Host a Backyard Movie Night With These Portable Projectors, up to 40% Off During Prime Day.
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New to Prime Day? We’ve prepared a detailed guide for you covering everything you need to know . Discount information is current at the time of publication, but prices and availability are subject to change.
Prime Day is here, and with it comes a ton of great deals on video projectors. Perhaps it’s because summer is the perfect time for outdoor movie nights , and no one wants to lug their TV into the backyard? Whatever the case, Amazon has slashed prices by up to 40% on everything from pocket-sized mini projectors to premium 4K triple-laser systems.
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Sovboi Outdoor Projector : With 40% off, you can snag this “all-in-one” projector for just $259.97. It features built-in Google TV and AI-powered voice control, and it’s designed for outdoor use. It also has autofocus, meaning you won’t have to spend a lot of time adjusting the image for clarity. One thing to note: the description says it “supports 4K video,” but that only means it accepts a 4K input. It outputs at 1080p. If you need a higher resolution, you might want to look for a different model. Also, ignore the “3000 brightness” claim; it’s a bright enough projector, but that number doesn’t mean much (see my note on “lumens” below).
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Smart Mini Projector : The main advantages of this mini projector are its portability (you can throw it in your bag) and low price. It weighs less than three pounds, is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible, and has built-in Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video apps. On the downside, the claimed brightness of 1800 ANSI lumens is questionable for a device costing around $100—it seems like a projector designed for a dark room only.
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Visspl Smart 4K Projector: If you’re looking for a video projector at a really low price, consider this Netflix-ready device. Unlike many cheaper video projectors that run on Android mobile devices, this projector has built-in integration with Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, so these services should work seamlessly out of the box. A few downsides: the video output is limited to 1080p, even though it accepts 4K input, and the product description claims 2600 ANSI lumens of brightness—I haven’t tested this, but that level of brightness is typically found in laser projectors, which are much more expensive than this $149.99 model. However, Amazon users are very happy with it (especially praising the loudness of the built-in speaker).
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Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air: At $399 during Prime Day, this projector fills the gap between budget gear and multi-million dollar home theater centerpieces. Unlike some cheaper models, setup is simple, it works with Google TV and Netflix, and delivers crystal-clear 1080p images right out of the box, while automatic image processing software instantly adjusts and enhances the picture. It also features two 8-watt Dolby Digital speakers for rich sound. Cons: According to Amazon user reviews, battery life is limited to about 90 minutes of runtime at full power, so you’ll have to run a cable into the backyard if you want to finish a movie. Its brightness of 400 ANSI lumens is lower, but at least it’s decent, making it a better choice for a completely dark room or a night out outdoors.
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Hisense M2 Pro : If you’re looking for a higher-end projector, this Hisense model features triple-laser technology, delivering crisp, bright images up to 200 inches. Unlike cheaper projectors, it features native 4K architecture, so images will look stunning in 4K. Triple-laser technology allows it to easily handle demanding formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Another justification for the higher price: true optical zoom—in other words, it’s not just zooming in on pixels. On the downside, for a $950 projector (down from $1,300), you’d expect more than one HDMI port. Also, the claimed 1300 ANSI brightness is likely more accurate than cheaper projectors, but that still means the best results will be seen in a darkened room.
A note about lumens
Budget projector marketing often includes claims like “9,000 lumens!” or “3,000 brightness!” for $120 projectors from lesser-known brands. Meanwhile, more expensive projectors from well-known brands like Anker typically claim more modest ANSI lumens.
This is because “ANSI” or “ISO lumens” are actual units of measurement for the light output of a projected image, while “lumens” is a more nebulous term that can refer to anything from a measurement at the light source to some other creative definition of the term. Cheap projectors from unknown manufacturers can be excellent—each of the above has over 4 stars in reviews—but any inflated lumen claims should be taken with a grain of salt.
Looking for something different? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are running Prime Day-style sales, which are especially helpful if you don’t have an Amazon Prime subscription.
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Walmart’s Prime Day sale runs from June 22nd to 28th and includes discounts of up to 50%. This is an especially great deal if you have a Walmart+ subscription.
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Best Buy’s Prime Day sale runs from June 22nd to 28th, offering some of the best deals on tech online. This is an especially great deal for My Best Buy Plus or Total members.
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Target’s Prime Day sale runs from June 23rd to 26th, with discounts up to 50%. Joining the Circle program is free.