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CNET
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
I May Have Found the Best Travel Camera
CNET's key takeaways Basically, it's Fujifilm's ultra-popular X100VI point-and-shoot camera Leans into the company's film simulation recipes by giving them their own dial for fast, direct access. Expensive, but not overpriced and capable of excellent 40-megapixel images and 6.2K-resolution video. While most people don't need a special camera for travel -- their phone will work just fine -- those of us into photography as a hobby are always on the lookout for cool new gear. To be fair, buying new camera gear could arguably be a separate hobby. There's something compelling, almost romantic, about a compact, highly capable camera that can easily go anywhere and capture amazing images. The Fujifilm X-E5 is definitely that. It's so flexible that it might be one of the best options for a travel camera. Inside is a 40.2-megapixel APS-C sensor with five-axis image stabilization. The retro-stylish body has a variety of manual dials, including overall exposure and shutter speed. The 3-inch screen tilts out from the body to aid in hip-level and above-head shooting. Any X mount lens will work, including a new 23mm f2.8 pancake. But, perhaps best of all, it has fast access to Fuji's famous and surprisingly fun film simulations. Death Valley with the X-E5. Cropped slightly but otherwise unedited. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET My experience with the Fujifilm X-E5 The easiest way I can sum up the X-E5 is that it's the innards of the X100VI with a slightly different body. That body adds the ability to swap in any X mount lens, and adds a great film simulation dial for faster access to a specific aesthetic. I'm going to be referring to the X100VI a lot because, like an absolute lunatic, while reviewing one for my point-and-shoot camera guide, I bought one. I already have a camera. Several cameras, in fact, and I fell in love with the X100VI so much that I bought one immediately. Given how often it's sold out and unavailable, it seems I'm not the only person so enamored. Derelicts in the desert. Lightly edited. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET So the majority of using the X-E5 was immediately familiar. From the 40.2-megapixel sensor, to the mechanical stabilization, to the clicky dials, flippy screen and highly adjustable interface: It's all extremely close or exactly the same as the X100VI. All it's lacking is the clever optical/electronic hybrid viewfinder. The X-E5 just has an electronic one, though from some rumors I've read, the hybrid viewfinder is one of the reasons Fujifilm can't make the X100VI fast enough, so maybe this is a good thing for availability. There's no integrated neutral density filter either, though that's easy enough to add to whatever lenses you buy. One of the most noticeable differences is right on top, an additional dial to the left of the camera's hot shoe and the exposure and shutter speed dials. This one lets you click through 10 of the built-in film simulations. If you're not familiar, Fuji's film simulations are one of the main things that separates them from other camera companies. These are generally more than a simple filter you "slap on" before posting to Instagram. It changes a variety of image aspects, sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly, to alter the overall aesthetic of the image. The X-E5 with the XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II zoom lens. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Could you mimic these in Lightroom or Photoshop? Mostly yes, but that's the point: You don't have to. Getting the colors you want, the look you want, direct out of the camera is a massive time saver. Especially if you're one to shoot and immediately share your photos. This absence of editing is one of the main reasons I bought the X100VI. I have hundreds of photos scattered across dozens of hard drives that I've never done anything with because I want them to look perfect, and editing takes time. I can get a result direct from the X100VI that I really like, and I can post it immediately. A flower-shaped flower. Cropped to fit, otherwise unedited. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Even better, you're not limited to the 20 simulations Fuji includes with the camera. There's an entire community dedicated to creating and sharing film simulation recipes. Some of the ones I use most were from this community. On my X100VI, it takes a few button presses to find and select the right recipe. Having a dial on the top to quickly scroll through them is fantastic. I wish my camera had that. You can even program other recipes to positions on the dial. Fujifilm sent two lenses with my X-E5 review sample. One was the XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II. This lightweight lens seems like a good day-to-day option. It's reasonably compact for a zoom. I didn't end up using it much due to the other lens they sent: The huge, almost comically oversized on the X-E5 body, XF50mmF1.0 R WR. Sure, it looked ridiculous on the tiny X-E5 body, but wow, what a lens. Razor-sharp focus with incredibly narrow depth of field, gorgeous bokeh, and it lets in so much light that I was able to take photos of the Big Dipper hand-held with just the X-E5's image stabilization offering assistance. The Big Dipper, handheld with the X-E5 and the X mount 50mm f1.0. Contrast adjusted slightly and cropped to fit, otherwise unedited. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Announced at the same time as the X-E5 was an equally compact lens. The new XF23mm F2.8 R WR looks like a great companion. It's a slightly wide (35mm equivalent) pancake-style lens that should make the X-E5 a great walking-around camera. But Fujifilm didn't have one available for me to test, but looking at the specs, it seems it would make the X-E5 roughly the same size as my X100VI with a filter on the front. Which is to say, not exactly pocket-friendly, but easily handheld. The specs Sensor Type: X-Trans CMOS Sensor size: APS-C Photo resolution: 6,864x5,152 Video resolution: 6,240x3,510 Image stabilization: Mechanical 5-axis (photo and video), electronic (video) Lens mount: X mount CNET's buying advice The X100VI is TikTok's darling, and it took me all of a day of testing to buy one myself. I adore it. I've had it for months now, including on multiple trips, and every time I use it, I get several photos that I love. More than that, it's just fun. The X-E5 takes most of the fun aspects of the X100VI and adds the greater usability of interchangeable lenses. That seems like a straight-up upgrade, for the most part. A bee that one might refer to as "busy." Cropped to fit, otherwise unedited. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Should you get one? Well, let me speak from my perspective. If I were choosing between the X100VI or X-E5 right now, I'd personally still get the X100VI specifically because it's not an interchangeable lens camera. I have a big, full-frame Canon, and one of the main reasons I bought the X100VI was to simplify my photo taking. To rid myself of a bulky camera and lenses when I don't absolutely need that level of gear. I have that flexibility, however. I already have a camera with interchangeable lenses. Dunes at Blue Hour. Slightly adjusted color temp, cropped to fit, otherwise unedited. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET If someone didn't have an interchangeable lens camera and was deciding between these two, then the X-E5 is absolutely the choice. I love the creative freedom different lenses offer. I mean, I wish there were an affordable Canon equivalent to Fuji's 50mm f1 lens (Canon's version is $3,000 used). Some of the negative reviews I've seen online about the X100VI often come from people not familiar with the limitations of a fixed-lens camera. If you're not sure why that would make a difference, the X100VI might not be for you. The X-E5 is great for travel or really any situation where you want an easy-to-carry camera that lets you take gorgeous, creative photos with minimal editing. Pair it with that 23mm pancake I mentioned earlier, and you'll be able to get epic photos on any adventure. The list price for just the body is $1,699, but for $200 more, you can get a kit with the 23mm. Sunset. Cropped to fit, otherwise unedited. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET In addition to covering cameras and display tech, Geoff does photo essays about cool museums and other stuff, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, 10,000-mile road trips. Also, check out Budget Travel for Dummies, his travel book and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube.
CNET
08-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
JMGO Prime Day Projector Sale: This Deal Includes a Free 100-Inch Screen With Your Order
Amazon's big July Prime Day sale is now live, and it includes deals across a wide range of categories. Of course, you can save on tons of everyday items and kitchen appliances, but why not use Prime Day to treat yourself to something you've always wanted? I've always wanted to watch movies on a big screen under the stars, but the best outdoor projectors often cost a good chunk of money. Then you need to buy a screen to project the image onto, adding even more expense. Luckily, Amazon is offering a great deal on one of our favorite projector brands: JMGO. Several of its outdoor projectors are discounted by as much as $905. Plus, you can get a free 100-inch projector screen with your purchase, a $129 value. That way, you get everything you need to get the show started. To get the free screen, first select one of the several outdoor projectors on sale -- I've highlighted several below. Once you've added it to your cart, return to the main page and select "benefit items" to find the outdoor screen, or head directly to the product page. Add the screen to your cart, and the promotional amount of $129 will be automatically discounted when you check out. Simple, right? The most tempting projector on sale (and the one that's currently hovering in my own cart) is the JMGO N1S Pro triple laser 4K projector for $1,299. Down from $1,999, that's $700 in savings. This is the exact projector CNET reviewer Geoffrey Morrison called one of the best outdoor projectors this year, noting the 2,500 ISO lumens that boost the brightness level. He writes, "The JMGO looks good, has better speakers than most projectors of its size and is quite bright." It isn't battery-powered, though, so that's something to consider if you're hoping for a projector that doesn't require an outlet. It will also have a better quality of viewing after dark or in a darkened room. Again, if you account for the $129 screen, you're saving a total of $829 for the bundle. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Speaking of the screen, its 100-inch size and easy floor mount system makes it more than adequate for most outdoor theaters. It's easy to set up, offers 4K/3D/HDR support, is anti-wrinkle and high contrast. You can also project on either side. You can buy this screen individually for $129 or add it to your cart along with one of the JMGO projectors and you'll get it for free. There are several other projectors to choose from. You can upgrade to the JMGO N1S Ultra triple laser 4K projector, down from $2,499 to just $1,499. That's $1,000 in savings, and again, when you add the screen, you're saving close to $1,000. The JMGO N1S Ultra offers similar features to the JMGO N1S Pro, but it boasts 2,800 ISO lumens, making it more suitable to project in brighter indoor or darker outdoor environments. If you're hoping for a projector that is suitable in more light so you can get the film rolling earlier, the JMGO N1S Ultimate triple laser 4K outdoor projector is $1,994, a $905 price cut from the usual $2,899. This pricier projector offers 3,300 ISO lumens. If that feels way out of reach, there's always the budget-friendly JMGO N1S GTV portable projector for $749, a $50 discount on the $799 usual list price for this portable projector. Best July Prime Day Deals 2025 CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from TVs and outdoor furniture to phone accessories and everyday essentials so you can shop the best Prime Day deals in one place. See Now Why this deal matters If, like me, you've been wanting an outdoor projector for years, any one of the JMGO projectors are well worth considering. While they're still an investment, the fact that you can save hundreds of dollars right now makes it a great time to buy. Plus, the addition of the outdoor screen freebie means you can go from zero to movie marathon in one swoop.
CNET
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
This Portable Projector Is My Secret Weapon for Camping, and It's $180 Off for Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day deal: This portable projector from Anker and powered by Google TV has a great deal for Amazon Prime Day 2025. It's $180 or 30% off its regular price, and it can also be mounted on a table or a ceiling. CNET's key takeaways Anker's Nebula Mars 3 Air is a compact portable projector with a reasonable $599 price (and it's frequently available for less). Despite its size, it delivers a bright picture and loud audio for a portable projector. It can even double as a Bluetooth speaker. Its size is great for backyard movie nights or car camping, but might be a little large for backpackers. I recently took an epic road trip through a land of giants, and there's only one compact projector I would take with me to complete my camping experience. Anker's Nebula Mars 3 Air made my nights at Kings Canyon National Park, home of the world's largest grove of sequoia trees, even more picturesque, without taking up too much space. I review projectors for CNET, and I've also built a DIY campervan, so I know that a lot of the best portable projectors sacrifice too much for their size. Not this one. With the side of my van (which is conveniently white) doubling as a screen, I rewatched some episodes of Andor I'd downloaded from Disney Plus after the sun went down at the campsite, capping off a beautiful day in nature with the right mix of bright picture, loud audio and portability. If you want to watch a movie with the family while camping, and crowding around an iPad doesn't cut it -- this is the way to go. My experience with the Mars 3 Air As far as performance goes, the Mars 3 Air does quite well for its size and price. In my lab, I measured a contrast ratio of 405:1, which isn't amazing, but it's better than most portable projectors. That means the image doesn't look washed out or flat. (You can see all my testing data in my guide to the best portable projectors.) Sound-wise, the 3 Air's two 8-watt speakers play loudly, offering performance similar to many Bluetooth speakers, which is fitting since it can also double as a Bluetooth speaker. The battery life is good as well. You should be able to get around 2.5 hours of playtime for video and 8 hours if you're using it as a Bluetooth speaker. Disappointingly, it can't recharge via USB, so you'll need to connect to AC power to charge it. The side of my campervan makes for a decent impromptu projector screen. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET What makes the Mars 3 Air the best portable projector option for camping trips is how it does everything well without doing anything particularly poorly. It's also very easy to use. It runs on a full version of Google TV, so it has access to all the typical streaming services. Many portable projectors only have some streaming apps, and if they do support some streaming apps, they might not support the full versions of the apps, which can make portable projectors harder to use. Keep in mind that the easiest way to watch shows and movies on the Mars 3 Air is to make your phone a hotspot. If you don't have service where you are, like in many national parks, you need to download shows and movies ahead of time. This can only be done via a mobile device connected with HDMI, and sometimes not even then, depending on your phone. Something else you'll want to keep in mind: This projector doesn't show full frame with a USB-to-HDMI. The specs Native resolution: 1080p Lumens spec: 400 Lamp life: LED HDMI inputs: 1 USB port: 1 Audio output: Headphone output Internet: 2.4/5GHz Battery life: 2.5 hours While you wouldn't want to backpack with it, the Mars 3 Air is compact and shorter than my Jetboil MiniMo camp stove. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Best July Prime Day Deals 2025 CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from TVs and outdoor furniture to phone accessories and everyday essentials so you can shop the best Prime Day deals in one place. See Now CNET's buying advice The Mars 3 Air is the best all-around portable projector because it does most things well, some things really well and almost nothing wrong. It looks good, sounds good and doesn't take up a lot of space. There are two other options I want to talk about that might be better in certain situations. The first is Anker's own Capsule Air. It's the size of a soda can, making it even more portable than the Mars 3 Air. It also has Google TV built in, is battery powered, can double as a Bluetooth speaker and (unlike the Mars 3 Air) it can charge via USB-C. That means you can have longer viewing sessions between charges as long as you have a battery bank. It's dimmer and can't play as loud as the Mars 3 Air, however. The other option is the AAXA M8. It's also much smaller than the Mars 3 Air, and significantly brighter and cheaper. Overall, it looks quite good, though its colors are pretty strange. It also has extremely loud fans, and the streaming options are far more limited. If you want to create larger-than-TV-sized images on the go and don't mind screaming little fans while you're watching, the M8 might work better for you than the Mars 3 Air. The Anker Mars 3 Air is the best overall, though, and it's the one I'll be taking with me on my next trip.
CNET
07-07-2025
- CNET
JMGO N1S 4K Projector Review: A Lot of 4K for a Little
8.0 / 10 SCORE JMGO N1S 4K $999 at Amazon Pros Excellent price for 4K Great diminutive size Reasonably bright Cons Colors aren't impressive Not particularly bright No zoom JMGO N1S 4K 8.0/10 CNET Score $999 at Amazon When I first saw images of the N1S 4K, I assumed it was a slight variation on JMGO's N1S Pro and Ultra, which I reviewed over the past two years. There's no denying the family resemblance, but the N1S 4K is significantly smaller and definitely the baby brother. Inside the N1S 4K is a triple laser light engine, a 4K DLP chip, quiet cooling and Google TV. Perhaps most impressive, it has all that for a list price of $1,300. It's one of the smallest and least expensive 4K projectors I've reviewed. There are a few compromises, however. The color isn't great, nor is it particularly bright. Overall, though, it's quite good. Making things even more interesting, I've seen the N1S for around $1,000, making it one of the cheapest 4K projectors, full stop. So is acceptable, but not stellar, performance a worthy trade-off for a low price and compact package? Yeah, probably. Specs and such Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Resolution: 4K HDR-compatible: Yes Lumens spec: 1,100 Zoom: No Lens shift: Gimbal Laser life: 30,000 hours I am here for the slow but steady decrease in the price of 4K projectors. While its list is $1,299, I've seen the N1S for $999. Either way, that's a great price for 4K. The JMGO has what I'm going to call a gimbal-like stand. It doesn't rotate as easily as some gimbaled projectors, but it does pivot up and down. While I'm typically not a fan of gimbaled projectors, since they're usually too expensive for their performance, price isn't an issue here. Neither is size, which is another positive for the N1S. It's only 6.5 inches wide, 7.5 inches tall and 7.3 in length. That makes it one of the smallest home projectors I've reviewed. To put that in perspective, that's the same footprint as the Apple Mac Mini (2023), and roughly 2 inches smaller in every dimension compared to the N1S Pro. That might not seem like a lot but it makes the N1S far more "grab-and-go" than the Pro, a feeling aided by a convenient handle on the base. A rating of 1,100 lumens isn't a lot. Previous JMGO projectors overstated their rated lumens by a significant amount, something that did not go unnoticed. In its most accurate mode, I measured 575, which is pretty low but still plenty for a dark room. In the brighter Ultra Brightness mode, which is noticeably green, the N1S was capable of 972, which is acceptably close to spec and roughly average for projectors I've reviewed. There are plenty of brighter projectors on the market, but none have the N1S's size and price. Note the power plug. Like most small projectors the N1S has a separate power brick, which gets surprisingly hot. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Its contrast ratio was difficult to measure. Typically, I use a full black image (0 IRE) to measure black level, and the JMGO, after a split second, would dim its lasers. This improves the dynamic contrast ratio but isn't the native contrast ratio we're looking to measure. It's essentially "cheating" this test. While not something you'd really notice or be bothered by in the real world, it does mean the 2,562:1 that I measured is not comparable to the contrast ratios of other projectors I've measured. Tricking the projector with an active part of the screen (the input identifier) so that it didn't dim yielded 1,196:1. While this likely isn't as accurate a measurement as I'd prefer, it's probably far closer to how it looks. Which is all to say, the contrast ratio is quite decent and a little better than average. As expected for a projector of this size and cost, there's no zoom or lens shift other than pivoting the entire projector on its stand. Doing this too much would require keystone correction, which we don't recommend. Connections Geoffrey Morrison/CNET HDMI inputs: 1 USB port: 1 Audio output: eARC Internet: Wi-Fi Remote: Not backlit Given that the N1S is on the budget side for a 4K projector, not to mention its size, it's probably not surprising there's only one input. One's better than none, of course, since I imagine most people will want to connect a game console to their projector. If you want to connect a streaming stick instead of using the built-in Google TV, there's a USB connection as well that should be able to power it. Two 5-watt speakers are somehow squeezed into the tiny case. These sound OK, but not great. They're fairly tinny and don't play very loudly. Given the size of the projector and the low power, they're "fine," but don't expect amazing, room-filling sound. The audio feels more budget than the image. The base doubles as a carrying handle. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The remote is the same one that most modern projectors have, and also, like so many of them, there's no input button. Insisting remotes have an input button is absolutely the hill I'll die on, but it's not a hill I'm on, it's more like the edge of a void that I'm screaming into. "But Geoff," you say, "Don't projectors auto-detect when there's a source and switch to it?" Sometimes they do, and sometimes that feature actually works! But usually it doesn't. If only there was a way to switch inputs, without having to remember what unrelated button on the remote pulls up a menu that you can click through to select the input you want. Whatever. (This isn't specifically a JMGO issue. I cast a wide net in my annoyance.) Picture quality comparisons BenQ HT2060 Epson Home Cinema 2350 The N1S 4K is right in the price range of two of our favorite projectors. The BenQ HT2060 is 1080p, but looks fantastic with a great contrast ratio and accurate color. The Epson HC2350 is 4K and very bright. Both are on our best projectors list and should be significant competition to the JMGO. They are both, however, much larger than the JMGO. I connected them to a distribution amplifier (aka, a "splitter") and viewed them side-by-side on a 1.0-gain screen. Sometimes when I do these comparisons, the three projectors are really different, and it's easy to pick a winner. Other times, the contenders are impressively close. In this case, they're quite different, but each has strengths that illustrate another's weakness. It was really interesting. You can tilt the N1S vertical for some movies on the ceiling. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Take brightness and contrast. The Epson was by far the brightest. I measured 2,075 lumens, more than twice that of the BenQ, and which itself was twice as bright as the JMGO. That's a big spread. The eye was naturally drawn to the Epson as it was just so bright. Neither the BenQ nor the JMGO was dim, but there's a lot more flexibility for image size and room lights with the Epson. That brightness somewhat masks its biggest shortcoming, however: a mediocre contrast ratio of 348:1. Compared to the other two, it looked significantly more washed out. Letterbox bars were noticeably gray, whereas on the other two, they were barely noticeable. The BenQ and JMGO looked fairly similar in terms of contrast. Detail flipped things around. Despite using a pixel shift tech that is more accurately described as "1080p*2," the Epson seemed just as sharp as the JMGO. That brightness does a lot of favors. Lines, wrinkles, and textures on clothing and walls were all more detailed on both compared to the 1080p BenQ. That said, while resolution always gets a lot of hype, the reality is that 1080p is plenty if the rest of the image is good. So yes, side-by-side, the BenQ isn't as sharp, but this is just one aspect of image quality and, honestly, not nearly as important as it seems. Color was probably the one aspect where they were all fairly close. The BenQ is the most accurate of the three. No surprise there, it's one of the most accurate modern projectors. The Epson is slightly worse, though close enough that, unless you were viewing them side-by-side, you probably wouldn't notice. The BenQ is just slightly more lifelike, especially in skin tones. The JMGO, at least in its Movie mode, isn't terrible but definitely not as accurate as the other two. Again, skin tones are the giveaway here and they don't look as realistic as the BenQ. In the JMGO's other modes, well, yikes. Out of the box, this projector has some of the worst color I've seen in a mainstream projector. Wildly oversaturated colors; distracting, overly vibrant reds; alien greens and overall just a wild ride. It was bad enough that it made me disappointed that 99.9% of people who buy an N1S will watch it like this, having never switched modes. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The potential for these intense, oversaturated colors does help the JMGO with HDR content. With the right content, it's capable of somewhat richer, deeper colors than the BenQ. I couldn't get HDR working on the Epson, but since it's a lamp-based LCD projector, it likely wouldn't have improved on the color potential of the JMGO's lasers or BenQ's LEDs. Speaking of lasers, that's worth discussing. Nearly all modern projectors use either LEDs, lasers, a combination of both, and/or occasionally with a phosphor. Going forward, that's likely all we'll see, and for the most part, that's fine. With the right implementation, any version of these technologies can look great, and often, they can result in smaller, quieter projectors. Lasers have some unique characteristics, though, that were on full display in this head-to-head, given that each projector here has a different tech. Lasers create an image that can be a little sparkly. As in, there's a sort of texture to the image due to how the lasers create light. Some laser-based projectors have this effect to greater or lesser extents, so to be clear, I'm not picking on JMGO here. It's not unpleasant per se, but it is a little different if you're used to one of the other techs. The other aspect is only applicable for certain people with glasses. The way the narrow wavelengths of light get bent in some glasses can result in a diffraction artifact that color-shifts the light. This is most noticeable with three-laser projectors and with white objects like credits, street lights, lamps, etc, where one side of the white object will look like it has a blue ghost or shadow, the other side a red ghost/shadow. Again, this isn't a JMGO-specific issue; it just bothers me enough as a glasses-wearer that I wouldn't buy a laser projector, but I also know that the vast majority of people won't have this issue, so it doesn't affect my reviews. Baby bro brings beams Geoffrey Morrison/CNET So where does this leave us? All three of these projectors end up being quite close, despite being good in very different ways. If it were my money, I'd probably buy the BenQ. Great contrast, fairly bright, excellent color. The Epson's brightness is a wonder, and for certain setups, it'd be ideal. It looks great, though if you look beyond the brightness, the image isn't as good as the BenQ's. So where does that leave the JMGO? Its contrast is good, it's bright "enough," and its color (at least in Movie mode) is decent. Where it excels is that it's by far the smallest, quietest and easiest to set up, assuming you don't mind the gimbal design. So, while it doesn't beat two of the best projectors you can get for around $1,000, it might be the better choice for someone looking for something good but tiny, quiet, and highly portable. It even has a handle!
CNET
06-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
This Prime Day Sale on Outdoor Projectors Includes a Free 100-Inch Screen With Your Order
As Amazon's big July Prime Day sale kicks off, deals are starting to fly across a raft of different categories. Sure, you can save on everyday items, but why not treat yourself to something you've always wanted instead? I've always wanted to watch movies on a big screen under the stars, but the best outdoor projectors often cost a good chunk of money. Then you need to buy a screen to project the image onto, adding even more expense. Luckily, Amazon is offering a great deal on one of our favorite projector brands: JMGO. Several of its outdoor projectors are discounted by as much as $800. Plus, you can get a free 100-inch projector screen with your purchase, a $129 value. That way, you get everything you need to get the show started. To get the free screen, first select one of the several outdoor projectors on sale -- I've highlighted several below. Once you've added it to your cart, return to the main page and select "benefit items" to find the outdoor screen, or head directly to the product page. Add the screen to your cart, and the promotional amount of $129 will be automatically discounted when you check out. Simple, right? The most tempting projector on sale (and the one that's currently hovering in my own cart) is the JMGO N1S Pro triple laser 4K projector for $1,399. Down from $1,999 that's $600 in savings. This is the exact projector the CNET reviewer Geoffrey Morrison called one of the best outdoor projectors this year, noting the 2,500 ISO lumens that boost the brightness level. He writes, "The JMGO looks good, has better speakers than most projectors of its size and is quite bright." It isn't battery-powered, though, so something to consider if you're hoping for a projector that doesn't require an outlet. It will also have a better quality of viewing after dark or in a darkened room. Again, if you account for the $129 screen, you're saving a total of $729 for the bundle. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Speaking of the screen, it's 100-inch size and easy floor mount system makes it more than adequate for most outdoor theaters. It's easy to set up, offers 4K/3D/HDR support, is anti-wrinkle and high contrast. You can also project on either side! You can buy this screen individually for $129 or add it to your cart along with one of the JMGO projectors and you'll get it for free. There are several other projectors to choose from as well. You can upgrade to the JMGO N1S Ultra triple laser 4K projector, down from $2,499 to just $1,699. That represents $800 in savings, and again, when you add the screen, you're saving close to $1,000. The JMGO N1S Ultra offers similar features to the JMGO N1S Pro, but it boasts 2,800 ISO lumens, making it more suitable to project in brighter indoor or darker outdoor environments. If you're hoping for a projector that is suitable in more light so you can get the film rolling earlier, the JMGO N1S Ultimate triple laser 4K outdoor projector is $2,299, a $600 price cut from the usual $2,899. This pricier projector offers 3,300 ISO lumens. If that feels way out of reach, there's always the budget-friendly JMGO N1S GTV portable projector for $799. While not currently discounted, you can still qualify for the free outdoor screen with purchase. Best July Prime Day Deals 2025 CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from TVs and outdoor furniture to phone accessories and everyday essentials so you can shop the best Prime Day deals in one place. See Now Why this deal matters If, like me, you've been wanting an outdoor projector for years, any one of the JMGO projectors are well worth considering. While they're still an investment, the fact that you can save hundreds of dollars right now makes it a great time to buy. Plus, the addition of the outdoor screen freebie means you can go from zero to movie marathon in one swoop.
