Any modestly sized, freestanding projector can work nicely open air for the occasional yard film evening, supplied which you can run energy and video to it. However when you’re particularly searching for a extra rugged, battery-powered projector to take tenting, RVing, and the like, the Nebula Mars 3 stands out for its good brightness, lengthy battery life, and ease of use.
A standard, non-battery-powered projector just like the equally priced BenQ HT2060 delivers higher image high quality and might get brighter general, so you may pair it with a bigger outside display screen. However its design doesn’t precisely scream “highway journey!” just like the Mars 3 does.
Our decide
This moveable 1080p projector presents the nice brightness, lengthy battery life, and handy options we wish in an outside projector, nevertheless it’s bulkier than your common moveable design.
The Nebula Mars 3 is the brightest battery-powered projector we’ve measured up to now. It additionally has the longest battery life, and its inside speaker sounds extra strong than what you get from most rivals. Though this 1080p LED projector can’t compete with the perfect finances residence theater projectors in general image high quality, it boasts fairly good distinction and colour accuracy for its meant use.
Add within the Android TV streaming platform, automated picture focus, and a wealth of outdoor-friendly options—akin to weatherproofing (with an IPX3 ranking), drop resistance, a built-in LED lantern, and USB-A and USB-C charging ports on your cellular units—and you’ve got the perfect all-around projector for outside use.
The downsides: The Mars 3 is expensive and hulking, you must sideload the Netflix app, and the projector has no direct USB-C video port, so that you’ll want to purchase an HDMI adapter cable to attach most cellular units.
Price range decide
This full-featured, battery-powered projector isn’t as vibrant as our prime decide, and its inside speaker can’t play as loud. But it surely’s a terrific alternative to be used in a smaller outside space.
For those who’re planning to make use of your outside projector with a smaller display screen or in a smaller house, akin to a coated patio, a deck, or a small campsite, the Nebula Mars 3 Air is a extra inexpensive different that shares lots of DNA with our prime decide. This mannequin is our favourite mini projector for indoor use, nevertheless it additionally has the battery energy and moveable type we wish to see in an outside projector.
This 1080p LED projector is just not actually designed for big-screen movie-watching in a big outside house. It’s lower than half as vibrant because the Mars 3, and its inside speaker can’t play as loud. However for a extra modest setup the place everyone seems to be seated inside shut vary of the projector, the Mars 3 Air’s efficiency ought to fulfill—and you’ll simply add a moveable Bluetooth speaker for extra quantity.
The primary drawbacks of this mannequin are its lack of weatherproofing and its omission of a USB-C video port. Additionally, its awkwardly designed underside limits which tripods and mounts you may connect.
