We Ranked the 4 Best Projectors for Daylight Viewing

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By

Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Jun 14, 2024 4:30 PM
best projector for daylight viewing guide that shows the top best projector model

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

Brightness is crucial when looking for the best projectors for daylight viewing. High-lumen output is essential to combat ambient light and ensure clear, vibrant images. This ensures that your projector delivers bright, sharp visuals, making it perfect for daytime use. Our guide features four standout projectors selected from over 30 models evaluated.

We evaluated 10,220 reviews, filtering out fake and low-quality reviews using our proprietary data-driven True Score system. The winning projectors performed exceptionally well in our tests, demonstrating superior brightness and image clarity. This rigorous selection process ensures you get the best projector for daylight viewing.

How Did We Rank the Best Projectors for Daylight Viewing?

Our comprehensive guide to the best projectors for daylight viewing is built on a foundation of rigorous research and analysis. We scrutinized testing methods, dissected customer reviews, and assessed expert opinions from over 200 sources. The criteria we identified as crucial for daylight performance include 1 essential test result and 1 beneficial test result. This thorough approach ensures that our recommendations are precise and trustworthy, enabling you to choose the perfect projector for any bright setting.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

? Test Criteria

  • SDR Brightness: Equal to or greater than 2000 lumens or more to help produce a bright and clear display.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Input Lag: An input lag of less than 100 milliseconds, to prevent delays between what’s on screen and your reaction to them in games.

Latest Updates

  • 06/14/2024: Republished the list to include the best projectors for daylight viewing based on our True Score system.

Top Projectors for Daylight Viewing For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    BenQ X3000i

    • Best For Gaming

    For superior daylight performance and gaming, the BenQ X3000i’s high brightness and low input lag make it a standout choice.

    BenQ X3000i Review →

    True Score

    85
    86
    7

    Experts

    88
    352

    Customers

    SAVE $200
    $1,999.00
    $1,799.00

    Category Snapshot

    Projectors

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      11 Brands, 30 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      Epson, BenQ

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $350-$16,000

    • Average True Score

      81.36

    • Important Test Criteria

      Brightness (cd/m2)
      Contrast Ratio (1000:1)

    • Most Trusted Testers

      projector top trusted testers

    • Typical Warranty

      1 year

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Epson Home Cinema 3800

    • Best For Epson

    For affordable daylight viewing, the Epson Home Cinema 3800 shines with impressive brightness and versatility for various applications.

    Epson Home Cinema 3800 Review →

    True Score

    83
    84
    6

    Experts

    87
    1k

    Customers

    $1,692.97
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Optoma CinemaX P2

    • Best For Short Throw

    The Optoma CinemaX P2 is a compelling choice with impressive brightness and color accuracy for quality visuals in bright conditions without breaking the bank.

    Optoma CinemaX P2 Review →

    True Score

    74
    76
    0

    Experts

    78
    405

    Customers

    SAVE $200
    $1,999.00
    $1,799.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Epson LS800B

    For top-notch daylight viewing, the Epson LS800B’s unmatched brightness and color accuracy make it a premium choice with versatile applications.

    Epson LS800B Review →

    True Score

    72
    74
    4

    Experts

    76
    98

    Customers

    SAVE $700
    $3,499.99
    $2,799.99

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Projectors for Daylight Viewing?

By emphasizing these criteria (1 essential, 1 desirable), individuals can efficiently compare these projectors and their performance. This aids in making informed decisions and selecting a projector that fully aligns with their needs.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
SDR Brightness (lumens)> 2000 lumensYesThe amount of light the projector outputs from the lamp/bulb and projects onto the screen when playing SDR content.
Input Lag < 100 msNo (Nice to have)The amount of time it takes for inputs to be registered and processed by the projector and shown on screen.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 86+ projector reviewers and found that 16 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for projector.

  1. Pierre-Olivier Jourdenais – Rtings, LinkedIn
  2. Geoffrey Morrison – CNET, MuckRack
  3. Kam Valentine – Projector Reviews, MuckRack

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every projector review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Projector Test Data & Results

Disclaimer:

Projectors are complex and difficult to test and evaluate, requiring extensive testing on the same level as televisions to paint a complete picture of how any given unit performs. Unfortunately, the testing behind projectors isn’t as rigorous, and a lot of the data we’ve compiled from expert reviewers has been incomplete at times. With different brightnesses measured from different sources, different color gamut tested and spotty contrast ratio measurements, we’ve done the best we can to leverage the available data when putting together these lists but have also trusted our True Score to help us make decisions when the data isn’t available.

1. SDR Brightness (lumens) Test Results

Projectors have two ways you can realistically measure brightness: in lumens or in nits. Lumens are more common, but brightness in general matters because projectors have to project light strongly enough that it overcomes ambient light without losing detail or color.

Most of the time, a projector is going to be used in a fairly dark room to help give the unit the best chance of displaying content the way it was intended, but higher lumens output let you watch content in progressively bright spaces – or across longer distances on bigger screens. For standard dynamic range content, we recommend at least 2000 lumens for most home applications, but more isn’t a bad thing, and 3000 lumens or more are ideal.

SDR Brightness (lumens; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

2. Input Lag (ms) Test Results

Input lag is primarily an issue when it comes to playing video games on your projector. If you’re trying to enjoy fast-paced shooters or are using projector to play competitive modes, you’ll need a low input lag to “keep the projector out of your way”, so to speak. High input lag causes delays in your inputs and makes it harder to react to action on screen because your own physical reactions start to count for less than the projector’s ability to process what you’re doing.

For this reason, we recommend an input lag of 40 ms or less, but lower is always better, and for really competitive games we’d recommend less than 15 ms. Any more than that and your projector is better suited to playing games casually, though if you don’t play anything fast paced, input lag is less of an issue.

Input Lag (ms; lower is better; 0 = No Data)

Best Projectors for Daylight Viewing: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Brightness Levels: Don’t overlook brightness. Daylight can wash out projected images, making them difficult to see. Opt for projectors with high lumens ratings to ensure adequate brightness even in well-lit environments. Similarly, when choosing a great outdoor projector, high lumens are essential to combat ambient light and provide clear, vivid images. This ensures that your projections are visible and effective, regardless of the lighting conditions.

  2. Choosing Low Contrast Ratio: A projector with a low contrast ratio may produce washed-out images in daylight, with poor color reproduction and weak black levels. Look for models with higher contrast ratios to maintain image quality in bright conditions.

  3. Neglecting Screen Quality: The type and quality of the screen can significantly impact visibility in daylight. Avoid screens with low gain or reflective surfaces, which can exacerbate glare and reduce image clarity. Invest in a high-quality screen designed for daylight viewing.

  4. Disregarding Ambient Light Rejection: Some projectors feature ambient light rejection technology, which helps minimize the impact of surrounding light sources. Overlooking this feature can lead to diminished image quality in daylight.

The Best Projectors for Daylight Viewing Tests Compared

Product
True Score
SDR Brightness
Contrast Ratio
Color Gamut % (DCI P3 uv)
Input Lag (ms)

BenQ X3000i

  • Best for Gaming

85
  • 2,875 lumens

  • 0

  • 99.24%

  • 17.2 ms

$1,799.00
$1,999
$200
83
  • 2,176 lumens

  • 23,971.05:1

  • 76.85%

  • 28 ms

$1,692.97

Optoma CinemaX P2

  • Best for Short Throw

74
  • 2,488 lumens

  • 2,488:1

  • 2,488%

  • 69.75 ms

$1,799.00
$1,999
$200
72
  • 4,084 lumens

  • 0

  • 92.6%

  • 21.75 ms

$2,799.99
$3,500
$700

Projector for Daylight Viewing Questions (FAQ)

What features should I look for in a projector for daylight viewing?

For daylight viewing, prioritize projectors with high lumens (at least 2,000 lumens or higher) to ensure brightness. Additionally, consider projectors with high contrast ratios and good color accuracy to maintain image clarity and quality in well-lit environments.

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