BenQ PB7200

A projector's brightness is rarely as good as advertised. The BenQ PB7200, however, is a notable exception. In fact, it doesn't just break that rule, it blows it away. On the outside, the PB7200 has a simple rectangular look. Its most prominent design element is a thick black stripe running along the sides and partway along the top. This model's lens is well protected, being recessed about an inch behind the front panel and covered by a sturdy lens cap.

Our test unit came with a bundle of cables, including three AC cords, two of which are designed for international use. It also included a component-video cable, a necessity for high-quality DVD presentations.

One of the best features of the PB7200 is its remote control. While it has a few too many buttons, it gives the user a good amount of options, including mouse emulation and a laser pointer. The only thing lacking is the ability to return to the previous PowerPoint slide.

In our lab tests, the BenQ was generally among the best performers. It excelled in the brightness test with a score of 2,540 lumens, which is well above the claimed value of 2,200 lumens and brighter than any other projector in this roundup. Even in its low-power mode, this model outshone two of the other projectors in this article.

Our tests also revealed a better-than-average uniformity score, although we did notice significant variation in brightness in certain parts of the screen. For example, one area on the lower left of the image was almost twice as bright as the upper right. The image quality was good, but not as sharp as a couple of other projectors we tested.

We measured the contrast ratio of the PB7200 at 330:1, a scant fraction of the 2,000:1 ratio claimed by the manufacturer. Nevertheless, this projector did have one of the best contrast scores in the group.

BenQ offers a 3-year warranty, the first year of which includes a Hot-Swap exchange policy for the quick replacement of broken projectors. All told, the PB7200 has several other worthy projectors breathing down its neck, but it offers just enough value and power to establish itself as the leader of this class.