Meeting Room/Classroom projectors are smaller projectors with features like advanced networking, collaboration and wireless capabilities, and PC-Free Presenting which are useful in both education and business environments. The primary function of a projector in a K-12 classroom environment is to provide a display solution for presentations and other course materials. Choosing the right business and education projector for this type of room depends largely on the environment itself (lighting conditions, etc.,) and also on specific feature needs.
The Epson Brightlink 1485Fi is a 1080p interactive 3LCD laser projector that provides 5,000 lumens of brightness along with a virtually maintenance-free 20,000-hour laser light source. T The 1485Fi is designed to be a reliable, bright, interactive display that supports easy reading, instruction, and communication.
The 1485Fi projects up to a 100-inch, 16:9 image or up to a 120-inch super-wide, 16:6 image. In case you are wondering why Epson chose to offer a 16:6 aspect ratio, go and measure a standard width classroom blackboard or whiteboard, and your question will be answered. The 1485Fi offers up to 95 percent more interactive space than a 75″ flat panel.
EPSON BRIGHTLINK 1485FI Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$3,390
Technology
Solid State Laser Diod
Native Resolution
1920×1080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
5000
Contrast
25000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
1.35x digital zoom
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours
Weight
14.77 lbs
The Epson 1485Fi provides a superior collaborative experience with up to eight points of touch which means a higher number of students and teachers can annotate together, making group work easier. With up to eight active users on screen at the same time, working together to create and expand ideas is even better.
Using compatible devices, up to 50 local and remote users can connect with Epson iProjection software. This software allows the meeting moderator to manage and display content from users both local and remote. If presenter status is assigned to a different attendee, the new presenter can choose to display content from up to 4 devices at one time, or freeze displayed content for comment or annotation which can be shared with all attendees.
Students and teachers have the option of using their fingers as well as Epson pens to create and mark up content. The 1485Fi allows finger touch, letting users interact with the screen using just a finger. Interacting with the display image through finger touch is more natural, and we think, more intuitive since we’ve been interacting with tablets and phones this way for over a decade.
The 1485Fi’s built-in Miracast functionality allows for content to be displayed between Miracast devices such as phones and tablets. Miracast allows users to display their multimedia content wirelessly, including high-resolution pictures and high-definition (HD) video content, even if a Wi-Fi network is not available. This enables local attendees to share content from a compatible laptop screen with a conference room projector in real-time.
The Epson 1485Fi is a great addition to Epson’s norm shattering line of whiteboard projectors. Epson has built a projector that takes collaboration to a new level and though they could not have foreseen the current Covid effects on business and education, the 1485Fi is an even more valuable tool for today’s normal. In both schools and companies around the world, limited on-site staff and remote staff can collaborate more effectively and safely than ever before.
The Epson 1485Fi is a well-thought-out, intelligently featured projector that has proven itself ready to take on the challenge of collaborative learning in both the classroom and boardroom even in our current situation.
The Panasonic PT-LRZ35 Series is their first portable projector to use a discrete RGB LED light source. Panasonic designed this new light engine with the goal of producing superior color reproduction and enhanced picture quality, which is ideal for art or science classrooms and any application requiring precise color accuracy, such as corporate presentations or artistic renderings.
The PT-LRZ25 delivers WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution and has a rated brightness of 3,500 lumens. The PT-LRZ35U, with its use of discrete RGB LEDs, gives Panasonic a real advantage over its traditional competitors. We were so impressed with the improved picture performance and color quality of the PT-LRZ35U that we gave it a special interest award.
PANASONIC PT-LRZ35U Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$2999 MSRP $1699 ASP
Technology
RGB LED DLP
Native Resolution
1920×1080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
3500
Contrast
35000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
1.3:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
20,000 hours
Weight
14.77 lbs
The PT-LRZ35 offers an impressive estimated 20,000 hours of practically maintenance-free operation.
Panasonic also claims the PT-LRZ35U can deliver a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1. It has a USB Type-A 2A output that can run USB-powered HDMI smart devices like Fire Sticks or Roku. The PT-LRZ35U has a manual vertical lens shift, 1.3x zoom lens, and dual HDMI inputs as well as a DIGITAL LINK/LAN (HDBaseT) input.
The PT-LRZ35U is a WUXGA projector so it can accept 1,920 x 1,200 content via its HDMI inputs. The PT-LRZ35U also offers a decent amount of image zoom.
Embedded networking offers the ability to manage and control multiple projectors over your network via the built-in RJ45 jack. Features include scheduling of events, centralized reporting, and e-mail alerts for reactive and routine maintenance.
The PT-LRZ35U is PJLink compatible which is a unified standard that allows the operation and control of data projectors. It enables the connection of projectors manufactured by different vendors to communicate enabling easy construction of environments that are mixed with different models and systems and easy replacement of systems that are already in place.
The picture quality of this projector really is amazing. Colors are vibrant without being oversaturated. The contrast and brightness are enough to allow the LRZ35U to be successfully deployed in a wide range of environments.
The Panasonic PT-LRZ35U checks almost all the feature boxes you would expect from a business class projector at its price point and adds a few that are not normally seen on this class of projector. Its excellent picture quality, size, and overall feature set are why we recommend you consider the LRZ35U for education projector needs.
The LG HU85LS is a 4K DLP Laser Ultra-Short Throw Smart Projector with a suggested retail price of $5,999. Since the HU85LS is an ultra-throw projector the chassis sits less than 8 inches from 120” screen, so it can be placed on a credenza or table in the front of the room.
While the HU85LA commands a premium price over many UST projectors, it offers a lot of performance and features for its price. The LG HU85LS has a rated brightness of 2700 lumen, and its Laser light source will last up to 20,000 hours.
LG HU85LS Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$5999
Technology
DLP (.66” DMD)
Native Resolution
2716x1528x2
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
2700
Dynamic Contrast
2000000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
NA
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
20,000 hours
Weight
26 lbs
The HU85LS utilizes the Texas Instruments larger.66” DMD chip (2,716 x1,528) to reproduce perceived 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution. I This results in higher native contrast and a sharper image than most 4K UHD DLP projectors, which use the smaller 1920x1080px4 pixel shifting chip.
The HU85LS uses a 3-channel Laser light source where both red and blue primaries are generated by their own independent red and blue Lasers. A third blue Laser with a static phosphor creates green.This system eliminates the need for a sequential color wheel, which dramatically reduces the rainbow effect (color breakup). It also delivers a wider color gamut.
The HU85LS utilizes the same ThinQ AI webOS that is found in LG’s current flat panel lineup. This operating system was developed over several years and is utilized in millions of LG TVs worldwide and is seamless, easy to navigate, and well laid out.
Even though the LG HU85LS has a good built-in audio system, many users may still want to connect it to an AV Receiver in a conference room to take advantage of the high-quality sound available from many of the projector’s streaming apps. HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) supports multi-channel audio, including Dolby Atmos.
The LG HU85LS utilizes a 3-channel laser system along with a larger DLP chip so it is one of the higher priced ultra-short throw models. The HU85LS price is competitive with other premium Laser TVs that utilize a multi-channel laser light source, like the Samsung LSP7T. However, the HU85LS is one of the only Laser TV models targeted at the business and education market.
Great picture, Smart features, and low maintenance make the LG HU85LS a compelling alternative to a large flat panel TV, especially in a meeting space or classroom where space is at a premium.
The ViewSonic M2 Smart portable 1080P LED projector with Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers. It is a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 500 ANSI Lumens (1,200 LED) projector capable of up to 30,000 hours of operation in normal mode. The M2 is a compact business and home media projector with built-in Smart TV interface, document viewer, and screen-mirroring capabilities.
The M2 has a “shorter throw lens” that makes it convenient to use in small spaces such as offices, classrooms, or dorm rooms. It can project up to a 100” screen at just under 9 feet from the projection surface.
ViewSonic M2 Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$549.99
Technology
DLP LED
Native Resolution
1920×1080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
500
Contrast
3,000,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
Fixed Lens
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
30,000 hours (normal mode)
Weight
2.9 lbs
The M2 relies on an LED RGBB light source designed to deliver 500 ANSI Lumens of brightness and reproduce 125% of the Rec.709 color gamut. The light source also makes the projector essentially maintenance-free, and offers over 30,000 hours of use.
The M2 features dual 3-watt Harman Kardon speakers, capable of producing strong enough audio to fill a small conference or classroom as well as most living rooms.
The ViewSonic M2 is a smart projector, so you can download popular streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube from the Aptoide app store. The ViewSonic M2 also supports voice control using either Alexa or Google Assistant. The remote control has a built-in microphone so you can use your voice to control the projector.
With the built-in media player, you can either download your content in a variety of formats directly to the internal storage and play directly from there or use an external hard drive or thumb drive with your content already stored. The M2 has 16GB of internal storage, and 10GB available for user storage. The media player supports the following document types: doc, docx, xls, slsx, ppt, pptx, and pdf.
M2 is also equipped with Wi-Fi (via dongle) as well, which makes it easy to move the projector from room to room while still accessing the unit’s internal apps and services.
Due to its compact size, you can take the M2 anywhere, LED light source make it bright enough to be used in a room with some ambient light. With the addition of smart features, and built-in premium dual Harman Kardon sound system, the ViewSonic M2 is an excellent portable projector option for a conference room, dorm, bedroom, or backyard theater.
The Viewsonic LS625W is a 3200-lumen WXGA (1280 x 800) DLP projector. The LS625W has a native resolution of WXGA (1280×800). Its internal video processor can scale video from PCs and Macintosh computers at resolutions from 640×480 to 1920×1200, giving you the flexibility to display a wide variety of content.
The LS625W measures 15.1″ x 5.8″ x 11.5″ (WxHxD) and weighs in at 13.7 pounds, which is fairly svelte. It is a short-throw projector, which means it can be placed relatively close to the screen—in this case, 2.6 to 3.7 feet. Thanks to its zoom lens, it can fill a screen measuring 70 to 100 inches diagonally
VIEWSONIC LS625W Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$1439
Technology
DLP
Native Resolution
1280×800
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
3200
Contrast
100,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
N/A
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours
Weight
13.7 lbs
.
Thanks to its laser/phosphor light engine, the LS625W achieves a peak brightness of 3200 ANSI lumens, which is plenty bright enough to stand up to classroom lights. ViewSonic claims a staggering dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1, which is achieved by dynamically modulating the laser power.
The LS625W includes two built-in speakers, each powered by a 10W amp. That’s pretty hefty for onboard speakers, which should be plenty audible to all the students in a typical primary or secondary classroom.
The LS625W also includes ViewSonic’s PJ-VTOUCH-10S interactive whiteboard module! This module turns the screen into an electronic whiteboard with a camera attached to the projector and a laser sensor that detects movement near the screen. The bundled annotation software enables up to 10 users to write and draw on projected images, including office files and web pages, using their fingers or included infrared styluses. Teachers can also record their annotation steps, then save and share them with students.
With its bright laser/phosphor light source that lasts up to 20,000 hours, short throw distance, and network-management capability, not to mention the whiteboard module, the LS625W seems ideally suited to an educational environment.
The projector’s WXGA resolution provides a widescreen 16:10 aspect ratio, which is sure to make it very popular for new installations. If you’re shopping for a new projector to install in a classroom, the LS625W is worth a close look.
The BenQ EW800ST is 3,300-lumen WXGA (1280 x 800) DLP short throw Projector with smart capabilities. It won our Best in Classroom Smartest Projector Award and it is primarily positioned as a classroom projector but is suitable for conference rooms and meeting rooms where its feature set would be useful.
BenQ calls this an interactive projector, but it is not interactive in the same sense of other interactive projectors we’ve reviewed. Those types of projectors allow for annotation of presentations and lesson material with interactive pens or finger-touch technology. This does not have that, but it does have several smart capabilities that streamline efficiency and make it a solid choice for a classroom application.
BENQ EW800ST Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$999
Resolution
WXGA (1280×1920)
Technology
DLP
Brightness
3,300 Lumens
Brightest Mode Measured
4,445 Lumens
Light Engine
Lamp
Light Engine Lifespan
5,000 Hours / 10,000 Hours (ECO)
Weight
6 lbs
The EW800ST stood out as being a short throw projector, but unlike the majority of the short throw projectors, it can be wall mounted above the screen. Short throw projectors and ultra short throw projectors have been gaining in popularity in schools.
BenQ offers a telescoping wall mount that will work with screens up to about 120” diagonal! 100” to 120” which should work in many classroom settings.
The BenQ EW800ST allows teachers to access their class material via Personal Cloud Storage, using their BenQ AMS account. This allows them to manage their lessons for both online and face-to-face classes in one convenient place.
By downloading the BenQ Smart Control App to their smart device, teachers can use their phone or tablet to control the projector from anywhere.
The BenQ EW800ST projector also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, via a wireless dongle (WDR02U).
The EW800ST sports 1 HDMI, a computer interface, 3 USBs, and even an old analog computer input. It also has an audio output, and a serial port for command and control. Audio comes from a single 2-watt speaker that has respectable volume and should handle most regular K-12 classrooms. Audio is not a strength but there is an audio out, if needed, which can feed a powered speaker system or a PA system. Bluetooth is another option for audio.
The remote control even has a laser pointer on it, and, unlike many competitors, EW800ST it supports 3D. While the EW800ST is a bulb-based projector, at full power, the lamp is rated for a healthy 5,000 hours.
The EW800ST turns out to be an overall very competitive lower cost projector for the classroom, that comes with all that networking. The smarts, however, add an additional level of capabilities that can be taken advantage of in teaching environments.
The Epson PowerLite U50 is a 3LCD, WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution projector with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. This Epson is well suited for bright classrooms and conference rooms, thanks to its high lumen output and 3LCD technology. Whether you are looking for a projector for business or education environments, this Epson is certainly one to consider.
The Epson PowerLite U50 is a lamp-based projector, with a lifespan of up to 17,000 in its ECO modes. At full power, the projector has a lamp life of up to 10,000 hours, which is on the high end for lamp-based projectors operating at full power.
EPSON POWERLITE U50 Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$1,149
Resolution
WUXGA (1920×1200)
Technology
3LCD
Claimed Lumens
3,700 Lumens
Brightest Mode Measured
N/A
Light Engine
Lamp
Light Engine Lifespan
10,000 Hours / 17,000 Hours
Weight
6.83 lbs
With the Epson PowerLite U50 through using wireless sharing with Epson iProjection App, teachers and students can connect up to 50 devices simultaneously (Chromebook, iOS, Android, Mac, and PC screens) and display content from up to four devices at one time.
It has advanced networking features such as compatibility with Crestron, AMX, PJLink, etc., and has easy maintenance, with a 10,000-hour air filter.
The Epson PowerLite U50 has several advanced networking features. For example, you can set up the projector to send you an e-mail alert over the network if there is a problem with the projector via the Menu.
Network administrators can also install SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) software on network computers so they can monitor the projector remotely.
Once you have connected your projector to your network, you can select projector settings and control projection using a compatible web browser.
The Epson PowerLite U50 through using wireless sharing with Epson iProjection App, teachers and students can connect up to 50 devices simultaneously (Chromebook, iOS, Android, Mac and PC screens) and display content from up to four devices at one time
The Epson PowerLite U50 is an excellent choice for multiple applications. In the education space, it is well suited for K-12 classrooms, conference rooms, and even small to medium-sized auditoriums or multi-purpose rooms. The speaker is loud enough to fill a K-12 classroom or normal conference room.
With excellent color in multiple modes, including some of the brighter modes, presentations will look great, even in the face of some serious ambient light. This projector is well suited for conference rooms, boardrooms, training spaces, and trade show booths.
The SHARP NEC MC372X is a small footprint, XGA (1,024 x 768) 3LCD projector with a 1.2x zoom lens and rated brightness of 3,700 ANSI lumens. For those looking for an affordable classroom projector, SHARP NEC offers two different series which are the MC series and the ME series. There are two models in the MC series, the MC372X and the MC382W which we reviewed as well.
The SHARP NEC MC372X is one of the brightest projectors in its class and it offers one of the longest-rated bulb life. The SHARP NEC MC372X’s replaceable lamp is rated for up to 15,000 hours in ECO mode.
SHARP NEC MC372X Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$509
Resolution
XGA (1024×768)
Technology
3LCD
Claimed Lumens
3,700 Lumens
Brightest Mode Measured
3,802 Lumens
Light Engine
Lamp
Light Engine Lifespan
10,000 Hours / 15,000 Hours
Weight
7.1 lbs
The MC372X utilizes a 3LCD instead of the single DLP chip found in many projectors in its class, this should result in richer bright colors. Normally 3LCD projectors can deliver higher native contrast than DLP models as well. The MC372X has a rated dynamic contrast of 16,000:1.
While the MC372X is only an XGA projector, it can accept 4K@30P content via its HDMI inputs. It also has USB 2.0A input and a LAN port for network control and asset management.
The MC372X also allows for PC-free presentations. You can project images stored on a USB memory stick inserted into the USB-A port located at the rear of the MC372X. The images need to be either JPEG or PNG. You can also project them continuously as a slideshow. This allows for presentations without the need to connect the projector to a PC.
The MC372X is compatible with their MultiPresenter application software which allows the projection of multiple images on a single screen. This free software gives the user the ability to display what is on their device’s screen (computer, smartphone, tablet) on the MC372X via a wired or wireless LAN network. Not only can you display images, PDFs, and webpages, you can even mirror the camera of your mobile device.
The MC372X offers both vertical and horizontal adjustment while many units in its price point only offered vertical adjustment. The MC372X not only offers traditional vertical and horizontal keystone correction, but it also offers PINCUSHION and CORNERSTONE adjustments.
The MC372X is the least expensive projector offered by SHARP NEC. It offers good performance and lots of features. Overall, this projector is a great choice for a classroom setting at a great price.
The SHARP NEC NP-MC382W is 3800-lumen WXGA (1280×800) 3LCD projector, well suited for business and education environments. This projector is compact and portable, making it easy to transfer between conference rooms, boardrooms, and classrooms. Feature-laden and versatile, NP-MC382W is fit for a variety of applications in both the business and education environments, including exhibitions, K-12 classrooms, meeting rooms, conference rooms, and even retail spaces
The SHARP NEC MC382W won our Best in Classroom Price Performance Award in 2020-2021. This projector had excellent color performance, a good feature set, and a super affordable price for K-12 classrooms.
SHARP NEC MC382W Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$999
Resolution
WXGA (1280×800)
Technology
3LCD
Claimed Lumens
3,800 Lumens
Brightest Mode Measured
3,525 Lumens
Light Engine
Lamp
Light Engine Lifespan
10,000 Hours
Weight
7.1 lbs
The built-in 16-watt speaker is loud enough to fill an average size meeting space or classroom.
Despite this being only a WXGA projector, the NP-MC382W can accept a 4K signal. This makes it easy to integrate projector into multiscreen destruction system containing with 4K displays
SHARP NEC does a particularly good job with its MultiPresenter capability that allows up to 16 computers (requires the wireless module) to be screen mirrored. With wired networking, you can still connect up to 16, but you can’t mirror multiple screens.
NP-MC382W has an on-board media player that allows for the playback of files via a USB flash drive, if those files are saved in jpeg format. I have all of my presentation slides, website screenshots, infographics, and x-ray samples saved to a flash drive as jpegs, so I was able to quickly view my files via the USB input on the back of the projector, and the media player.
Add it all up, and the SHARP NEC NP-MC382W is a rather exceptional performer considering the roughly $500 to $550 street price, brightness, and advanced networking (including Crestron support). SHARP NEC offers education discounts via their Star Student Program, which is available to school districts and educators in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean so it will cost educators even less – even in single quantities, never mind school or district-wide implementations.
It may not be the top performer in our K-12 class this year, but it is an impressive performer, for what is normally barely above an entry-level price. That’s what we call having great Price/Performance, so that’s the award it was given last year.
The Optoma EH330UST is a 3,600 lumen Full HD (1920x1080) DLP projector for business and education applications. This ultra-short throw projector can project a beautiful 100” image from just inches away. The ultra-short throw design, is highly desirable for classroom environments where wall-mounted installation is prominent.
OPTOMA EH330UST Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$1599
Resolution
1080p (1920×1080)
Technology
DLP
Claimed Lumens
3,600 Lumens
Brightest Mode Measured
2,770 Lumens
Light Engine
Lamp
Light Engine Lifespan
4,000 Hours
Longevity
Approx. 20 Hrs/Wk in 180 Day School Year = 5.55 Years
Weight
8.7 lbs
The Optoma EH330UST features support for HDCast Pro, a wireless module that is not included with the projector. It can be found for about $80 online from various retailers.
One of the most important features of the Optoma EH330UST. Using a USB drive (flash drive or external hard drive), you can project jpeg images and other documents. The projector is compatible with Microsoft Office, so you can easily project Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations without the need for a computer.
The projector also has wireless capabilities via an optional wireless module and is compatible with Android, Mac, and Android and iOS mobile devices. Its PC-Free media player works well too, with support for Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
The EH330UST supports Crestron RoomView and PJLink. Both of these programs allow for the command and control of multiple projectors at a time, which is particularly useful for schools and offices that have many projectors in their fleet.
The Pro EX10000 is a 4500 lumen 3LCD Full HD Wireless laser projector equipped with Miracast. At the time of our review, Epson stated the Pro EX10000 (retail price $1299,99) is their most advanced business projector to date.
Due to its best-in-class color and white brightness, the EX10000 is ideal for displaying presentations, spreadsheets, and videos on a large screen, even in a room with higher ambient light. Epson states the Pro EX10000 can project vivid images up to 300-inches; yes, that’s a 25-foot image.
Epson PRO EX10000 SPECS
Specification
Description
Price
$1299.99
Technology
3LCD Laser
Native Resolution
1920×1080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
4500
Contrast
100000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
1.62:1
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
20,000 hours
Weight
9.0lbs
The unit's laser light source has a rated lifespan is up to 20,000 hours in normal or quiet Mode. In Extended Light Source Mode, the light source lifespan bumps up to 30,000 hours and provides virtually maintenance-free performance.
This projector is ideal for a small classroom or conference room. Weighing in at only 9lbs and equipped with a soft-sided carrying case, this projector is a great option for a teacher or lecturer who needs to move from conference room to conference room or classroom to classroom.
The Pro EX10000 has a built-in audio system. Epson equipped the projector with a 16-watt speaker so the Pro EX10000 could conveniently provide a quality audiovisual experience right out of the box.
The Pro EX10000 has just about every type of connection you could need. In addition, the Pro EX10000 also supports Epson’s iProjection software, allowing you to project the screens of users’ Macs, Windows PCs, and Android-based Chromebooks over a network.
Users can also wirelessly connect compatible computers, smartphones, or tablets via Miracast and interact with the content wirelessly. Meaning, you can move more freely around the conference room or classroom instead of having your devices attached by a cable to the projector.
At an MSRP of $1,299.99, the Pro EX10000 is quite the deal for a business and education Full HD 1080p Wireless Laser Projector with Miracast. The Epson Pro EX10000 is an excellent addition to Epson’s business and education projector offerings.
Best of all, when you are not using the Pro EX10000 for its primary purpose – productivity; the projector looks good enough to watch movies and play video games.
The Epson PowerLite 725W provides a WXGA (1280 x 800) 3LCD Ultra-Short-Throw projector. The 725W is a reliable, bright, interactive display that supports easy reading, instruction, and communication. The 725W projects up to a 120-inch, 16:10 image which is 95% more interactive space than a 75″ flat panel.
The PowerLite 725W is an ultra-short-throw (UST) projector designed to be placed within inches of the screen or wall. The advantage of this is that the facilitator’s shadow on the image is minimized. The projector can be placed on a desk or other surface below the screen or mounted on the wall above the screen, with an optional wall mount.
EPSON POWERLITE 725W Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$1,890
Technology
3 LCD
Native Resolution
WXGA (1280x800)
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
4000
Contrast
2,500,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
Digital zoom 1.0 – 1.35x
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
20,000 hours
Weight
12.5 lbs
With a rated brightness of 4,000 ANSI lumens, it should be more than bright enough for most classrooms and meeting rooms, even with the lights on. Along with a bright picture, this projector’s black and dark details should benefit from the listed contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1.
The use of a laser light source provides owners with a virtually maintenance-free 20,000-hour light source life running in Normal mode.
The PowerLite 725W has just about every type of input you could need.
The PowerLite 725W offers built-in 5GHz wireless for Miracast® compatibility. So you can physically move more freely around the meeting room or classroom rather than having your devices tethered by a cable to the projector.
The built-in split screen allows simultaneous display of up to four connected devices.
Epson also includes its iProjection™ software to connect, display, and share content from up to 50 devices. Lastly, the PowerLite 725W comes with a built-in 16W mono speaker.
The Epson PowerLite 725W measured well over its manufacturer’s claim of 4,000 lumens of brightness. Quite honestly, with this projector’s brightness, you could project a larger image than Epson suggests depending on the content being displayed.
The 725W projector provides many of Epson's more expensive collaboration tools its performance has been reduced just enough to be a more budget-conscious option compared to their higher-end interactive whiteboard projectors like the 1485Fi. The Epson 725W is an excellent addition to Epson’s whiteboard projector offerings
BenQ describes the EH600 as the World’s first Android-based smart projector designed specifically for business applications. It is a Full HD (1,920 x1,080) DLP projector capable of 3,500 lumens rated brightness. Its SmartEco mode delivers an extended lamp life of 15,000 hours reducing the cost of ownership as well as energy consumption.
BENQ EH600 Specs
Specification
Description
Price
$999
Technology
DLP
Native Resolution
1920x1080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
3500
Contrast
6,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
1.1:1
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
5,000 hours (15,000 hours Smart ECO)
Weight
5.5 lbs
The native Full HD (1920 x1080) resolution of the BenQ EH600 results in good text clarity with more than enough resolution for viewing PowerPoint slides or Excel worksheets at a normal viewing distance.
What makes the EH600 really stand out is its suite of smart features designed to make meetings more productive. You can wirelessly project content like JPEGs, PDFs, and documents from mobile devices (iOS/Android) or laptops (Mac/PC). This feature eliminates the need for cables as well as the need to find the right dongle during meetings
In addition, through the WPS Office app, you can present Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint directly from a USB drive, or the projector’s built-in storage along with a built-in Firefox browser allows users to surf the Internet during your meetings.
The BenQ EH600 has a single, 2-watt built-in speaker that can play loud enough for use in an average classroom or meeting room.
In addition, through the WPS Office app, you can present Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint directly from a USB drive or the projector’s built-in storage along with a built-in Firefox browser that allows facilitators to project directly from the Internet during class.
The combination of classroom smart features, Full HD resolution, and 3500 lumens of brightness make the BenQ EH600 an excellent solution for schools and businesses looking for a compact smart projector that offers high brightness and low cost of ownership.
The BENQ LU710 is a WUXGA DLP Laser projector that is focused on the meeting and conference applications. It offers WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution and is rated to deliver 4,000 lumens of light output. The unit’s laser light engine is rated for up to 20,000 hours in its Normal (high power) mode.
BENQ LU710 SPECS
Specification
Description
Price
$1699
Technology
DLP
Native Resolution
1920x1290
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
4000
Contrast
3,000,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
1.3
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours (normal mode)
Weight
13 lbs
The LU710’s BlueCore laser projection utilizes a dual color wheel system to achieve 92% Rec.709 color coverage that ensures colors in presentations are rich and vibrant. The laser engine light engine can be dynamically modulated to produce a dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1.
The projector’s feature set is focused on business applications. The LU710 is compatible with a couple of BenQ optional solutions which allow wireless projection of documents, videos and images from a computer or mobile device.
For example InstaShow makes it easy for presenters to wirelessly take turns delivering seamless presentations on the LU710. It is a plug and play device that requires no driver installation and is compatible with any OS or hardware platform.
Plug the optional Qcast Mirror Wi-Fi dongle ($59 SRP) into one of the projector’s HDMI inputs and wirelessly cast the screen of almost any device to display from the projector without requiring any special apps or drivers.
While many projectors at this price point only offer vertical keystone correction, the LU710 is equipped with two-dimensional keystone correction with a range of ±30°. The 2D Keystone feature dramatically reduces the trapezoid effect, which occurs when a projector is installed off-center. It even has Auto Keystone Correction to further simplify setup.
With its bright laser/phosphor light source that lasts up to 20,000 hours, high contrast ratio, low-maintenance design, and network-management capability, the LU710 would be a good option for many meeting and conference room environments.
