Best Outdoor TV Projectors

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Lighting up the night in the backyard is one of the most magical ways to enjoy an evening with your friends and loved ones during the summer months. Bonfires, fireworks and string lights are an awesome way to keep everyone entertained after the sun sets. But, nothing quite comes close to a projector! These pieces of tech have also gotten quite a bit smaller and more portable over the years, making them perfect for bringing the big screen outside onto your patio, backyard or pool. Here we’ll review the best outdoor tv projectors. 

Which TV Projectors can you Use Outside?

These devices offer an alternative to having to purchase an additional TV for use on your patio or back deck. While they do offer a crystal clear picture and built-in streaming apps, projectors can achieve something similar for a mere fraction of the cost. The fact of the matter is, everyone has to sit relatively close to an outdoor TV to see the picture clearly. However, outdoor TV projectors enhance your viewing experience by lighting up an area as large as the size of your home, an inflatable screen or a backdrop of your choosing. And, they’re entirely portable. You can make use of these by the lake, at the campsite or cottage!

Choosing the right one starts by asking the question: can you use any projector outside? As long as you can get power to it, of course. However, you’ll be limited by the capability of a standard home entertainment projector, since they typically only project enough area to fit an indoor screen. Outdoor projectors can be placed further from the screen material, and offer a substantially larger picture, without compromising on quality or focus. It isn’t uncommon to find dedicated outdoor projectors that cast a screen anywhere between 32”, to 240”. Outdoor tv projectors typically aren’t mounted like traditional indoor models are, but are on one hand smaller and much more portable than their counterparts. 

What to Look for in an Outdoor TV Projector 

These outdoor projectors often come equipped with a whole host of useful features that can seriously enhance your outdoor movie or gaming session. The first thing to look for is screen size. Finding one which will project an adequate size onto the surface you’re hoping to use is crucial. Take the time to measure the size of your space to see what you can expect from any given model.

The other is in bound video connections. Many leading models will come with HDMI, AV, and USB ports. This makes them ideal for whatever kind of media you’re trying to project. And last but not least, bluetooth has become more or less ubiquitous in these devices. Casting from your phone, computer or ipad is now more or less the new standard. 

The Best Outdoor TV Projectors to Light up the Night in Your Backyard

Imagine being able to set up videogames, movies and even some of your favorite streaming channels on the big screen outside at night! Your family and guests can enjoy some seriously entertaining games and movies together under the stars, thanks to the magic of these tv projectors. All they need is power and a surface to project onto, and the rest is up to your imagination! 

NICPOW Mini Outdoor TV Projector w/ Included Screen

NICPOW Mini Projector,Portable Projector with 1080P and 7500L Supported Outdoor Projector,240' Movie Home Projector for Bedroom, Compatible with HDMI, USB, AV, Smartphone/Tablet/Laptop

Diving into our first option, it’s totally evident projectors have come a long way! These features are just one example of how they can help you host the perfect movie night outdoors in your own backyard. Despite the name, there’s nothing ‘mini’ about this projector besides its incredibly useful, portable design. This unit will easily project as high as 240” in crystal clear 1080p HD.

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The high fidelity capability of these compact and easy to use projectors is just one aspect they’ve come forward in. An advanced cooling system plays it’s part by keeping this unit cool. That ensures that it remains cool, even during prolonged use. (That also means it won’t hum, or growl like your computer might when it’s a little stressed out).

Thankfully, this projector doesn’t give you much to stress over. Built in speakers, Amazon fire stick, HDMI and USB capability means you won’t have a hard time streaming, casting or playing back just about any piece of media you’ve got on hand. Oh, and did we mention the included 100” screen? 

Pros:

  • Screen is included
  • Cooling unit means you can run it for a long time
  • Built in speakers and Amazon fire makes it easy to stream

Cons:

  • Included speakers may not go loud enough for a bigger yard
  • Screen doesn’t include a stand
  • Easy to set up if tech savvy but instructions may not be clear for all users

NEBULA Capsule 3 GTV Projector

Anker NEBULA Capsule, Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector, 100 ANSI Lumen Portable Projector, 360° Speaker, Movie Projector, 100 Inch Picture, 4Hr Video Playtime for Inside and Outside, Watch Anywhere

Don’t let the small size of this projector fool you, it packs a powerful punch when it comes to image quality and projection distance! Officially licensed to play Netflix and Google TV/Youtube compatible, streaming inside or outdoors is super easy with this extremely portable 1080p projector.

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Boasting 200 lumens (which mean you can still see the screen ok in a partially lit room) and a screen size up to 120 inches you can easily take this projector anywhere and still get a great viewing experience. There’s also a tonne of other handy features like obstacle avoidance, a built in Dolby digital surround sound speaker, and autofocusing.

It works plugged in but if you’re on the go the rechargeable battery lasts 2.5 hours so you can watch most movies (sorry, Oppenheimer) on a single charge. This projector can also be used as a smart speaker for up to 8 hours of music streaming off the battery.

Pro tip: create an adorable ‘drive-in’ theatre experience for your little one with some personalized snack combos, and pillow and blanket laden cardboard boxes, or rubbermaid bins! 

Pros:

  • Great picture quality that looks crisp in a variety of settings
  • Technology features like auto image focus, obstacle avoidance, auto screen fit, etc
  • Super portable with good battery life
  • Fan is quiet
  • Apps can be downloaded to make streaming easier

Cons:

  • Battery may not last for longer movies so power is required
  • Included charging cord is short
[Electric-Focus] 5G WiFi Bluetooth Projector, TOPTRO TR23 Mini Projector Support 1080P, 15000 Lumen, 4D/4P Keystone& Zoom, Latest Dust-Proof Portable Projector, Outdoor Projector for iOS/Android/PS5

This sleek little unit packs a lot of features into a small, but incredibly convenient space. Besides being super portable, there’s one distinct difference between this model and some of its competitors. It comes with a wifi-capable mirroring. This allows it to connect wirelessly with other devices in your network.

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If your connection isn’t all that great, no worries! This comes equipped with a low input lag compensation feature, allowing it to provide a clear and consistent picture during minor drops. Hi-Fi surround sound, paired with a 15,000 lumen lamp makes this a solid projector for your very own home theatre experience. 

Pros:

  • Handle makes it easy to move around
  • Wifi connection handy for streaming from a PC, phone, etc
  • Fully sealed and dust proof
  • Super quiet

Cons:

  • Remote has some input lag
  • Volume is low on the built in speaker
  • Can’t stream all services (including Netflix) without a Fire or Roku stick (sold separately)

Fangor HD Bluetooth Projector

FANGOR HD Bluetooth Projector - Portable 10000L Projector for Outdoor Movie, Mini Video 1080P Supported Projector with Carry Bag & Tripod, Compatible Computer/ Laptop/ SD Cards/PS4

The Fangor mini projector packs a lot more than just a full 1080p display on a portable scale. It’s got a pretty neat feature that makes backyard movie night all that much more magical and stress-free. When it comes to planning fun activities in your backyard or patio, taking the worry and complication out of things ahead of time makes your life that much more simple.

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The Fangor projector might just be one of the easiest to setup outdoor TV projectors, with a super useful tripod! It mounts from the bottom, and keep the device off of the ground, or worse, perched precariously. The portability is built upon with a stylish and protective carrying case, and all of the included AV and wiring you’ll need to stream movies and shows from a laptop! This model also comes with bluetooth connectivity, so you can easily connect your phone for streaming media. 

Pros:

  • Tripod and carry bag are included
  • Connects to your phone via bluetooth
  • Easy to set up

Cons:

  • Only works well in the dark
  • Not a lot of adjustment options for the picture quality (ie. colours)
  • Built in speaker is low quality

WiMiUS Pico Pocket Portable Projector

Mini Projector with Android TV, DLP and Rechargeable Battery, WiMiUS Pico Pocket Portable Projector with WiFi Bluetooth, 360°Speaker, 1080P Support, Wireless Smart Outdoor Projector for Phone/HDMI/USB

For a miniature model, this portable projector stacks up to the competition with the capability to cast a crisp picture, with 1080P fidelity included. A 50,000 hour projector bulb will last for years, giving you the opportunity to not have to worry about it when you set it up next summer. It also has Android TV built in so you can stream without having to mirror your phone every time.

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What I really like about this projector is how small and portable it is. It’s only 1.5lbs and 2.5″ tall/wide meaning you can easily set it up just about anywhere and move it from room to room. There’s also a fold out stand that can help you get some extra height when setting it on a table or countertop.

The battery lasts about 2.5 hours which isn’t the best when you’re trying to use it outdoors or camping but it does come with a DC to USB cable that makes charging on the go easier.

Pros:

  • Super small and portable
  • Speaker is good quality for the projector size and good in small spaces
  • Auto adjustment features make it easy to set up and use

Cons:

  • Battery life could be longer for a portable projector
  • Android TV service is lacking certain features and channels for streaming

What is the Best Best Outdoor TV Projector: Conclusion

Each of these models generally have a pretty good range of supported devices from which they can stream all kinds of media. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can also find a substantial lamp lifespan, large display picture and portable design with each of these outdoor TV projectors!

All things considered, the projector that shined brightest is the NEBULA Capsule 3 GTV Projector. It’s a little bit harder on the budget than the other options but as far as portable projectors that you can use outside are concerned it’s one of the best.

While you might need to plug it in if you’re watching long movies and I do recommend grabbing a separate set of speakers, it’s one of the most versatile portable and technology-packed portable indoor/outdoor projectors on the market.

Thanks for checking out our reviews of the best outdoor TV projector. Which one of these models would you set up for an epic outdoor movie night?

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