In today's higher education landscape, it is no secret that instructional materials are not only by instructional objectives but by hardware as well. Projectors in a university classroom or lecture venue are the predominant delivery system for all audiovisual materials as class meetings mostly prioritize the instructor's lecture delivery in collaboration with the instructional technology being used. Though outfitting a campus is not a cheap endeavor, and can even be prohibitively expensive, inexpensive projectors can give instructors confidence in the classroom, optimal pedagogy for student engagement, and the flexibility to share instructional materials without compromising the experience. Below is a list of the 5 best projectors that we recommend for university classrooms and lecture venues.
Choosing the Best Projector on a Budget
Now that we have outlined the different inexpensive projectors, let's consider a few things to plan for when selecting a projector in an academic environment:
• Brightness - Projectors are measured based on lumens, and it's easy to see how a projector's brightness could limit how well the image can be viewed in different lighting. A minimum of 3,000 lumens projectors are ideal for well-lit classrooms.
• Resolution - Clarity is important when projecting and utilizing images and text in a visual display, especially when the display is 'full screen' or based on the physical classroom layout where the projection display may be more limited. If your display will include many uses of text or dense images, you will want to locate the approved minimum of at least 1080p resolution (Full HD).
• Portability - In many ways, when working in a large university, you may be traveling multiple times on a given day, week, or an entire semester. The more portable your projector (and associated equipment), the better you may feel, and the more convenient your travel and transition becomes.
• Connectivity - It is rare to find a projector with the recommended older school hardware (like an HDMI), USB connectivity, or internal wireless ability (or some variation) on a newer projector. The myriad of connectivity options is important to support ease of integration with a laptop, tablet, and even internal smartphone support.
• Durability & Maintenance - In higher education settings, we need/require durability and the low associated costs with maintenance costs throughout the entire experience of purchasing a projector.
Top 5 Budget-Friendly Projectors for University Classrooms
After rounding up the details with so many factors, these five projectors lie in debt between price and performance which makes them suitable for use in university classrooms and lecture halls.
1. BenQ MH535FHD
Best for Small to Medium Classrooms
• Price: Around $500
• Lumens: 3,600
• Resolution: Full HD 1080p
• Portability: Light Weight (5.3 lbs)
• Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, USB
The BenQ MH535FHD is a cost-effective option for classrooms that need a strong image without breaking the bank. The Full HD 1080p resolution offers clean, clear images for text-heavy slideshows or ready video content. This projector boasts 3,600 lumens of brightness, which will serve rooms with a decent amount of ambient light. It's lightweight and easily portable, since the projector provides the standard connectivity options you'd expect from a quality projector like HDMI and VGA, you are covered.
2. Epson EX3280 XGA Projector
Great For: Lecture Halls
• Price: Approximately $450
• Lumens: 3,600
• Resolution: XGA (1024 x 768)
• Portability: Light-weight (5.9 lbs)
• Connectivity: HDMI, VGA
The Epson EX3280 is bright and clear, even in larger lecture Halls. Because it has 3,600 lumens of brightness and an XGA resolution, this is the ideal projector if your University is looking to upgrade classroom technology without breaking the Bank! While XGA is not as high resolution as full HD, it is more than enough for chart, presentation, and text use. Professors also enjoy durability meaning they can take it from class-to-class or week-to-week and not worry about damaging or breaking.
3. ViewSonic PA503W
Great for: Versatility
• Price: About $350
• Lumens: 3,800
• Resolution: WXGA (1280 x800)
• Portability: Compact (4.9 lbs)
• Connectivety: HDMI,VGA, USB
For universities that want a projector, reasonable in price but with high brightness and excellent versatility, viewsonic has a fantastic option. The ViewSonic PA503W has 3,800 lumens to supplementary when brighter rooms and/or lights are in use. Its WXGA resolution is preferable as well, because it means a wider screen aspect ratio. Also, professors can use it for spreadsheets, as well as diverse documents, or even for multimedia content. The ViewSonic PA503W is also advantageous for supporting 3D content and interactive learning. .
4. Optoma HD146X
Best for Multimedia Presentations
• Price: $550 approximately
• Lumens: 3,600
• Resolution: Full HD 1080p
• Portability: Medium (6.2 lbs)
• Connectivity: HDMI, USB
The Optoma HD146X is a strong Full HD projector designed for multimedia-heavy situations, making it an excellent all-purpose option for lecture halls or classrooms with video presentations. The 3,600 lumens and impressive contrast ratio generate a vivid and worth watch image. The HD146X will do best with subjects that usually need detail, such as art, architecture, or engineering work. Considering all of these features, the HD146X is an affordable projector and performs well overall in terms of price versus performance.
5. Anker Nebula Capsule II
Best Portability and Flexibility
• Price: $450 approximately
• Lumens: 200 ANSI (Best in small, dimmed rooms)
• Resolution: 720p HD
• Portability: Ultra-portable (1.2 lbs)
• Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Anker Nebula Capsule II is a perfect portable option for professors or graduate students that bounce back and forth from classroom to classroom, or present in a few different locations. It's a good portable model, however, it is not as bright or high of a resolution as the other models. This model is more useful for presentations in smaller groups or if the classroom can be darkened. Considering the size of the model (around the size of a soda can) it is incredibly easy to take with you, and it has a wireless option that allows you to connect to project (with no cables) from a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
How Budget-Friendly Doesn’t Mean Compromising Quality
Not only is your new budget-friendly projector meant to save you money, but it also maintains high performance, especially in the university classroom or lecture hall. Many budget-friendly products provide excellent and clear image quality, enhancing the overall teaching and learning support experience in the classroom. You can easily make presentations more engaging and relevant to the audience in your classroom or lecture hall. In addition, these products are usually quick and easy to set up, easily maintained and transported, and can be used in many different educational settings.
Conclusion
Overall, buying the right kind of projector is critical for universities that want to provide a unique and working educational environment. The above list of projects offers relative performance and price for all university classroom and lecture hall settings. And each option should offer portability for students, venue versatility when using multiple types of presentations, or a multimedia presentation option. So if you're a university thinking of implementing a budget-friendly projector for your classroom or lecture hall, we can assure you one of these five budget-friendly products will fit your needs. either professors or students will benefit from a better learning experience while still considering a budget..
