5 Best Daylight Projector Reviewed in 2021

You can never have the “perfect” environment for a projector, the room is either too small, too bright, or some other problem comes up. Projectors can be an amazing tool for home entertainment to office use. However, sometimes ambient lighting can ruin your projector viewing. 

Having the best daylight projector allows you to project your movies, or presentations at anytime of the day and not be hindered by the sun, or other bright lights. 

best projector for daylight viewing

Quick Overview

Epson PowerLite

Optoma HD142X

BenQ True HDR-PRO

5 Best Daylight Projector

1. Epson PowerLite 1781W

This epson projector is one of the best projectors for daylight viewing due to its lightweight and travel-friendly features. It provides a great combination of perfect brightness and resolution. With 3200 lumens the projection will be easily viewable even in bright areas with ambient light. Having a native resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, this projector is compatible with widescreen screens.

Another interesting feature of this projector for daylight viewing is the support for both wired and wireless connection gadgets. It is equipped with 3LCD technology for accurate and vivid color display. The projector is also compatible with PC and MAC devices making connection a breeze.

It supports MHL connectivity and has one HDMI port. You can also connect your Amazon Fire TV stick or Chromecast to it. 

Quick Facts

This is an all in one projector capable of bright settings, it is made of durable materials, built to last, and it is light weight enough to carry around!

Pros

  • It is ultra-light and slim.
  • Easy to carry.
  • Perfect for video
  • Supports Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity

Cons

  • Has a soft sound system.
  • Is not 3D ready.

2. Optoma HD142X

The Optoma HD142X is a DLP outdoor projector meaning it is a digital light processing projector. This is fairly standard for most modern projectors. It comes with two HDMI ports and allows you to connect two device sources at the same time. An MHL connectivity feature makes it accessible to various devices. 

With a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, you will have no problem getting great quality! The case of the projector comes as a glossy black package. The Optoma has a backlight control which is convenient for dark ambiance too!

With 3000 lumens capability, your backyard projector for daylight viewing will perform without a hitch! You can flawlessly enjoy 3D content and use it in gaming mode whenever needed. This changes some of the settings to maximize performance. Performance-wise, the projection is clean and has support for eco-mode even when watching 3D videos. This projector has a high contrast ratio of 23,000:1 this will make the clarity and depth of your projection to be just that little bit better! 

Quick Facts

The brightness of this Optoma projector is great and will allow for quality projections regardless of the ambient lighting surrounding it, paired with the vibrant colors, the high contrast ratio and whatever you are watching will look great!

Pros

  • Supports FHD.
  • Display a clean and bright picture.
  • It has networking features.

Cons

  • The rainbow effect happens occasionally.

3. BenQ True HDR-PRO

The bright HDR capability makes this projector  top notch grade. It has 4k capability with integrated audio features. The 2 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports allow for loads of connectivity to sound systems and anything else you may want. Whereas the projector has 1 SPDIF connector and 1 AUX-In port. All of this connectivity makes this perfect for home theater viewing.

Suitable for large venue daylight projection, the BenQ TK850 is an exceptional HDR projector. Also, it has the potential of smoothing motion and heightened the contrast of video being projected. It has an impressive 4K UHD screen resolution translated to 3840 x 2160 pixels. Therefore, quality strikes with clarity and offers crisply defined details. It offers immediate vivid and high quality in rooms or environments with ambient light.

Quick Facts 

BenQ is a leader in the projector industry and they do not disappoint on this one. This is a 4K projector with high quality and a three-year leading warranty will have you protected! The high brightness 3000 lumen light source will provide plenty of fin home theater movie nights!

Pros

  • It supports 4K UHD resolution. 
  • It is optimized for HDR pro with enhanced contrast and brightness leading to realistic images.
  • Perfect for daytime use.

Cons

  • It does not support streaming apps.
  • There is some video noise or dark scenes.

4. Optoma UHD51A

If you are looking for a smart home ready projector then this is the one for you! The Optoma UHD51A 4K UHD Smart Home Theater Projector is compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. We are living in a world where everything is connected so having the smart home capability just makes it that much better. This award-winning 4K UHD smart home projector makes lots of promises, and thankfully it exceeds on all of them!

It has voice-activated controls this program designed to provide you with comfort of controls without you having to use a standard remote, so, by just talking to the projector you can seamlessly command it. With a DLP projection system, the projector has a set of control buttons along with 2 HMI ports and 1 MHL input. Along with being  equipped with a legacy port such as VGA and USB, you can also use the Ethernet port for connecting devices. 

Targeting a 4K screen resolution? Well, this will work perfectly. It comes with 2400 lumens which is a little on the low end for a daylight projector. With the contrast ratio though, this seems to perform surprisingly well in light ambiances. Paired with a short throw distance of 100 inches you can use it to project within a 9 feet environment. It offers brighter and richer images. It can capture the majesty of videos while revealing sharp details as well as sparkling light.

Quick Facts

This smart enabled projector is the top of the line in new and improved tech, it allows for 4k UHD for 15,000 hours of viewing on one bulb life. ALl making this a great living room projector!

 

Pros

  • Displays rich and sharp images.
  • Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
  • 4K UHD ready with 2400 lumens brightness.

Cons

  • There is no digital keystone.
  • Some issues with Alexa set up.

5. BenQ MH760

The BenQ MH760 is among the small number of projectors that support 5000 lumens. Thus, making it ideal for large screen projection in daylight areas. This truly the best projector for daylight if you don’t mind spending a bit of a higher price. It also has FHD (full high definition) with a high native aspect ratio. In simple terms, the full HD feature makes the projection visible wherever it is mounted.

Another important component of projectors for daylight viewing is having network control. Meaning this has internet connection capabilities. You can use your mobile devices to display content directly on the projector. Due to the internet connectivity, you can wireless preset presentations if that’s why you want a projector. You can even use Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV Stick as wireless accessories.

It has a projection distance of approximately 10 feet to 16 feet. Considered to be ideal among the home cinema, the BenQ MH760 projector displays high-quality images. An interesting feature is that after 20 minutes of inactivity it powers off automatically. Thus, eliminating energy waste. This makes a tough running for other best projectors for daylight to compete with

Quick Facts

Quick and easy setup options allow you to start projecting instantly. Wifi enabled for easy connection and playing. The light source is from a 5000 lumen LED bulb.

Pros

  • Easy to set up.
  • It is an energy saver device.
  • Ideal for large screen projection.
  • Has a built-in speaker.
  • Ideal for day time.

Cons

  • Abruptly shuts down if overheating instead of using a cooling fan.

More of a Visual Learner? Here is our Projectors for Bright Room Video!

Choosing your Projector

The lens design and brightness level will depict the image quality displayed. The possibilities to use projectors are endless. Either an HD-ready projector or 4K UHD projector will work well for daytime use. You just need to consider your needs and the throw distance you want. While the prices differ, choose the perfect daytime projector according to verified customer reviews.

You would agree that projectors for daylight viewing are available in different sizes and shapes. While some are about a few inches tall and wide, others are simply portable. Astonishingly, some are even suitable for carrying in the pockets.

Think about its portability. The best projector is one that is easily portable and can be mounted either on the roof or ceilings. But, bear in mind that those mounted on the ceiling are rather big. The casting distance is essential. You can choose to buy a portable projector. Easy to carry. Most important, viewing on a bright surface such as a whiteboard or a colored surface will do. 

Daylight Projector Key Points

Lumens 

At some point, you must have come across those projectors for daylight viewing that works well in the dark or with a minimal light environment. You would for sure barely see crisp images. This is the moment where brightness comes into action.

The overall brightness of a projector will determine if you can use it in bright rooms. Lumens are a common measure of brightness. You need at least a projector with 2500 lumens or above. The greater the better for a perfect display. Choosing one with 1000 lumens is good for a dark environment. But for daytime use, your audience will simply not be able to see the image.

How many lumens do you need?

 

Remember for dark rooms or night viewing, a 1000 lumens projector works fine. However, for daytime either outdoor or in brighter rooms, look for 2500 lumens range and above. Vast environment projection will work best with 4000 to 5500 lumens projector.

Screen size/ Resolution

There are a few questions to keep in mind when it comes to the size and resolution of a projector. For a large room projection, you will need a projector that can display for viewing at a long distance. This is why many people looking for bright projectors opt for a long throw projector as they can project large images from further distances as regular throw distance projectors. 

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio is the depth of the colors a projector can achieve. A projector with a contrast ratio of 3000:1 means that the whites are 3000 times brighter than the blacks the projector can create. In simple terms, this means that if you want a projector for daylight viewing then a project with a higher contrast ratio will be more visible in bright areas. The best projectors for daylight will have a contrast ratio of over 3000 as this will provide your projections with the right amount of depth and clarity.

The base of contrast ratio is that you will want to have a medium to high contrast ratio as this will give more depth to your images and videos, but sometimes having a really high ratio is not the best either!

Things to consider when choosing a projector for the perfect resolution

When evaluating the best projectors for daylight specs, keep in mind how much detail or delicacy you need in your pictures. Should it be 3D-ready, support HDR, DLP, or FHD, and even WUXGA or 4K UHD? After determining the level of detail, you need then you should pay attention to the aspect ratio.

Projector Screen

projector screen

This is another important aspect of any projector, but especially for one primarily used for daylight viewing. You need to make sure that your projector screen will be big enough for your projector. You can usually find the specs for “optimal projector screen” under the description for many projectors. If your screen is too big it will dilute the focus of the projector and can often lead to less than optimal screen projection.

Connectivity 

 

HDMI

In terms of connectivity features when looking for projectors for daylight viewing, the HDMI connection remains the de facto standard. However, the legacy projectors with support for A/V and VGA are still available. The latest projectors are coming with HDMI. 

Networking

The convergence of technology is giving rise to smarter projectors. They can be connected to other devices that support networking features. The most recent ones have Wi-Fi and other integrated features that allow for remote control of these devices. With such features, you can only use your USB storage drive for projection instead of using a laptop.

Wireless video

This is among the most asked feature for input – the wireless video support. While some projectors do have it, others don’t. It is usually in the form of an optional USB dongle. Nevertheless, for projection purposes, the video needs to be compressed. For this reason, many competing companies are finding easier ways to display a presentation. Additionally, wireless video projection is limited to only a 30-feet distance. Therefore, choose projectors wisely.

Light’s Impact on the Projector 

ambient lighting

Earlier in this article, we discussed what to look for in a projector. All of them are different. Light has a huge impact on a projector. Therefore, you should know how many lumens you need.

A good projection depends on the throw distance and brightness. Most often come with the perfect display for daytime viewing. Remember that even though on the market today, most projectors can operate in bright conditions, they are pricey.

There are a few things to know about the impact light can have while projecting. Brightness remains an important factor in displaying a clear image. It is usually measured in lumens. On the projector’s specification, you will find two descriptions of brightness. One is for the white light and the other one is for color brightness. Both values are vital.

The higher the white light brightness, the sharper will be the projection image. While for the color brightness, it depicts the clarity of the image. For example, the multimedia features in videos and games.

Conclusion

Finding a projector that is viewable in daylight can be a difficult feat as the projector has to be bright enough to see, and good enough image quality. For this reason, many people opt for traditional means of viewing, such as televisions instead of projectors. Unfortunately for them, they are missing out on the power of projectors. Projectors, if chosen correctly can provide superior viewing capabilities and a much bigger projection size for a cheaper price than TVs.