10 Best classroom projectors for schools in 2023 [Buying Guide]

Last updated by Nitish_Lakra on April 28, 2023

best classroom projector

Don’t worry if you are looking for the best classroom projector. In today’s article.

I will talk about the best projector for school. That comes with high lumens, contrast, and resolution.

Which makes those projectors perfect for teaching purposes.

What are the best projectors for a classroom? These are those projectors:-

  1. Optoma EH412ST  (Short Throw, Keystone Correction)
  2. Epson Pro EX9240  (Very Bright, Wireless)
  3. ViewSonic PA503S  (Easy To Setup)
  4. Epson VS250 (Very Bright)
  5. Epson VS260 (Upgraded version)
  6. Panasonic PT-VMZ50U (Laser light source, Big Classroom)
  7. BenQ MW632ST  (Short Throw)
  8. Sony BrightEra VPL-CWZ10 (Laser light source, Lit Rooms)
  9. Epson Home Cinema 880 (Very Bright & Cheap Price)
  10. ViewSonic PS750W Projector (Interactive & UST projector)

If you want my recommendation, While choosing the best classroom projector for schools and colleges.

I will suggest you stay away from the Chinese brand projector. Those projectors are not promising.

If you are reading an article or watching a video. That is recommended.

Any kind of Chinese projector for the classroom. I will suggest that you don’t follow that recommendation.

Because Chinese projectors are not promising. They are useless. There is everything wrong with the Chinese projector.

Here, in this article, I have only reviewed. Some branded projectors. Those could be the best option for your classroom.

Best projector for the classroom/school. For teaching purposes. 

Optoma EH412ST (Short Throw, Keystone Correction)

Credit: Amazon.com

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: DLP
  • Light Source: Lamp
  • Resolution: 1080P
  • Contrast Ratio: 50,000: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3/16:9
  • Brightness: 4000 Lumens
  • Screen Size: 120
  • Lamp Life: 15,000 Hours
  • Connectivity: VGA, USB, HDMI, RS232

Optoma EH412ST (Amazon Link) is a short-throw projector. It can project from 4.5 inches and the image size will be 120 inches.

It’s good. If you want the projector, you want to place it near the screen. 

The native resolution of this projector is 1080p. To projector the image. Which do not pixelated on the screen.

Even if you try to enlarge the image. Also, this projector comes with a contrast ratio of 50,000:1.

You will get a bright image from this projector. Because this projector has a lumen of 4,000.

This projector also comes with various buttons. It makes it very easy to use the projector.

Optoma EH412ST has 10 watts of built-in speakers. Which is enough for small classrooms.

This projector also has keystone correction. Projector also supports 4k HDR input.

Pros

  • Robust projector.
  • Great picture.
  • It is a short throw.
  • Lots of lumens.
  • Super bright.

Cons

  • You may face difficulty to get the perfect image size.

Epson Pro EX9240 (Very Bright, Wireless)

Epson Pro EX9240 
Credit: Epson America

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: 3LCD
  • Light Source: Lamp
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Contrast Ratio: 16,000:1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Brightness: 4,000 Lumens
  • Screen Size: 76 cm – 762 cm
  • Lamp Life: 5,500 hours / 12,000 hours
  • Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, RCA, USB, Wireless Networking
  • Speaker: 16 W

Epson Pro EX9240 (Amazon Link) is natively made for presentations. Especially for the lit rooms. Where is a lot of ambient light. 

This projector can project up to 300 inches of screens. Which is 20 feet. Don’t worry about the image brightness.

This projector comes with 4000 lumens. Not only white lumens, but this projector can also produce colour lumens.

How does this projector do that?

Epson Pro EX9240 has 3LCD imaging technology. This technology makes this projector image very Bright and colorful.

Also, this projector has a 1080p native resolution and contrast ratio of 16,000:1.

For the good audio quality output. You will get the 16w speakers. If you will project something in the classroom. Which requires good sound quality.

Epson Pro EX9240 comes with the wireless connection option miracast. Using that you can easily connect your projector with the device which supports miracast.

For the correct shape of the image. You will get the zoom and auto keystone correction function.

In the box of the EPSON Pro EX9240. You will get the remote.

Pros

  • The projector is very bright.
  • Various connectivity options.
  • Easy to carry.
  • The image is full of colour.
  • Resolution is native 1080p.
  • Comes with LAN.
  • Good for the presentations.

Cons

  • Bad speaker.
  • Bad for home theatre.

ViewSonic PA503S (Easy To Setup)

ViewSonic 3800 Lumens SVGA High Brightness Projector
Credit: wesochic

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: DLP
  • Light Source: Lamp
  • Resolution: SVGA (800×600)
  • Contrast Ratio: 22,000:1
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Brightness: 3800 Lumens
  • Screen Size: 30 – 300 in
  • Lamp Life: 15,000 hours
  • Connectivity: Mini USB, 3.5 mm audio out, RCA, VGA in/out, RS232, HDMI
  • Speaker: 2.0 Watts Mono

ViewSonic PA503S (Amazon Link) is very easy to set up. Just plug and play. And using the remote. 

You can go through the ever setting very easily. Its image is good. Its speaker is ok. 

But you can fix that using the Bluetooth speakers. In the presence of the light. 

The image performs ok. This projector is made for the corporate and business.

But this projector can’t project the small text. With clarity. If you want something from the google search article.

Then you find this projector not that helpful. ViewSonic PA503S Bluetooth doesn’t work well.

So, if you want to connect the projector with any kind of external speaker. Using Bluetooth. 

I will suggest directly connecting the speakers with the audio source.

Other than this you will get the 3.5 mm audio output. And also you will get the HDMI, VGA and RCA port for the video input port.

Pros

  • The image projection is bright.
  • Excellent with the significant ambient light.
  • Great for the price.

Cons

  • Bad speakers.
  • Problem with Bluetooth connectivity.

Epson VS250 (Very Bright)

Credit: Amazon.com

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: 3LCD Chips
  • Light Source: Lamp
  • Resolution: 800×600
  • Contrast Ratio: 15,000:1
  • Aspection Ratio: 4:3
  • Brightness: 3,200 Lumens
  • Screen Size: 76 cm – 888 cm
  • Lamp Life: 6,000 hours/10,000 hours
  • Connectivity: RCA, HDMI, USB, VGA

Epson VS250 (Amazon Link) projector is also made for the lit rooms. This projector has all those features.

Which requires for the ambient light room. So, you can project the image from the projector. And that image will not get distorted.

Most important things. This projector comes with lumens of 3,200 lumens.

Wait??

This is not like the normal lumens. This projector has both lumens white and colourful lumens.

Which is very helpful for the projector. To get a bright and colourful image.

For the proper image on the screen. You will also get the 800×600 native resolution and contrast ratio of 15,000:1.

This projector has imaging technology of 3LCD. Epson VS250 is easy to set up.

Pros

  • Bright, Sharp and Focused.
  • Impressive performance at this price point.
  • Pretty much and plug play.
  • The clarity in a bright room.

Cons

  • No external speaker hookup port.

Epson VS260 (Upgraded version)

Epson VS260 3-Chip 3LCD XGA Projector
Credit: Epson America

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: 3LCD Chips
  • Light Source: Lamp
  • Resolution: 1024×768
  • Contrast Ratio: 15,000:1
  • Aspection Ratio: 4:3 (XGA)
  • Brightness: 3,300 ANSI Lumens
  • Screen Size: 76 cm – 889 cm
  • Lamp Life: 6,000 hours/12,000 hours
  • Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, USB

It’s the upgraded version of the Epson VS250. And VS260 does the job professionally. 

Better than the Epson Vs250. Like the VS250 you will also get the 3LCD chip in this projector. Epson VS260 (Amazon) also has the same image projection technology.

But, in the VS260 you will get 100 Lumens more than the VS250.

In the VS60 you will get the lumens of 3,300. Which is a hundred more than its last model.

Overall. This projector is very affordable and compact. If you are going to change the projector place often.

Then this projector could be perfect for you. 

Pros

  • Bright picture.
  • Very affordable.
  • The product material is very good.

Cons

  • Nothing to say.

Panasonic PT-VMZ50U (Laser light source, Big Classroom)

Panasonic PT-VMZ50U
Credit: AJaytheCEO

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: 3LCD Chips
  • Light Source: Laser Phosphor
  • Resolution: 1920×1200
  • Contrast Ratio: 3,000,000:1 dynamic
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:10 (WUXGA)
  • Brightness: 5,000 ANSI Lumens
  • Screen Size: 76 cm – 763 cm
  • Lamp Life: 20,000 hours
  • Connectivity: Audio in/out mini jack, RJ-45, RCA, HDMI, RS232

If you are going to use the projector. In the big classroom or lecture hall of your school.

Then Panasonic PT-VMZ50U (Amazon Link). Could be the best option. Also if you are looking for a laser projector for the classroom.

This projector comes with a 20,000 hours lifespan. As we expect from any laser projector.

And its dynamic contrast ratio is 3,000,000:1. Which makes the projector image look sharp even in a lit room.

The lumens in this projector are 5000 ANSI. Which is outstanding for any classroom projector.

This amount of lumens. Won’t let the image look washed out in the presence of the light.

This projector is not 4k. But its image looks phenomenal. This projector size is huge.

Panasonic PT-VMZ50U is not portable. 

Pros

  • Laser light source.
  • The image is very bright.
  • Long life.
  • Good for the big classroom. With the big number of students
  • Ceiling mount option.

Cons

  • Not portable.
  • Take time in setup.

BenQ MW632ST (Short Throw)

BenQ MW632ST 
Credit: MindSeed TV

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: DLP
  • Light Source: Bulb
  • Resolution: 1280×800
  • Contrast Ratio: 13,000:1
  • Aspection Ratio: 16:10 (WXGA)
  • Brightness: 3,200 ANSI Lumens
  • Screen Size: 102 cm – 762 cm
  • Lamp Life: 4,000 hours
  • Connectivity: RCA, HDMI/MHL, RS232, S-Video, USB, VGA

BenQ MW632ST (Amazon Link) projector outside the body is made of plastic. But it has a little bit of weight.

Left and right side of the projector. You will get the fan. Those fans make this projector cool.

While operating this projector. It also has an upward leg in front of the projector. Which helps MW632ST to change the vertical angle of the projector.

This projector is natively made for the corporate world. But it will also work well for the school classroom.

It has 3,200 lumens. Which is good enough for the lit room. And MW632ST has a contrast ratio of 13,000:1.

Pros

  • Short Throw projector.
  • Good for the big number of people up to 225.
  • Easy to set up.

Cons

  • Does not have horizontal keystone correction.

Sony BrightEra VPL-CWZ10 (Laser light source, Lit Rooms)

Panasonic Solid Shine PT-VMZ50U LCD Projector
Credit: DEM Cambodia

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: 3LCD Chips
  • Light Source: Laser Phosphor
  • Resolution: 1280×800
  • Contrast Ratio: 9999999:1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:10 (WXGA)
  • Brightness: 5,000 ANSI Lumens
  • Screen Size: 102 cm – 762 cm
  • Lamp Life: 20,000 hours
  • Connectivity: Audio Out/In mini jack, RCA, HDMI, RJ-45, USB, RS232, VGA

Another laser light source projector is Sony VPL-CWZ10 (Amazon Link). This projector is also made for the lit rooms.

And you have to do the projection in front of lots of people.

Sony VPL-CWZ10 can be a great option for you. Sony VPL-CWZ10 is a very bright projector.

Have a lumens rating of 5000 ANSI lumens. Which is considered a commercial projector.

This lumens rating projector is used in those projectors. That is built for the lit rooms.

And where you can interact with lots of people at once. For a more sharp image quality on the screen.

9999999:1 contrast ratio and the native resolution of 1280×800. Which enhances the image on the screen.

So, you can easily interact with a lot of people. Without a blurry image on the projector.

It also comes with various connection options. So, you can easily connect the projector with the video source.

Pros

  • Very bright.
  • Best when you have interacted with a big number of people.
  • Big image.
  • Various connectivity options.
  • Ceiling mount.

Cons

  • Weight.

Epson Home Cinema 880 (Very Bright & Cheap Price)

Epson Home Cinema 880
Credit: My Very Eclectic Life

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: 3LCD Chips
  • Light Source: Lamp
  • Resolution: 1920×1080
  • Contrast Ratio: 16,000:1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (HD)
  • Brightness: 3,300 ANSI Lumens
  • Screen Size: 64 cm – 981 cm
  • Lamp Life: 6,000 hours/12,000 hours (Eco)
  • Connectivity: Audio out mini jack, USB, HDMI

This projector is a home cinema projector. But the reason why I have added this projector to our list of the best projector for the classroom.

Because this projector is very bright at a cheap price. In the window open room.

You can use this projector. And the image looks perfect in the ambient light room.

Because its native resolution is 1080p and lumens is 3,300 lumens. 

And also this projector is easy to set up. This projector can also easily hang up with the ceiling.

If you want to mount this projector from the ceiling. You can do that very easily.

Pros

  • Super bright projector for ambient light.
  • Keystone correction.
  • This projector is very quiet.

Cons

  • Digital zoom has a problem.

ViewSonic PS750W Projector (Interactive & UST projector)

Credit: Amazon.com

Key features:-

  • Projection Technology: DLP
  • Light Source: Lamp
  • Resolution: 1280×800
  • Contrast Ratio: 10,000:1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:10
  • Brightness: 3,300 ANSI Lumens
  • Screen Size: 221 cm – 305 cm
  • Lamp Life: 3,000 hours /7,500 hours (Eco)
  • Connectivity: Audio in mini jack/RCA, USB, HDMI/MHL, RCA, RJ-45, RS232, S-Video, VGA

If you want to have the perfect and clean setup from your projector. 

Then you should buy an ultra short throw projector. With the interactive capabilities.

UST interactive capabilities projector can project the big screen. From a few inches away from the projection.

For that interactive projector should be hung on the wall. And you are ready with the clean setup.

And also with the various annotated features. Because of that, you are ready to draw anything on the screen.

And for this, you don’t need any special screen. And the plain surface could be the screen of the UST interactive projector.

It comes with 3,300 lumens. Which is enough to get a bright image. In the lit room. Because the distance is very short between the screen and the projector.

And various other features. Which makes this projector very useful. To have in the classroom:-

  • Optional Qwizdom Oktopus Software
  • vBoard Interactive Software

Which makes a very useful ViewSonic PS750W (Amazon Link) projector. In the classroom.

Pros

  • Very bright.
  • Colour full image.
  • The setup is very clean.
  • Very collaborative.
  • Comes with various interactive features.

Cons

  • Nothing to say.

How to choose a projector for the classroom? 

Let’s pay attention. What to look for when choosing the projector?

Projection Technology 

There are mainly two types of projection technology used in projectors widely.

DLP and LCD. DLP projectors are used for movie theatre projectors. And their exceptionally sharp image.

While with an LCD projector. You will get a bright and color full image. The LCD projector is brighter than the DLP projector.

If you want to learn more about DLP and LCD. Follow our article on DLP vs LCD/3LCD.

Light Source

There are three light sources you find mainly in the projectors. LED, Laser, and Lamp light source projector.

Those projectors. I have reviewed this article on laser and lamp-based projectors.

The lamp-based projector has been for a long time in the market. And the most used projector in the classroom.

And lamp-based projector also provides the best image quality and brightness.

Things we required in a projector for the classroom. But, in the lamp-based projector. You will get the projector overheating heating issue (not always).

And after a certain time. You have to change the projector lamp. But this is not often.

The laser projector is a new technology in the market. And a laser projector could be the best for your classroom.

If you have a good budget for the projector. Because of laser projectors lifespan. 

The lifespan is longer than the lamp projector. The average is 20,000 hours

And laser projectors don’t fade with time. And also the laser projector doesn’t take warm-up time.

You don’t need to change the light source in the laser projector. Because it’s not possible.

Want to learn about lamps and laser projectors? You should read our article on laser vs lamp projector.

Resolution 

Resolution is the count of the pixel. Vertically and horizontally. The more resolution projector.

There will be less chance that your image will get distorted. For the classroom projector.

If your budget allows. You should always choose the 1900×1080 or 1920 x 800 or 1920 x 1200.

Resolution projector. So your image does not get pixelated on the screen.

Read Also: Best resolution for the projector.

Contrast Ratio 

The contrast ratio is the difference between the white and black portions of the image.

The higher contrast ratio. Your projector has. It will be better for the image’s sharpness.

For the classroom projector. You should go with the 4,000:1 – 10,000:1 contrast.

The more will be better.

Aspect Ratio

There is a major aspect ratio. You will get in the projector 4:3, 16:9, and 16:10.

The aspect ratio has nothing to do with the image quality. It only decides the shape and the size of the image.

When you are choosing the projector. Make sure you know which aspect ratio image. You will project from the projector.

And what is the aspect ratio of the projector screen? And both aspect ratios should match.

So, you don’t get the black bars on top or bottom. Or left or right. 

Read Also:-

Brightness & Ambient Light

In the projector. You will get the 500 to 10,000 lumens rating. The number of lumens on your projector. 

Depends on your classroom condition. How much ambient light is there?

For the moderate ambient light classroom. You should go with the 2,500 to 3,500 lumens projector .

Audience/Screen Size 

In a normal classroom. The screen size should be 60 to 80 inches diagonally.

Because of the bigger projector screen, you have in the classroom.

Your resolution and lumens. Will be spread over a bigger area. And your image might look dull.

If you don’t have a high specs projector for your classroom.

Conclusion: Best classroom projector.

At last, I only want to say. Don’t go with any cheap Chinese projector. Which is very cheap.

In every way, price. And also when it comes to projecting a good quality image in the lit room.

Or the room with the moderate light. That’s why I always suggest you to go with a good brand projector.

Which specifications are promising. In real life. 

But, if you have read this article. You will get the best projector for your classroom

That will provide you with the best image. Even in the lit room. 

Because in this article. You will get the only best-recommended projector for your classroom.

See you next time…

Categories: OnsME Review

Nitish_Lakra

Nitish Lakra is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience in the publishing industry. He has written for numerous publications on a variety of topics including home theatre and projector. Nitish is passionate about educating and informing readers through his writing and strives to provide accurate and engaging content. When he's not writing, Nitish is enjoying the pc games, movies or cooking. My YouTube: @nitishlakra My Instagram: @nitish__lakra

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