Classroom Projector Report: Best Education Projectors 2020-2021

Welcome to our annual Classroom Projector Report!

This year’s report covers a wide range of projectors used in K–12 schools, colleges and universities, and museums. When choosing winners, we look at how different projectors fit different needs — it’s not all about specs.

Understanding the Types of Projectors in This Report

We divide projectors into three main categories:

1. Standard Projectors – Common in K–12 classrooms. These are typically more budget-friendly.

2. Large Venue Projectors – Used mostly in higher education for big lecture halls, but also great for school auditoriums and multipurpose spaces.

3. High-End / Specialty Projectors – Includes models for digital signage and projection mapping, especially popular in museums.

Within each category, there are different styles like standard throw, short throw, and ultra-short throw. These affect both price and installation cost. Some projectors offer full interactivity, while others offer limited or none at all. Interactivity is becoming more popular in classrooms.

We also always include at least one XGA resolution (4:3 aspect ratio) projector because many schools still need to replace older models. And of course, networking capabilities are a must-have for today’s classrooms.

We focus on how projectors are used, not just how they perform on paper. A school might be able to buy 30 basic projectors — or 20 basics and 5 interactive ones — depending on the budget. Our awards go to projectors that work well for specific needs, not just the flashiest specs

What’s Inside the Report?

We reviewed about 15 new projectors geared toward education and included 9 award-winning models from last year that are still great options.

This report includes:

• Short summaries of each featured projector

• Our recommendations for how they work in real educational settings

• Links to full, in-depth reviews for each model

While 24 projectors may not seem like a lot, many of them are part of product families. That means each one could have 2–7 “sibling” models with slight variations (brightness, resolution, wireless, etc.). Altogether, this guide represents close to 100 projector models on the market today.

And remember: many projectors stay available for 2–4 years, so award-winning models from previous reports are often still excellent choices. Some even cost less now than when we first reviewed them, making them an even better deal.

Interactive Projectors in Classrooms

Interactive projectors are becoming more common in both K–12 and college settings. Most are mounted above the whiteboard or screen and allow for more hands-on teaching and learning.

We’ve included past award winners in our list — as long as they’re still available for purchase and widely stocked, especially for summer installations, which are peak upgrade season for schools.

If a projector won a Best in Classroom Award last year or the year before and it’s still available, it’s still worth your consideration.

Other Things We Cover

We also look at factors beyond the classroom itself — such as:

• Operating costs (lamps, filters, maintenance)

• Light sources (lamp, laser, or LED)

• Networking features (including automation systems like Crestron or AMX)

A few years ago, people thought 3D projectors might take off in education. While that hasn’t happened widely, many modern projectors still support 3D — and studies have shown it can improve engagement and focus.

That said, 3D isn’t a focus in this year’s report.

Final Thoughts

We’ve selected projectors with real classroom use in mind — across a range of budgets, setups, and needs. Whether you’re upgrading a single classroom or equipping an entire school, this guide should help you find a projector that fits.

Need more detail? Just follow the links to each full review

Table of Contents

List of Winners