2020-2021 Classroom Projector Report Projectors Considered: K-12 Classroom (Part 1)

K-12 classroom projectors are smaller projectors with features like advanced networking, wireless capabilities, PC-Free Presenting, and other simpler features that are easily provided by a number of projectors in this category. The primary function of a projector in a K-12 classroom environment is for providing visual aid for presentations and other course materials. Choosing the right projector for your K-12 classroom depends largely on the environment itself – lighting conditions, etc. – but also on specific needs for features.

The projector models below were all considered for our K-12 awards in this year's report. Read on to learn more about these models, and if they did or did not win an award.

Feature wise, the EW800ST is a WXGA projector that is well priced ($999 list) with 3,300 lumens claimed, and reasonably well endowed in terms of interfacing. It sports 1 HDMI (2 would be better), a computer interface, 3 USBs (hey, it’s “smart”) and even an old analog computer input. It also has an audio output, and a serial port for command and control. Audio comes from a single 2-watt speaker that has respectable volume (if no real bass), and should handle most regular K-12 classrooms. Audio is not a strength but there is an audio out, if needed, which can feed a powered speaker system or a PA system. Bluetooth is another option for audio.

The EW800ST’s placement abilities were also a strong factor in selecting it for this award. Now, if you are familiar with the Equivalent Visibility Rule (see our article on it in this report), you realize that most classrooms today need significantly larger screen sizes than were typical in the past, because we teach differently today. In K-12, screens typically started as small as 50” diagonal, but most were (and most still are) 60” to 72”. For today’s teaching per E/V, even the typical under 1000 sq. foot K-12 classroom needs at least a 100” display! And that changes everything!

Back to the ES800ST – one of the things I appreciate is that BenQ offers a telescoping wall mount for it, that will work with screens up to about 120” diagonal! 100” to 120” should be the sweet spot for display sizes in K-12 (well, maybe not that big in K-12).

The BenQ has a few more worthy tricks up its sleeve. For one thing, it has advanced wired (LAN) networking, with Crestron RoomView support (which provides the “advanced” in advanced networking). The EW800ST also has wireless networking using a dongle, which is provided. The remote control has a laser pointer on it, and, unlike many competitors, it supports 3D. Finally, at full power, the lamp is rated a healthy 5,000 hours.

Bottom line: The EW800ST turns out to be an overall very competitive lower cost projector for the classroom, that comes with all that networking. The smarts, however, add an additional level of capabilities that can be taken advantage of in teaching environments.

Without the smarts – at an appropriately lower price, this is still a very solid projector, but adding the smarts, not to mention the very well done short throw abilities, make it award worthy, and that’s how it got to be this year’s Best In Classroom: K-12 Smartest.

Casio has never offered “laser projectors.” They pioneered their own design combining a laser with LED, for a compact solid state light source that offers most of the benefits of a laser light engine. The biggest challenge for the LED/laser combination has been brightness. While we see a lot of under $2,500 laser projectors with 4,000 and 5,000 lumens, getting a really bright image out of an LED/laser is more challenging.

No surprise that the Casio XJF211WN is well endowed: Wired LAN networking, optional wireless, a rather hefty, room filling 16 watt speaker on board, and a 1.5:1 zoom lens for placement flexibility (sorry, no lens shift). Casio’s Moderator function allows a teacher to connect in up to 40 computers/devices at once. Four of those can be selected at one time to be displayed, with the image split into four windows.

Color wise the brightest mode, is (no surprise) heavy greenish. But that’s typical. As a single chip DLP, this Casio loses more brightness than a 3LCD projector, before color becomes very good, but the hybrid Laser/LED light engine puts plenty of lumens on the screen to handle classrooms. (Generally solid state projectors seem brighter per lumen measured, than lamp projectors.) And the Casio’s light engine is rated 20,000 hours. The projector comes with a 3-year parts and labor warranty – normally – but for the education market – add an two extra years.

All things considered: This Casio is very capable, and it is solid state. The Casio’s rock bottom price for a solid state projector (not to mention the Casio’s solid performance), earned it this award.

By the way, the LW530-APS is also just about the lowest price projector in the Christie line-up, a company far better known for $25,000+ projectors than $2,500 ones. (Movie theater projectors too!) Perhaps that’s why it comes with one of the best warranties in the industry, which we believe is an important value: 5 years on the projector (and laser engine) or 10,000 hours whichever comes first. Now, only in a museum type environment, running 24/7/365, or 16/7/365 will you run out of hours first. At 40 hours a week use – that’s about seven school years.

Placement flexibility is outstanding – a 1.7:1 zoom and plenty of lens shift. That’s hard to find among affordable lasers. When it comes to interfacing – no problem there either, it pretty much offers the kitchen sink, as they say: 2 HDMIs, 2 analog computer inputs (one can work as a monitor out), USBs, LAN, and HDBaseT! There’s also plenty of audio inputs, audio out, and finally, the traditional serial port for old school command and control. About the only thing missing, now that I think about it, is interchangeable lenses, and if it had those, it wouldn’t be an “affordable laser,” and be found here.

Bottom line – this is a high performance, high school level projector – or an auditorium/multipurpose room projector for the lower grade schools. It’s overkill in the typical small classroom, unless there’s a huge skylight. The LWU-530-APS comes from a high-end company well known for excellent support, in addition to the great warranty.

There really isn’t any other projector we’ve included in the K-12 section that comes close in terms of sheer performance. Other than not being a different type of projector: Short throw, a UST, or an Interactive projector, there’s little it can’t do at least as well as the competition. It’s that simple.