Colours are balanced and motion is naturally smooth. Read the full Anker Nebula Solar Portable review. In other words, an AVR, speaker package and home cinema room are not entirely necessary, which helps make it our pick as the best outdoor projector to choose right now. What's more, its sound system is streets ahead of the one tacked onto the TW7100 at the top of this list - another bonus for an all-in-one outdoor cinema system. This is Anker's best Nebula projector to date and also a very, very good portable in its own right. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! It has a native 1080-pixel resolution, with support for HDR10 (high dynamic range) for colors that pop, and you can use it with screens up to 120 inches. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Rachel is the lead expert and key brand ambassador for GH across a number of categories including electronics, smart home, automotive, toys, parenting, fitness, tech, startups and more. These days, 4K takes the prize, as youll experience with ViewSonics short-throw portable projector. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. You will receive a verification email shortly. This is really made for outdoor cinema use. Staff Writer Lewis is the newest addition to the What Hi-Fi? "As the picture gets bigger, the light gets dimmer. Since there's usually at least some level of light pollution outside, an outdoor projector must be exceptionally bright if you want the picture to look clear and colorful on a very big screen. What tops it off, though, is some really rather impressive picture quality. You can turn the projector on and adjust it so that the picture fills your entire screen. It offers 720p Full HD resolution rather than 4K, but produces a great image around 75in. It has its own dedicated app store where you can download Netflix, BBC iPlayer and countless other apps to run directly from the Mars 2. Dan DiClerico has written about home improvement for more than 20 years, including countless how-to articles and reviews of products ranging from appliances to smart home technology. Mini projectors are great for use outdoors because theyre easy to grab and go. But you wont have to worry about getting the right angle (it will adjust for you), and the JBL speakers are impressive for such a small device. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Brightness: 2000 lumens |Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels|Dimensions:8.3 x 9.1 x 3.6 inches |Projector Type: LCD (3LCD)|Ports: HDMI, USB-A, Mini USB|Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast (Android TV Stick). our process. Portability: Since youll be bringing the projector inside and out, look for one thats lightweight and easy to transport. While movie buffs will find plenty to like about this ViewSonic projector, backyard gamers and sports fans will especially appreciate its low lag time and zippy refresh rate, ideal for projecting action-packed images. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Right, you're primed and ready to buy. Resolution: This is overall picture quality, measured in pixels (p). This is where an outdoor projector comes into its own as it can take advantage of whatever outdoor space you have. All rights reserved. While the ideal brightness varies on your setup and the lighting, when projecting to large screens in dark conditions, higher lumens could be better. The battery has enough power to keep the MoGo Pro running for at least two hours. Heres why you can trust us. Our top pick is theAnker Nebula Solar Portablebecause its small and lightweight, bright enough to use outdoors, has a battery with enough power to keep it running for three hours, and has built-in speakers, so you dont need to hook up external speakers. It's a breeze to use, with little in the way of set-up quirks. When researching the best outdoor projectors, we evaluated products for brightness, portability, connectivity, and ease of use. Our testers also like the projectors integrated handle and power cord, along with the compact design, which makes it easy to transport. The best general range for outdoor projector brightness is between 1500 to 2500 lumens, which is equivalent to about 625 to 1041 ANSI Lumens. There was a problem. While not quite as serious for brightness and picture quality as the company's more traditional home cinema machines, it still has a way with contrast and shading that's beyond the reach of most portable projectors, which makes it ideal for using as an outdoor projector. Prouty also advises that "you'll likely have better success with laser projectors as they generally have a brighter output than LED projectors.". Are you going to trail a Blu-ray player outside to plug into the projector's HDMI input? We updated this guide in July 2022 to ensure all products vetted by the Home Improvement Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock, available and correctly priced. If there's a lot of ambient light from street lights, neighbors' houses, or decorative lighting in your own yard, then look for a projector that's at least 3000 lumens, or 1250 ANSI lumens. This is also where each of these projectors meets its rivals, as every product is tested side-by-side against the competition so that its place in the market is considered as a whole no product exists in a vacuum after all. Portable projector convenience comes at a cost, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Apple TV+. Whatever the weather, there's no better way to turn your garden, rooftop or patio into a home cinema than these outdoor projectors. Or go big on 4K, the latest and greatest in resolution, delivering exceptional picture quality, but at an extremely high price. Learn more about our Home movie night used to mean curling up on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn. The Nebula Solar Portable is easy to set up for movie night. This model is a full 4K projector, which is something you typically see in much more expensive devices. Our testers also like built-in speakers and projector stand, helpful for getting set up outside without a lot of add-on equipment. The Epson EF100 is a projector built from the ground up with streaming and portability in mind, which makes it a great option if youre looking for something you can easily move from room to room in your house, then carry outside for movie night. There are different degrees of portability in outdoor projectors, and the ViewSonic M1 Mini+ is just about as portable as they come. This device is one of three Nebula Capsule projectors made by Anker Innovations (see above for another), and its 720p resolution, 200 ANSI-lumens light output and Android TV 9.0 smart platform make it the top-spec model of that trio. You can also cast Netflix content from Google Chrome or by connecting and HDMI cable from another device. Serious cinephiles insist on best-in-show picture quality, even when watching their favorite features in the open air. Brightness: 120 lumens|Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels |Dimensions: 4.3 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches |Projector Type: LED|Ports: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI| Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Aptoide, Autofocus and automatic keystone work well. It's small, convenient and very well appointed. This entry-level 4K projector is the baby brother of the Epson at No.1 in the list. What Hi-Fi? If your projector isn't battery-powered, you will need to plug an extension cord into your house and run it out into your yard. Hes been running backyard movie nights at his own home for years, and he has over a decade of experience reviewing electronics for outlets like Lifewire and Digital Trends, in addition to The Spruce. Also, you'll want to turn off any additional outdoor lighting in your yard when the projector is operating to decrease any ambient light.". Power source: Some outdoor projectors have built-in batteries, eliminating the need for power cords, but most need to be plugged in. If your projector is battery-powered, you don't need to worry about that, but you need to charge the battery fully. It also includes automatic keystone correction, so you don't need to be an expert to get the picture squared up, and it has an autofocus feature. Epson EF100 Projector, How to Create a Great Home Theater for Your Budget. If you're looking for a fuss-free, battery-powered outdoor projector capable of streaming movies out of the box, the Nebula Mars 2 is a great shout. Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist and head engineer, has a B.S.E. Fortunately, both Bluetooth and a 3.5mm socket are fitted to help get sound to a speaker. Look for an area where the screen won't be in direct light and where you'll be able to set up a comfortable seating area. And aprojector with an 3.5mm audio output or Bluetooth will give you the option to connect to a portable wireless speaker, which should give the sound a major boost. You'll also want to think about sources. If you want an outdoor projector to use in your backyard, that's the kind you should look for, as the projector only needs to be lightweight enough to carry outside for movie showings. This tiny projector weighs under 10 ounces, and its just a hair over an inch thick. His own home is full of smart tech, from the lights to the vacuum cleaner. Famous for its go camping and project it on the side of your tent marketing, its the first port of call for the would-be travel projector buyer. Host the ultimate watch party, whether you're watching sports or movies, day or night. Do be warned that the app platform is missing a few of the UK catch-up services, iPlayer included, but otherwise, this feels like one of the best projectors out there for taking on your travels. Its easy to set up and install, and produces a picture thats reminiscent of what you'll get at the cinema. The ViewSonic X10 4Ke is a short-throw projector, which means you can place it fairly close to the screen or wall. While we didnt test it in our labs, our engineers like the 2,400 lumens of brightness, on top of the 4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 resolution. Brightness is 300 lumens, so this projector works best after dark, but the contrast is good, with solid black levels and a nicely balanced, colourful picture that isn't hugely compromised. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best TikTok's "Product Overload" Trend Is Dangerous, The Best Spanish-Language Shows on Netflix, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Screen: Sure, you can watch on an old sheet tacked to the side of the house or garage. The LG CineBeam is a perfect case in point. For more than two decades, he has written about all things home-related, from big-ticket remodeling projects to routine home maintenance. If a projector has Wi-Fi and built-in streaming apps, you can connect it to your home network to stream movies in your backyard. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. For example, if youll be sitting 10 feet (120 inches) from the screen, an 80-inch screen would work. If you prefer, you can also use the USB and HDMI connections to hook the projector up to any compatible laptop, tablet, or gaming device. Adding a mesh network to your home's WiFi can help extend the signal outdoors. In addition to onboard Bluetooth speakers and crisp contrast, you can enjoy streaming your favorites, thanks to the built-in Android TV support. It's a true all-in-one projector system comprising built-in speakers, wi-fi and a range of streaming apps. Bath Though it lacks a fully waterproof and rugged design that can withstand a lot of wear and tear, the build is sturdy enough to hold up to light rain showers and accidental bumps and drops. Brightness is the single most important factor for an outdoor projector because it dictates whether or not you'll be able to use the projector outside. You can then easily mirror content from the phone onto the screen, with its maximum image size of 100 inches. Previously Gaming and Digital editor for Cardiff University's 'Quench Magazine', Lewis graduated in 2021 and has since worked on a selection of lifestyle magazines and regional newspapers. In his down time he enjoys gaming and regular cinema trips. Alternatively, you may need to look for a model with built-in WiFi, sometimes referred to as all-in-one or one-box systems. There are a few kinds of connectivity to consider when looking at outdoor projectors. The smallest and most portable projectors feature built-in batteries, making them a complete all-in-one solution. And it doesn't just have to be during the summer months, as the best outdoor projectors can work well all year round. There is no built-in streaming platform or wireless connectivity, but you can connect your phone, laptop, or media streaming device via an HDMI adapter. Then your projector is ready for your DVD player, streaming device, or whatever media source you plan to use. If your homes WiFi signal is strong enough to reach outside, you can connect the projector to a laptop, Blu-ray player, or streaming stick. Brightness: 1200 lumens |Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels|Dimensions:7.3 x 5.7 x 6.1 inches |Projector Type: LED|Ports: HDMI x2, USB-A, USB-C|Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Android TV. in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics with a mathematics minor from the University of Pennsylvania and has been at GH for 14 years. This projector earns our best overall spot because it's small and lightweight, bright, has a long battery life, and has built-in speakers that work so well you might feel tempted to use it as a Bluetooth speaker for other devices. Our favorite outdoor projector, the Anker Nebula Solar Portable, comes with an internal battery that keeps it going for about three hours, powerful built-in speakers, and is simple to set up, thanks to autofocus and keystone correction (automatic alignment). The 150-inch picture benefits from 2,000-lumen brightness, so viewers will be able to enjoy the show from various angles. Set up your projector in the evening for the best results, but the higher your projector's light output level, the more watchable the image will be when there is still some light around. There's an excellent smart platform, a three-hour battery life, a good degree of brightness and plenty of source material options. So if youre prepared to show it the sort of love it needs, the Freestyle has the potential to be your homes new best friend. Depending on the configuration of your house and yard size, you may or may not have the luxury of choosing where to set up your projector. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Simply pair the device with your smartphone and you're in business. Bluetooth allows for direct connection with a wireless speaker or soundbar, and the high luminance means that it's usable in even moderately well lit conditions. The 12 best headphones for study: noise-cancelling, wireless and more, 8 reasons you should keep buying 4K Blu-ray discs, The best home entertainment buying advice, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. The ViewSonic M1 Mini+ is incredibly compact, but its also self-contained. The GS50 is slightly larger than its predecessor, the BenQ GS2, but shares a similar compact, 5-pound cube-like design with even more features. The easiest way to solve that conundrum would be to opt for a projector with built-in wi-fi and maybe even some on-board storage too. Read the full review: Samsung The Freestyle. It might be worth spending more on a 4K-rated screen since the technology is becoming more common even if your current projector doesn't feature it, your next one might. Weighing a svelte two pounds, this ultra-compact home projector is one of the most portable around. editorial team. You can even download games; your phone's touchscreen doubles as the controller. For example, if you see a projector with 900 ANSI lumens, that's generally comparable to 2,200 standard lumens. You'll be able to see the picture at that brightness, although it may still look washed out. Its also extremely bright at 2400 lumens, which puts it right on the edge of usability during daylight hours. The built-in Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers should fill the yard or deck, though if youre going for the full cinematic experience, youll probably want to invest in separate speakers. Ideally you'd want to start with at least 2000 to be safe.. The 120-inch image is plenty big and there are many ways to project content, including casting from your Android or iOS device or streaming through a laptop via the built-in HDMI connection. Epson's 3LCD projection system is squished down here and housed in a very tidy 14 x 18 x 18cm, 2kg box. BenQ GS50 1080p Outdoor Projector, Best for Streaming: Most projectors that include built-in speakers suffer from weak, lifeless sound, but the EpiqVision Mini EF12 bucks that trend. The safest practice is to have an outdoor outlet installed by a professional; its ground fault circuit interrupter (or "GFCI") will protect against electrical hazards. She has contributed product reviews and how-tos for Lifewire and has prior experience in knowledge-base technical writing, technical customer support, and academic publishing. Yoona is a smart home and home tech commerce editor for The Spruce. Last but not least, the image size can go as high as 300 inches, so the crowd of onlookers wont miss any of the gaming action. With Proutys expert insight, Jeremy looked at factors like brightness and portability along with ease of setup and use. Standard throw projectors need to be about 10 feet from the screen, while short throw projectors can be placed a couple of feet or closer to the screen, which can be helpful in tight outdoor spaces. The perfect backyard movie night starts with finding a projector thats portable and bright enough for your environment. Literally. Brightness is measured in lumens: Between 2,000 and 2,500 lumens should provide adequate brightness in most outdoor settings. There are differences on the inside compared to its bigger brother too. However, the brightness you need depends on the ambient light in your area and the size of your screen. 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The GS50 is pricier than many competitors and lacks standout brightness, but it could be worth the extra investment if you want more connectivity and weatherproofing in your outdoor projector. is supported by its audience. It includes big adjustment wheels for focus and keystone that are easy to understand if you're new to projectors, and it also comes with a 100-inch projector screen as a bonus. Some projectors also feature USB ports and SD card slots that let you load media and HDMI ports to connect a DVD or Blu-ray player or a streaming device like a Roku. It's also bright enough to use outdoors in dim light, but the picture will look washed out if you try to use it during the day. Many of the smallest, most portable, and most affordable outdoor projectors sacrifice brightness to offer those other important features. If you havent yet bought a projector, you can figure out the best size screen for your yard and then look for a projector that will work with that screen size. So a projector with a light source output of 2000 lumens would be rated at about 833 ANSI lumens, and a 400 ANSI Lumen projector would have a light source output of about 960 lumens. Many of the best outdoor projectors with the highest picture quality fall into that category. For a satisfactory outdoor viewing experience, you want a minimum of 720p. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it's a surge protector rated for outdoor use, and watch out for tripping hazards, especially after nightfall. Size plays a big factor since an outdoor projector needs to have at least some degree of portability, and priority was given in many categories to battery-powered projectors since theyre so much easier to set up. This includes checking all the features, and individually tweaking picture settings to ensure the projector is giving us the best visual performance it can. You can stream over your Wi-Fi network or from your phone, so this mini projector is really all you need to start your own backyard movie night. "If you are finding the picture isn't bright enough, try moving it closer to the wall," recommends Prouty. This projector doesn't come with a carrying case, though, so you may want to budget for one if you plan on taking advantage of this model's portability. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, How to Protect Your Homes Air Quality Year Round, 9 Best Cooling Mattresses for Hot Sleepers, Here's Where to Buy the Viral $30 Shower Shelf, TikTok's Viral Wall Mop is Back in Stock on Amazon, What Our Home Editor Has in Her Shopping Cart Now, Weve been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. This bargain-priced projector has the same feature set of much pricier models, including full HD 1080p resolution and massive 200-inch image size. The most important is wireless connectivity, which comes in the form of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Some outdoor projectors are highly portable in that they're lightweight, small, and even run on battery power. One downside is the short power cable, but instead of having a bunch of inputs and a cumbersome built-in smart platform, it has a single HDMI input that connects to an included Android TV stick. The design is ideal for ceiling-mounting, but its actually quite portable, with a convenient carrying handle that flips down for ease of handling. The great thing about the Mars 2 is that it needs no other piece of technology to function, making it a superb option for casual movie nights. Theres no built-in battery, but the lightweight, compact form factor and top-of-the-line speakers make it great for use both indoors and outdoors. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Brightness: 960 lumens | Resolution: 1080 pixels|Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.6 x 2.3 inches|Projector Type: DLP|Ports: HDMI, USB-A, USB-C|Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast. Thanks to its onboard WiFi, the CineBeam can also mirror content from your smartphone, tablet or laptop without the use of cables. Brightness: 720 lumens|Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels|Dimensions: 3.7 x 4.2 x 5.7 inches|Projector Type: DLP|Ports: HDMI, USB, Audio|Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi. Epsons mini laser is powered by Android TV, so if thats your preferred OS, youll be right at home with the process of streaming content from a range of familiar apps, including Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube. While its limitations showing dark scenes may give serious home cinema fans pause for thought, for gamers and more casual movie fans the X1300is bright, punchy and sharp pictures and unusually capable built-in audio talents make it an unexpectedly impressive and, most importantly, fun addition to the AV landscape. Brightness: 2400 lumens |Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels|Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.7 x 6.5 inches|Projector Type: DLP LED |Ports: HDMI, USB-A x2, USB-C, Audio |Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Aptoide. Rachel is the chief technologist & executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all labs. But beware: extreme portability can come at the expense of top-notch picture quality. It also has Wi-Fi connectivity and runs on the Aptoide platform, so you can stream directly from the projector, from your connected phone, or play media from the built-in storage. It's still a 3LCD machine but the projection technology will only allow for a picture with a stated contrast ratio of 40,000:1 compared to the 100,000:1 on the TW7100. At the end of this process, a verdict is reached by a team of What Hi-Fi? It runs on battery power, and a full charge is enough to keep it going for about an hour and a half. However, the picture quality is a little on the dim side, so it's best used outdoors after dark. It's a shade pricey for an entry-level device but, make no mistake, this is the king of affordable 4K projectors. The Freestyle, Samsungs diddy new LED-based projector lives up to its name by enabling you to take projection to places its never really been able to go before. Learn more about our, Dan DiClerico, Good Housekeeping Institute, Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping Institute, How to choose an outdoor projector for your home. So-called one-box systems make for great outdoor projectors because all the components are baked into the device. You can also pair a soundbar via Bluetooth if you need to, but the built-in speakers are good enough that you wont necessarily need external speakers. Please refresh the page and try again. This is also to make sure our reviews are consistent and thorough, and so that no feature or flaw is missed within our testing process. Dan DiClerico is the Director of Home Improvement & Outdoors at the Good Housekeeping Institute. You dont need to have a ton of space to use it with a huge screen, and youll never need to have it out in the middle of your yard. In the right setting, it's just the ticket. That said the picture performance is still very good for the money. The 10,000-milliamp-hour battery provides enough power to run the Anker Nebula Solar for more than three hours, or you can plug it in for a marathon. That said, it's as much the convenience of this machine that makes it so good.

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