If you want to take the party out of the backyard and into the great outdoors, you are going to need maximum portability – including sound, smart features, and battery power in your projector. Let’s look at some of our favorite projectors that offer all of those things including a built-in battery for ultimate portability and convenience.
XGIMI HALO PORTABLE LED SMART PROJECTOR
XGIMI Halo Best in Class Award Winner
The XGIMI Halo is a smart 1080P DLP projector that offers exceptional brightness for a portable unit. The Halo has a rated brightness of 600-800 lumens. The 600 ANSI lumens is with the Halo running off its internal battery. You get the full 800 lumens with the Halo plugged into an AC outlet.
The Halo has a small rectangular shape. It weighs only 3.52 lbs and is 4.47 inches x 5.71 inches by 6.75 inches. It utilizes a highly efficient LED light source, which allows the Halo to project bright and clear images for its entire LED lifespan of 30,000 hours. Halo is a DLP projector that can deliver a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The XGIMI Halo also supports video formats of up to 4K Ultra HD.
The Halo is powered by Android TV, you have apps and capabilities that are also found in a Smart flat panel TV. Halo includes Google Assistant, which allows you to control the projector with your voice. Simply press and hold the only colored button on the remote, the Google Assistant mic button, and you are ready to operate the Halo. Some of the things you are able to use voice control for would be to ask the projector to “Go to my projector settings” or “Play music.”
With Android TV built in, the Halo provides seamless access to popular streaming services, including Hulu, HBO Max, and YouTube, right out of the box. The Halo with the Android TV OS makes it easy to access the streaming entertainment you enjoy.
The Halo also has a built-in media player and that can access files via its USB inputs. The USB input can be used to play back many different types of media (videos, MP3, photos, etc.). The USB input on the Halo can also be used to connect other tools, such as a keyboard, game controller, or mouse.
XGIMI HALO+ Specifications
Price
$799
Brightness
600 – 800 ANSI lumens
Resolution
1920 X 1080
Light Source
LED
Light Source Lifespan
30,000 hours
Inputs
(1) HDMI, (1) USB 2.0
Weight
Less than 4 lbs
Battery Life
8 hours of music, 4 hours of video playback
Smart Features
Android TV
Sound System
Two 5-watt Harmon Kardon built-in speaker
The Halo has two 5-watt Harmon Kardon built-in speakers, located on the sides of the unit. The speakers provide good sound for a portable projector and are loud enough for an average-sized room. When you use the included remote to change the volume, the level is conveniently displayed on-screen.
For maximum portability, the Halo is equipped with a built-in battery which, according to XGIMI, allows up to eight hours of music playback or up to four hours of video playback time. This really enhances the unit’s portability and makes it one of the best outdoor projectors for a backyard theater or watching a movie at a camp site.
The GS50 shares many features with its smaller sibling the GV30. Both projectors offer a built-in battery with up to 2.5 hours of battery life. The GS50 and GV30 both come with BenQ’s QS01 Android TV (ATV) Dongle for HDMI media streaming. The QS0I Android TV Dongle is easily installed into the second HDMI input port, which is concealed under a dongle cover. The BenQ GS50 and GV30 both come with an attractive Heather Grey padded carrying case.
The brighter 500 ANSI lumen GS50 also steps up to Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. While the GS50 is an HD projector it can accept 4K HDR signals.
The GS50 also offers a powerful 2.1 channel audio system with dual 5-watt midrange tweeters and a 10-watt woofer. The cabinet is specially designed to deliver 270 degrees of sound, no matter where your friends sit in the backyard, they’re going to hear cinematic sound effects, booming music, and even whispered conversations. The GS50 can also be used as a handy portable Bluetooth speaker.
Realistic audio is combined with a realistic picture. Optimized picture modes powered by BenQ’s CinematicColor and 98% Rec. 709 deliver a wide color range for more saturated and realistic colors. The GS50 supports HDR10 and HLG so you’re going to get brighter highlights and not only deeper black details but more details in those dark areas.
BenQ GS50 Specifications
Price
$799
Brightness
500 ANSI lumens
Resolution
1080 x 1920
Light Source
LED
Light Source Lifespan
30,000 hours (ECO mode)
Inputs
HDMI x 2, ARC
Weight
5.7 lbs
Battery Life
Up to 2.5 hours
Smart Features
Android TV dongle
Durability
IPX2, drop-resistant
Sound System
2.1 channel with “Extra Bass” Can function as a Bluetooth speaker
The GS50 also has a worry-free durable design that is ergonomically designed for a rugged and active lifestyle. The GS50 is IPX2 splash-resistant, with light splashes being channeled out of the projector and splash-resistant film protecting the speakers. An IPX2 rating means the GS50 can resist water that hits the projector at a 15° angle or less. The testing for an IPX2 rating includes a test duration of 10 minutes and a water equivalent to 3mm rainfall per minute. The projector is also 2.3-foot drop-resistant thanks to its double protection of a 1mm-thick water-resistant TPU inner layer and a drop-resistant outer resin.
If you are looking for a 1080p LED portable smart projector with excellent color reproduction, a 2.1 channel audio system with a 10-watt woofer, and a built-in battery, the BenQ GS50 is a top outdoor projector.
Elite Screens MosicGo 360 Portable Projection System
The Elite MosicGO 360 comes with not only the ultra-short-throw projector, but an adjustable tripod, and two projector screens. This makes it an all-in-one solution for indoor and outdoor entertainment.
The Elite MosicGO is an ultra-short-throw projector with 1,000 lumens and can project an image of up to 120″ diagonally. The projector may actually appear even brighter than its lumen rating because we perceive lumens coming from LED (and laser) projectors as being brighter than lamp-based projectors. The projector has full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080), and because it’s a short-throw projector, you can wow your guests by projecting a 100-inch image from just over a foot away.
The Sport version of the MosicGO projector has a built-in battery that offers up to 3 hours of video and up to 30 hours of music while acting as a power charging hub for a variety of portable devices.
The projector’s USB-C and two USB-A inputs can be used to power a streaming dongle or charge a mobile device. The USB-C is even powerful enough to charge a Macbook. The projector is about: 6.6” wide x 3.7” high x 12.6” deep, and the unit weighs about 6.2 lbs.
For ultimate flexibility, the MosicGo 360 offers a complete entertainment package for both outdoor and indoor uses. Two screens are included, one is Outdoor Yard Master 2 Series, 58″ Diag., 16:9 screen, and the second is an Indoor EDGE FREE fixed frame 16:9 screen.
You will also get a carrying bag for storage and transportation and a tripod stand for easy setup. The projector, tripod, and screen can be neatly packed into the carrying case, which was clearly designed with portability in mind. When packed up, the MosicGO 360 with its included tripod and the 58” portable screen weigh a total of just 25.3 pounds. This unit is IPX2 spillproof certified to protect from changes in weather for outdoor/indoor Use.
MosicGo 360 Specifications
Price
$1189 to 2099 (depending on the configuration)
Brightness
1000 ANSI lumens
Resolution
1920 x 1080
Light Source
LED
Light Source Lifespan
25,000 fours
Inputs
HDMI x 2, USB-A x 2, USB-C
Weight
6 lbs( 25lbs when bundled with projector, tripod, 58" screen)
Battery life
30 hours of music, 3 hours of video playback
Smart Features
None
Sound
Dual 8-watt built-in speakers
The Elite MosicGO 360 is great for gaming, with a low input lag of just 17ms. The very low input lag, combined with the projector’s 1080 resolution and ultra-short throw design, makes the MosicGo ideal for gaming on the go, and one of the best outdoor projectors around.
The MosicGO 360 can also function as a wireless speaker via Bluetooth connection. The MosicGo has dual 8-watt built-in speakers located on the left and right sides of the projector. They can play more than loud enough for everyone sitting around the projector to hear. The overall sound quality matched that of a decently sized portable Bluetooth speaker. If higher quality audio is needed, the projector has a mini-jack audio output that can be used to connect to an external audio system.
The AAXA M7 is a portable projector that delivers big-screen projection at Full HD 1080p and it is 4K 30 fps ready. Thanks to a 3-hour built-in battery capable of showing an entire movie, this is a great projector for outdoor adventures like camping trips or beach parties. The projector can also act as a power bank for charging your smart devices. The AAXA M6 weighs just under 3lbs and is compact enough to easily fit into a backpack.
The M7 does not have any built-in streaming apps. If you’re wondering how you are going to play content while out of the home, the AAXA M7 includes an onboard media player capable of playing videos, picture slide shows, and other media. The M7 can accept media from a micro-SD card, USB (up to 64GB), or through its HDMI video or 3.5mm AV input. It also outputs audio via a 3.5mm headphone jack. A USB-C compatible input port allows for screen mirroring from USB-C compatible devices.
Although the AAXA M7 comes equipped with two 4-watt speakers placed side by side on the right side of the projector, we found the positioning is not optimal for good stereo reproduction. The speakers may be loud enough for a small audience, but we recommend connecting the M7 to external audio via the included 3.5-inch audio jack.
AAXA M7 Specifications
Price
$488
Brightness
1200 LED lumens (626 ANSI lumens measured)
Resolution
1920 x1080
Light Source
LED
Light Source Lifespan
20,000 hours
Inputs
HDMI x 1, USB A, USB C
Weight
2.99 lbs
Battery Life
Up to 3 hours
Smart Features
Built-in Media PLayer
Sound System
4-Watt Stereo Speakers
The AAXA M7 is small enough to take with you almost anywhere. The M7 displays a bright picture, better than many Pico projectors reviewed here at Projector Reviews, making it one of the top outdoor projectors. The picture is very watchable even in a room with a modest amount of ambient light. Bigger projectors will undoubtedly have better built-in sound and a brighter image. However, they will certainly be considerably larger and heavier than the M7.
We found so much about this projector appealing but nothing as much as the very affordable $488.00 price
