The BenQ MX720 ($1,050.51 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) portable projector offers higher brightness than the BenQ MX661 ( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , and has good data and video image quality. It is portable, 3D ready, and has a solid set of connectivity choices, though it lacks the BenQ MX661’s port for connecting to a USB thumb drive or wireless adapter.

The MX720 is a DLP-based projector with XGA (1,024-by-768) native resolution at a 4:3 aspect ratio, and a rated brightness of 3,500 lumens. The projector measures 4.1 by 12.2 by 9.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.4 pounds. The included soft carrying case adds to its portability. It has a fairly typical 1.2 optical zoom.

The MX720 has a solid selection of ports, including 2 VGA (which double as component video); monitor-out; HDMI; a full set of RCA jacks for composite video/audio; S-video; two audio-in and one audio-out jack, an RS232 jack, an Ethernet port; and a mini-USB type B port for connecting with a computer for downloads and page/down. It lacks one port that we saw in the BenQ MX661: a USB type A port that lets users run a presentation from a USB thumb drive or plug in an optional Wi-Fi adapter; the MX720 is not Wi-Fi compatible.

Data Image Testing
The MX720 projected an image about 60 inches diagonal to fill our test screen from about 8 feet away. The image seemed unaffected by the introduction of ambient light.

Similar Products

4.0

Excellent

Epson PowerLite 1835 XGA 3LCD Projector

$988.98

See It

at Amazon

(Opens in a new window)

Read Our Epson PowerLite 1835 XGA 3LCD Projector Review

4.0

Excellent

BenQ MX661

 

Check Stock

at Amazon

(Opens in a new window)

Read Our BenQ MX661 Review

3.5

Good

Sharp PG-LX3500

 

 

 

Read Our Sharp PG-LX3500 Review

In data image testing, using the using the DisplayMate(Opens in a new window) suite, the MX720’s image quality was easily good enough to display typical business or classroom presentations. Overall text quality was good; type was blurred at the two smallest white-on-black sizes, with the smallest size difficult to read, but sharp at all sizes for black-on-white type. Colors were generally good, though yellows tended to look mustardy. There was slight yellow tinting in some white areas in some images.

Rainbow artifacts—little red-green-blue flashes, especially in light areas against dark backgrounds—were visible in some images that tend to bring them out. Even so, this rainbow effect, which all single-chip DLP projectors are potentially subject to, was mild enough in data images so that even people sensitive to the effect shouldn’t be distracted by it.

Video and Audio
Video quality was above par for a data projector, up to the task of showing mid-length to longer clips as part of a presentation, and it could even be used to watch movies. Rainbow artifacts were visible in certain scenes, though less frequently than in in the video of typical data projectors, so very few viewers are likely to find them distracting. I saw some modest tinting in some scenes (such as a tendency for white hospital gowns to look slightly blue). Audio from the 10-watt speaker is loud, if a bit crackly at times at higher volumes.

The MX720’s lamp life in Smart-Eco mode is up to 6,500 hours. Its EcoBlank mode lets presenters blank out the screen while taking a break lowering energy consumption up to 70% while it’s paused. Also, the projector will automatically enter EcoBlank mode after 3 minutes without a signal. SmartEco mode automatically adjusts lamp brightness, depending on lighting conditions.

This projector is 3D-capable, with support for 3D Blu-Ray via HDMI as well as NVIDIA 3DTV Play, enabling it to display 3D content from NVIDIA 3D Vision. Active-shutter 3D glasses are not included.

The MX720 is brighter than the slightly smaller and lighter BenQ MX661, and has somewhat better data and video image quality as well as louder audio. It does lack the MX661’s USB type A port, which allows connection to a USB thumb drive or an optional Wi-Fi adapter.

The MX720’s 3,500-lumen brightness is matched by the Editors’ Choice Epson PowerLite 1835 XGA 3LCD Projector ($988.98 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , which had comparable video quality and even better data image quality, thanks to its stellar text. The 1835 has a USB type A port for running PC-less presentations or connecting via Wi-Fi when used with an optional dongle. The 1835 also has an unusually generous 1.6:1 zoom ratio, allowing more flexibility in projector placement relative to the screen, while the MX720’s is a more typical 1.2:1.

Another 3,500-lumen portable business projector, the Sharp PG-LX3500 , offers excellent data image quality, above-par video, and good sound for its 2-watt speaker. It doesn’t offer the MX720’s range of ports, however.

The BenQ MX720 is easy to recommend as a relatively bright, portable data projector. Its image quality for both data and video are above par for a business projector. It doesn’t have quite the versatility of projectors that can present wirelessly or run PC-free presentations from a thumb drive, but for many businesses and schools, its attributes should be more than enough.