These two brands faced off at FETC and TCEA in early 2023.  How do these classroom displays stack up for classroom use? 

In early 2023, the two major education technology shows – Future of Education Technology Conference  (FETC) and the Texas TCEA show featured the latest offerings from BenQ and StarBoard. As schools transition from interactive whiteboards to interactive displays, IT managers are looking at alternatives to the traditional proprietary systems from Smart and Promethean to offer curriculum directors more flexibility in choosing software to generate improved results. The new BenQ Board and StarBoard Series 3 were both on the floor on these shows – so how do these latest models compare?  

Here are the key elements to review:

• Display Brightness and Contrast
• In-Person and Remote Whiteboard Functionality
• Display vs. PC software
• Classroom and Lesson Recording Features
• Health and Safety Features for students and teachers
• Device Management Systems
• Teacher to log in and cloud drive access

A display that is easy to read is a key feature in any classroom display.  District technology professionals know that brighter displays with high contrast ratios are easier for students to read – especially from the back of the room.   Like projectors, higher brightness LCD panels are more desired than ones with lower brightness.

Depending on the model, the BenQ Board models are 20% brighter than the StarBoard Series 3 – and delivers significantly higher contrast for easy to read text.  Also – StarBoard Series 3 does not disclose how long the panel is rated for – while the BenQ is rated at 50,000 – over 15 years under normal classroom use.  This is reflected in the longer standard warranty that comes with the BenQ Board – a standard 3 year warranty that is not dependent on a dealer registration.

Interactive displays are the ideal teaching platform for a hybrid classroom.  With the ability to run a Zoom or Team app directly from the display, as well as record and share lessons, these displays are far more functional than a projector or generic television display.  So what are the functional whiteboard features you want to look for when comparing these two displays?

To better simulate the experience of using a real marker, the best interactive displays use highly sensitive IR touch systems that optically bond the sensor to the glass – enabling a near-instant response and a smoother, more intuitive writing experience.  The BenQ system is called “FineIR,” Promethean’s system is called Vellum, while the SMART version of this is called HyprTouch.  The StarBoard Series 3 uses a similar zero gap IR sensor system.  

The BenQ Board RP models can recognize up to 40 points of touch using the Android systems, while the StarBoard Series 3 only recognizes 20 points of touch.  Both displays have palm eraser recognition, and can recognize inputs from both pens and fingers and recognize handwriting.  The BenQ boards are unique displays also support variable width input devices – such as a regular paintbrush.  This is ideal for drawing non-Latin characters such as Kanji or Arabic characters, as well as for illustrations.  The BenQ Board can also dynamically translate text from one language to another with a single tap

Classroom and commercial environments are quite different, and many schools believe that cloud-based whiteboarding was an important innovation – even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. 

BenQ is notable for having developed the world’s first dynamic cloud whiteboarding system in a classroom touch panel. With the teacher in the classroom, students can interact with the board in real-time via their device at home, making it easy for remote tutoring or coaching.  For example, the teacher can send a link or a QR code and broadcast directly from the board to a student's Chromebook or iPad logged into their home network.  The teacher can also allow the student to interact directly on the board with the device with a single tap on the whiteboard – say to allow the student to solve the math problem on the board.   Since the system is network agnostic, it enables unprecedented flexibility to both teachers and students that complement other classroom systems such as Zoom or Teams.  Powerful cloud whiteboarding features like this are why BenQ’s RP series is the world’s most awarded education touch display.  There are no additional licensing fees for this software for the life of the display.

The StarBoard Series 3 does not come with any cloud-based whiteboarding software.  

The ability to record, store and replay lessons to students who are not in the classroom is a key element in improving student performance in hybrid classrooms.  Why?  If a student misses a day or two of Geometry class – it could take a long time to catch up to the rest of the class.  These two interactive displays have the right hardware, software, and networking architecture for recording a classroom lesson - but what should you look for to ensure your teachers can easily store and share their lessons?

The best interactive displays make it simple to record any lesson – at any time – using any software running on the panel – and store that lesson anywhere on the school network or the cloud. 

The BenQ Board interactive displays enable instant recording directly on the board from any application with a single two-finger tap.  This enables a teacher to record any lesson – without having to open another application.  Just tap the screen and hit record – that simple.  This system has been tested with private and public schools around the world for years to learn how to make it easier for teachers to record their classes.

The StarBoard Series 3 does not come with any classroom recording software included.  

Teachers have known the most effective lessons combine both visual and audio information. So how well do the BenQ RP and StarBoard Series 3 have state-of-the-art array microphones built into the display to capture the teacher’s voice for lesson recording?

The BenQ RP series display comes with a bi-directional 8-microphone array built-in capable of recording the teacher’s voice from 15 feet away. This system has advanced sound recognition software similar to a smartphone that cancels out background noise and “follows” the teacher as they move around the room.  This bi-directional also enables a teacher to record simultaneously with other audio sources, such as commenting on a YouTube video running on the display.

The StarBoard Series 3 does not have any microphone system included in the display.  This means a school must purchase a microphone at extra cost.  The specification of the StarBoard Series 3 shows an optional microphone that can be added to the panel.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created a new paradigm for schools and elevated the need for student and teacher safety.   BenQ has been integrating key safety features into their displays since 2017, and the latest models from BenQ Board and StarBoard Series 3 have a variety of safety features that school administrators are looking for.   Here is a breakdown of the important safety features on each display. 

Both StarBoard Series 3 and BenQ displays feature heat-tempered hardened glass, that is designed to withstand a significant impact from an errant football or elbow, and will shatter into small pieces if broken to reduce the hazard of a student suffering a deep cut on exposed glass.   The hardness is measured by a MOHS scale, and the BenQ has a 9 out of 10 rating, but StarBoard Series 3 does not specify the hardness rating for the glass used on the display.  Both models are treated to reduce glare.  

Antimicrobial coatings are used in surgical lighting and other sensitive areas to keep germs from growing on the display.  This feature has been available from BenQ since 2018 and is also available on other brands of interactive displays.  The BenQ RP series has been certified by Europe’s TUV against the five most common types of bacteria, including e. Coli, Salmonella, and pneumonia.  The BenQ display is also certified as classroom safe and toxin-free under Japan’s SIAA standard tests for potential risks such as long-term touch and oral toxicity.

The StarBoard Series 3 does not have any antimicrobial coatings on the glass, remote, or pens to protect teachers and students from germs.

The BenQ Board interactive displays come standard with third-party certified blue light filtering features built-in. The sensor on the BenQ’s display senses when a teacher or student approaches the display – will adjust the blue light automatically, minimizing the risk to students and teacher from excessive blue light exposure.  This system has been certified by EyeSafe, who has certified hundreds of different display for companies and institutions for blue light safety.

The StarBoard Series 3 does not have any low blue light certifications.

Another unique safety feature of the BenQ interactive displays is the use of flicker-free screen lighting that makes long-term use of the board much easier on one’s eyes. Many optometrists are concerned that LED-powered displays can have a nearly invisible flicker that can be harmful to the eyes. This was originally a problem with LED-powered gaming monitors, and so BenQ invented a flicker-free backlight that provides great color and brightness – without the harmful flicker. Every BenQ Board classroom display also has been tested and certified by TUV for flicker-free performance.

StarBoard Series 3 does not offer flicker-free technology certifications on its specification sheet. 

Recent studies have even demonstrated that higher levels of CO₂ in a room cause people to become drowsy and pay less attention.  Companies such as 3M have been working hard to improve the quality of the air in classrooms using advanced filters.  But can teachers and facilities managers tell if it is working?

The BenQ Board RP models come with a built-in CO₂ formaldehyde, and temperature sensors that alerts the teacher or administrator that it’s time to open a window. BenQ even an analytics platform to monitor these levels, as well as  dust and particulate matter to ensure safe and healthy classroom air. 

Managing a large number of classroom interactive displays requires an effective remote management software system or Device Management Systems (DMS).  BenQ includes a license-free system that permits admins to push settings, updates, apps, and campus-wide text and video messages to any or all boards in their network.

StarBoard Series 3 does not offer a remote device management system.

Both the BenQ RP have two very different approaches to enable teachers to securely log into the display and access network and cloud files directly from the display. 

The BenQ Board models are on their third generation of Tap ‘N Teach technology that enables unprecedented teacher access to enable a personalized display with access to cloud-based files from any display on campus.   Here’s how it works

The IT manager creates a teacher account in BenQ’s Account Management System software database by linking it to their Active Directory infrastructure.   Then they assign the teacher their specific rights on the panel to keep key network settings from being changed, but enabling the teacher to change their background and which apps are on the main page.

This approach enables IT, managers, to ensure that the settings are correct – and that there are no age-inappropriate apps loaded on the panel (such as FaceBook being on a first-grade teachers' board).  Once logged in, all of the network drive from Google, Microsoft OneNote, and school network drives are automatically connected.

The best part about Tap N’ Teach is how easy and fast it is for a teacher to use.   Using the same secure technology used for Apple Pay– a teacher simply tap’s the panel with their card or badge – and in a few seconds, the display is personalized for that teacher, complete with background, apps, and network connection.  When they are finished – they tap the display again and the display returns to its generic state.  Teachers can also use a QR code that will enable them to securely type in a password on the phone to log into the display – avoiding the risk of typing directly on the board in view of the students.

The StarBoard Series 3 doesn’t have any special log-in or account management systems.  This means that anyone can change the settings on the board (such as language or network to disrupt the class), and uses a traditional on-screen keyboard when a password is required.  If a student is present, it makes it easy for passwords to be stolen.

While both models share similar features such as 4K resolution, antimicrobial screen coatings, wireless screen mirroring, and a dedicated OPS slot, understanding the key differences will help you decide which brand of interactive touch display will be right for your classroom.

It’s important to do research and consult important stakeholders before deciding which board your school district should adopt. But there are some major advantages that BenQ brings to the table that can make a difference to a school that might want more flexibility in its curriculum. When deciding on your chosen solution, consider the following differences:

• The BenQ Board RP display is over 20% brighter than the StarBoard Series 3, has higher contrast, and has a 50,000 hour rated life.   

• The BenQ display includes a powerful cloud whiteboarding software ecosystem that works on any display included for free – without the cost of a premium subscription that will increase the TCO of the display.

• The BenQ has more advanced classroom safety features, including anti-microbial glass, certified blue light filters, and a flicker-free screen that helps protect the user’s vision. BenQ uses specified hard glass, and has air quality, temperature, and humidity sensors to alert the teacher to any potential air quality risk.

• BenQ’s Tap ‘N Teach NFC technology enables instant, wireless, secure teacher login – and even integrates with Active Directory! With a single tap, an enrolled teacher can transform any board on campus into their board in under 10 seconds.

·      BenQ Device management software allows school IT admins to manage BenQ displays, projectors, and even equipment from displays from legacy brands including Epson, NEC, Hitachi, and Casio – without requiring a subscription

·      BenQ panels are designed and tested to run a wide variety of classroom education curriculum including Smart Notebook, ActiveInspire, Google Classroom, Microsoft Whiteboard, and dozens of other curriculum software platforms (including Mimeo) to enable teachers to switch learning.