setting up a projector outside is that if it needs to plug into a power outlet, you may wind up with the power cord on the ground where people can trip over it. The closer the projector is to the screen, the less likely you are to have that problem. With a UST projector just inches from the screen, you can put the screen against a wall (or fence), then run the cord just the short distance to the screen, potentially under it, and along the wall or fence to a power outlet—ideally a nearby outdoor outlet on the same wall. The same logic applies to a data cable if you're not connecting wirelessly.

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: DLP

Rated Brightness: 500 ANSI lumens

Native Resolution: 3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting

Maximum Resolution: 3840 by 2160 @ 60Hz, HDR

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI 2.0b,USB 2.0 Type C,Wi-Fi,Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD): 6.3 by 4.3 by 6.3 inches

Weight: 4.2 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Best Outdoor Projector for Quick Setup (4K)

JMGO N1S Ultimate

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + 4K resolution

• + Bright; rated at 3,300 ISO lumens

• + Supports HDR10 and HLG HDR

• + Includes Google TV OS for streaming

• + Good audio quality, suitable for a family room

• + Rated at 110% BT.2020 color gamut coverage

• - 4K resolution

• - Bright; rated at 3,300 ISO lumens

• - Supports HDR10 and HLG HDR

• - Includes Google TV OS for streaming

• - Good audio quality, suitable for a family room

• - Rated at 110% BT.2020 color gamut coverage

Why We Picked It

JMGO was the first to offer a gimbal mount on its projectors, and the version on the N1S Ultimate is among the best of them. The two gimbals, which let it pivot vertically and horizontally, are easy to adjust in either or both planes with one hand, and they are stable when released—a feature that isn't true for all gimbal mounts. Once the projector's in place, it takes just a few seconds to aim the lens precisely and position the picture on target. A complete set of automatic adjustment features—from focus to screen fit and more—can handle the rest of the setup for you.

Beyond that, the N1S Ultimate's strong points include integrated Google TV for streaming; a tri-color laser engine with a color gamut rated at 110% of the standard for 4K TVs (BT.2020, also known as Rec.2020); and good enough onboard audio to let you use it without an external sound system in most cases. It's also bright enough that a power setting of 1 (out of 10) lit up the 90-inch screen we normally use for testing in a dark room. On a 130-inch screen, a setting of 8 was sufficient for comfortable viewing in low to moderate levels of ambient light. 

Who It's For

People who prioritize brightness:The most compelling argument for the N1S Ultimate is its high brightness, especially useful in outdoor environs that won't get fully dark.

Audiophiles:The N1S Ultimate is also worth considering simply for its image and audio quality, which are both good enough by most people's standards.

Gamers and 3D aficionados:This model offers 3D support and suitably short input lag for all but the most serious gamers.

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: DLP

Rated Brightness: 3300 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)

Native Resolution: 3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting

Maximum Resolution: 3840 by 2160 60Hz, HDR; Full HD 3D

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI 2.1,USB-A

Dimensions (HWD): 9.3 by 9.5 by 8 inches

Weight: 9.9 lbs

Warranty: 3 years

Best Outdoor Projector for High Brightness (4K)

Anker Nebula X1

Score: 4.5

Pros & Cons

• + 4K resolution

• + Supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision

• + Three-color laser light source

• + Leading-edge automated image adjustment for fast setup after moving

• + Retractable handle for easy carrying

• - 4K resolution

• - Supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision

• - Three-color laser light source

• - Leading-edge automated image adjustment for fast setup after moving

• - Retractable handle for easy carrying

Why We Picked It

The Anker Nebula X1 is a premium room-to-room portable projector at a premium price. The full list of strong points is too long to give here, but it starts with 4K resolution and unusually high brightness. It's rated at 3,500 ANSI lumens, which makes it one of the brightest portable projectors we've seen.

Other key features include a color gamut rated at 110% of the standard for UHD TVs, combined with a level of color accuracy usually reserved for home theater projectors, plus support for SDR, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision input with good image quality across the board.

Who It's For

Users who require peak possible brightness:If your yard is surrounded by ambient light you can't control, the X1 is a prime pick among portable projectors.

Audiophiles:The natural home for the X1 is with someone who won't be satisfied with anything less than a big, high-quality image paired with robust sound, even when viewing outdoors. The onboard 40-watt sound system, by itself, produces a high enough volume for most purposes, even outdoors, and adding the optional 80-watt wireless speakers only makes it more impressive.

People seeking a high-quality image on the go:The X1 combines equally impressive brightness, image quality, and audio in a single, easy-to-carry package.

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: DLP

Rated Brightness: 3500 ANSI lumens

Native Resolution: 3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting

Maximum Resolution: 3840 by 2160 @ 60Hz, HDR; Full HD 3D

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI 2.1,USB-A,USB-C,Wi-Fi,Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD): 9.7 by 7.3 by 11.1 inches

Weight: 13.7 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Best Budget 4K-Class Outdoor Projector

Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Epson's 4K PRO-UHD technology delivers resolution equivalent to 4K

• + Supports HDR10 and HLG

• + Fully integrated Google TV

• + Three-LCD chip design guarantees a rainbow-artifact-free image

• + Low input lag suitable for casual gaming

• - Epson's 4K PRO-UHD technology delivers resolution equivalent to 4K

• - Supports HDR10 and HLG

• - Fully integrated Google TV

• - Three-LCD chip design guarantees a rainbow-artifact-free image

• - Low input lag suitable for casual gaming

Why We Picked It

The Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus is a 4K-class room-to-room portable, which means it's a good choice for taking outside for a backyard movie night, though you'll need to be in reach of a power outlet. One of its key features is that it offers essentially 4K resolution for not much more than an otherwise-comparable 1080p model would cost. Although it puts only half as many pixels on screen as are in a full 3,840-by-2,160-pixel matrix, that's enough from normal viewing distances to make it virtually impossible to see any difference in resolution between its picture and images from DLP 4K competitors that put the full count of 4K UHD pixels on screen. So what you get from the Flex Plus is best described as 4K-equivalent resolution. 

You also get fully integrated Google TV for streaming, plus SDR image quality that's easily good enough for casual viewing, and HDR quality that's even better, largely thanks to solid support for HDR10 and HLG. In addition, the three-LCD chip design guarantees it won't show the rainbow artifacts (red/green/blue flashes) that single-chip DLP projectors are prone to. Factor in the 1,000-ISO-lumen brightness and the 8.8-pound weight, and the Flex Plus is a solid choice.

Who It's For

People who want a 4K-equivalent image for little more than a 1080p price:The Flex Plus's 4K-equivalent resolution gives images essentially the same detail as 4K DLP projectors, while its brightness—rated at 1,000 ISO lumens—can give you a large enough picture on a reasonably dark night to see the detail from a typical viewing distance. (In our tests, a 90-inch diagonal image was suitably bright for a family room at night with lights on.) 

People who are bothered by rainbow artifacts:If you are sensitive to rainbow artifacts, the fact that the Lifestudio Flex can't show them is a strong argument by itself for putting it high on your shortlist.

Casual gamers:All but the most serious gamers will be happy with the input lag. We measured it at just 20.9 milliseconds at 60Hz for both 4K and 1080p input. 

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: LCD

Rated Brightness: 1000 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)

Native Resolution: Equivalent to 3840 by 2160 using Epson's 4K PRO-UHD technology

Maximum Resolution: 3840 by 2160 @ 60Hz, HDR

Inputs and Interfaces: USB-A,USB-C (power only),Wi-Fi,Bluetooth,HDMI (ALLM, eARC)

Dimensions (HWD): 9.7 by 7.5 by 7.5 inches

Weight: 8.8 lbs

Warranty: 2 years

Best Budget Battery-Powered Outdoor Projector (1080p)

Xgimi MoGo 4

Score: 3.5

Pros & Cons

• + 1080p resolution with HDR10 support

• + Built-in Google TV for streaming

• + Lightweight

• + Long battery life with optional PowerBase stand

• - 1080p resolution with HDR10 support

• - Built-in Google TV for streaming

• - Lightweight

• - Long battery life with optional PowerBase stand

Why We Picked It

The Xgimi MoGo 4 offers everything we liked about the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro (which it replaces as best in this category), plus a built-in battery, so you can go outlet-free without having to spend extra on a PowerBase stand. Even better, you can still buy a stand as a $129 option if you like, and double the battery life—to a rated 5 hours in Eco mode—as well as get a handy way to position and aim the projector easily. 

Beyond that, the Mogo 4 offers 1080p resolution, fully integrated Google TV along with Wi-Fi for connecting to your internet-connected network for streaming, and good sound quality for a mini projector at high enough volume to fill a family room. Default image quality was a little marginal in our tests. But after some tweaking, the quality was more than acceptable for a mini projector for both SDR and HDR. With the settings we used, the brightness is high enough to fill a 90-inch screen in a dark room, or deliver a slightly washed-out, but still usable, 55-inch image in a family room with skylights and windows on an overcast day. 

Who It's For

People who find rainbow artifacts distracting: The MoGo 4 Pro will be of special interest to anyone concerned about rainbow artifacts—the red/green/blue flashes that any single-chip DLP projector, including both the MoGo 4 and virtually all of its direct competitors, can show. The good news for those who are sensitive to them and find them annoying is that the MoGo 4 doesn't show many. I see them easily, and saw a total of one in my SDR viewing tests, and only a few with HDR input.

People who don't mind adjusting settings:The difference between image quality with default settings and with the settings we used in our tests is significant. Those who are willing to spend a little time adjusting them will have a much better picture to look at.

People who want to take advantage of the optional PowerBase stand:Adding the optional stand makes setup easier, since you don't need to find something else to rest the projector on. And since it also doubles battery life, it makes the projector an even better fit for using in places without a convenient power outlet nearby. 

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: DLP

Rated Brightness: 450 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)

Native Resolution: 1920 by 1080 using 960-by-540 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting

Maximum Resolution: 1920 by 1080 60Hz, HDR

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI (Arc),USB 2.0,USB-C (power only)

Dimensions (HWD): 8.2 by 3.8 by 3.8 inches

Weight: 2.9 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Best Extreme-Budget Outdoor Mini Projector

Xgody Gimbal N6 Pro

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Unusually high brightness for its price class

• + Delivers 1080p resolution at a low price

• + Doesn't show rainbow artifacts

• + Able handling of HDR content

• + Gimbal mount for easy vertical adjustment of picture height

• - Unusually high brightness for its price class

• - Delivers 1080p resolution at a low price

• - Doesn't show rainbow artifacts

• - Able handling of HDR content

• - Gimbal mount for easy vertical adjustment of picture height

Why We Picked It

With its list price of just $159.99 and widely available for less, the 1080p Xgody Gimbal N6 Pro is an outstanding value. Based on our testing, the typical brightness for its closest completion—including some models that cost more—is about 200 lumens, even though their specs often show higher numbers. The spec for the N6 Pro is also a bit higher than the brightness we saw in our tests after we adjusted the settings for best image quality, but it is still impressively bright for the price, at about 400 lumens. 

In a dark room, the N6 Pro is bright enough to light up a 90-inch screen for both SDR and HDR input (did we mention it offers HDR support in software?), and in a family room with lights on at night, it can provide a quite watchable 85-inch picture. The high brightness, built-in streaming, reasonably good image quality (after tweaking), and a gimbal mount for easy setup make it our top bargain-basement pick.

Who It's For

Budget-strapped shoppers who don't mind adjusting settings: The N6 Pro has one notable shortcoming: Its out-of-the-box image quality is lackluster. The image is so dark overall that it's impossible to make out what's happening in dark scenes, and even dark areas of brighter scenes are obviously darker than they should be. Invest a little time in finding the right settings, however, and it can deliver a highly watchable image at a larger size than its closest competitors can at any given light level.

Buyers who want an inexpensive projector for ad hoc setup:If you want a projector that's both bright enough to give you a reasonably large picture and light enough to move around for quick setup—whether you move it to another room, or to the backyard for a movie night—the N6 Pro is a solid choice. (Note that there's no built-in battery, though; you'll need to be in reach of a power outlet.) Even if you already have a more expensive model, you might want to get the N6 Pro specifically to tote around. Plus, the low price means fewer worries when carrying it further afield.

Specs & Configurations

Engine Type: LCD

Rated Brightness: 700 ANSI lumens

Native Resolution: 1920 by 1200

Maximum Resolution: 1920 by 1080 @ 60Hz

Inputs and Interfaces: HDMI 1.4,USB 2.0,Wi-Fi,Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD): 7 by 8.2 by 5.7 inches

Weight: 3 lbs

Warranty: 2 years

What Are the Kinds of Outdoor Projector?

First, a word about categories of projectors for outdoor use: A few of the models here are specifically "outdoorsy," with some combination of water resistance, drop-proofing, and battery power. Others have none of those features. Most of the models in the second category are what we call "room-to-room portables." But what moves conveniently to another room also moves conveniently to the backyard. In addition to being light enough to carry over short distances, room-to-room portables feature robust audio that delivers both high volume and quality, eliminating the need for a separate sound system. Most also have features like autofocus to help you set up quickly, and they offer streaming, so you can skip the step of attaching a video source, as long as you stay close enough to your house to connect to your network via Wi-Fi.

We've also included portable mini projectors—defined in part by their smaller sizes and more limited audio systems compared with room-to-room portables. But keep in mind that you can still use virtually any projector you like outdoors, as long as you can run a power cable to it. Note also that the street prices for these models (with widely available discounts) start at less than $150 at the time of writing, but street pricing changes frequently as discounts and sale events (and tariffs) come and go. If your focus is on keeping costs down, check out our related story for tips on  hosting a backyard movie night without breaking the bank.

Outdoor Projectors: Are You Planning a Permanent or Temporary Setup?

Now that you've seen our favorite tested picks above, you might have gathered from our assessments of each that paying attention to the nuances when shopping for a projector can mean the difference between an A-list experience and a B-movie one.

Rule one is that every projector choice you make stems from a single decision: Do you want a permanent installation, or an ad hoc setup? At one extreme, you can install all your projection equipment outdoors, fixed in place and weatherproofed: projector, video source, ancillary sound system, and screen. At the other, you can lug everything out to set up only when needed. In between, you might install, say, an outdoor screen and speakers, and carry the rest of the gear out and back as needed.

For permanent setups, only the projector, video source, and any additional audio components need to be protected from the weather (assuming you're using a screen designed for outdoor use). That can be easy if you have, say, an enclosed Florida room with a sliding door to the outside. With everything set up, you can simply open the door to let the projector illuminate the screen. For anything short of a permanent setup, room-to-room portables let you minimize how much you need to carry back and forth before and after every movie night. But note that you might want to store even outdoor screens inside for winter or before a storm. (They make terrific sails.)

If you're looking at a true, permanent outdoor installation of all the bits, we'd leave that approach to a local pro A/V installer, who can consult on your property's specific needs for optimization and ensure that all the proper wiring—for both power and data connections—is appropriately hidden and implemented safely. We'll concentrate here on the DIY approach, in which you set up and break down all or most of your setup as needed.

How Big Can Your Projected Image Be? Brightness Matters

Brightness requirements for a given projector follow the same rules outdoors as indoors. It's all about ambient light and the target image size (which we'll get to shortly).

The ambient-light level outdoors after dark will likely be in the range between a dark room — if you're way out in the country, far from light pollution, and it's a moonless night — and a family room at night with dim lighting. But don't just assume that. Check your backyard at night, including on nights with a full moon, as well as when your closest neighbors have their backyard lights blazing. Then pick a projector that's bright enough to stand up to the brightest light level you'll use it under at the image size you want — an issue we discuss in our reviews.

You can watch a movie outdoors at night even with a pocket projector that puts out 100 lumens or less, but you'll have to huddle around a small image to do so. For a true movie-watching experience, consider a screen size of at least 80 inches, preferably larger.

For a comfortably watchable image at that size in dim lighting, you need a projector that produces about 800 lumens — a level of brightness that rules out most small projectors, from pocket-size models to lightweight portable projectors .

Keep in mind, also, that the highest brightness most projectors can deliver comes at the cost of image quality. Put another way: The best-quality picture mode for any given projector is generally the dimmest. Whatever brightness level you need has to be for the picture mode you want to use — which is often just 40% or 50% of the brightest choice.

Should You Just Use the Garage Door for a Screen? (Spoiler: You Can, But You Shouldn't)

You can use just about any flat surface for a screen, including a hanging bed sheet, a garage door, or a stucco wall of your house. For a step up from that, seamless photography paper and even white foam board can be good, inexpensive screen materials. For the best image, though, you absolutely want a dedicated projector screen, and you should check out our tips on  choosing the right screen for your projector .

It's easy to find outdoor frames for permanent, seasonal, and temporary setups, but the screen material is the more important part. The key choices are the same as for an indoor screen, starting with a spec called gain , which can increase image brightness.

A 1.0-gain screen reflects light equally in all directions over a 180-degree viewing angle. A higher gain reflects more light over a smaller angle, making the image brighter within that angle and dimmer outside it. It's essentially the same situation as with older LCD screens that have a sweet spot for viewing dead-on, but show a dimmer image outside the viewing cone. For projector screens, a 1.2-gain would give you a peak 20% brighter image within the cone. The key thing is the angle, though: You'll want to make sure no one will be sitting so far off to the side of the screen that they're outside the specified viewing angle.

If you're screen-shopping, also look for the resolution the screen is designed for. Many are not designed to show even 4K images, while others are intended for future 8K output. Even if you're currently using a 720p-resolution projector, you may want a 4K-rated screen, so you can use the same screen over the lifetime of two or more projectors.

Finally, be sure the screen offers the correct aspect ratio — typically, 16:9 for watching movies or TV shows. Common choices range from the nearly square 4:3 ratio, once standard for TV and movies, to Cinemascope widescreen.

What Is Throw Distance, and Why Does It Matter?

Throw distance is measured in feet or inches between the projector lens and your screen. For any projector or projector lens, it falls into one of four categories.

As the name implies, a standard throw is the most common. It requires roughly 10 feet to the screen for a 90-inch image (measured diagonally), give or take a couple of feet depending on the lens. A long throw lets you place the projector farther away for the same-size screen.

A short throw allows you to position the projector closer than the standard throw range, which is particularly beneficial in tight spaces and also helpful for a backyard movie night. That may seem counterintuitive, but if everyone is sitting behind the projector, rather than between the projector and screen, no one can cast shadows when they stand up mid-movie to get another skewer of shrimp from the barbecue.

Last, ultra short throws , or USTs, let you put the projector just inches away for the same image size. However, these are usually best avoided for outdoors, in part because they are finicky about being positioned "just so" relative to the screen, which adds to setup time. They also require a screen that's much flatter than a longer-throw projector needs, with absolutely no tendency to ripple in the wind. Even a slight deviation from perfectly flat will distort the image.

Do You Need Separate Speakers for Your Outdoor Projector?

Most projectors you're likely to consider for backyard movies have a built-in speaker or speakers. But with the exception of room-to-room portables, which offer good audio systems by definition, and the growing category of laser UST projectors meant as large-screen TV replacements (which really aren't suitable for repeatedly lugging to and from the backyard), you'll often be better off using an external audio system, or at least external speakers.

The reason: It's difficult to deliver high-quality audio at high volume levels from the small spaces that traditional projector chassis allow for the sound system. That's why some home theater projectors don't even offer a pass-through audio port, much less speakers. They're designed with the assumption that you'll use a separate audio system connected directly to your video source.

Room-to-room portables come in either extra-wide or cubical shapes, which make them either wider or taller than traditional projectors, and they fill the extra space with low- and high-frequency speakers (technically, "drivers," in audio terminology), often using chamber speakers. They usually boast plenty of wattage to provide sufficient volume even for outdoor use. Most laser UST projectors are much wider than traditional projector designs, and many use the side facing the seating area for what amounts to a soundbar.

Of course, even if the audio quality and volume of the projector you pick are good, you might want even more robust sound. If so, consider getting outdoor speakers, and look for analog or digital audio-out ports or Bluetooth speaker support in the projector. Bluetooth can be especially handy if you already own a robust Bluetooth speaker set ...but with a caveat.

Due to the complexities of both video and audio processing, it's common to lose sync between the projected image on the screen and the sound from a Bluetooth speaker. To avoid this, look for audio-delay adjustments for Bluetooth in projectors and external audio systems. Also, note that most room-to-room portables, as well as many smaller portable projectors, offer a Bluetooth speaker mode that lets you use the projector simply as a speaker, fed by other audio sources.

One last thing: A booming audio system might be great in your backyard, but consider your neighbors' comfort when you set the volume. (Or consider skewering extra shrimp, popping extra popcorn, and inviting them over.)

What Resolution Do You Need From Your Outdoor Projector? (720p, 1080p, or 4K)

Any given projector offers a native resolution, which indicates the number of pixels it can display on the screen. More pixels mean finer detail. For projectors most suitable for movies, you have three basic choices: 720p (1,280 by 720), also known as HD; 1080p (1,920 by 1,080), also called Full HD; and 4K (3,840 by 2,160), also called Ultra HD or UHD.

In some cases, the native resolution for the imaging chip may be slightly greater, as with 1,280 by 800, but when you're viewing a movie, the actual number of pixels that will light up will be 1,280 by 720 or fewer, depending on the movie's aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height). All three of the resolutions you care about have a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Choosing among these resolutions depends almost entirely on how big your budget is and how much you care about seeing fine detail. Higher resolution costs more, shows more detail, and has a sharper look. However, resolution doesn't affect color, contrast, or any other aspect of image quality. A lower resolution just gives the image a slightly soft-focus look in comparison. Note also that most 720p and 1080p projectors can accept higher-resolution input and downconvert the image to their native resolution, so they behave like higher-resolution projectors with a soft focus. That's not always true, however. It's a good idea to check the highest-resolution input a projector supports before making a purchase.

More and more projectors also support HDR, which can do more to improve the visual impact of movies than higher resolution does. Unfortunately, the key phrase in that sentence is " can do more." Many of the projectors suitable for carrying outside for backyard movies at the time of writing fail to deliver on HDR's promise of improving image quality. In fact, it's not unusual for a projector to put a better-looking image on the screen with the 1080p SDR versions of movies than the 4K HDR versions. While you can count on 4K projectors providing more detail than 1080p projectors (assuming you're using a large enough screen and watching from a close enough distance to see the difference), don't rely solely on HDR support for improved image quality. Check how well the projector actually handles HDR, which is something we cover in our reviews.

Should Your Outdoor Projector's Power Source Be Battery or AC?

Plan on using AC power for all your equipment. Some small projectors (but few room-to-room portables) can run off battery power, and some even claim to run for long enough to watch a movie. But they typically drop brightness significantly when using batteries, and most aren't bright enough for a backyard movie night at a suitably large size, even using AC power. Beyond that, simply as a matter of convenience, the more individual battery-powered devices you're using, the more of a chore it is to make sure each one is charged enough before you start.

For safety's sake, add a professionally installed outdoor outlet near the equipment location, so you don't have to use a trip-me-up extension cord or a chain of cords and power strips. And be sure any outlet you plug into has ground fault protection to safeguard against electrical hazards.

The Video Source: How Will You Send Movies to Your Outdoor Projector?

Unless you're playing movies stored on a flash card or USB drive connected to a projector that can read the files, you'll need to pipe in your video from somewhere. With most room-to-room portables, the simplest choice is usually to utilize the built-in streaming or a bundled streaming stick that virtually all models in the category offer, often using Google TV, Android TV, or Android OS. Don't confuse the third choice on that list with the second. Like the newer Google TV, Android TV offers a wide range of capable streaming apps. Most Android OS implementations offer fewer apps, and many of the apps they do offer don't work all that well.

Streaming over a Wi-Fi connection can be a convenient way to access streaming services like Hulu or share files on your home network via an app like Plex. However, note that while most projectors with Google TV make a point of highlighting their Netflix support, many models with Android TV either don't offer a Netflix app at all or offer one that's difficult to use. If Netflix is your go-to streaming service, try to confirm whether there is a Netflix app and, if so, how well it works, before you make a purchase. If there's no app, or only a flawed one, a good workaround is to connect your phone to your network via Wi-Fi, stream using the Netflix phone app, and set up your projector to mirror your phone's screen.

Note that it's easy enough to add a streaming stick to projectors that lack built-in streaming. If you're not satisfied with the streaming options that come with the projector you want (or already have), you can disregard the built-in or bundled choice and plug in a different dongle. (See our guide to selecting the best media streamer .)

Almost all current home projectors offer a USB port for powering an HDMI dongle, typically near an HDMI port and often with no other function. Check for one when choosing a projector. If you wind up with a model without one, a robust power bank connected to a USB power cable may do if a power cord can't reach.

When you're outdoors, connecting a larger discrete video source to the projector can be a challenge. Active optical HDMI cables and HDMI extenders can let you connect over hundreds of feet, but typical HDMI cables are limited to 25 feet at best, and cables much shorter than that often struggle to provide a reliable connection for 4K HDR content. You may otherwise need to haul a Blu-ray player or laptop outside to plug into the projector.

If the projector supports Wi-Fi, and the video source can connect to your network by either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you can connect wirelessly, of course. But for any of the video sources mentioned here, including streaming sources, that assumes your network delivers a strong enough Wi-Fi signal to your backyard for a reliable connection. If your router's location and signal strength aren't sufficient, consider adding a Wi-Fi extender to your network or converting it to a  mesh system . Either will give you more complete coverage with a better chance of including the backyard. (See our primer Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What's the Difference? )

Still another possibility, which works with any projector and video source with HDMI ports, is a wireless HDMI kit. These kits include a transmitter that plugs into the video source's HDMI output and a receiver that plugs into the projector's HDMI port, essentially functioning like an HDMI cable without the need for one.

Finally, as mentioned above, if you want to play content downloaded ( legally , mind you) to a USB drive or a flash-memory card, make sure to pick a projector with an appropriate card slot or USB port. One wrinkle to that: Verify that the projector not only supports playing movies from the memory card or key, but also supports playing them at the target resolution you want to use . That's not always a given.

Ready to Buy the Right Outdoor Projector for You?

Our advice here should help you home in on the right projector for your specific needs. In our product pick summaries above and in the spec table of this article, we've selected some of the best projectors on the market for specific outdoor projection situations. For more projector reviews and our latest coverage of the category, check out our projector-coverage summary page , as well as our top picks for home projectors . 

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