The best projectors for schools can turn a clear wall space into an interactive digital treasure trove of educational information. Best of all, they are now more powerful and affordable than ever.
Choosing the best projectors for schools can be a more complicated task than it seems. Several key factors beyond budget need to be considered.
How big is the area you are working with? What quality resolution does your projector need to have? Does your projector need to have multiple inputs and outputs to connect external devices with ease, for multiple teachers and students passing through the room? Do you have space or will you need a short throw option? Is the use of natural light important? Could laser projection help?
This guide aims to take all of these factors and more into account to give you a list of the best education-specific projectors to suit your school’s needs.
It is also worth considering the best webcam options and the best document cameras to make sure you get the most out of the projector in the room.
The best projectors for schools
1. ViewSonic PA700W: Best overall projector for schools
The ViewSonic PA700W is a fantastic projector for use in schools, as it is a very versatile tool that also manages to keep the price relatively affordable. Crucially, this model can be placed at various distances from the screen to offer size variations up to a massive 300-inch screen. The only major drawback here is that the resolution maxes out at WXGA, which is 1280 x 800p, so at larger sizes it doesn’t look as detailed as some modern TVs, for example. Hence this low price.
However, in terms of reliability, this is a leading brand that comes with a three-year warranty, plus it is designed with education in mind. As such, you can expect a host of ports, including two HDMI, two VGA, one USB, one Ethernet, and two audio for input and output. So for connectivity, this is a powerful choice.
However, image quality is not just about resolution, as projectors are largely defined by their brightness. In this case, the impressive 4500 ANSI brightness allows it to be used even in daylight and still be clear. That brightness can sometimes mean sacrificing colors, but not here thanks to the massive 1.07 billion colors that can be displayed at the 22,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, all of which creates a very rich and clear display. .
The lamp runs for about 12,000 hours before needing to be replaced, which is pretty standard for this type of projector.
2. Optoma ZH400: the best laser projector
The Optoma ZH400 is a super capable projector that may be a little more expensive than others, however, since it comes with laser projection, it justifies that cost. Using a laser light source means that you will not only get the sharpest and clearest images, but also some of the best colors and contrast. Plus, it can last longer and in this case, it has a whopping 4000 lumens of brightness, so it’s good to use day or night.
This projector offers a Full HD 1080p resolution, so it should be pretty clear even when set to offer larger projections. Of course it’s not 4K, but at this price you can’t expect that from a laser quality projector. What you get is a two-year warranty plus five full years, or 12,000 hours, of lamp coverage. Although the company says that the lamp is built to last 30,000 hours. Plus, being a laser, it’s built to run constantly with just a recommended 30-minute break every 24 hours.
This is a compact projector, weighing 4.2kg, so it can be used in smaller classrooms and can also be moved from room to room as needed. This should require no maintenance, thanks to it being laser, and can be installed anywhere up to 360 degrees along the horizontal axis or even rotated 90 degrees to project in portrait mode if necessary.
3. BenQ MW536: Best affordable projector for schools
The BenQ MW536 is a lamp projector that keeps the price very low while maintaining high standards in terms of specifications. Mainly, this offers a very bright 4000 lumens which should allow for clear viewing even on brighter days. It also offers an impressive three-year collect, repair or return warranty and a lamp that lasts up to 15,000 hours.
This can be set to project a screen from just 60 inches away and if needed can be from a wall instead of a screen. In fact, it has smart scrolling that allows it to project clearly even on colored walls, expanding the options for where it can work.
The 15,000:1 contrast ratio is fine, as is the WXGA resolution, but at this price both will cover most classroom needs perfectly. Helpfully, there is a dedicated infographic mode that shows additional clarity for text and graphics in detail – ideal for the classroom. It also has two HDMI and two VGA ports for decent connectivity with multiple devices at once.
4. Epson BrightLink 725Wi: The best interactive projector
The Epson BrightLink 725Wi is a very powerful option as it not only displays but also detects gestures to make this an interactive option. As a result, teachers can stay next to the screen and tap, like on a smart board, to interact, rather than being stuck on their laptop’s input device, for example.
Mainly, it has a brightness of 4,000 lumens and an impressive 20,000-hour laser light source. It can project a screen size of up to 100 inches, although the resolution maxes out at WXGA. What it does feature, however, is automatic image alignment and pen calibration, making it very easy to set up and, more importantly, offering the option to move it between rooms.
This projector features Epson’s legendary 3LCD quality, so image sharpness and color range are excellent. This system supports up to eight users and, with wireless connectivity, can make almost any wall or whiteboard immediately interactive.
5. ViewSonic X2000B-4K: Best short throw 4K laser projector
The ViewSonic X2000B-4K projector is technically the best projector in this guide; However, due to its high price, it is listed here. For a considerable sum of money, you can have it all, meaning full 4K resolution (3840×2160) from a laser light source that requires little to no maintenance and lasts longer than regular lamps. Not only that, but it’s also a short throw projector, so it can be placed close to the wall to display a large screen, ideal for smaller rooms with limited space.
Brightness is limited to 2,000 lumens, but since it’s short-range, it needs less to appear as bright as other models on this list, so don’t downplay that number. It has HDR and HLG support for excellent contrast with a whopping 125% Rec. 709 color gamut, meaning it will show movies better than many high-end TVs, except in giant sizes up to 100 inches.
This even comes with two built-in Harman Kardon speakers with Dolby and DTS support for a full cinema-style audio experience; Additionally, WiFi connectivity should make it easy to connect any device.
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