Smart interactive whiteboards are revolutionizing classrooms, conference rooms, and collaboration spaces, bringing a new level of engagement, interactivity, and participation. But with so many brands and models on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the choices—especially when trying to balance the smart interactive whiteboard price point with performance and features.
Whether you’re an educator looking to enhance the teaching and learning experience in the classroom, or a business professional looking to improve team meetings and client presentations, finding the right smart interactive whiteboard price for your budget while ensuring it checks all the boxes of your needs is crucial. This blog will walk you through key factors to keep in mind when evaluating interactive whiteboards and their pricing and help you to choose the right smart interactive whiteboard without overpaying.
Key Factors That Influence a Smart Interactive Whiteboard Price Tag
When it comes to comparing smart interactive whiteboard price tags, it’s important to keep in mind key features that directly impact cost so that when you’re comparing different options, you can make sure you are truly comparing apples to apples in terms of the hardware.
1. Screen Size and Resolution
Interactive whiteboards for classroom and conference room use typically range from 55” to 86” and offer 4K Ultra HD resolution. However, there are also ultrawide interactive whiteboard options available such as the ViewSonic IFP110 110” interactive display or the ViewSonic 105” Ultrawide interactive display which offers 5K resolution. The larger the screen size and the higher the resolutions, the more expensive the display will be.
We recommend matching the screen size to the size of your room. Here is a look at typical interactive whiteboard screen sizes and the suggest room sizes:
- 55” display – Ideal for huddle spaces or small meeting rooms (10’x15’ – 15’x20’)
- 65” display – Ideal for small classrooms, traditional meeting rooms, or smaller training rooms (15’x20 – 20’x25’)
- 75” display – Ideal for standard classrooms, larger meeting rooms, or smaller lecture halls (20’x25’ – 25’x30’)
- 86” display – Ideal for large classrooms and large conference rooms (25’x30’ – 30’x40’)
- Over 90” display – Ideal for large lecture halls, auditoriums, multi-purpose spaces, showrooms, and large training facilities (larger than 30’x40’)
2. Touch Technology
Look for features like multi-touch support, palm rejection, and pressure sensitivity. There are different touch panel types, but the two most common that you’ll find for interactive whiteboards are:
- Infrared Touch: Uses infrared beams across the panel to detect touch input on its surface. This is the most common type of touch technology you’ll find and is more affordable.
- Projected Capacitive Touch (PCAP): This type of touch technology is the same found in most modern smartphones and tablets, offering a highly responsive an accurate multi-touch experience. However, this type of touch technology is going to drive up the smart interactive whiteboard price.
3. Built-in Operating System
In today’s world, there are three main types of built-in operating systems and depending on which one you choose will affect the smart interactive whiteboard price tag:
- No Operating System – The most affordable and budget-friendly interactive whiteboard is going to be one without a built-in operating system. This type of display essentially functions as a large touch screen and is powered by the user’s computing solution of choice – think bring-your-own-device (BYOD).
- Android Open Source Project (AOSP) – this is your traditional interactive whiteboard. It runs on Android, but without Google Mobile Services (GMS). Unlike the Android OS on a phone or tablet, AOSP is a stripped-down version without Google’s proprietary apps like the Play Store. In terms of pricing, this is going to be offered in the middle tier.
- Enterprise Device Licensing Agreement (EDLA) – an EDLA-Certified interactive whiteboard from Google ensures that the display runs a fully licensed version of Android with GMS and the main difference is between this type of display and an AOSP display is an EDLA device has direct access to the Google Play Store and you have access to regular security/firmware updates and device management tools from Google. This will be more expensive than an AOSP display.
4. Mounting Options
There are many choices when it comes to how you choose to mount your interactive display ranging from basic, such as a fixed wall mount or mobile cart, to more advanced, such as a motorized cart with lift and tilt or an over-the-whiteboard wall mount. The more advanced the mounting option, the more costly your display will be.
5. Brand/Manufacturer
There are many brands out there that offer interactive whiteboards for educational and business environments. Some brands have a notoriously higher smart interactive whiteboard price tag just because of the believe the brand name warrants this. So, it’s important to compare different brand/manufacturer models closely to determine if the cost difference is truly warranted or if you are getting all of the same functionality and features and the price is just inflated.
Smart Interactive Whiteboard Price Tag: Additional Factors to Consider
There are several other factors that should be considered when evaluating the smart interactive whiteboard price:
Included Software and Features
Many interactive whiteboards come with access to proprietary software for annotation, collaboration, lesson creation, and more. It’s important to understand if there are any monthly or annual subscription costs or fees associated with continued access/use of software and all its features.
Installation
Do you need installation of your display(s)? If so, remember to factor this in as well to the overall smart interactive whiteboard price.
Extended Warranty
Generally, interactive whiteboards for education will come standard with a 5-year warranty and all others will come with a 3-year warranty. Extending out your warranty options will contribute to a higher price tag.
Support and Training
Is there any training or support included in the cost of the interactive whiteboard? If not, you’ll want to factor in the cost of professional development to the total cost of ownership when evaluating smart interactive whiteboard price options.
Invest Wisely in Your Interactive Whiteboard Technology
When it comes to finding the perfect touch, it’s not just about the smart interactive whiteboard price. Choosing the right interactive whiteboard involves carefully evaluating your needs and understanding the features and capabilities you’re getting when comparing all of your options. It’s also important to not just focus on the initial cost but to focus on the long-term value and benefits so that you can invest in a powerful tool that will enhance collaboration, engagement, and productivity for years to come. Take your time, do your research, and find the perfect touch for your interactive needs!
Need help finding the right smart whiteboard at the right price? Let us match you with the best solution for your needs and budget. You can give us a call at (800) 727-6383, email us at info@parmetech.com, or connect with us through our website.
