Best outdoor projector

If you’re looking for an affordable 4K projector that can be used both indoors and outdoors then you’d be hard pressed to find a better device than the BenQ W2700. 

Although we initially tested the W2700 primarily for indoor use, the projector’s impressive 2000 lumens means it is perfectly capable of working outdoors too. Not only that but as it is no larger than a standard living room projector, with a typical rounded-shaped body, it’s incredibly easy to move around.

The 4K HDR-capable W2700 is one of the first to use a Texas Instrument DLP chipset which is a clever technology that doesn’t actually deliver 4K in the traditional way. Instead of more typical projectors such as the Sony VPL-XW5000ES, the W2700 “flashes” each mirror multiple times per image frame to deliver what appears to your eye as a single 4K image.

Although some 4K purists may not appreciate this methodology, at this price range you won’t be able to find better performance. 

The W2700 also boasts a wide colour filter which is capable of delivering a whopping 95% of the digital cinema spectrum, although it’s worth noting that this boost in colour does come at a cost of the brightness.

On the projector itself you’ll find a neat selection of control buttons although it does come equipped with a light-up remote control too, which is far more convenient to use. 

Setting up the W2700 is simple enough thanks to its short-throw lens combined with a decent 1.3x zoom which makes it easy to position in most rooms. 

Although the projector is portable and can be moved between indoors and outdoors with ease, to achieve the best picture quality then you will need to continuously adjust the settings.

For example, if you’re watching TV in a dark room then be sure to turn on the Wide Colour Gamut feature however this will need to be switched off when you move to a bright room.

Overall the BenQ W2700 is not only versatile and fairly portable, but it also boasts some of the best 4K picture we’ve seen from such a budget-friendly projector.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: BenQ W2700

During testing, we found the ViewSonic X-10 4K offered bright and punchy images with natural looking colours and a great level of detail. With its motion processing, images were rendered in smooth making this a good projector to use for sport events. Images looked great in both HDR or SDR, and in 4K resolution images are clear and very detailed. Our reviewer also found the Harman Kardon audio system to be a revelation (for a projector), producing good size and depth to fill a decently large space.

The X10-4K is also a stylish and elegant-looking projector, with the handle covered in leather for that luxury touch when the projector is being moved about. There’s a good range of connectivity with HDMI, USB-C, an SD Card reader and 3.5mm jack offering plenty of choice for media playback in an outdoor setting, while optical out handles audio connectivity for connecting an external sound system.

As long as the Wi-Fi can reach into a garden there’s the option of voice assistance with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant include. Our reviewer did find that controlling the projector in this method was frustrating at times.
The ViewSonic is compatible with Android OS but uses the fairly limited offering of Aptoide app store for access to apps such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix. The ViewSonic is quick and easy to set-up projector, and along with its impressive big-screen images and integrated sound system, makes it a all-in-one projector worth considering for movie nights in the garden.

Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full review: ViewSonic X10-4K

The XGIMI Horizon Pro builds on the brand’s Horizon model, adding 4K support to its list of skills. In terms of build quality, the Horizon Pro is similar enough to the original Horizon, a projector that’s not small enough to be portable but also not big enough to be the centre of a dedicated home cinema set-up. Our reviewer still felt it was easy enough to cart around the house and take outdoors, even using the Horizon Pro on a camping trip.

It isn’t battery-powered projector and requires being plugged into the mains. It runs on Android TV 10 and set-up is easy with an Android device. Access to the Google Play Store comes with apps such as Disney+, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video; but the lack of BBC iPlayer and Netflix is inconvenient, which may require plugging in a streaming stick and running apps from there. The interface is, at least, easy to navigate; and features such as the auto-setup for focusing, keystone correction and image size help take some of the complications away from setting it up.

Connectivity is decent port with dual HDMI ports in 2.0 and ARC with optical audio out to connect to an external speaker. We found the Horizon Pro’s images looked sharp and detailed, although it’s not a native 4K image, which means content has to be upscaled to hit the ‘4K’ resolution.

We’d rate 2200 lumens of brightness as more than enough for use in a garden, with the brightness good enough for 60-inches during daytime use and bigger at night. Colours are punchy and bold, although the contrast isn’t the best if watched in a bright environment. The Horizon Pro’s audio system provides plenty volume and decent bass but you will get better audio from an external system.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: XGIMI Horizon Pro