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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.
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- Best Outdoor Projector for 2025: Tested by Our Experts
- What's the best outdoor projector overall?
- Best outdoor projector overall
- Best battery powered outdoor projector
- Best compact and bright outdoor projector
- Best short-throw outdoor projector
- Best gimbaled outdoor projector
- Best budget outdoor projector with a battery
- Best budget outdoor projector without a battery
- Best high-end outdoor projector (with a handle)
- Outdoor projectors compared
- Other projectors I've tested
- How I test outdoor projectors
- Outdoor projector FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
| Model | Price | Resolution | Lumens | Contrast ratio | Battery life (hours claimed) |
| M8 | $370 | 1080p | 343 | 1,081:1 | 2.5 |
| P6X | $360 | 800p | 437 | 210:1 | 2 |
| P8 | $210 | 540p | 230 | 558:1 | N/A |
| Capsule 3 | $500 | 1080p | 123 | 471:1 | 2.5 |
| Capsule Air | $400 | 720p | 84 | 381:1 | 2 |
| Cosmos Laser | $1,800 | 4K | 1,607 | 652 | N/A |
| Mars 3 Air | $600 | 1080p | 252 | 405:1 | 2.5 |
| X300G | $1,900 | 4K | 700 | 1,762:1 | N/A |
| X500i | $2,000 | 4K | 911 | 1,990:1 | N/A |
| N1S Pro | $2,000 | 4K | 1,198 | 526:1 | N/A |
| Freestyle | $900 | 1080p | 197 | 362:1 | N/A |
The Anker Nebula Capsule Air.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNETAnker Nebula Capsule Air: The Capsule Air is the little brother to the Capsule 3 I recommend above. It's even smaller and less expensive, which is why it's one of our top picks for the best portable projector" target="_self. It's not on this list because it's not very bright. It sacrifices brightness for size. That's a valid tradeoff, and arguably it could be a pick here as well. If the overall idea for an "outdoor projector" is a backyard movie night, the image of the Capsule Air would perhaps be a little small. Still, if "small TV" size is OK for you, this is a great, compact projector. Read our Anker Nebula Capsule Air review" target="_self.
Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE: The sibling of the non-SE Cosmos recommended above is a little dimmer but also a little cheaper. If you like the idea of the Cosmos 4K but not the price, this is a good option. Read our Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review.
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF21: The EF21, and its gimbaled sibling the EF22, are toaster-sized projectors that create a reasonably bright, colorful image. Their performance is roughly on par with the Anker Mars 3 Air recommended above, but lack a battery and are about twice as large. Check out our full review of the Epson EF21.
Samsung Freestyle: The small, stylish, cylindrical Freestyle is an interesting idea, but it's not very bright, lacks a battery and is quite expensive. Read our Samsung Freestyle review.
The Samsung Freestyle is a cool looking design but too expensive for what you get.
Geoff Morrison/CNETXgimi Horizon Ultra: The Horizon Ultra is like a brighter, classier-looking version of the BenQ X300G recommended above. Its contrast ratio isn't great, so the BenQ looks better overall, but the Ultra throws an extreme amount of light. Check out our full review of the Xgimi Horizon Ultra.
Xgimi Horizon S Max: The S Max is a gimbaled variant of the Ultra, with a bit worse performance and a higher price. I'm not a big fan of gimbals, so I like the Ultra better. Read our Xgimi Horizon S Max review.
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
Can any projector work outside?
Yes! Well, sort of. No projector should live outside. The humidity and temperature variations will quickly ruin a projector, just like it will with a TV. Projectors are not IP-rated, nor could they be, since their fans require access to outside are for cooling. But if you plan to bring it inside after every use, something we highly recommend, you can use any projector outside.
So, in other words, don't get projectors wet, dusty or leave them in the elements.
Do outdoor projectors have streaming apps? Can I connect my phone?
Most of the projectors on this list either have full or partial streaming interfaces (and Wi-Fi) like you'd find in a modern smart TV. They might not have every streaming app, however. Netflix is pretty much a given, but beyond that, it varies.
All the projectors on this list have an HDMI input, and all except the Capsule also have a USB connection, so you can connect any streaming stick to them and get all the apps you're used to.
Many phones allow "screen mirroring" if you connect them via HDMI to your projector. A USB-C-to-HDMI cable is all you'll need, though it doesn't always work as you'd hope. It depends a lot on your phone.
Can outdoor projectors work during the daytime or only after dark?
No projector can compete with the sun. Portable, affordable options like those listed here will only be able to create a watchable image at dusk or after. Theoretically, you could shade the screen/wall where you're projecting the image, but that's not going to be very effective. Basically, if you want a watchable image during the day, you'll need a TV. Though that has it's own potential issues.
Do I need external speakers, or are built-in speakers good enough?
Our top picks have decent speakers built-in. They're still fairly small and don't have much power compared to dedicated speakers. They'll be audible in a quiet area but they won't be able to compete with a lot of noise. Some models have audio outputs, HDMI ARC, or Bluetooth that will allow the connection of larger, more powerful speakers.
What was updated: June 2025
Added the AAXA M8 as a recommendation.
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