An outdoor theater is a great addition to the summer bucket list, and they’re not as hard to set up as you may think. The biggest ticket item (and the one that seems the most daunting) is often the projector. You need something specialized for outdoor use; something that can handle a little more of a rugged lifestyle outside, and we’ve got some ideas. We’ve put together this list of the best outdoor projectors to compare, so you don’t have to spend hours online and in stores trying to decipher and compare the specs and reviews.
Top Picks:
- Optoma HD142X Home Theater Projector
- APEMAN Mini Portable Projector
- ViewSonic PJD5555W Projector
- BenQ DLP HD​​ 1080p Projector
- Nebula Capsule Smart Portable Wi-Fi Mini Projector
- Acer H5382BD Home Theater Projec​​tor
​Optoma HD142X Home Theater Projector
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Image Source: Amazon
Features​
This outdoor projector is easily mountable and offers 2 HDMI ports – one of which will work with smartphones and tablets too (which also includes streaming sticks like Chromecast or the Roku remote). It has a 1920×1080 native resolution and 3000-lumen brightness, which is perfect for an outdoor theater. It can keep the image clear for up to 20 feet (per an 8-foot screen) and can support Blu-ray 3D for added options in entertainment. The addition of a gaming mode will appeal to an even wider audience, and it doesn’t let you down in speed.
There are modes for daylight watching, in addition to the preferred evening and nighttime movie nights. There are also the 3D and Eco modes, as well a vertical keystone correction to automatically align the image to the screen. For a projector that ranks on the lower end of the high price margin, there is a lot offered.
Pros
- ​3000 Lumen
- ​Smart enabled features and function
- ​Auto align
- ​Compatible for gaming and daylight use
- ​Blu-ray 3D
Cons
- ​Some rainbow effect
- ​Colors are slightly over-saturated in daylight mode
- ​Fan can be heard in daylight mode
Price $$$
Where to Buy
Warranty
There is a limited warranty that covers any malfunctions or manufacturer errors the projector may come with or encounter. Users have been happy with this projector overall.
​APEMAN Mini Portable Projector
Image Source: Amazon
Features​
This is a great option for users on the go and is often not an option people think about. A portable projector is great for long trips, breaks in class or at work, or for a small gathering of friends at a park or anywhere else. This pocket-sized projector can connect via HDMI and is compatible with USBs or a hard drive. There is also a headphone jack for users in public places as well as the ability to connect to external speakers via an auxiliary cord.
The native resolution is only 854×480 with 50 lumens, however, this projector is meant to be used just a few feet from the screen which does aid in bolstering those specs. The battery in this projector lasts 90 to 120 minutes and can also operate as a charging station for your phone.
Pros
- ​Pocket-sized for portable viewing
- ​Headphone jack
- ​Charging station
- ​Compatible with smart sticks via HDMI
Cons
- ​Full charge may not last an entire movie
- ​Low specs
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
​ There is a standard warranty for manufacturer errors or malfunctions of the projector upon arrival or throughout its use. Users have been pleased with the overall performance as well.
​ViewSonic PJD5555W Projector
Image Source: Amazon
Features​
This is another easily mounted projector that can function well for entertainment and work purposes. It offers 1280×800 native resolution, which is on the lower end but still doable. The lumens, though, are above the high point at 3300.
There are lots of connection ports available (7 in total), and this projector can support 3D as well from a Blu-ray or a PC. There are 5 preset viewing modes that include an eco mode that will extend that lamp life substantially.
Pros
- ​Lots of ports
- ​High lumen count
- ​3D
- ​Compatible with gaming
- ​Compatible with smart sticks
Cons
- ​Lower resolution
- ​Zoom range is a little short
- ​Short power cord
Price $$$
Where to Buy
Warranty
​There is a 3-year limited warranty for parts and a 1-year warranty for the lamp, as well as a free year in their Express Exchange program. Users have been well pleased with this product.
​BenQ DLP HD 1080p Projector
Image Source: Amazon
Features​
This projector is a popular choice for office setups with its smaller size and cleaner design. It is also lightweight, though, so mounting wouldn’t be difficult. It does have a manual zoom and focus so be careful where you mount it. It does, however, offer a vertical lens shift which many in this price range do not. This makes outdoor use much easier as it eliminates the need to fiddle with the lens yourself to get the right viewing angle.
There are 2 HDMI ports, and this projector is 3D and is well-known for its natural colors and crisp image in either viewing setting. It also has no lag, which makes it an optimal choice for games as well.
Pros
- ​Vertical lens shift
- ​3D
- ​Compatible with games
- ​Natural colors
- ​Great 3D performance
Cons
- ​Pricey
- ​Manual focus
- ​Leaks lamp light
- ​Some issues with overheating
Price $$$$
Where to Buy
Warranty
​ There is a warranty to cover manufacturer issues or malfunctions, and users have been relatively well pleased; customer service is great, and issues are resolved quickly.
Nebula Capsule Smart Portable Wi-Fi Mini Projector
Image Source: Amazon
Features​
Here, we have another portable projector. This option focuses on better sound quality, as viewing anything outdoors will have ambient noise at the very least. Instead of the standard speaker quality, this option offers an omni-directional sound that performs well outside.
Again, we have the 854 x 480 native resolution, but we have upped the lumens to 100 for better viewing at a distance (about 100 inches for screen size). The 4-hour battery life is what really put this on our best outdoor projectors list though. This is plenty for a movie, a game session, and more, so it does exactly what we feel a portable projector should.
Pros
- ​Good sound quality
- ​Better lumens
- ​long battery life
- ​USB, HDMI, and screen casting via Bluetooth or Wi-fi
Cons
- ​Lower resolution
- ​Chromecast not supported
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
​ There is a standard warranty to cover manufacturer errors as well as malfunctions upfront or over time. Users have been pleased with the performance of this speaker and it seems to live up to its hype.
​Acer H5382BD Home Theater Projector
Image Source: Amazon
Features​
​This projector is designed specifically for entertainment. It offers 1280 x 720 native resolution with a few HDMI ports, with one that will support smartphones. 3300 lumens are a great addition, and the eco mode runs great at night. It can produce good quality on a 100-inch screen at 11 feet.
Pros
- ​High lumen count
- ​Supports smartphones
- ​Lamp life of 10,000 hours in eco mode
Cons
- ​Lamp life cut down to 5,000 hours if not in eco mode
- ​Can be finicky
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
​There is a 1-year limited warranty to cover malfunctions and errors that stem from the manufacturing. Some users have had issues with the projector breaking right after the warranty expires.
Product FAQ: The Best Outdoor Projector
There are some things to consider when you’re looking for the best outdoor projector and some questions you’ll want to think about upfront before digging into the comparison. Look through this list to help you narrow down your necessary criteria for the best outdoor projector for your needs.
1. What Is an Outdoor Projector?
More importantly, what makes it different from a standard projector? There is a slightly different throw radius between an indoor and outdoor projector, so we definitely wouldn’t recommend just using a standard projector outside for that reason alone.
You also have to consider how temperamental and sensitive a standard projector can be. They’re very sensitive to things like humidity, moisture, and wildlife interference so using them outside will likely throw them into the line of fire for all three of those. There’s also a ton of wiring for an indoor projector that is made much simpler for its outdoor counterpart; none of us are fans of complicated wiring, especially outside where technology is a little more limited.
​2. What Specs Do I Need?
There are a few things to look at that may vary from a standard projector. For example, the resolution should be at the bottom of your priority list. Unlike indoor projectors, even the best outdoor projectors can’t replicate HD 4K quality onto a screen; they just aren’t built with that possibility unless you get an actual 4K projector. While that doesn’t mean you won’t still have good quality, it does mean that because the projector is throwing pixels onto a large screen from a distance, you may lose some quality along the way.What you do want to put high on that priority list is brightness. This will play a crucial role in the overall quality of the picture, and what you want to look for in particular is Lumens. A Lumen number of 2000 or above is good to look for. The closer to 3000 the better.
​3. What about Sizing?
You’ll need to measure out your space beforehand, as well as the screen size and the distance from that to the projector. This will give you an estimated size to work with and look for so you don’t end up overshooting or being too limited.
​4. What About Sound?
If you’re not planning on using a separate sound system for your outdoor theater, then the sound system the projector offers will be important – though what exactly you need depends more on your preference and space than any specs. Typically, if you don’t want to rely on the built-in system, opt for a projector with various HDMI ports so you can hook multiple things up.
​The Verdict: The Best Outdoor Projector
Now that you’ve seen some of the options for the best outdoor projector, which is the right option for you? Ultimately, the choice is yours, however, we can offer some suggestions for different needs and different environments projectors can be used in.
For the best option for outdoor entertainment (movies and games) and the best outdoor projector overall, we would opt for the Optoma. It offers a lot of diversity in good quality, and users have been well-pleased with its performance.
For portable projector options, we would definitely steer you towards the Nebula. The battery life alone makes it a superior choice, but the fact that the specs rank higher than the ApeMan anyway just puts it over the top. This would be a great choice for small gatherings, camping, or just on-the-go movies and games.
For the best budget option, we recommend the Optoma again. It has really been impressive in terms of quality and performance for the price, so you definitely can’t go wrong with it either way.
