Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this post may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Disclosure in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
Inflatable, what? No, it certainly is not a typo! If you’re a movie enthusiast, or if you just long to watch (or play) your favorite games out in the open, then you need to seriously consider one of these inflatable outdoor projection TVs. The bonus? You can easily take them along on your next outdoors escapade! Ready to know more?
No, they’re currently not designed for the swimming pool—at least, most of them aren’t. They are, at the core, a screen, quite like the one on their tripod or hanging counterparts: big, white, and very reflective. The part that is inflatable, is the frame; the inflating device (which we’ll cover later) remains at work as long as the screen is in use, to keep the frame at maximum size. When you’re done, all it takes is deflating it, and it’s ready to be put away, or placed in the car for the trip back.
What To Consider Before Buying an Inflatable Outdoor Projection TV
Here are some things you should keep in mind while shopping around.
Inflating Device
Some models require an external air pump to achieve full size and maintain it during use, which may take a little longer to set up. Some other options come with internal fans, which is easier for transportation, but more complicated to replace in case of failure.
The Crowd
The more folk you’re expecting to entertain, the bigger the screen should be. 6′ is usually adequate for smaller gatherings; for larger parties, you might need something as large as 18.
Noise Level
Since something (pump or fans) will be constantly at work to keep the frame inflated, there is likely to be some background noise. This can be mitigated by sufficiently potent speakers.
The Projector
Having a big projection area will do you little good if your projection device can’t fill it up. When shopping for your ideal screen, keep some funds set aside for a projector of adequate capabilities.
Brightness
It boils down to this: if you want to see the image, it should be bright enough. This depends on two factors—how bright a projector’s input is (expressed in lumens), and how good the screen is at reflecting it (known as gain). The key here is the Image Luminance, and in order to find it, we gotta understand a unit of measurement specifically created to this end.
An Introduction To Foot Lamberts
The criterion used to measure light output has changed over the years. First, it was the candela; then came the lumen. There’s even a special ANSI lumen created by the American National Standards Institute, utilized to measure most projectors’ output.
So what is a foot lambert? Abbreviated as ftL. it is measures how bright the image is as it reaches your eye after spreading on the screen and then bouncing off. A foot lambert is equivalent to 1 circular candela per square foot; 16 ftL are considered optimal for a dark room by the society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, or SMPTE; 60 and up are better for high ambient light. So how do we get our own number? For that, you need the following:
- Your screen’s dimensions (width, height) in feet, and aspect ratio.
- Your screen’s gain, as provided by manufacturer.
- Your projector’s lumen output, also as provided by manufacturer.
With these data on hand, you can easily find online a calculator that will do the math for you (and some include charts to match ftL to expected ambient light), but here’s a breakdown if you’d rather do it yourself:
- Multiply screen’s width by height to obtain the actual projection area (round up to the nearest half or whole number if you need).
- Divide your projector’s lumens by the screen’s effective area. This gives you the foot lamberts.
- Multiply the foot lambert’s by your screen’s gain (0.5, 1, and so on). This provides the actual output after the reflection is enhanced (or negatively affected) by how reflective or opaque the screen’s surface is.
Eyes On The Weather
That which makes it so easy to carry around, also makes it susceptible to getting tossed around by strong wind. It’s best to keep track of weather changes, in case you need to pack it up until the worst of the wind storm has passed. Rain is another thing to avoid, because of the electric cables involved. For this reason it is strongly recommended to take advantage of its portability and put it away after use, so a sudden shower won’t catch it in the open while you’re running errands or asleep.
The Best Inflatable Outdoor Projection TVs
Below we have prepared a selection of models we find worth a second look; you will likely find the right fit among these.
KHOMO GEAR GER-1161
The whole setup takes about 5 minutes: roll it out, ensure the deflation zipper is closed, attach the blower and turn it on; it reportedly takes a little more than a minute to reach full size. When you’re done, open the zipper, and simply let it deflate.
Buy on AmazonThe screen is secured to the frame via Velcro and, once it is in place, provides a viewing area 13′ wide and 8′ tall. Projection is possible both at the front and the back. Air pump and bag for storage and carrying are included.
Pros:
- A good option for beginners, thanks to its accessible price and easy setup.
Cons:
- Screen reportedly quite opaque and prone to ripping.
Holiday Styling Inflatable Projector Screen
There’s little doubt this is a strong one, as it is made of 600D polyester—one of the thickest that can be used without unduly affecting the final price tag. Viewing area is washable, crease-free, and it allows for both front and rear projecting.
Buy on AmazonInflating device is a blower, which comes in the package, and gets the frame to full size in just under 2 minutes. The base is wide to provide better stability, especially under winds of a certain strength.
Pros:
- Stable, needs little to no anchoring thanks to frame shape.
Cons:
- No bag included in the package—must be procured separately.
- Blower fairly loud.
VIVOHOME Mega Movie Projector Screen
If you like it but you’re looking for a different size, then there’s no need to search further, as this one comes in a total of 7 sizes ranging between 14 and 24′. Made in 210D Oxford clothing, it gains its full size via a built-in 85W fan pump.
Buy on AmazonStake, tethers and carry bag are included; manufacturer recommends detaching screen section from frame before putting away, to help it stay clean and in good shape.
Pros:
- Variety of sizes.
Cons:
- Fabric it is made in is much thinner than other models.
- Base design known to be unstable—unit may topple over even with no wind present.
GOLDORO 14ft Outdoor Projector Screen
It weighs only 12lbs, so it is fairly easy to take along wherever you go, and it includes a carry bag to simplify it even more; the blower unit is built-in, which further shrinks the bundle. Dimensions and all, it provides a decent viewing area, 96″ wide and 58″ tall.
Buy on AmazonAlthough it comes in only one size—and one not too large at that—, it may very well suffice if you don’t expect to entertain a lot of people.
Pros:
- Lighter in weight than many other models.
- Compact; suitable for a great many locations.
- One of the more affordable options out there.
Cons:
- Known to suffer in terms of overall quality and durability.
Sewinfla Upgraded Airtight Movie Screen
Where there’s a rule, there’s likely to be an exception: in this case, the exception is this screen, and the rule is, no using in the pool, as this one can be safely left floating on the water. The model achieves this simply by departing from one core feature of most similar devices: instead of requiring the blower to run nonstop so the air will stay in, you can simply inflate it and cap it off.
Buy on AmazonThis way, there is no fear of an electric device coming into contact with water, although this creates additional instability. Available sizes range from 10 to 30′.
Pros:
- No noise during use, as no device is at work keeping the frame inflated.
Cons:
- Thorough anchoring reportedly required when on water, as the slightest breeze can topple it over.
The Star Of Your Outdoors Show: Holiday Styling Inflatable Projector Screen
Why is this our pick for the best inflatable outdoor projection TVs? It’s arguably one of the sturdiest models in the market: whereas many other similar units will feature 210 or 420D polyester, this one goes much farther with a remarkable 600D fabric. It is, in other words, as strong as it can be without making you invest more (as 600D is one of the least expensive polyester types); it is, in fact, quite affordable compared to many other models. It’s more stable, too, thanks to how wide its footprint is.
While the blower unit is reportedly noisy, this can be mitigated without too much trouble by the distance between you and the screen, and the use of sufficiently potent, adequately placed speakers.
True, this one can’t go on your swimming pool, but let’s face it—it’s highly unlikely you’ll even need a screen there.
