It’s time to fire up the grill and settle in for a classic movie under the stars.
The outdoor summer movie season is here, and spending time in your backyard cinema can be made even better with a great portable projector. Break out the hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, beer, and whatever else you need to spend hours on end with family and friends watching movies and listening to music. The latest portable projectors are packed with tech, convenience, and great design. They can also throw out big screen sizes, blare sonorous audio, and even project from the smartphone in your pocket with ease. Some of them can even withstand an unexpected summer sprinkle. These seven portable projectors make the digital viewing experience a cinch, and they run a wide range of prices to match any budget.
LG CineBeam Q 4K UHD Portable Projector
The LG Cinebeam Q doesn’t delivers stunning 4K resolution, and it boasts a design stunning enough to win the coveted reddot award in 2024. Its minimalist package measures a shockingly small 3.1″ x 5.3″ x 5.3″ inches and weighs just three pounds. It can project up to 120 inches diagonally, adjusting screen alignment and focus automatically. It can stream Netflix and Apple TV with LG’s webOS. It can also cast from iOS/MacOS and Android devices with Apple AirPlay 2 or Screen Share on Android. Don’t be surprised if some would rather look at this handsome projector than the movie itself.
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 Portable Projector
The EpiqVision Mini is a small wonder of a projector with its simple housing and swiveling and tilting base, along with four attractive color choices. The true laser array projects in full HD with HDR color onto a 150-inch screen surface. The three-chip LCD unit produces 1,000 lumens of color brightness and 1,000 lumens of white brightness, making it one of the brightest projectors in its class. The EpiqSense technology automatically adjusts picture resize, focus and alignment on just about any flat surface. You can also connect your gaming console via HDMI and listen to rich sound via the built-in Dolby Audio speaker system.
TOPTRO Portable Outdoor Movie Projector
Excellent picture quality, compact sizing, and an unbeatable price come together in this small and slick 4K projector, which features 1080P resolution and supports 4K 60Hz decoding. It also has one-touch automatic focusing, image alignment, dual-band WiFi (2.4G/5G), and the ability to project up to an 180 inch screen size. You can stream, wirelessly mirror from your smartphone, and listen to great audio from the dual 8W hi-fi stereo speakers or connect to external audio via Bluetooth 5.2. HDMI and USB ports are compatible with gaming systems, Roku, and the Amazon Fire Stick. For what you get, the $200 price tag seems almost unbelievable.
NexiGo TriVision Ultra
At the high end of the price spectrum, the NexiGo TriVision Ultra provides an immersive home theater experience outside. Its hybrid light source is a powerful tri-LED, tri-laser combination that improves on color range and brightness while reducing eye fatigue. It can also project a screen of 300 inches, enough for the whole neighborhood. Infused into its inner workings are Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG for enhanced visuals, as well as Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X for rich sound without the need for additional surround sound speakers. The TriVision Ultra even supports active 3D movies that will elevate the viewing experience.
Samsung The Freestyle Gen 2
It might look like a small refractor telescope, but this canister-shaped device a brilliant portable projector. It’s compact, can project full HD up to 100 inches, and focus and align automatically. Its PurColor automatically adjusts the color for better picture quality. The included Samsung TV Plus provides content without a subscription, and the Freestyle can stream Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video without having to connect to a separate media source. It mirrors both Android and Apple smartphones wirelessly, too. You can also adjust brightness and colors using the SmartThings app for added convenience. It even has a smart remote with voice assistant. Just don’t talk too loudly while the movie is playing.
BenQ GS50
Looking like a handsome retro robot (think Wall-E), the BenQ GS50 is compact, water-resistant, and capable. It can project true 1080p full HD with HDR10 for crisp visuals, with HDR10 support for rich colors and deep contrast, which makes it ideal for outdoor viewing and gaming. You can access Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and more streaming apps using the Android TV OS. It also includes wireless connectivity, AirPlay, Chromecast, and can even be used as a Bluetooth speaker with bass far better than most projectors. To cap things off, it’s ready for outdoor duty thanks to 2.3-foot drop protection and splash-proof water-resistance.
VOPLLS Mini Projector
Sometimes, smaller is better. If space is at a premium, and you need to get set up quickly, the VOPLLS Mini projector is perfect. It measures only 2 inches thick and still can project in native 1080p, focus automatically, align the screen, and optimize the image using its internal gyroscope and smart sensor. The removable and adjustable bracket stand allows for projection on walls or ceilings. It has built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, and wireless smartphone mirroring. Streaming happens with a compatible TV stick. All this for a measly $100 (with code at checkout) makes it the projector buy that shouldn’t be missed.
