Projectors are found in a variety of environments, from home movie theaters to school classrooms. In business settings, presentation projectors are workplace staples. Whether you’re using one to focus attention during a sales meeting or making a pitch more engaging with eye-catching visuals, projectors get the job done with a professional flair. What’s more, business video projectors allow presenters to share visuals from anywhere in the room from their computer, phone, or tablet.
How does a projector work?
Projectors have three key features that help them project images: light, lenses, and imaging technology. The light source is manipulated to create an image, focused through a lens, and projected on a screen or wall. The imaging system is used to make the image larger on screen.
As a rule of thumb, the more expensive a projector is, the better the image quality. Still, there’s a lot more on how to pick a projector than its price tag. In this guide, we’ll break down what you should look for in the best office projector for your needs.
Types of Projectors
Office projectors can be broken down into many different categories. However, keep in mind that none of the features mentioned on each of these types are mutually exclusive. For example, there are small portable projects that can still easily command a whole board room. With that aside, let’s get into some of the general types of projectors.
Pocket Projectors:
A pocket projector is a handheld, battery-operated device. Not only are these projectors portable, business projectors in this category are easy to set up and break down. On the downside, their brightness and image quality pales to more advanced options. If you’re looking for a solid pocket projector that can connect to your phone, we recommend the Kodak Luma.
Short Throw and Ultra Short Throw Projectors:
This is often the best projector for business rooms that are small or oddly shaped. The benefit of these projectors is their ability to project large images from short distances. It can be hard to tell these two types apart, so here’s a brief rundown:
- Short throw projectors project a distance of 3-6 feet, use a bulb as a light source, and tend to be a little cheaper.
- Ultra short throw projectors project a distance of only 1-2 feet, use a laser as a light source, and are pricier than short-throw projectors. Most of the time, a short throw projector is fine for projecting in small conference rooms. Ultra short throw projectors work best in even smaller rooms, like a home living room.
Boardroom Projectors:
A boardroom projector is the best projector for presentations in larger boardrooms. These office projectors come with advanced features such as ambient lighting, interchangeable lenses, and the ability to show two streams at once.
Large Venue Projectors:
By far the most impressive type of video projector, these are designed to be used in auditoriums or large, multipurpose rooms. They offer features such as high-performance video processing, sealed optics, and bright images. They often require additional setup, including projection rooms, power lines, and sound systems. For a big event, large venue projectors are undoubtedly the best video projectors.
What to Look For in the Best Business Projectors
Now that you know the variety of office projectors out there, let’s get into the most important features to look for.
Resolution
The ideal resolution depends on the level of detail you want shown on the projector. The image resolution simply refers to how many pixels are in the image. The higher the resolution, the more pixels, which makes for a clearer image. For most business settings, the lowest acceptable resolution is XGA (1024 x 78). Other higher resolutions are also available, such as SVGA, WXGA, 1080p, and 4k.
Brightness
One of the most important features of a projector is its brightness. You’ll find the range of brightness varies from different types of projectors. For a pocket projector, you only need a brightness of around 400 ANSI lumens. However, bigger spaces require a lot more light. If you’re purchasing a boardroom projector, opt for one with a brightness of 5,000 lumens. That number should be doubled for large-venue projectors.
Size
Considering the size and weight may seem like a given, but remember your projector’s size should match its intended use. If users plan on moving it around the office, having a large projector would be impractical. Anything above 6 pounds would probably be too heavy. However, a conference room projector that stays in one place doesn’t have those restraints.
Choose the Right Projector With DirectNine
Knowing how to choose video projectors can be tricky, but once you know what to look for, it’s a lot easier. Whether you need a small, portable projector or a new model with advanced features, Directnine has you covered. Shop our online store today to find the right projector for your business needs.