LG ProBeam BF50RG Laser WUXGA Business Projector Review

The LG ProBeam BF50RG is relatively compact compared to many competitive professional projectors. It measures 14.6 x 11.4 x 6.1 inches (370 x 290 x 156 mm) and weighs 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg). Due to its size and weight, it is advisable to have assistance when lifting and positioning the unit, especially for those unfamiliar with handling larger projectors.

When placed on a tabletop, the projector's lens is on the right side of the front panel, and it has air intakes and an IR receiver on the front left side. The projector's manual focus and zoom controls are wheels at the front of the lens assembly. When looking from the front, the horizontal and vertical lens shift controls and an air intake vent are on the right side of the projector.

All inputs and connections are situated on the rear of the chassis. The cooling exhaust vent, combined power button/joystick, and control panel are also located on the back panel, allowing for full menu operation from this position. The left and right stereo speakers are firing backward in the projector's rear.

The ProBeam BF50RG's traditional remote control provides users an extensive range of controls for all projector operation aspects. Users can swiftly adjust projector settings for different source materials and lighting conditions. With a single button press, switching from making a presentation in a fully bright room to watching sports or TV after dark becomes effortless.

Most projector controls can be accessed and operated via LG command and control software, such as LG Control Manager. Be aware that this remote is designed to be used with a wide range of projector models and features some buttons, like the lens focus and shift buttons, that do not work on this projector. Also, the reaction time using the remote or the control panel seems sluggish.

The LG ProBeam BF50RG features an intuitive and user-friendly menu system, which is especially impressive for a professional display with many features. The visual operation guides for making specific adjustments are particularly helpful.

The BF50RG is part of LG's digital signage lineup. It incorporates a built-in webOS System on Chip (SoC) that allows communication with an external server and playing media content without needing an external player or display control device.

LG webOS is a web-centric platform that offers powerful tools for developing rich web applications. The developer-friendly webOS menus make it easy to navigate and utilize the projector's extensive features, including content playback and access to a wide range of solutions and services.

The LG ProBeam BF50RG is a versatile and powerful WUXGA professional projector meticulously designed to cater to the diverse needs of businesses, educators, retailers, and event organizers. This cutting-edge projector represents a significant expansion of LG's digital signage portfolio, moving beyond traditional flat panels and offering a dynamic, engaging alternative for captivating audiences in various settings.

At the heart of the BF50RG lies the innovative webOS 6.0 platform, which revolutionizes content delivery by eliminating the reliance on external media devices. This integrated solution streamlines the setup process, reducing costs and minimizing potential points of failure while enhancing communication and control capabilities when paired with compatible CMS solutions like Woven Media. Furthermore, webOS 6.0 empowers LG partners with unparalleled customization options and granular device-level control, surpassing the capabilities of conventional third-party solutions.

The projector's visual prowess is undeniable. It has an impressive WUXGA resolution and a robust blue laser phosphor light engine, guaranteeing 20,000 hours of uninterrupted operation without requiring maintenance. Its edge blending capabilities further elevate its versatility, enabling the creation of expansive, immersive displays with unique shapes and configurations ideal for large venues and creative installations.

Not tailored for home theater enthusiasts seeking absolute darkness, the BF50RG truly shines in environments with high ambient light. Though not perfectly inky, its gray blacks do not detract from the projector's exceptional ability to reveal subtle details across the entire spectrum of the projected image, ensuring clarity and visibility even in challenging lighting conditions.

Setting up the BF50RG is a seamless experience, thanks to its 1.6x optical zoom, convenient manual lens shift, and precise focus adjustments. Its inclusion of wired and wireless networking options allows users to effortlessly access content directly from their network—a feature not commonly found in professional projectors.

The projector's out-of-the-box color accuracy is commendable, delivering vibrant and lifelike visuals right from the start. However, for those who demand an even more personalized and finely-tuned viewing experience, the BF50RG offers built-in professional calibration adjustments. These adjustments enable users to optimize color reproduction to their preferences and specific content requirements.

The LG ProBeam BF50RG is an exceptional value, particularly for digital signage, education, and business professionals. Its remarkable performance and features make it an ideal choice for various applications, from illuminating classrooms and boardrooms to enhancing the visual experience in houses of worship.

For those seeking an ultra-bright business projector, the BF50RG is a standout contender. It offers a compelling combination of brightness, image quality, and versatility that is hard to match. Its robust construction and long-lasting laser light source ensure years of reliable service, making it a wise investment for any organization.

With an MSRP of $2,399, the BF50RG represents a compelling value proposition, especially considering its extensive capabilities and potential applications. This projector should be a great addition to your inventory, poised to deliver exceptional results and elevated visual communication.

Sony VPL-PHZ51 $2.699 MSRP

The Sony VPL-PHZ51 is a projector designed to work well in almost any education or business space, like a medium to a large meeting room. This projector is also an excellent simulation projector. The speaker is loud enough for a classroom and even a meeting room, but using it in an auditorium or lecture hall may require connecting it to an external audio source. The Sony is rated at 5899 ANSI lumens, 800 lumens higher than the LG's 5000 ANSI lumens. This difference may not be dramatic at very high brightness levels, though.

The VPL-PHZ51 is not a digital signage projector that can be mounted at any angle. Sony warns not to use the projector if it is tilted more than 15 degrees, and while this projector comes with a very generous Sony warranty, it is not designed to be run 24/7. Based on Sony's clearly stated use cases, I think the flexibility offered by the LG BF50RG gives it a serious advantage over Sony.

The Sony VPL-PHZ51 is a WUXGA (1920 x 1200p) laser projector identical to the LG. Like the LG, the VPL-PHZ51 is so bright that it can easily be used in environments with little control over artificial light sources, such as retail shops or museums.

Sony Reality Creation technology presents visual content like presentations beautifully, and Reality Text makes fine edges and text pop without introducing additional noise into the image. Sony's reality creation technology provides some of the industry's best-displayed edge and text detail. Still, LG also does a very good job rendering detailed edges and text.

It may seem unfair to compare these two projectors since Sony says that the VPL-PHZ51 is meant for something other than digital signage. Still, both projectors are sold in the business and education markets and offer similar features while selling for roughly the same price. It's impossible not to see them as direct competitors. The LG can be used in more professional environments than the Sony, so I have to give the LG an overall advantage.