Top Three 10,000 lumen laser projectors in 2024 from Epson, BenQ, and NEC. Which one is best for you?

While projectors are being replaced by interactive displays in the classroom, more people are buying 10,000 lumen projectors than just a few years ago according to Futuresource Consulting.  This class of projector is perfect for churches, school auditorium, boardrooms, and events where you want to make an impact on a big screen. We’ll take a look at the top three 10,000 lumen models in the United States to see what makes them different, how much they cost, and help you decide which one is right for you.

For a fair evaluation, we will look at three different models all from top selling brands from BenQ, Epson, and NEC / Sharp.  The BenQ LU9800, Epson EB-PU2010B, and NEC/Sharp  PA1004UL have the same WUXGA resolution, interchangeable motorized lenses, and tools that can be used to enable multiple projectors to be blended together or stacked together for a 20,000 lumen image.  Let’s look at what makes them different.

One big advantage of laser projectors is that you don’t have to constantly replace expensive lamps.  But what about filters?   

Both the BenQ LU9800 and the NEC/Sharp PA1004UL have state-of-the-art sealed laser engines that can keep dust out of the key components without using a filter.  This is important as most 10,000 lumen projectors are mounted in difficult to reach places such as the ceiling of a church or auditorium and require either a lift or ladder to reach the projector.    The BenQ LU9800 has a dust proof certification using the industry standard IP5X test rather than a proprietary measurement. The Epson EB-PU2010B still relies on paper filters to keep the dust out of the projector and requires regular cleaning or replacement. 

Most people think you can use a projector as much as you want, but only the BenQ LU9800 is rated for 24/7 use.  Both the Epson EB-PU2010B and NEC/Sharp PA1004UL limit how many hours you can use the projector each day.  This is explicitly stated in the warranty, so using these models too much can void your protection on the projector.

One other advantage the BenQ has is that it uses the long lasting DLP chip as its image engine instead of three LCD panels.  DLP is the only technology used today in commercial cinema’s because it doesn’t lose its color fidelity over time like liquid crystal technologies have done under the same usage conditions.  DLP chips are rated to 100,000-hour life

All three models require a separate lens purchase.  This costs more than projectors with integrated lenses but enables you to have better flexibility for mounting locations. If you are a rental company, you can simply change the lens to adapt to the mounting locations available at an event.  

According to the popular website Projector People, the BenQ LU9800 is the least expensive projector and the Epson EB-PU2010B the most expensive.  Likewise, while each projector model offers a wide variety of lenses, most of the BenQ lenses are less expensive than similar lenses from Epson and NEC / Sharp.   These prices can change over time but you can use the table below to see what the online price was in June 2024.  Note that schools and churches have access to special pricing on the LU9800 projector.  Click here for more information.

Since these are expensive projectors, most people will do a close comparison before buying.  The table below can help you determine which projector is best for you.