BenQ MW721 Projector Review: Pros and Cons

April 14, 2015 · Benq, reviews

In search of a presentation projector? The BenQ MW721 might just be your choice, as the manufacturer bills the MW721 as “just the projector you need to perfect your presentation.” That statement is mostly true. This BenQ model performs reasonably well in many categories, producing a bright, high-quality image and useable audio, while remaining portable. The biggest disadvantage, though, is that the BenQ is missing some key features, including a USB thumb drive port and WiFi connectivity, which are often necessities for presenters. So what are the pros and cons of the BenQ MW721 and how does it stack up against the competition? [caption id="attachment_963" align="aligncenter" width="625"]

BenQ MW721 Projector[/caption] Key Features:

Bright bulb: 3,500 lumens
Long lamp life: Up to 6,500 hours
Loud audio: 10W built-in speaker
LAN control
Modes designed for teachers

Image Quality, Brightness

If there’s one reason to purchase the MW721, it’s the projector’s image quality. Let’s start with the specs: The DLP-based MW721 features WXGA resolution and a bright lamp. The projector receives a brightness rating of 3,500 lumens and a 13,000:1 contrast ratio. In effect, that bulb (Part No.: 5J.J6P05.001) produces an image that’s crisp and bright enough to compensate for ambient light. That’s why this projector is perfect for business presentations, lectures and classrooms. It produces an image that’s clear in mid-sized conference spaces that receive substantial ambient light. Plus, with the projector, text slides are easy-to-read, although small sizes of white-on-black text can become blurred. The projector provides even, saturated colors in data images. Overall, data image quality from the MW721 is comparable to other projectors in the price range, and in some respects, including brightness, the MW721 performs as well or better than more expensive projectors. If you’re after a projector that produces crisp images, the MW721 will provide that. [caption id="attachment_964" align="aligncenter" width="313"]

BenQ MW721 Rear View[/caption]

The BenQ MW721’s Video and Audio Features

Of course, the MW721 isn’t built as a video projector, but yet, for presentations that feature shorter video clips, the MW721 provides this functionality. That means that videos display reasonably well, with light rainbowing effects in some scenes, which is common for DLP-based projectors. For the untrained eye, though, this effect would be minimal, so conference audiences aren’t likely to notice. In terms of audio, the MW721 features a built-in 10-watt speaker. That adds to the system’s portability, as a presenter can plug-and-play presentations that feature audio. As far as performance, the MW721’s speaker performs well, and it’s loud enough to provide clear audio for medium-sized event spaces. For larger venues, the audio may become garbled, especially for audience members sitting far from the speaker. Plus, the projector is 3D ready, which may or may not be a feature that the business crowd is interested in. 3D clips can be displayed via HDMI and NVIDIA 3DTV Play, but require active-shutter glasses. Therefore, for larger audiences, it may be difficult to outfit everyone with glasses. This feature makes more sense for small business or classroom audiences.

Useful Connectivity Features

In addition to being 3D Ready, there are plenty of other useful and interesting features. First, there are a number of connectivity options for the MW721. There are 2 VGA ports, an HDMI port, as well as a mini-USB and Ethernet port. Plus, there are other connectivity options for audio, video and data entry. The biggest downfall, as mentioned, is the lack of a USB thumb drive port. With this port, a presenter is able to access slides from a USB drive – that’s ideal for some classroom or business environments, and it eliminates some of the time required for set-up. Unfortunately, the feature isn’t even offered as an option.

The Verdict: Is the BenQ MW721 worth the investment?

If you can go without a USB drive and WiFi connectivity, the BenQ MW721 is a highly capable and portable presentation projector, and for the price, this model carries a lot of great features that are useful for business presentations, lectures and in classroom environments. Yet, it falls firmly in the middle of the pack: More budget options like the BenQ MW663 features a similar set of functionalities at a lower price, while LCD-based projectors, although more expensive, often display higher quality images and video. That’s not to say the BenQ MW721 is a bad investment – it performs well in mid-sized and small conference spaces. At the same time, less expensive options exist and are comparable, and you may be able to save some dollars investing in other systems.