The Epson PowerLite 109W is WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution projector claiming 4,000 lumens, though it came in well over claim at 5,354 lumens in its brightest mode, Dynamic, when measured at full wide angle. This $749 projector has 3LCD technology, which means it has as many color lumens as it does white ones, giving the picture more pop and wow. If you’re an educator, this projector provides an excellent value proposition thanks to Epson’s Brighter Futures Education Program, which knocks the price of the PowerLite 109W down to $612.
The 109W has an excellent lamp life claim of up to 12,000 hours! That’s in ECO Mode, however – you can expect the lamp life at full power to be about half that. Lamp based projectors generally have claims of 4,000 to 8,000 hours at full power. Remember – lamp based projectors tend to start losing brightness within the first few years, so if the projector is expected to have heavy usage, you’ll be changing out the lamp sooner. No need to fret, however, as Epson’s lamps are some of the most affordable on the market, and, again, if you’re an educator, the Brighter Futures program will make the price even sweeter.
The projector comes with an excellent warranty – 2 years parts and labor with 90 days on the lamp. It also comes with two years of Epson’s ExtraCare Road Service, which can be a total life-saver if your unit should stop working. This service gets a refurbished unit shipped out to you within a few days so that you can get up and running as soon as possible. When the new projector arrives, you ship back your malfunctioning unit (free of charge), and potentially save weeks of downtime as you do not have to wait for your original unit to be repaired.
The Epson PowerLite 09W has wireless capabilities via the optional Wireless Module, available through Epson. The projector comes with the iProjection software, which allows you to wirelessly project from a PC or Mac computer. There is an iProjection app for mobile devices, and you can connect up to 50 iOS, Android, and Chromebook devices simultaneously, though only 4 can be displayed on the screen at a time. The wireless projection feature is a major plus for classrooms and conference rooms, as it allows for fast, easy switching between presenters.
A scene from Journey to Space, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A scene from Journey to Space, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A scene from Journey to Space, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A scene from the Netflix show Explained, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A scene from the Netflix show Explained, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A scene from the Netflix show Explained, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A scene from the Netflix show Explained, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A scene from the Netflix show Explained, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A presentation slide, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
An infographic, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A website, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A website, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
A website, projected by the Epson PowerLite 109W.
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Better than entry-level color on the PowerLite 109W! Its best modes are Cinema mode (2,513 lumens), closely followed by sRGB (2,285), then Presentation (3,113). Blackboard mode (1,914 lumens) for use on blackboards, so its color has a more magenta hue than would be acceptable on any other mode. Dynamic (3,913 lumens) is the brightest mode, with strong greens and yellows. For this reason, we call these brightest modes your “break glass in case of emergency” mode – to be used only in situations requiring maximum brightness. All modes are bright enough to combat ambient light, though I would recommend Presentation for situations with uncontrollable ambient light for best the best color while maintaining high brightness.
