What are the features that make the best projector for daylight viewing? For starters, they offer the brightest lamps available on the market today. With 4,000 lumens of brightness and up, these are the best projectors for use in even the brightest conditions. On top of more powerful lamps, these projectors still offer excellent picture quality, accurate colors, and plenty of user-friendliness.
Whether you’re planning on using your projector outside or in a bright room, a projector for daylight use is an excellent choice. These options will also work in dark rooms, although you may find them to be a little too bright for your liking.
Keep reading to learn more about the best projector for daylight viewing, what makes it stand apart from traditional projectors, and how you can find the right model for your needs.
Top Projectors for Daylight Viewing
#1 Optoma HZ40HDR Projector
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This highly compact model can be used just about anywhere because of its size. It’s also extremely bright, so you won’t have to worry about the presence of ambient light. Beyond that, it’s a multifunctional model.
- Extremely bright option
- Multifunctional model
- Highly compact design
- Poor uniform focus
You’ll love how quiet this projector is. That means you won’t have to worry about competing against it when trying to listen to your content. It also has an IPX6 dust resistance rating, which translates into a highly durable model that won’t fall victim to any dust collection. However, you should note that some consumers have complained about a poor uniform focus. This could mean that your image ends up being a little bit blurry.
It accepts 4K HDR input, so you’ll be able to see deep blacks and bright whites in every image. Beyond this, it uses a DuraCore laser light source. This means you won’t have to worry about lamp life or filter replacements, saving you time and money. This is a virtually maintenance-free model that you won’t have to fuss with to get it to work correctly constantly. It also has a 1080p resolution, making it a high-definition model.
#2 BenQ TK850 Projector
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re a gamer, you’ll find your perfect match with this projector. It features 8.3 million pixels, so you know that every single detail will be clear. Beyond this, it uses cinematic color technology to ensure imagery is vivid.
- Features 8.3 million pixels
- Cinematic color technology
- Great match for gamers
- Might be a little too loud
If you’re looking for a gorgeous color with vivid detail, this projector model will be a great fit for your needs. It uses Cinematic Color technology to ensure that it’s calibrated immediately upon opening your box. That means you can get started right away with minimal setup. Unfortunately, some consumers have said that the fan on this model is rather loud. That means you might be able to hear it while you’re consuming media, which could be a dealbreaker.
This color-accurate model uses DCI-P3 color space, which exceeds most competing models’ color spectrums. This provides an immersive experience visually and allows you to really sink into the content you’re consuming. Beyond this, it also has dedicated sports modes available, as well as CinemaMaster Audio+2. This is fantastic for gamers. You can expect 3,000 lumens of brightness from this projector. That’s enough to ensure that ambient light won’t be a problem, even if you take it outside.
#3 YABER Y30 Projector
Award: BEST FOR COMPACT DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: This highly portable model can go anywhere you need it to, whether that’s to the beach, in the backyard, or anywhere else. It has optical coating technology on the lens to ensure a crisp, clear image every time.
- Highly portable model
- Optical coating technology
- High-quality lens glass
- Issues with overall resolution
You’ll appreciate the amount of control you have over this projector. It comes with a remote control that allows you to change settings and flip through slides no matter where you are in the room. That gives precision control over the content you’re streaming or the presentation you’re giving. Unfortunately, this projector’s overall resolution will not be able to stand up to competing models in the same class. There are better picks out there if this is important to you.
You can expect 9,500 lumens of brightness from this model. That incredibly high number outperforms most competing models in the same class. It will power through even the brightest days outside, so you can have home movie nights or give stunning presentations. It also offers innovative +/-50-degree 3D keystone correction. This is an innovative technology that no other model can offer you. The 1080P resolution means all details will be crisp and stunning.
#4 Raydem Video Projector
Award: BEST FOR IN-HOUSE CINEMA
WHY WE LIKE IT: You’ll enjoy this model’s enormous screen size, depending on how far away from the screen it is placed. This multifunctional design can be used for various things and has smart device compatibility.
- Huge screen size
- Multifunctional model
- Smart device compatibility
- Unable to ceiling mount
The native 1080P resolution is enough to dazzle almost any viewer, especially when combined with the 9.500 lumens of brightness this projector offers. You’ll also have access to HiFi sound, which means you don’t have to compromise when it comes to the audio for your content. Unfortunately, this projector will not be able to mount to the ceiling. This won’t be an issue for most folks, but if you need a mountable model, then this isn’t a great fit for those needs.
This projector is capable of connecting to 2.4G and 5G Wireless connections. You’ll also be able to use Bluetooth 5.0. This wireless connectivity means that it’s a super easy-to-use model. These connections are highly convenient, especially if you’re trying to show presentations or content right from your smartphone. You’ll also have a headphone jack, an AV port, two USB ports, and two HDMI ports to choose from for other types of connections.
#5 YOWHICK WiFi Projector
Award: BEST FOR WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re looking for a model that’ll connect quickly and easily to your phone, this will be a great fit for your needs. It has wireless connectivity. This is an excellent model to use for a backyard theater.
- Has wireless connectivity
- Great for backyard theaters
- Connects to mobile phones
- Problems with remote control
Those looking for a portable model with supreme convenience will find what they’re looking for in this projector. It has multiple connection options, broadening your horizons for available content. You’ll be able to use a streaming stick, your phone, a laptop, a tablet, and more to connect media to your projector. However, you will want to keep in mind that some consumers reported issues with the remote control being on the fritz. This isn’t a huge deal and doesn’t affect the actual projector.
It also offers a 16:9 widescreen format, with 12,000 lumens of brightness. This is a perfect projector to take outside with you, especially since it’s easy to travel with. You’ll be impressed with the multifunctional compatibility due to the ports on this model. There’s access to two HDMI ports, two USB ports, one AV port, one VGA port, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. There are plenty of options for connecting through any system of your choice.
#6 Epson Pro EX7280 Projector
Award: BEST FOR COLOR ACCURACY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This model is a great option for those that appreciate color accuracy. It is also plenty bright with 4,000 Lumens of color and white brightness. There is also built-in wireless, so you can cast your phone or other devices to the projector.
- Very bright
- Built-in skew sensor
- Extremely easy to set up
- Only 1 HDMI
- Built-in speaker is not loud
This projector has a WXGA resolution and delivers great color accuracy thanks to True 3-Chip 3LCD technology. This means the projector displays 100% of the RGB color signal to every single frame, preventing “rainbowing” issues other projectors can have that don’t use the 3LCD technology. Along with the 4,000 Lumen color and white brightness, you should have no problems getting a great picture during daylight viewing.
The setup is also very easy. There is a built-0in skew sensor that will automatically check the picture and correct the vertical keystone if needed. There are also other easy image adjustments with a 1.2x optical zoom and a horizontal slider. The Epson Pro EX7280 also features a built-in 2w speaker, but that will only really be good for a small room. Most users will probably want to add external speakers to increase their viewing experience.
What Are Projectors for Daylight Viewing?
Simply put, a projector for daylight use is an electronic device that connects to a source device and displays video or still images onto a projector screen or other flat surface. This specific type of projector is meant to be used in bright environments or outdoors in full daylight. With that said, you might want to consider a great outdoor projector. Some of these types can be low-priced projectors, but they’re still great to use in daylight.
Projectors for Daylight Viewing vs Traditional Projectors
Both projectors for daylight viewing and traditional projectors are essentially the same when it comes to core functionality. They are both designed in similar ways, depending on the specific type you purchase, and they both feature the same internal components.
They also both function in essentially the same way, using a light source, mirrors, and lenses to project an image onto a flat surface. They both connect to a media source like a laptop, desktop computer, or USB flash drive from which they play media.
The differences between a daylight projector and alternative options come into play when considering where you can use the devices in terms of ambient light and light output from the projector. A bright projector offers many more lumens of brightness than a standard model, allowing you to use it in bright rooms or outside in broad daylight without losing image quality. For daylight viewing, a projector should offer at least 4,000 lumens of brightness.
How Projectors for Daylight Viewing Work
As with other projectors, a daylight projector uses a lamp, lenses, and mirrors in tandem to process and project the video signal from your connected source. As the light from the light source passes through all of these internal components, the colors are created, and the image is aligned before it is projected onto the projector screen.
Daylight projectors also operate in this way, although the light source is much brighter than other projectors. To achieve higher brightness levels, a daylight projector delivers more power to the bulb itself, causing it to light up more.
Do You Really Need a Projector for Daylight Viewing?
No matter the reason, a daylight projector will fit the bill if you need a bright picture out of your projector. These bright projectors can be used in broad daylight, even in direct sunlight, making them perfect for anyone who wants to host outdoor movie parties or install their projector in a bright room.
Is a Projector for Daylight Viewing Worth Buying?
- You Want to Install a Projector in a Bright Room: The biggest reason to purchase a projector for daylight viewing is if you plan on installing it in a bright room with a lot of ambient lighting. These projectors are perfect for use in conference rooms, classrooms, and homes with many windows. No matter how much light comes into your viewing space, you’ll still be able to see a bright image with a daylight projector.
- You Want an Outdoor Projector: If you want to watch a movie in your background or show off pictures at a family barbeque, a daylight projector is an excellent choice. These models can easily double as outdoor projectors in those instances. The best part is that you won’t lose any picture quality when using one of these projectors for outdoor viewing, even when projecting onto a large screen, especially if you’re using a top projector for a church gathering outdoors.
- You Can’t Control the Ambient Light: Using your projector in a room where you can’t control the ambient light or taking your projector to an unknown setting can present a difficult challenge to overcome. However, you won’t have to worry about how much or how little light there will be with a bright projector. Your projector will always be bright enough to create a beautiful, crisp image.
Why a Projector for Daylight Viewing May Not Be For You
- You’re Going to Install Your Projector in a Dark Room: If you’re going for a cinematic experience and are creating a home theater setup in a dark space in your home, or if you can make the room dark, then buying a projector for daylight viewing doesn’t really make sense. In fact, the opposite is true in this scenario. Purchasing a brighter projector may actually be too bright in dark rooms, ruining the cinema experience of your home theater.
- You Want to Be More Energy Efficient: Daylight projectors tend to use more energy overall since they have to push a lot more power into the bulb to make it as bright as possible. If you want a more energy-efficient device for your entertainment needs, then you may want to consider something else.
- You Don’t Want Bigger Bulb Replacement Costs: Projectors with bright bulbs often burn through those bulbs more quickly than other types of projectors. Unfortunately, projector bulbs can get expensive. If you want to save on ongoing maintenance, you may want to purchase something like the best projector for small rooms.
How Long Will a Projector for Daylight Viewing Last?
Your projector’s lamp is the first that will require replacement or maintenance, which is why it’s the number one thing to consider when looking at your projector’s overall lifespan. Different bulbs have varying lifespans, depending on their quality, manufacturer, and amount of use.
However, most industry experts, like the pros at CDW, say you should expect to get around 2,000 hours of lamp life with LCD projectors and upwards of 15,000 hours with LED and laser projectors.
When a projector’s lamp life is measured in hours of use, there are some additional factors to consider. For example, 2,000 hours may pass by quickly in terms of calendar days and years for the person who uses their projector all day, every day. However, someone who doesn’t use their unit as often may get much more calendar time before needing to replace the lamp.
Of course, like all other electronic devices, how you treat your daytime projector can directly impact its overall lifespan. Knowing that some of the leading Epson projectors have excellent lifespans, although good maintenance and care can vastly improve the lifespan of the projector, too.
How to Choose the Best Projector for Daylight Viewing
As you start to shop for a new projector for daylight viewing, you’ll need to consider a few key features and make some essential decisions for your needs before actually choosing a projector to buy.
Projector for Daylight Viewing Key Factors to Consider
1. How large or small do you need your projector’s viewing distance to be?
Your projector performance is affected by the viewing distance, also known as throw distance, is an important consideration when it comes to getting stunning image quality, especially for larger images. If you select a model that isn’t meant to project an image over the distance you have in your room or outdoor space, then you’ll get a distorted, fuzzy, and incorrectly-sized picture.
The following list explains the common projector configurations when it comes to projection distance:
- Short-Throw Projector: If you have between three and eight feet of distance, then you’ll want to purchase the best short throw projector for home theaters. These are the most common types of projectors available on the market today, and they typically offer a much more affordable price range than other options.
- Ultra-Short Throw Projector: If you want to save as much space as possible and still get a decent image size, then you’ll want to purchase an ultra-short throw projector. These mini projectors are more expensive than standard projectors, but they only need a few inches of distance between the device and the screen.
- Long-Throw Projector: If you have six or more feet of distance, then you’ll want to purchase a long-throw projector. These are most commonly used to create sharp images on huge screen sizes. If you have a large, bright room, then a long-throw projector is an excellent choice for you.
- Portable Projector: If you plan on switching between indoor and outdoor viewing, you may consider purchasing a portable projector. Most portable models feature short-throw lenses, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. These models can offer detailed images and color brightness like standard projectors, only in a portable design, and usually featuring a rechargeable battery so they can be used in a wide variety of spaces.
2. How much brightness is enough for daytime viewing?
In terms of a projector’s light output, you’ll need to think about lumens of brightness. Of course, for daytime viewing, a high-brightness projector should offer as high of a lumen rating as possible. However, there are varying degrees of projector brightness to consider, including:
- Direct Sunlight: In general, we recommend you avoid using a projector in direct sunlight. No matter how many lumens your projector offers, it can’t outshine the sun. Instead, if you’re planning on using a high lumens projector on a sunny day, we recommend installing it in a shady area, like under a patio covering or leafy tree to avoid the natural sunlight. If you’re using it as an outdoor movie projector, the shade should help the colors and black levels project better. Use an outdoor projector screen to use as a flat, plain projection surface so you can see better quality images.
- Bright Indoor Room: If your room has a lot of visible light, we recommend purchasing a projector with at least 4,000 lumens of brightness. However, the brighter your room, the more lumens you should purchase. With thousands of lumens to support it, you’ll get some impressive brightness out of a powerful projector. For more information on projector ANSI (American National Standards Institute), read our guide to what are lumens on a projector. You may also want to check out the differences between lux vs lumens on a projector as well.
- Normal Indoor Room: If you have an average amount of ambient light in your room, a projector with at least 3,000 lumens of brightness is usually more than enough.
- Dark Indoor Room If you’re installing your projector in a dark room, then something with 1,500 to 3,000 lumens of brightness is typically more than enough to get a clear picture.
3. What kind of image quality and resolution do you want for your projector?
Like televisions, video projectors offer a set of picture-quality features for you to consider. For the most part, the top feature to consider is the projector’s native resolution. Unless you’re also planning on using your daylight projector in the dark, we’d recommend sticking with a Full HD, 1080p native resolution. When more ambient lighting is present, it will wash out the extra details from a higher resolution.
4. How many and which type of connection ports do you need?
Depending on your specific projector model, you may get a wide range of different connection ports. The exact types of ports you should get will ultimately depend on the kind of devices you want to connect to your HD projector. At the very least, you should buy a projector with an HDMI port so you can connect to Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and streaming devices, like Amazon Fire TV.
However, you may also want to consider a daytime projector with versatile connectivity options, like a USB port, VGA port, or DisplayPort. This way, you can play media from flash drives and desktop computers.
Some modern-day projectors also provide Wifi connectivity. This can be handy for outdoor viewing, especially if you’re away from wall outlets, but you’ll need to keep an eye on the internal battery life. Instead of using a Blu-ray player, you can project vivid images or your favorite movies from your mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, using streaming apps. If this describes you, you may also want to consider the best smartphone projector.
5. What kind of audio features do you need on your projector?
If you ever plan on using your daylight projector outside, we recommend purchasing an option with an internal speaker. This way, you’ll still be able to hear the movie you’re watching. It’s important to remember that most projectors don’t offer good sound quality, however. So for better audio quality, you should consider an external speaker as it will provide a better sound experience for your favorite content even if you have a high-quality projector.
Whether you’re an audio enthusiast or hosting a movie party with many guests, you may also want a projector with the ability to connect to external speakers through a wired or Bluetooth connection.
