CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
The best outdoor projectors can create the ultimate backyard movie night. You can watch movies on Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video or videos on YouTube while camping in the wild or behind your house. All you need is one of these projectors and a flat -- or flat-ish -- surface for an instant movie theater. Portable, battery-powered ones often charge via a USB-C connector -- no power outlet necessary. Most of my picks can even double as Bluetooth speakers. I've tested hundreds of projectors (and I've even taken one of the following picks on a road trip for some outdoor entertainment); these are the best I've tested.
What's the best outdoor projector overall?
The best outdoor projector overall is the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air. It's compact, looks and sounds good, and has Google TV built in. It also has a built-in battery and a convenient handle; basically, it does everything right. It's not quite as small or as bright as some options, but it has few vices in a category that, on average, has a lot. Check out our full review of the Mars 3 Air.
If you don't mind running an extension cord, the BenQ X500i is a short-throw projector with excellent image quality that can sit just a few feet from a screen or wall to create a huge, gorgeous image. Check out our full review of the BenQ X500i.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best outdoor projector overall Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air Pros Great size
Google TV streaming
Decent color and contrast for a portable Cons A little pricey
Shorter battery life than its predecessor Anker's Mars 3 Air is a compact, battery-powered projector with built-in streaming and surprisingly decent speakers. Its image quality is good given its size and price. It's far brighter when plugged in -- all portables are -- but running on batteries should let you watch a full-length movie. It even has an HDMI port so you can connect a PlayStation, Xbox or Switch for some outdoor game nights. Why I like it The Mars 3 Air does most things right and few things wrong. It's easy to use, pretty bright and its speakers are fairly loud. Who should get it Anyone looking for a great, all-around projector for movies and TV away from (or adjacent to) home. Who should skip it The Mars 3 Air trades outright performance for size and price. You can get a brighter, better-looking image with some of the larger projectors on this list. Those are more expensive and not as portable, however. There are also smaller and cheaper projectors, but those have their own compromises, too.
... Show more Get it now $440 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Resolution 1,920x1,080 pixels Brightness (claimed) 400 lumens Battery life (claimed) 2.5 hours Learn more Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air review Add to compare
Geoff Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 The Capsule 3 doesn't have lens shift nor zoom. Geoff Morrison/CNET Best battery powered outdoor projector Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Pros Roughly the size of a 16oz beverage can
Google TV streaming
USB-C charging Cons Pricey
Not very bright The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 is the size of a large beverage can, yet it projects a 1080p image with reasonable brightness. It's sort of the ultimate in small-size projection, but that image quality comes at a cost. If you don't mind going a bit larger, you can get a far brighter image from one of the other projectors on this list. The 2.5-hour battery life is good, and because it can charge via a USB-C connection, it's easy to extend that with a portable power bank. Why I like it It's small, reasonably bright and has built-in streaming. Who should get it If you like the idea of something the size of an AriZona Iced Tea can with Google TV built in and 2.5-hour battery life, then I've got the perfect projector for you. Who should skip it The Mars 3 Air, though larger, is better and louder overall. So if size isn't your absolute concern, check that one out. If size is a major concern, check out the Capsule Air mentioned in the "Other products we've tested" section below. It's not as bright, but it's smaller and cheaper.
... Show more Get it now $445 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Resolution 1,920x1,080 pixels Brightness (claimed) 200 lumens Battery life (claimed) 2.5 hours Learn more Anker Nebula Capsule 3 review Add to compare
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best compact and bright outdoor projector AAXA M8 Pros Extremely bright
Battery-powered Cons Colors are overly vibrant The AAXA M8 is a battery-powered compact projector that's extremely bright and has some built-in streaming. It's significantly brighter than the Anker Capsule projectors and even has a better contrast ratio, but its color performance is odd and it has extremely loud internal fans. Why I like it The M8 is small. It's bright. It's got a battery. It has a few streaming services built in. It's got a great price. Who should get it If your main goal is just to create the largest image you can with something small and compact, the M8 can definitely do that -- with some caveats. Who should skip it The M8's fans are extremely loud -- far louder than any of the other projectors on this list. Its colors are overly vibrant, making them border on cartoonish. While there are some streaming services built in, there are far fewer here than you might expect. Also, in the case of Netflix, it's the mobile version, which is 480p (not HD) and a little annoying to navigate. The M8 isn't for everyone, but it does do several important things really well.
... Show more Specs & Configurations Resolution 1,920x1,080 pixels Brightness (claimed) 1,500 lumens Battery life (claimed) 1.2 hours (Bright mode), 2.5 hours (Eco mode) Learn more AAXA M8 review Add to compare
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/4 The 1.2x zoom lens. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best short-throw outdoor projector BenQ X500i Pros Excellent contrast
Accurate colors
Bright Cons Expensive
Short throw not for everyone The BenQ X500i is far larger than the other projectors on this list and, therefore, far less portable. However, it's still light enough to easily carry and has built-in streaming and speakers. It creates a fantastic, bright image. It also only needs a few feet to create a massive image, so it's ideal for when space is limited. Why I like it The X500i is one of the best-looking projectors I've reviewed in a long time. It has great contrast, excellent color and is very bright. Who should get it This projector can create a bright, gorgeous image just a few feet from the screen/wall. Who should skip it The X500i doesn't have a battery. You have to plug it in somewhere, so if you're looking for some "off-the-grid" entertainment, this isn't it.
... Show more Get it now $1,999 at Amazon $1,999 at B&H Photo-Video Specs & Configurations Resolution 3,840x2,160 pixels Brightness (claimed) 2,200 lumens Battery life N/A Learn more BenQ X500i review Add to compare
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 No zoom, though the autofocus is fast and accurate. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best gimbaled outdoor projector JMGO N1S Pro 4K Pros High brightness in a small(ish) projector
Surprisingly good speakers Cons Colors aren't accurate
The gimbal design is still weird The JMGO N1S Pro 4K has a gimbaled base that makes placement and setup easier. That minor convenience comes at a higher price, however, costing a bit more for the performance you get. Overall, the N1S Pro 4K looks good and creates a bright, detailed image. Why I like it The JMGO looks good, has better speakers than most projectors of its size and is quite bright. Who should get it The gimbaled design makes setup extremely fast if you don't want to bother with it each time you want to use the projector. Who should skip it The JMGO doesn't have a battery, so if you're looking for something while camping or away from a power outlet, this won't work. ... Show more Get it now $1,399 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Resolution 3,840x2,160 pixels Brightness (claimed) 2,400 lumens Battery life N/A Learn more JMGO N1S Pro 4K review Add to compare
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best budget outdoor projector with a battery AAXA P6X Pros Incredibly bright for its size
Huge battery
How is this so inexpensive? Cons Color is a bit odd
Low resolution
Loud in brightest modes The AAXA P6X throws out an impressive amount of light and lasts up to a promised four hours with its built-in battery. You'll need to add a streaming stick to watch anything, but there's a USB connection to power one, so that's easy to do. Overall, the image quality is OK, but not great. The colors are off, the contrast ratio isn't great and its resolution of 1,280x800 pixels is noticeably softer than 1080p and especially 4K projectors. That said, it's bright and inexpensive, which is a great combination. Why I like it The P6X has a big battery and a great price. Who should get it If you want something to watch on the go while not spending a lot, the P6X does a lot more than you might expect and has great battery life. Who should skip it If you want great picture quality, this isn't the best option. It also lacks built-in streaming.
... Show more Get it now $329 at B&H Photo-Video $330 at Best Buy Specs & Configurations Resolution 1,280x800 pixels Brightness (claimed) 1,100 lumens Battery life (claimed) 90 minutes (standard mode); 240 minutes (Eco mode) Learn more AAXA P6X review Add to compare
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/6 Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best budget outdoor projector without a battery AAXA P8 Pros Literally fits in the palm of your hand
Bright for its size and price
Some built-in streaming Cons Not powered via USB
540p resolution
A few bugs in the menus The AAXA P8 is tiny, like the Nebula Capsule, but rectangular to that projector's cylindrical shape. It's significantly brighter than the Capsule, but lacks that projector's battery. Like its big brother, the P6X, the P8 doesn't have the best picture quality. However, it's inexpensive and bright, two things I like a lot. All ultrabudget projectors have price concessions, but with the P8, those concessions don't include brightness and size. Why I like it It's tiny, looks decent enough and is really cheap. Who should get it If your budget is more "beer" than "champagne," the P8 creates a bright image at a handheld size. Who should skip it Image quality isn't great, and it lacks a battery. So if you're away from an outlet or if you have a critical eye, there are better options.
... Show more Get it now $199 at Amazon $224 at Best Buy Specs & Configurations Resolution 960x540 pixels Brightness (claimed) 430 lumens Battery life N/A Learn more AAXA P8 review Add to compare
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best high-end outdoor projector (with a handle) Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Pros Bright
Compact
Android TV built-in Cons Expensive
No zoom
Few picture adjustments The Laser 4K's claim to being portable and "outdoor" boils down to a huge handle built into its design. It lacks a battery, is quite heavy and is really expensive. However, it is exceptionally bright. Why I like it It's extremely bright and has built-in streaming. The big handle makes it easy to carry. Who should get it If you're willing to spend more than many of the other projectors on this list, the Laser 4K can create a huge image anywhere. Who should skip it Anywhere who wants to use an outlet. Some of the other plug-in projectors on this list have better image quality overall.
... Show more Get it now $1,800 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Resolution 3,840x2,160 pixels Brightness (claimed) 2,400 lumens Battery life N/A Learn more Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K review Add to compare
Outdoor projectors compared Brightness and contrast ratio are based on measurements, not manufacturer specs. See the “How I test outdoor projectors” section below for more details. Pricing was accurate at the time of the original review. Outdoor projector specifications Brand Model Price Resolution Lumens Contrast ratio Battery life (hours claimed) AAXA M8 $370 1080p 343 1,081:1 2.5 AAXA P6X $360 800p 437 210:1 2 AAXA P8 $210 540p 230 558:1 N/A Anker Capsule 3 $500 1080p 123 471:1 2.5 Anker Capsule Air $400 720p 84 381:1 2 Anker Cosmos Laser $1,800 4K 1,607 652 N/A Anker Mars 3 Air $600 1080p 252 405:1 2.5 BenQ X300G $1,900 4K 700 1,762:1 N/A BenQ X500i $2,000 4K 911 1,990:1 N/A JMGO N1S Pro $2,000 4K 1,198 526:1 N/A Samsung Freestyle $900 1080p 197 362:1 N/A
How I test outdoor projectors I don't treat outdoor projectors any differently, testing-wise, than any other projector. Just because a projector has the convenience of being portable doesn't mean it shouldn't perform to reasonable standards. The biggest difference is checking the performance on the battery vs. plugged in. That almost always just results in a difference in light output. I never use manufacturer specs as part of our review process. Broadly speaking, I use C6 HDR5000 colorimeter connected to a laptop running Portrait Displays Calman software to objectively measure color and color temperature accuracy. To measure light output and contrast ratio, I use a Minolta LS-100 luminance meter and AEMC CA813 illuminance meter. The subjective portion of each review has two stages. The first is viewing a variety of content, including movies, TV shows and games, on each projector. Then I connect the projector under test, along with two others of similar performance and/or price, to a distribution amplifier (aka a "splitter") and they're compared side-by-side-by-side on a 1.0-gain screen. This allows me to compare all three using the same content from the same source on each at the same time. Read more: How We Test Projectors