Epson PowerLite 108 Projector Review

The Epson PowerLite 108 XGA, 3LCD projector is a mid-range, small fixed install or portable use projector suitable for classroom or conference room.  It offers the brightness and color you need for a successful, professional looking presentation. Weighing in at 6.17 lbs, it's footprint is slightly larger than a standard sheet of paper (aproximately 11.5 inches wide by 9.7 inches long). The PowerLite 108 is a durable unit that you can comfortably carry on the road, or it can be mounted in your classroom or boardroom for more permanent use, as well as used with a cart for going room to room as necessary (along with other gear).

With a 4:3 aspect ratio, at $599, Epson offers a bright, high performing projector, at a very reasonable price, especially if XGA (1024 x 768) resolution will be enough for all your projector needs.

Editor's note:  Perhaps most importantly, we see this projector as an ideal, updated solution to replace aging projectors that have been around 5-15 years, including those of VGA, SVGA, and older, less bright XGA projectors.  -art

We wish to thank Epson America for sponsoring this year’s Best Classroom Projectors Report. 

The PowerLight 108 is part of Epson’s new PowerLite 1xx series that includes another native XGA resolution projector as well as a native WXGA projector.  The Epson PowerLite 107 is the cheapest of the bunch, coming in at $549, delivering a bit less lumens at 3500, than either the 108 or 109.  The 109 boasts a 4000 lumens lamp and it is a native WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution projector but you will pay about $749 for this model.  Each projector in the series boasts of a 6,000 hour lamp life in Normal mode and 12,000 hours in Eco mode, and each one includes a powerful 16 watt speaker.

Lastly, this PowerLite 108 and its siblings in the 1xx series, have all the same features as the higher range PowerLite 9xx series, only sacrificing resolution, a different aspect ratio, and losing out on only a small amount of lumens, making for a very reasonable and affordable alternative to those models costing $900 and up.  As a result, you may notice many similarities between this review and my recent review of the Epson PowerLite 990U, as the appearance, special features, menu, and speaker are all virtually the same and the main differentiators in these two reviews will be the performance and picture quality.

For the education community, the Epson PowerLite 108 and all its siblings offer an array of options for schools, students, and teachers to interact with their projectors.  First, there is a wireless module sold separately for about $100 that enables you to connect up to 50 mobile devices, whether Chromebooks, iPhones, Androids, or PC/Mac laptops using Epson’s reliable iProjection app and software.  As well, using Epson’s Easy MP Network Projection and Epson’s Projector Management software offerings, administration, IT, facilities and network managers are able to efficiently monitor and control multiple projectors at once, checking their status and controlling the projectors from a single source.

Let's not forget business usage as well.  It's not too big or heavy for a corporate sales person or trainer to travel with.  Still most will get installed, and again, in many cases in large corporations or small/medium sized businesses, it will be replacing older projectors that are 4:3 aspect ratio, so that screens and mounting locations do not have to change, and therefore saving significant money for labor per projector installed.

In all, this Epson PowerLite 108 turns in an impressive performance as a small installation or portable projector due to its strong brightness performance, its ability to produce good color even when projecting in its brightest modes, and thanks to a wide range of features that allow you to turn your projector into an incredibly useful engagement tool in your teaching repertoire.

As you’ll soon read, for $599, the PowerLite 108 gives you more than enough performance for your money and this reviewer considers it a fine choice for any organization on a budget but needing one of the brightest, quality, and most versatile projectors their money can buy, without spending a lot more.