The most magical way to enjoy a movie in the summer is out on the lawn, under the stars. I’m dying to set up my own backyard movie theater at my house and invite over a few of the neighbors for popcorn and drinks, so I am on the hunt for the best projectors for outdoor movies to help me screen cinema classics for an easy neighborhood GTG.
For great visuals outside, it’s best to get a projector that is rated above 2,000 lumens for brightness. It should also be HD at either 720p or 1080p (the number of horizontal lines of vertical resolution and progressive scan), and have HDMI connectivity. There are a lot of projectors on the market, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some of the best projectors that have the necessary brightness for outdoor use, at varying levels of cost.
Photo: Getty/svetikd/Creative RF
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Best Projectors for an Outdoor Movie Night
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Epson Powerlite 3020
Epson has a great reputation for making great products, and their projectors are no different. This projector is rated at 2,300 lumens, and is based on LCD technology for extra clear colors. Full specs from Epson.
Price: $1,163.03
Photo: Amazon
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Acer H5380BD 720p Home Theater Projector
If you are looking to spend a little less money, the Acer brand offers a great option for around $500. While it only provides 720p resolution, it boasts 3,000 lumens in brightness. Full Specs from Acer.
Price: $429
Photo: Amazon
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Optoma HD141X 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector
The picture quality with the Optoma HD141X will definitely wow your guests as it projects up to 300" diagonally. At just over $500, it is very high quality, offering 3000, a 23,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1080p resolution. Full specs from Optima.
Price: $549
Photo: Amazon
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Epson VS230 SVGA 3LCD Projector
The Epson VS230 boasts 3x color brightness and 2800 lumens at a great resolution. It's remarkably easy to set up and a great option for on-the-go projecting. Full specs at Epson.
Price: $389.90
Photo: Amazon
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Optoma HD20
The Optoma model is super bright at 3,200 lumens, and comes with a built in 16-watt stereo system. With 1080p HD, it also has full support for 3D video and gaming. Full specs from Optoma USA.
Price: $799
Photo: Amazon
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Brookstone Pocket Projector Micro
While this won't work well for screening a movie on a large screen, it could be awesome for showing a movie on the inside wall of a tent on a camping trip. It's compact enough to fit in your pocket and runs on batteries. It is rather dim comparatively, only offering 15 lumens, so it might work best for small projections indoors. Full Specs from Brookstone.
Price: $149.99
Photo: Amazon
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Epson 1440
At $1500 this projector is not cheap, but it is amazing. Even if you're watching outdoors on a bright sunny day, the 4400 lumens of color plus 4400 lumens of white brightness and full HD 1080p, you'll be able to see everything. Full specs on Epson.
Price: $1499.99
Photo: Amazon
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BenQ W1070
The BenQ W1070 is the best projector you can get for under $1,000. Rated at 2,000 lumens, it is brighter than projectors that are triple the cost, and it has one of the best contrast ratios in its class. This one is definitely at the top of my wish list. Full specs from BenQ.
Price: $688
Photo: TV Superstores
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BenQ MS524
The BenQ MS524 is one of the most cost effective choices in it’s class at less than $300. It offers 3200 lumens and a native high contrast ratio of 13000:1, and the eco-mode can save up to 70% on lamp power consumption. Full details from BenQ.
Price: $385.99
Photo: Amazon
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ViewSonic PJD5155
Okay, so the ViewSonic Light Stream PJD5155 doesn’t project at 1080p (it projects at native SVGA 800 x 600), but it’s a great projector for the budget-conscious shopper who wants a big screen projection and superior color technology. The ViewSonic features 3300 lumens, great sound quality, and it’s super easy to use. Full specs from ViewSonic.
Price: $299.99
Photo: Amazon
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Optoma S316
For a sharp, clear picture and 3200 lumens, the Optoma S316 is a great option for the price. It may not be 1080p, but it offers a 20,000:1 contrast ratio and rich, vibrant colors that will make any outdoor screening look great. Full specs at Optoma.
Price: starting at $350
Photo: Amazon
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Acer P1173
The Acer P1173 has fantastic clarity thanks to its 3000 lumens and 13000:1 contrast ratio. Great quality and brightness, and it offers an eco-mode that reduces power in standby to .5W to conserve energy. Full specs from Acer.
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Optoma EH500
This Optoma EH500 is a drool-worthy option at its price point. We’re talking 4700 lumens, a phenomenal 10,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1080p high def resolution, so you know the picture is going to be crystal clear and incredibly bright for screening day or night. Full specs at Optoma.
Price: $1,130
Photo: Amazon
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Optoma GT760A
This stunning short-throw projector offers 3200 lumens, a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, and killer details, especially if you don’t have a large space to project. At under $500, it's a great choice for those on a budget, with a lamp life of 6500 hours in its eco-mode or 4500 hours in its full-bright mode. Full specs at Optoma.
Price: $484
Photo: Amazon
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InFocus ScreenPlay SP1080
The InFocus IN118HDxc comes at a great price for the product. This 3D-ready projector offers wow-worthy crisp, bright HD images at 1080p with 3200 lumens and a bulb-saving eco-mode for longevity. It’s also compact, portable, and quiet. Full specs at InFocus.
Price: $559
Photo: Amazon
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Aketek Mini
This is a great little projector for the kids, or a family camping trip. The Led life is over 20 thousand hours and it can project an image size of 20” - 80” while offering 320x240 resolution with a contrast Ratio of 400:1. Granted, it is only 60 lumens, it is small and portable and a nifty little projector for family outings. Full specs from Aketek.
Price: $55.55
Photo: Amazon
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Panasonic PTAE8000U
The Panasonic PTAE8000U comes with a hefty price tag, but it also boasts an extremely high contrast ratio of 500,000:1 for a stunning picture that will probably knock your socks off. Although it only offers 2400 lumens this projector has something called a "Red Rich Lamp” which produces brighter images and color reproduction, as well as deeper blacks to eliminate light leakage. Full specs at Panasonic.
Price: $1,999
Photo: Amazon
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Epson 85HD MovieMate
This Epson is more than just a powerful projector, it is also a DVD and CD player combo and dual Dolby® 5.1 Digital DTS® 10 W stereo speakers which will allow you to just plug in, load and play. It offers 2500 lumens of white light output and 2500 lumens color output, and 720p widescreen resolution. Full specs at Epson.
Price: $815
Photo: Amazon
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ViewSonic PJD5533W
With 2800 lumens and a 15000:1 contrast ratio at an XGA 1024x768 native resolution, this View Sonic offers multiple PC and video input options and is PC and Blu-ray 3D-ready. The color and brightness give this projector superior picture quality. Full specs at ViewSonic.
Price: $699
Photo: Amazon
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Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD
Here’s what makes this Epson unique: it has a built in doc for Apple devices—just “connect and project.” It delivers 2800 lumens of color brightness as well as 2800 lumens white brightness, and uses 3LCD, 3-chip technology to get you the bright visuals and fantastic color you want for outdoor projecting. Full specs from Epson.
Price: $699.95
Photo: Amazon
