Expert guide to the best 4000-lumen projectors for modern classrooms

If you are a school district IT manager or CIO who is looking for their next generation of classroom displays, you are probably looking at the latest 4000 lumen projector offerings from top brands. With the introduction of affordable laser projectors and sealed engines, they are much different than the traditional lamp-based projectors used in the past. This article explores the differences you may want to consider when looking at three popular models.

Classrooms need bright vibrant projectors that can be easily read when the lights are on – or when natural light is coming through the windows. All three of these 4000 lumen projectors are designed for classroom environments. They also feature multiple HDMI inputs, WXGA resolution, and have the ability to be managed via a wired network.

These three projectors each use a different type of light source. This is an important part of your decision since each technology has its advantages and disadvantages.

The two most common technologies used in projectors are either DLP technology from Texas Instruments or LCD technology. While both create award-winning images, the DLP technology used by the BenQ and Casio models is based on the same technologies used in 8 out of 10 digital cinema theaters. Texas Instruments rates their chips to 100,000 hours and this means your projector will not turn yellow over time. The other advantage is that it is easier to keep dust away from critical components without using a filter.

The Epson Powerlite 109W is the only projector of the three that require filter cleaning. According to the manual, this should be done regularly – and that waiting until the warning light goes off could expose the projector components, including the lamp, to high heat exposure. Because a dirty filter could cause the lamp life to shorten, filter cleaning is an important part of maintaining the projector. To clean the projector, the filter needs to be removed and vacuumed with a computer vacuum or a paintbrush.

Because both the BenQ and Casio models use DLP technology, their engineers can create a filter-free projector to eliminate the need for regular filter cleanings. The BenQ LW720 model goes one step further in creating a completely sealed dust-proof engine that has passed the rigorous IP5X testing for dust contamination - just like the latest version of the Apple Watch.

All three projectors come from well-known brands in the projector industry and have been selling to schools for over a decade. Because an education projector will require the company to support the product over the years, IT managers want to know they will be supported over time. According to Futuresource, in 2019 BenQ is the #1 projector brand in education selling DLP projectors, Epson is the #1 brand selling LCD projectors, and Casio is the #5 selling brand using DLP technology.

For school districts looking for a highly reliable, no-maintenance projector solution for their classrooms, consider the BenQ LW720, selected by Spring ISD in Texas as their next generation projector. This projector offers protection from yellowing with its DLP technology, excellent color accuracy, and no filters or lamps to clean - saving thousands in operational costs over its lifetime. While it is more expensive than the Epson lamp projector, you will no longer have to purchase, store, or dispose of mercury-based lamps - and avoid the labor cost of replacing them. The projector can also be used 24/7, which enables you to teach night classes in these rooms without worrying about usage restrictions in your warranty.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find answers to your questions when trying to find the right projector for your business. Since most retailers don’t have experts on the floor that can help –where can you turn? For customers looking for advice on choosing the right projector for their business, you can talk directly to an experienced BenQ product expert who has access to over 70 different projector models and can guide you to the best one for your application. We also can help you find a reseller nearby, or if you want, you can purchase one right on the phone. You can reach them at 888-818-5888. If you want to email them instead, you can reach them at BenqB2B.BQA@Benq.com.