The BenQ MW721 is a bright portable WXGA projector. It offers good data image quality and usable video. It is 3D ready, and has a decent range of connectivity choices, though it lacks a USB type A port for connecting to a USB thumb drive or wireless adapter.
The MW721 is a DLP-based projector with WXGA (1,280 by 800) native resolution at a 16:10 widescreen 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 further enhances its portability. It's physically identical to the lower (XGA) resolution BenQ MX720. It has a 1.2:1 optical zoom, typical of portable data projectors.
The MW721 has a decent set 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 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 MW721 is not Wi-Fi compatible.
Data Image Testing
The MW721 projected an image about 60 inches diagonal to fill our test screen from about six feet away. The image was unaffected by the introduction of ambient light. In data image testing, using the using the DisplayMate suite, the MX721's image quality was good, suitable for 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 and reds were dull. I saw some mild yellow tinting and fringing in some bright areas, and some grays looked a bit greenish. I noticed pixel jitter in images that tend to bring it out; adjusting the phase helped to reduce it.
As is common with single-chip DLP projectors, some data images showed the rainbow effect, little red-green-blue flashes visible to people sensitive to it, typically in light areas against dark backgrounds. Although I noticed rainbow artifacts with this projector, they're generally not a significant issue in data images.
Video and Audio
The MW721's video quality was average for a data projector, capable of showing short to mid-length clips as part of a presentation. The rainbow effect there was about average for a DLP projector, and people sensitive to the effect will likely be distracted by it. I also noticed that colors were dull and pasty in some scenes.
Audio from the 10-watt speaker is of decent quality, and loud enough to fill up a small to mid-sized room.
The MW721 's lamp life mode is up to 6,500 hours in Smart-Eco. 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 MW721 is brighter than the 3,000-lumen BenQ MW663, and has louder audio. However, the MW663 is less expensive and showed better video quality in our testing, good enough even to show movies with. Also, the MW721 lacks the MW663's USB type A port, which allows connection to a USB thumb drive or an optional Wi-Fi adapter.
The Epson PowerLite D6155W WXGA 3LCD Projector matches the MW721's brightness but is more expensive. It does have near-excellent data image quality, an impressive 1.6:1 zoom ratio, and as an LCD projector it's immune to the rainbow effect.
The MW721 is brighter than the LCD-based 3,000-lumen NEC NP-M311W, an Editors' Choice. The NEC doesn't support 3D. It does have near-excellent data image quality, video quality good enough to show movies, and a prodigious 1.7:1 zoom ratio. It has a USB type A port for a USB thumb drive or an optional wireless dongle.
The BenQ MW721 provides a mix of high brightness and resolution, a generally good set of connectivity choices, 3D capability, and good lamp life. This should put it in good stead with many businesses and schools looking for a portable projector to use in mid-sized rooms.
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