Here in the UK we have to make the most of any good weather we get, so when the days get longer and the nights get warmer there’s nothing better than turning the garden into an open-air cinema.
Rather than unplugging the TV and dragging it outside, investing in a compact projector that’s bright enough to be used outdoors will make the experience that bit more authentic.
But you can’t just pick any projector for your al fresco Odeon. Many of the more portable projectors we’ve tested recently, such as the LG Cinebeam Q and Xgimi Mogo 3 Pro, have only earned three-star reviews. And while the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 looks promising we haven’t had the chance to test it yet.
Every product featured below has been through the usual rigorous What Hi-Fi? testing process, which you can read more about at the bottom of the page. And while none of the projectors on this list completely blew us away – there’s only one above four stars – that doesn’t mean they’re not worth your hard-earned cash.
The quick list
With higher brightness than most lifestyle projectors and some surprisingly loud built-in speakers, the EF-22 is our top outdoor choice.
This all-in-one, battery-powered projector is ideal if you’re looking for something that’s as flexible as possible.
It’s still not what we’d call cheap, and it’s not exactly the brightest either, but this cleverly-designed projector is great value.
Barely bigger than a battery-powered model, the EF-12 has wi-fi and built-in speakers, so all you need to do is plug it in.
The great outdoors might not be its natural habitat, but this entry-level 4K projector is versatile enough for occasional al fresco use.
As a Senior Staff Writer who specialises in all things home cinema I've tested a wide range of projectors, including ultra-short throw and super premium native 4K projectors. While they tend to offer the ultimate picture performance, I'm also quite fond of outdoor projectors. They can transform any outside space into an al fresco cinema, especially provided they're rugged, fully featured and offer a quality picture experience. Pick one of our top choices and watching a movie under the stars will never get old.
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Best outdoor projector overall
The key to the Epson EF-22’s success is the fact that it ticks almost every box when it comes to our outdoor-projector wishlist. Its maximum brightness of 1000 ISO lumens makes it much brighter than its more portable, battery-powered brethren, which is why we’re willing to forgive its relatively chunky build.
Weighing in at 3kg you won’t want to carry it too far down the garden (particularly if you plan to use its onboard wi-fi for streaming), but when you plonk it down the cradle allows for plenty of adjustment, while the built-in speakers are loud and clear, even if they do lack the scale to match the picture.
Still, you can always augment the audio, but the same can’t be said for the picture, which is why it’s important that the EF-22 delivers such a vibrant and sharp display. It goes big, too, although you’ll probably find that you have to sacrifice some size when using it outside to keep things looking crisp.
The EF-22’s brightness does have one downside, though, causing predominantly dark scenes to look a little washed out. But if you’re looking for a projector that strikes a nice balance between size and outdoor performance, it still does enough to be our top choice.
Read the full Epson EF-22 review
Best wireless outdoor projector
If you’re looking for the most fuss-free setup it’s hard to look beyond the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air.
With a built-in battery, speakers and wi-fi, it’s entirely self-contained, so once you’ve got it in position there’s no need to add any other kit to get it up and running – just fire up your chosen app from the Google TV operating system and away you go. It’ll even automatically adjust the picture to make sure everything looks as it should.
As portable projectors go, the picture you get from the Anker Nebula Mars Air is impressive. Everything is sharp and detailed, with convincing colours and generally decent black levels. Very dark shots can sometimes take on a slight red tinge, but on the whole it’s a step above what other projectors of its size offer.
If you’re looking for a projector that’s affordable, compact (even if it’s probably a bit too hefty to be taken on a weekend away), feature-packed, and just about bright enough to be used outside, the Mars Air should be your first port of call.
Read the full Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air review
Best value outdoor projector
While you’d struggle to find many people who’d describe £500 as spare change, if you don’t want to spend too much on your outdoor projector the BenQ GV31 is an affordable option.
Its USP is the tilting cradle that it sits in, which allows you to project onto the ceiling, and while that won’t be of much use outside its built-in speakers and battery power will. The GV31 runs Android TV via a supplied dongle, which lacks support for some of the big-name UK streaming apps, but there’s also Airplay and Google Cast, plus HDMI and USB if you want to connect wired sources.
Brightness tops out at 300 ANSI Lumens, which means you’re best sticking to a maximum image size of around 60 inches, so it’s probably not one to choose if you have a very large garden or live in an area with lots of light pollution.
As long as you stick within its limits the GV31 is capable of delivering a sharp HD picture, with decent black levels and colours that are relatively punchy and natural-looking. Sound is crisp, clean and unexpectedly loud, with a subwoofer chamber that delivers good bass heft for something so small.
It certainly has its shortcomings, but keep your expectations realistic and the GV31 is a surprisingly strong performer.
Read the full BenQ GV31 review
Best compact outdoor projector
Epson’s EF-12 isn’t actually the smallest projector on this list, but if you want a mains-powered projector that’s compact enough to easily move outside when the weather allows they don’t come much neater than this.
Epson has squished its 3LCD laser projection system into a box that’s smaller than a two-slice toaster and weighs just 2kg, but still manages to include a Yamaha-tuned, 2 x 5W speaker set-up. It also runs Android TV, which has a few gaps in its app library, but there is Chromecast support and 10GB of built-in storage, so the only cable you need to get it up and running is for the power. If you’d prefer to plug in, though, there are two HDMI ports and a USB socket.
With 1000 lumens to play with and a maximum Full HD image size of 150 inches, the EF-12 gives you plenty to work with when getting your outdoor cinema set up, just bear in mind that the lens is fixed, so the only way to adjust the size is by physically moving the projector backwards or forwards.
While not quite as capable as the company's more traditional home cinema machines, the EF-12 still has a way with contrast and shading that's beyond the reach of most portable projectors. The built-in speakers are also remarkably expressive with just enough precision to hold their own in scenes with heavy action.
If you don’t mind the lack of a battery, or favour mains power for the extra brightness it offers, the EF-12 should definitely be on your shortlist.
Read the full Epson EF-12 review
Best traditional outdoor projector
Epson’s entry-level 4K projector is designed for indoor use, but if you’re looking for a traditional projector that you can get away with taking outside occasionally, the EH-TW7000 fits the bill.
Weighing in at 6.6kg you won’t want to move it far, and there’s no wi-fi so you’ll need to connect a source the old-fashioned way, but you do get a 3.5mm socket and Bluetooth to make up for the lack of any built-in speakers.
What the EH-TW7000 lacks in bells and whistles it makes up for in picture performance. HDR handling and dark detail are very good, and while black depth and motion processing aren’t a patch on more expensive models (the latter is missing entirely when viewing 4K content), it’s still wonderfully cinematic to watch. With 3000 lumens to play with it’s also much better-equipped to deal with less-than-ideal viewing conditions, although you may still need to manually tweak the picture settings to get the best out of it.
It might not be the most natural fit for outdoor use, but if you’re looking for a proper home cinema projector that can occasionally be used for a movie night under the stars, the Epson EH-TW7000 should be a candidate.
Read the full Epson EH-TW7000 review
How to choose the best outdoor projector for you
Picking an outdoor projector isn’t just a case of buying the most expensive one you can afford. Here are some things to consider when narrowing down your shortlist.
Portability
The smallest and most portable projectors feature built-in batteries, making them a complete all-in-one solution. But beware: extreme portability can come at the expense of top-notch picture quality.
Brightness
With no curtains to draw outside, brightness is a key consideration when it comes to choosing a projector for outdoor use, particularly if you live in a city or somewhere with lots of light pollution. 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.
Sources
You'll also want to think about sources. Are you going to trail a Blu-ray player outside to plug into the projector's HDMI input? You could use a streaming dongle such as a Chromecast with Google TV to get a picture, assuming you can get a decent wi-fi signal in your garden. 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.
Audio
Built-in speakers come in handy, but quality won't be the best. And a projector 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.
How we test outdoor projectors
Testing projectors involves taking the time to explore their capabilities fully, including plenty of settings-tweaking and content-watching. This includes checking all the features, and individually tweaking picture settings to ensure the projector is giving us the best visual performance it can.
We conduct these tests in our state of the art testing room in Bath, which is fitted with a 100-inch screen and a plethora of external sources, including 4K Blu-ray players, video streamers and games consoles. 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.
We review projectors using a wide range of content from 4K Blu-rays, to streaming services, video games and standard definition DVDs. This helps us find the strengths and weaknesses of each projector, with particular attention paid to brightness for projectors that might be used outdoors.
At the end of this process, a verdict is reached by a team of What Hi-Fi? reviewers who work closely together in order to ensure that each projector is tested fairly, and to avoid the possibility of any personal preference creeping in. 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.
FAQ
Do I need a screen for an outdoor projector?
In theory you can project video onto a white sheet or white wall, but picture quality will be compromised, so if you want to get the best from your outdoor projector you should save a chunk of your budget for a portable projector screen. Check out our handy guide on how to choose a projector screen for more on that.
What level of brightness should I look for?
If you’ve ever been to an outdoor cinema you’ll know that the film never starts until it’s dark. That’s because even the brightest projectors will struggle to compete with the power of the sun, so you’ll need to take the same approach with your DIY job. Over 500 lumens is a decent benchmark, but you can still make less than that work as long as there’s not too much ambient light. Just manage your expectations when it comes to picture performance.
Recent updates
- 1 April 2025: Added Epson EF-22 (best overall), Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air (best wireless), and BenQ GV31 (best value). Removed obsolete models and added an FAQ section.
