Giving lectures, doing classroom presentations, or academic exhibitions have gotten a technology boost. Schools at all levels widely use technology in teaching and one of these is a projector.
This change has boosted attention levels and improved students’ performances in the classroom. Despite the benefits these projectors offer, there is the challenge of choosing the right projector that meets the educational needs and budgets.
Luckily, there are projector models specifically designed for the education community. These projectors offer lower pricing with more education-focused features.
But not all these projectors can be used for teaching especially in classroom presentations which involve texts, diagrams, graphs, tables, and charts. This is why we have listed in this article the 5 best projectors for classroom presentations.
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Factors to consider when buying classroom projectors
Buying the best projector for classroom presentation requires some research as you are spending a significant amount of money. Below are the required features to be considered before making your selection.
Brightness
The brightness of a projector is a big factor in the choice of classroom projectors since the learning space is a lit room. You have to keep in mind that your selection must have a minimum brightness of 2,500 lumens.
This feature is very important as the students must be able to see the projected images clearly from any angle in the classroom.
Contrast ratio
You should also consider the contrast ratio as the higher it is, the clearer the images. The high contrast ratio makes blacks blacker and whites whiter.
Poor contrast ratio can make projected images look washed even if the projector has a high lumen. So, consider choosing a projector with a minimum contrast ratio of 1500:1.
Resolution
This is the level of detail a projector can display. This is very important as the higher the resolution, the more detailed your image will be.
So your selected projector must have a very high-resolution display of at least 800 x 600.
Easy to use
Also, make sure the projector you want to choose is very easy to use so that you don’t spend teaching time in the project set-up. It might be a plug and play projector.
You should look for a projector that has a quick setup for easy and fast projection. You should buy a projector that has input ports for your media player or content sources.
Warranty
The heavy use in the classroom may make your projector break down and this will really affect your lesson plans. To avoid this, check out the type of warranty your projector offers before buying.
In the case where you want to mount your projector on the ceiling, look for models that have a deinstall and reinstall warranty. It will help to save you a lot of stress when you need a repair.
Also, take note of the warranty on the lamp as the warranty differs from that of the projector and is much shorter. Look for a brand of projector that has a strong warranty and repair policy with a local service center.
Connectivity
The connection options are also important; the projector you want to buy must have multiple interface ports like HDMI, USB. This helps to accommodate your needs in being able to connect different video sources to your projector.
The throw distance
The distance between your projector and the image on the screen must also be put into consideration. Short-throw projectors are best for smaller rooms which should be the type of projector you need for your classroom.
This type of projector helps to reduce shadow and eye glare. It projects up to a distance of about 3-8 feet away from the projector to the screen.
You can also consider an ultra-short throw projector. It is mostly installed on the wall or ceiling which makes it mounted safely out of the way.
The distance of projection from the projector to the screen is about 0-4 feet. This projector helps to prevent disruption of display when someone is moving around in the classroom.
Maintenance
You have to note that at some point in use, your projector will need maintenance. It will certainly not be the whole projector and maybe it is the lamps that need replacements.
This means when choosing your classroom projector, it is best to consider projectors with a longer lamp life. Also, take note of projectors with affordable replacement lamps.
The cost of replacement lamps may make you want to opt for laser projectors . If you don’t want to deal with maintenance and lamp replacement cost, laser projectors might be a better option though they are more expensive.
Another cost to be considered is the price of a replacement remote, it is inevitable for this remote control to get lost or broken during your projector’s life. Well luckily, you can get a universal remote control that can be used with a broad range of projectors.
Top 3 options for classroom presentations
The best projectors for classroom presentations
These are our choices for the 5 best projectors for classroom presentations based on the above factors, user reviews, and professional recommendations.
Please note that there is no particular order in this list.
1. EPSON VS250 SVGA PROJECTOR
- More accurate, vivid color, even in well lit rooms 3,200 lumens of equal color and white brightness...
- SVGA resolution (800 x 600), ideal for projecting everyday presentations and graphics; Projected...
- F number: 1.44, focal length:16.7 millimeter, zoom ratio: digital zoom 1.0 ? 1.35, pixel number:...
EPSON VS250 SVGA is a product of a Japanese electronics company. This projector is one of the best projectors for classroom presentations because of its features.
You should be looking up to a portable and lightweight design projector that measures 11.9 x 3.2 x 9.2 inches and weighs 5.3 pounds.
Relative to projectors that feature 3,200 lumens of brightness in both color and white light, this projector is very affordable.
This projector has an SVGA resolution display of 800 x 600 and its projects to a distance of 0.9m – 10.3m with the projection image size at 76cm – 888cm.
With the contrast ratio at 15000:1, the projector has an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a light engine with 3LCD technology for better quality.
The projection lens has a focal length of 16.7 mm with a digital zoom ratio of 1.0 – 1.35.
You can set it up fast and easy with its easy image adjustments using the projector remote control.
The lamp type is 210W UHE and it lasts up to 5,000 hours in normal mode and in ECO mode, 10,000 hours.
The projector port connection supports HDMI that allows HDMI audio, digital, and video connections for HD with just one cable. These connectors are compatible with many laptops and media players.
Other means of connection includes the VGA port, three RCA jacks for audio/video and a USB type B port.
The power consumption is averaged at 296W when operated in the normal mode and 211W at ECO mode.
EPSON VS250 has a 1-year limited warranty on the projector and a 90-day limited lamp warranty.
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2. OPTOMA S341
- Luminous SVGA projection with 3500 lumens and 22,000:1 contrast ratio
- Extensive I/O support with HDMI, via-in, via out, composite video, audio-in and more
- sRGB display profile dazzles with Rec709 color accuracy
This projector, Optoma S341 is mainly designed for presentation purposes.
Powered by 3,500 lumens, this projector has a 5000 to 10000 hour lamp life respectively for normal and ECO mode. Measuring 9.1 x 11.7 x 3.8 inches and 4.8 pounds in weight, it is portable and has a carrying case for easy transportation.
It has a contrast ratio of 22,000:1 and an advanced optical lens. This lens produces highly detailed graphics, astonishing textures, and deep shadows during presentations.
With the throw distance at 1.2m – 12.0m and the image size between 69 cm and 774 cm, it features a full 3D blackboard mode.
The S341 has a resolution of 800 x 600 SVGA. To complement the low resolution, the projector uses the edge mask technology that removes soft edges and blurry jagged lines on the border of the projection image, thereby producing a smooth and consistent image.
One big catch for this projector is the moderate pricing and a 1-year warranty on the projector and 90 days on the lamp. For an extended lamp life, the projector comes with an internal cooling fan.
For your wall color adjustment, this projector uses gamma profiles to improve projection brightness on surfaces of different colors. This is very useful when projecting on a wall that is not white in color.
For small room lecture/teaching that requires media sounds, Optima comes with a built-in 2.0 mono-speakers that can produce high quality sound. You don’t need to worry about usage because it’s very easy to operate.
Another big one with this projector is the various connection options which include I/O support with HDMI, VGA-in, VGA-out, Composite video, Audio-in.
Optoma S341 has the sRGB display profile that gives a rich accurate color based on REC.709b primaries. This works when used with a PC, Mac, or any sRGB-compatible source.
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3. VIEWSONIC PJD5555W
- WXGA (1280x800) 16:10 3300 Lumens Projector with a 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, Vertical...
- With advanced color technology and outstanding sharpness, this feature-rich projector provides a...
- Exclusive audiovisual features, and flexible connectivity options makes the PJD5555W is ideal for...
This projector is portable measuring 8.98 x 12.44 x 4.08 inches and weighs 4.63 pounds.
The brightness and resolution features are 3200 lumens, WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution and an intuitive and user-friendly design. All this great feature comes at an affordable price.
In addition to the brightness, the contrast ratio is 20,000:1 and the throw distance at 1.1m-9.7m with image size ranging from 76cm-762cm.
The built-in Exclusive Supercolor TM technology gives it a wider color range for true-to-life image projection. It also has a 2W built-in speaker with sound enhancement technology that delivers improved sound quality.
A power solution to this technology is the energy-saving ECO feature that reduces power consumption and extends lamp life by 10,000 hours.
The PJD5555w features extensive connectivity which includes HDMI, 2 x VGA, Composite Video, S-video, VGA output, and Audio in/out.
Another big one is the compatibility with Mac and Windows. You can also connect it with DVD players, Blu-ray players, Google Chromecast, and more.
The projector has a 3-year limited warranty on projector parts with a 1-year limited warranty on lamps and a 1st-year free Express Exchange service with product registration.
The product package includes a PJD5555W projector, power cable, VGA cable, remote control with batteries, a guide, and a Viewsonic CD.
The power consumption is at 265W maximum with low power standby at 0.5W.
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4. EPSON POWERLITE 1751
- Lightweight and travel friendly — thin as a laptop, weighs just 3.7 lb
- XGA performance — 2600 lumens color and 2600 lumens white light output, native XGA resolution
- Easy connectivity — USB Plug ‘n Play — Windows and Mac compatible
This is a 3LCD projector that uses 3-chip technology for high color brightness thus producing a brilliant image quality. The image quality is enhanced by 2600 lumens color and 2600 lumens white light output.
The projector weighs 3.7 pounds and 1.7 inches tall which makes it ultraportable. It gives remarkable clarity and detail with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution.
The PowerLite 1751 is equipped with a 230 W UHE lamp type that lasts up to 5,000 hours.
The throw ratio is 1.19-1.43 and the contrast ratio up to 2000:1. Along with those is the manual focus projection lens with focal lengths at 13.52mm-16.22mm.
The audio is the built-in 1W mono speaker.
For easy transportation and protection, Epson PowerLite comes with a carry case.
The connection is simple with a USB plug and play to a Mac or a PC. Setup is made easy with automatic vertical keystone correction.
This projector features HDMI connectivity to deliver both audio and bright video easily with just one cable. It has a convenient USB connectivity that allows you to display directly from a USB memory device.
The projector has a remote control which is handy.
Its power consumption is 322W at normal mode and 212W at ECO mode.
The product package has one Epson PowerLite 1751 projector, a power cable, a VGA computer cable, USB cable, projector remote control with batteries, soft carrying case, user manual CD, EasyMP software CD, quick setup sheet, and a registration card.
With advanced audio-visual features, easy connectivity options, and an affordable price, this projector is ideal for use in classrooms.
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5. PANASONIC PT-VMZ50 LCD PROJECTOR
- Projection Method: Front
- Projection Method: Ceiling
- Minimum Focal Length: 15.30 mm
This is a 3LCD portable projector measuring 2 x 4 x 8 inches and 24.2 pounds in weight.
You should consider this projector for its 5000 lumens brightness and a native resolution of 1920 x 1200. Also, the laser lamp has a lamp life of 20,000 hours when in normal mode.
The projector contrast ratio is perfect for classroom presentation at a ratio of 3,000:1.
You can project upwards (ceiling) and forwards with the image size at 25 feet diagonally. Another feature is the projection lens which has a minimum focal length of 15.30mm and a maximum focal length, 24.64 mm with a decent amount of image zoom.
The horizontal and vertical lens shift enables excellent mounting flexibility. This feature allows it to work vertically and at any angle.
The throw distance is 2.3m – 3.8m. In addition to its high brightness and compact size, the picture quality is very good as it uses a 3LCD imager.
One outstanding feature is the dual HDMI inputs among other inputs along with wireless control and connectivity. Another ease of connectivity is the USB input that enables the display of photos stored on a USB memory.
It comes with a 3 year warranty.
Though it is expensive, Panasonic PT-VMZ50 is perfect for classroom use and it doesn’t need lamp replacements or frequent maintenance.
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Conclusion
Using a projector in the classroom has many benefits, getting the simplest and most affordable one can upgrade your teaching and help your students’ learning experience greatly.
This guide has featured projectors of different price ranges, lumen quality, brightness contrast ratio, and many more. But any of them can meet your classroom needs depending on your budget.
So, if you had always wanted to buy a classroom projector but needed some directions, I hope this article has helped.
Last update on 2021-01-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.