The new BenQ Board Pro has made us reconsider what an interactive whiteboard actually is.
Many people might associate BenQ with monitors and projectors. The brand has been in the industry for quite some time and they have a very good reputation for delivering high quality displays for offices and schools. It’s only recently that we discovered that the company also has their own line of interactive whiteboards called the BenQ Board.
We’ve covered interactive whiteboards before. We even had a best-of list for 2023. But after getting familiar with this new board and all its surprising classroom features, we might have found a new contender for the best interactive whiteboard of 2023.
For starters, the BenQ Board Pro has everything you want in an all-in-one interactive whiteboard. Just like the Vibe board, you can use it as a whiteboard or as a large screen for slide presentations, photos, and videos. You can also use it to browse websites or open apps for fun classroom activities. The touchscreen interface makes it convenient for students and teachers to just stand in front of the board and use it like a giant tablet. It’s perfect for collaboration.
Best Software and Hardware for Teaching
What makes the BenQ Board unique compared to all other boards we’ve looked at are its standout software and hardware features. Two of our favorites are EZWrite and InstaShare.
EZWrite is their whiteboarding software that comes with an impressive collection of teaching tools. It has the standard pen and eraser, which are very responsive. Students can write side-by-side at the same time. You can also change the pen into a highlighter or paintbrush for art classes. EZwrite also has shape tools and a set of rulers you can use when teaching geometry. It also lets you add photos, screenshots, and videos directly on the board so you’re not just limited to writing and drawing. EZwrite is simple enough to use that even younger students will have no trouble tapping away at the screen and using every tool available.
Another great thing about EZwrite is how teachers can use it for remote or hybrid-style classes. It has a cloud whiteboarding setting that they can turn on so that at-home students can join the board and participate.
The other software we thought was very useful is called Instashare. Think of it as their version of AirPlay or Windows screen mirroring. You can open this software to start screen sharing sessions with students. Teachers can have multiple screens on the board at the same time. This is feature is very useful for checking each student’s work. The best thing about Instashare is how you don’t need additional cables to connect and share your screen. Everything is done wirelessly.
The BenQ Board also benefits IT managers. It comes with AMS and DMS, which are the user and device management systems. School admins can edit settings remotely and securely.
When it comes to hardware, we found the BenQ Board Pro to be very impressive. It has an antibacterial screen that keeps students safe from germs. It’s also the first screen ever to have an Eyesafe certification so students are also protected against harmful blue light. The sound is also incredible because of its Dolby speakers. These specs are very remarkable for a school display, and it’s definitely something we haven’t seen on other interactive whiteboards.
Final Thoughts
Just by features alone, the BenQ Board hits other interactive whiteboards out of the park. It’s definitely an excellent piece of teaching equipment, but is this enough to justify getting it for your school? At the end of the day, it boils down to what your teachers and students really need.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the BenQ Board was really made to combine many teaching tools you often find in the classroom. It justifies it being an “all-in-one” interactive whiteboard. You can show presentations like you would with a projector, browse the internet without needing a laptop, and write notes without a physical whiteboard. You also have the drawing and geometry tools. It really has most, if not all, the essentials that teachers need for class.
You can also argue and ask if features like the Eyesafe screen and Dolby sound really necessary. But if you are very particular about the kind of technology you are giving your students and teachers, then the BenQ Board Pro is definitely nice to have. Your students get to see high-definition pictures and videos in great quality with a screen that protects their eyesight. The board also has incredible sound to match. Other things like the antibacterial screen is a nice touch especially now that we’re in the “post-pandemic” era. It shows how BenQ was thinking of the students when they designed the board.
If you are still looking for an interactive whiteboard solution for your school, you may want to consider adding this to your shortlist.
