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The Best Outdoor Projectors to Give You Drive-in Level Entertainment

The Best Outdoor Projectors to Give You Drive-in Level Entertainment

Going to drive-in movie theaters is one of my favorite childhood memories (and I went to our local theater with friends well into high school.) Now that I have an outdoor projector of my own, I can get that romantic, outdoor movie theater experience pretty much wherever I go. While it may be impractical, I often take my outdoor projector camping for late night movie watching. It can be a fun way to wind down with a group of friends, but I also enjoy setting it up and using the inside of my tent as a screen when my husband and I are camping alone.
While an outdoor projector can also be used indoors, they are specially designed with high-powered lighting that can be utilized even when it's not pitch black outside. They're also lightweight and can be water- and dust-resistant for added durability. We tested a variety of projectors on camping trips and international vacations to find the best option for all of your outdoor needs.
Credit: Amazon $1,050 $800 at Amazon View on REI View on Seenebula.com
Water-resistant, drop-resistant, and dust-resistant, this durable projector is made to travel wherever you go. With up to five hours of battery life and 1,000 ANSI lumens, it's even strong enough to work in dim daylight (though, like all projectors, it works better the darker it gets.) It has a quick and easy setup: within 10 minutes of opening the box, we already had a movie playing. The picture is sharp and the auto focus worked well. We also love that it has a built-in handle, but you may want to invest in a padded case if you plan to regularly fly with the device.
While the sound was loud enough, we didn't have any problems connecting the projector to an additional Bluetooth speaker to give us more of a surround sound experience. It takes just about two hours to fully charge the projector's battery and comes with a backup power cord if you prefer to plug it in for longer viewing. We also appreciated that it has a built-in stand to help you get the right angle for viewing, but do note that it does not come with a tripod, so you may need to invest in your own or plan to stack some other items to optimize your image. As an added bonus, you can charge your phone using the projector. It also has a built-in flashlight to help you get to your campsite.
The Details: 6.3 x 10.2 x 9.8 inches | 9.9 pounds | Up to 5 hours of battery life
Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Best Buy $798 at Amazon $800 at Target $800 at Samsung
I've been using this portable projector for over two years and it still works just as well as the day I opened it. I'm not generally a Samsung user, but it was easy to make a new account in order to log in (and I've never had to use the account since.) It is easy to connect with new Wi-Fi accounts and remembers each one for auto-connection the next time you use it. I love that I can download apps and customize my own home screen to what I use most.
While you do have to purchase the battery separately, it's well-worth the investment. It connects to the main projector to become just one item to carry (and pack) and makes the base a little taller. Alone, you can easily watch a full movie on one charge and the battery itself recharges quickly. I've used this projector against indoor and outdoor walls as well as inside of camping tents. The image is always vibrant and crisp. I also appreciate the autofocus and automatic keystone correction, so if I accidentally bump it, it fixes the image without me having to pause. For added convenience, the remote has preset buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus, and is also compatible with voice command for faster searching.
The Details: 3.7 x 6 x 3.7 inches | 1.8 pounds | Up to 3 hours of battery life Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Xgimi $899 at Amazon View on Xgimi.com
While most outdoor projectors work fine when projecting onto a wall, side of a building, or even a sheet pinned up, a taut screen can enhance the viewing experience with crisper images. The XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser Outdoor Collection is the only projector we've tested that comes with everything you need for the perfect outdoor setup—including the screen. It also comes with ground stakes to stabilize the screen when camping or sitting in the yard.
After turning it on for the first time, it took less than five minutes to set up and log in to both Amazon Prime and Netflix (both have shortcut buttons on the remote.) It was easy to connect to Wi-Fi and we never noticed a lag in connection; plus, the image is incredibly crisp. We love that you can use this with or without the stand and that the stand itself is a backup battery that provides an additional 2.5 hours of play. The full set comes in a fairly large and durable case that works well for car trips, but if you want to bring just the projector without all of the accessories, it could easily fit in most travel totes or backpacks (just be sure to pack it with a bit of padding for protection.)
The Details: 14.8 x 19.9 x 7.9 inches for full kit | 10.8 pounds for full kit | Up to 5 hours of battery life Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $799 $550 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Reverb.com
If you're looking for a versatile projector that can be used indoors or outdoors and connect to just about any streaming service you could want, this BenQ projector is a great choice. While we do recommend keeping it plugged in for prolonged use, the rechargeable battery pack can last up to 2.5 hours, depending on your settings and usage. It connects quickly to Wi-Fi and also connects to phones via Bluetooth. You can use it as a portable speaker and pair it with other speakers for louder volume and a surround sound effect.
We love that it's on the smaller size (especially compared to how powerful it is) and that it comes with its own carrying case that makes traveling with it a breeze. It's also durable, splash-resistant, drop-proof. We used this both indoors and outdoors and appreciated the auto focus and image correction, so your movies and shows aren't warped even if you aren't projecting onto a perfectly flat surface. We were impressed with the image quality in all locations; the picture is crisp and easy to see in pitch black and low light conditions.
The Details: 5.75 x 7.32 x 6.06 inches | 5.07 pounds | Up to 2.5 hours of video play battery life Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $400 $380 at Amazon View on Seenebula.com
While outdoor projectors are a fun travel accessory, they aren't always the most practical since they can be heavy and bulky. This Nebula Capsule weighs under two pounds and features a slim pole-like design that is easy to pack and carry. The system itself is intuitive and looks like most television interfaces, so it's easy to navigate. We were impressed by the sharpness, color quality, and brightness of the images, especially when using the projector at night.
The connection was great with phone hotspots and Wi-Fi signals alike. We also like that you can download an app on your phone to use it as a remote for the projector if you don't want (or forgot) to pack the physical remote. We weren't able to use this longer than two hours at a time, so we do recommend plugging it in for watching movies. Still, we found it to be quite sturdy considering how lightweight it is and loved it for taking to hotel rooms and camping trips alike.
The Details: 2.7 x 2.7 x 5.5 inches | 1.43 pounds | Up to 2 hours of battery life Credit: Travel + Leisure
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