Classroom Projector Report: Best Education Projectors 2020-2021

The BenQ EW800ST is a short-throw DLP projector with WXGA (1280 × 800) resolution and some smart features. It’s mainly designed for classrooms but also works well in conference or meeting rooms. BenQ calls it “interactive,” but unlike other interactive projectors, it doesn’t support finger-touch or pen annotation. Instead, its smart features focus on making teaching and presenting more efficient.

We’ll start with a quick overview and highlight its main features. Then we’ll look at the hardware, dive into picture quality and performance, and wrap up with a summary, including how it compares to other projectors, plus its pros and cons.

This award goes to products that stand out—either they’re excellent but a bit rough around the edges, or they’re high-quality but designed for a specific purpose..

• Normal Mode: 5,000 hours → About 4.6 years if used 6 hours/day for a 180-day school year

• ECO Mode: 10,000 hours → About 9.3 years with the same daily use

The Christie LWU530-APS is a 5,000-lumen laser projector with WUXGA resolution that can handle content up to 4K. It’s designed for classrooms, boardrooms, and small auditoriums.

Christie is known for high-quality, premium projectors, but the APS series focuses on reliability, flexibility, and strong performance at a more affordable price. The APS line is Christie’s most budget-friendly option.

There are two models in the APS series: the LWU530-APS (5,000 lumens) and the LWU650-APS (6,000 lumens, $3,249).Both are WUXGA laser projectors with engines rated for up to 20,000 hours

The Christie LWU530 is a reliable mid-brightness business-class projector, offering up to 5,000 lumens thanks to its long-lasting laser light engine. Part of Christie’s APS-Series, it delivers solid performance for classrooms, conference rooms, or boardrooms without breaking the budget.

It has a native WUXGA resolution (1920 x 1200) and can handle 4K@30P content. Christie rates its dynamic contrast at 3,000,000:1. While it can’t match the black levels of home theater projectors in the same price range, its high brightness still produces good-looking blacks even in rooms with some ambient light.

Christie LWU530 produces images with rich colors

The NEC NP-MC382W is a versatile, portable LCD projector ideal for business and education. With WXGA (1280×800) resolution, it’s easy to move between classrooms, meeting rooms, or boardrooms. Its features make it suitable for a wide range of uses, from K–12 classrooms and conference rooms to exhibitions and retail spaces.

With 3,800 lumens, this projector handles typical ambient light well. This review will cover an overview, key features, hardware details, and a closer look at picture quality and performance, finishing with a summary of pros, cons, and how it stacks up against the competition.

NEC NP-MC382W Specs

• Price: –

• Technology: LCD

• Resolution: WXGA (1280×800)

• Brightness: 3,800 lumens

• Contrast: 16,000:1

• Zoom Lens Ratio: –

• Lens Shift: –

• Lamp Life: –

• Weight: –

• Warranty: –Overview

NEC is well known in the business and education markets, making projectors from entry-level to large-venue models. The first NEC I reviewed was a WUXGA pixel-shifter with 4K capability and excellent picture quality, which even won an award in our Classroom Projectors Report. My expectations for NEC projectors have stayed high—and so far, they haven’t disappointed.

The NEC NP-MC382W shows strong color performance, as seen in images like Journey to Space.

This projector has WXGA resolution (1280×800)—the business and education equivalent of 720p—but it can accept 4K content. NEC even says it’s “fully upgradable to 4K,” giving it a longer lifespan as technology evolves. With LCD technology, the lamp lasts up to 10,000 hours at full power and 15,000 hours in ECO mode, which helps lower ownership costs.

The NP-MC382W is an entry-level business and education projector with multiple color modes and great color quality.

It’s also designed for easy management. NEC’s free NaViSet Administrator 2 software lets you control multiple projectors from one location, and it’s Crestron RoomView compatible for managing projector fleets across different brands—perfect for schools or businesses.

The NEC NP-MC382W does a great job with skin tones—here’s a photo taken in Video Mode.

The NEC NP-MC372X is an entry-level 3LCD projector designed for classrooms and offices. It has XGA resolution (1024×768) and a bright 3,700-lumen output. In ECO mode, the lamp can last up to 15,000 hours. Priced at $509, it’s a compact and lightweight option for those who need a reliable, budget-friendly projector.

It’s great for schools and businesses, offering networking features and the ability to display content from multiple sources at the same time, including mobile devices.

NEC NP-MC372X Specs 

• Price: $509

• Technology: 3LCD

• Resolution: XGA (1024×768)

• Brightness: 3,700 lumens

• Contrast: 16,000:1

• Zoom Lens: N/A

• Lens Shift: N/A

• Lamp Life: Up to 15,000 hours (ECO mode)

• Weight: Compact and lightweight

• Warranty: Standard coverage

The Optoma ZU506T-W is a laser installation projector that delivers 5,000 lumens of brightness and WUXGA resolution (1920 × 1200), giving you a bit more vertical detail than standard 1080p. With a 300,000:1 contrast ratio (when Extreme Black is enabled), it produces sharp, high-quality images.

It’s loaded with connectivity options, including 2 HDMI ports, Composite video, HDBaseT, and dual VGA inputs. Thanks to its laser light source, it stays bright for years and is an ideal upgrade for older, dim projectors in conference rooms, classrooms, or places of worship.

The ZU506T-W features vertical lens shift, 4-corner geometric correction, and a 1.6x zoom, allowing projection from as close as 3.28 feet to as far as 32.8 feet. It’s bright enough to handle ambient light, so you won’t need to darken the room just to see your content clearly.

Whether you’re replacing a faded projector in a church, upgrading a hard-to-read conference room display, or refreshing a classroom setup, the ZU506T-W offers flexible installation, strong performance, and a crisp, vibrant picture.

In this review, we’ll kick things off with a quick overview of the ZU506T-W, highlighting its key features and standout capabilities. We’ll explore its hardware in detail, including the remote and control panel, then dive into picture quality and performance—complete with example images and recommended viewing settings. Finally, we’ll wrap it all up with a clear list of pros and cons so you can easily decide if the Optoma ZU506T-W is the right choice for your business or educational needs.

The Optoma ZU506T-W is a professional installation laser projector designed for big, bright, and long-lasting performance. With 5,000 lumens of brightness, it delivers vibrant, clear images even in well-lit rooms. Its laser phosphor light source can last up to 30,000 hours, which is an incredible jump from the old 1,000-hour lamps. For most conference rooms that run only 4–5 hours a day, this projector could easily last two decades—a fantastic return on investment.

Priced between $2,799 and $2,999, it’s a great deal considering it might be the last projector you’ll ever need. It comes with a 3-year or 20,000-hour warranty, plus Optoma Express advanced exchange service for quick replacements if something goes wrong.

This projector isn’t just about long life—it’s loaded with features. It has a WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution, supports 4K input via HDMI 2.0, and offers plenty of connection options, including RS232, RJ45 networking, and HDBaseT for single-cable setups. It’s compatible with Crestron, AMX, and other control systems, making it easy to integrate into professional AV setups.

It even includes two 10W stereo speakers, more powerful than what most projectors in its class offer. Advanced tools like 4-corner geometric correction and DICOM simulation mode make it flexible enough for everything from business presentations to medical training.

Highlights:

• Price: $2,799

• 5,000 ANSI lumens brightness

• WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution with 4K input support

• Laser phosphor light source – up to 30,000 hours

• Vertical lens shift and 1.6x zoom

• 4-corner correction

• RS232, LAN, HDBaseT for control and networking

• 2 HDMI, 2 VGA, USB power for streaming devices

• 2 x 10W stereo speakers

• DICOM simulation mode for medical imaging

• Direct power on and signal power on options

The Casio XJ-S400UN is part of Casio’s new Superior Series, featuring their next-generation mercury-free hybrid laser and LED light engine. Announced in January, this series also introduces a dust-resistant design that helps keep the light source and power supply cool while preventing dust from building up inside—even in dusty environments.

This DLP projector is designed for business and education use. It offers WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution and is compact enough to be easily moved between meeting rooms or classrooms. With a 4,000-lumen brightness, it can easily handle the ambient light found in schools, offices, boardrooms, retail spaces, or museum exhibits.

The Maxell MP-TW4011 is an ultra short throw, 3LCD projector with WXGA (1280×800) resolution and 4,200 lumens brightness. It uses a laser light engine, which means low maintenance, and it also supports interactivity—a feature that’s becoming popular in classrooms and business presentations for more engaging lessons or meetings.

Fun fact: On April 1, 2019, Hitachi-branded projectors became part of the Maxell brand. Maxell focuses heavily on the education market, so this review will highlight its use in classrooms, though it’s also suitable for business.

We’ll start with an overview and key highlights, then dive into special features, hardware, and picture performance. At the end, we’ll summarize with pros, cons, and how it stacks up against the competition.

Maxell MP-TW4011 Specs

• Technology: 3LCD

• Native Resolution: WXGA (1280×800)

• Brightness: 4,200 lumens

• Contrast: 500,000:1

• Ultra-short throw & interactive

• Low-maintenance laser light engine

The Maxell MP-TW4011 is an ultra short throw, laser projector built for classrooms and education environments. Its laser light engine can last up to 50,000 hours in Long Life 2 mode—that’s nearly 46 years if used six hours a day in a 180-day school year!

This projector uses WXGA (1280×800) resolution, which is basically 720p for schools and businesses. It’s perfect for presentations, videos, and lessons. Most K-12 classrooms don’t need higher resolutions, though high school classes doing film, graphic design, or CAD might benefit from WUXGA or 4K.

With 4,200 lumens, it can easily handle bright classrooms. Its ultra short throw design means it can sit just inches from the screen, reducing shadows and preventing blinding light for teachers and students.

The MP-TW4011 is also interactive, supporting up to six users with pen or finger input, and comes with StarBoard interactive software—no yearly subscription required. It has plenty of connectivity, including HDMI with MHL for streaming, wired and optional wireless LAN, and works with Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks.

Pricing: MSRP $4,239, street price around $2,829. While a bit higher, the long-lasting laser, UST design, and interactive features make it worth it, especially for high school classrooms.

Maxell MP-TW4011 Highlights

• 4,200 Lumens

• 3LCD Technology

• WXGA (1280×800) Resolution

• Ultra Short Throw (up to 110” diagonal)

• 500,000:1 Contrast Ratio

• Laser Light Engine – up to 50,000 hours

• Interactive Touch (pen or finger, up to 6 users)

• Powered Focus & Perfect Fit

• High Dynamic Range (HDCR2)

• Wired & optional Wireless LAN

• Compatible with Windows, Mac, Chromebook

• 16W Mono Speaker

• StarBoard Software Included

• Warranty: 5 years parts & labor, up to 20,000 hours on light source