Projector Review: BenQ TW526 Presentation Projector

May 27, 2015 · Benq, reviews

The BenQ TW526, which is available exclusively in Europe, is an affordable, yet compatible, piece of hardware that’s a favorite in classrooms and presentation venues. Why? For the price, the TW526 is equipped with some advanced BenQ lamp technology. That results in a brilliantly bright image, long lamp life and excellent readability. Those are all major selling points. Plus, the price is tough to beat, especially considering the suitable image quality and the BenQ’s competitive list of features. It starts around €399. [caption id="attachment_1073" align="aligncenter" width="225"]

BenQ TW526 Projector[/caption] Of course, the TW526 isn’t perfect. It’s a budget-friendly projector that’s short in a few areas. The built-in audio speaker is below-average in terms of output. That can be a problem for schools and venues that require a plug-and-play setup. Plus, the TW526 doesn’t feature advanced connectivity – there’s no built-in WiFi or cloud connectivity – and there’s isn’t much flexibility in set-up like vertical and horizontal lens shift. For most, these disadvantages aren’t necessarily deal breakers. That’s why for small and medium venues, the TW526 might be the answer. It features big image specs for a small price. BenQ TW526: Pros For a cost-effective projector, the BenQ TW526 is an effective presentation tools. First, it features a high-quality image and long lamp life. Plus, the projector supports a variety of video inputs, which makes it easier to incorporate multimedia clips and 3D video into presentations. [caption id="attachment_1074" align="aligncenter" width="383"]

BenQ TW526 - Rear Inputs[/caption]

Ultra-long Lamp Life: BenQ has excelled in the area of lamp technology, and the TW526 is a perfect example. The projector has four lamp settings, and a lamp life ranging from 4,500 to 10,000 hours. That’s far above average for similarly priced projectors. In addition to normal and eco modes, the SmartEco and LampSaver modes conserve power for extended lamp life.
Superior Image Quality: For the price, the TW526 achieves some amazing image quality specs. First, the projector receives a brightness rating of 3,200 lumens and a 13,000:1 contrast ratio. That means even in well-lit rooms the image will be crisp and clear. Plus, the DLP technology and native XGA resolution help produce high-definition, vibrant images in the projector’s largest screen formats. Readability is a major selling point for teachers, and the TW526 produces clear, readable images.
Full HD 3D Support: For those advantaged presentations that require HD video, the TW526 doesn’t disappoint. The projector is compatible with Blu-ray Full HD 3D, plus it supports Full HD video and SD video. That’s a great feature for presentations that feature video clips and multimedia. [caption id="attachment_1075" align="aligncenter" width="600"] BenQ TW526 Top View[/caption]

BenQ TW526: Cons Budget projectors tend to skip the advanced features that you find in more expensive set-ups. That seems to be the case with the TW526. Some useful features are absent, while others are underdeveloped.

Below-Average Sound: With just a 2W speaker, the TW526 isn’t well-suited to provide audio for mid-sized venues. In fact, it may be a little under-performing for small, noisy venues. Of course, this problem can be reversed by plugging into external audio, but might be a deal breaker if you’re after a plug-and-play projector.
No Advanced Networking: Today’s projectors are becoming more and more advanced. They can pull content directly from the cloud, and they’re WiFi connected. Both of those features are absent from the TW526. That might not be the most important feature for a classroom presentation, but it’s something that’s very useful.

Overall, the BenQ TW526 is super budget-friendly. It costs a fraction of much more advanced set-ups, and the cost of ownership remains low throughout its life thanks to the long lamp life. Of course, you won’t find the same state-of-the-art features that you would with higher end projectors – like built-in storage and high-speed networking – but the specs that truly matter like image quality and brightness are par for the course. In other words, the BenQ TW526 doesn’t pack in all the bells and whistles, but it does provide an impressive image. And for most presenters and teachers, that’s probably enough.