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.
TThe Sony VPL-XW5000ES 4K SXRD Home Theater Projector is celebrated for its balance of performance, features, and value, marking itself as the most budget-friendly 4K model both in Sony’s lineup and in the market as a whole. This affordability does not compromise its performance, as it competes robustly against most products in its class. This is attributed to the inclusion of several advanced Sony technologies, which were previously exclusive to more expensive models.
Despite being a base model, it holds its own against more feature-rich models, offering a performance that is commendable. The projector seems to embody a kind of democratization of high-quality projection technology, offering high-end features to consumers at a relatively lower price point. This is particularly highlighted by its ability to outperform most products in its class, making it a notable contender for those seeking quality and performance without the hefty price tag.
XGIMI HALO+ Specs |
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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 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.
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.
BenQ GS50 Specs |
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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 LS11000’s chassis is engineered to accommodate larger, slower-moving fans which help in muffling the exhaust noise, making it quieter than most Home Theater projectors. This feature brings it on par with other premium home theater projectors from reputable manufacturers like Sony and JVC in terms of noise level. It's a thoughtful design aspect that enhances the user experience, especially during quiet or intense scenes where projector noise could be distracting. This aligns the LS11000 with premium offerings in the market, showcasing a design that is user-centric and performance-oriented.
MosicGo 360 Specifications |
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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 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.
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.
AAXA M7 Specifications |
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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 |
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.
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