Looking for SMART Boards for your school? Classroom365 is a UK SMART Authorised Partner, offering education pricing, free site surveys and nationwide installation for schools, academies and MATs.
We’ll help you compare the SMART GX, MX and RX Series and choose the right screen size for your classrooms, budget and ICT plans.
- Free site survey and quote.
- Education pricing available.
- Enhanced DBS-checked installers.
- Setup, training, warranty support (5-year SMART assure) and old AV disposal.
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Compare SMART Board Models
| Series | GX | MX | RX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 65″ · 75″ · 86″ | 55″ · 65″ · 75″ · 86″ | 65″ · 75″ · 86″ |
| Best for | Budget-friendly classrooms | Most popular for classrooms | Premium/specialist rooms & universities |
| Highlights | Core teaching tools | Enhanced touch & audio, teacher friendly features | Bonded glass, pro-grade audio & programmable |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Retail price | From £1,299 (ex VAT) | From £1,799 (ex VAT) | From £2,499 (ex VAT) |
| Download GX specs (PDF) | Download MX specs (PDF) | Download RX specs (PDF) | |
Schools pay less than retail – get a fast education quote
Retail prices are shown on product tiles – education discounts available on quote
What is a SMART Board?
A SMART Board is an interactive classroom display from SMART Technologies. Mounted on a wall or mobile stand with wheels, it connects to a computer or Mac and allows teachers and students to interact dynamically and engagingly via the touchscreen display.
SMART Boards for classrooms include the SMART Board GX Series and the MX and RX series of interactive displays. They all use the SMART Learning Suite and Notebook software, both of which focus on education.
The MX Pro and QX Pro series are for business and corporate use. They include enhanced video conferencing and collaboration capabilities, but most schools don’t need these models. We do not promote them in the education sector unless specifically requested.
Benefits of an Interactive SMART Board for Teaching Students
Like all interactive whiteboards, using SMART Boards for teaching creates a captivating learning environment by enabling teachers to present teaching resources, from charts to interactive games, in a bright and colourful way.
They help keep students engaged, and research has shown that interactive whiteboards can support improved test scores when used effectively. We have a dedicated page that describes the benefits of SMART Boards in the classroom with lots of references you can check out.
As the market leader, classroom SMART Boards are universally known and a favourite of teachers due to their ease of use and friendly, intuitive software. The early versions, which used a combination of smartboard and projector, were widely adopted in UK schools in the early 2000s.
SMART Board Features for Teachers in the Classroom
The intuitive touchscreen interface allows teachers and students to interact directly with content, making it easier for them to explore topics in more detail. Here are some of the main features of SMART Boards:
- Digital tools such as pens and USB ports to easily access your saved SMART Notebook documents.
- More powerful sound means external speakers or soundbars are not always required.
- SMART interactive panels have always been known for their finger-touch ability; a SMART Board pen is unnecessary for basic use.
- Compatible with Windows and Mac computers with the most common internet browsers. A ChromeOS device can also be connected along with other accessories.
- Built-in Android iQ means an attached computer is not required. The SMART interactive display is still operational if the teacher forgets their school laptop or calls in sick!
- All boards come with multiple HDMI ports and a single VGA connection, so they can be used with an older type of document camera and the latest SMART visualiser, the 650, which fully integrates with the SMART Notebook software, offering many benefits over cheaper visualisers.
- Powerful SMART Learning Suite software and online resources.
- 5-year SMART Assure warranty and SMART Board support. If you have a faulty out-of-warranty display, please check out our service for SMART Board repairs.
Comparison of the Different Models of SMART Interactive Whiteboard Available
The MX series is the most popular interactive SMART Board for classroom environments and suits most educational needs. It is available in 55”, 65”, 75” and 86” sizes. The SMART Board MX275 is our most popular classroom SMART interactive whiteboard, with the MX265 more suitable for smaller classes or intervention rooms.
For more advanced users, the RX series is available in sizes of 65”, 75”, and 86”. For example, the premium SMART Technologies RX275 panel has the following higher specifications above the MX275 75” equivalent:
- 20W integrated soundbar with a 15W subwoofer, in comparison to 20W speakers.
- 8-microphone array with a visual mute indicator and an echo cancellation feature that enables teachers to walk around the room with improved volume and audio quality.
- Brighter 4K UHD (490 cd/m²) resolution display with optically bonded, anti-fingerprint technology for more responsive interactivity.
- 50 multi-touch points and faster response time (less than 5ms).
- 2 pens and erasers with magnetic mounts and intelligent pen recognition features.
- SMART programmable tools helping students to engage with lessons, who may not be able to engage verbally.
- WiFi 6E hotspot support.
MX covers most classrooms; RX adds pro-grade audio, touch and sensors for specialist spaces.
Further information about the SMART Board GX Series of entry-level smartboards and other brands can be found on Classroom365’s cheap interactive whiteboard page.
A classroom SMART Board display benefits all learning styles and, by integrating into an enriched digital learning environment, engages students on many levels:
- A visual level with a bright HD touchscreen and colourful graphics.
- Audio with multimedia content from YouTube to the 1,000s of free online resources included with the SMART Software Suite.
- Interactivity so pupils can get involved and participate in the onscreen lessons.
Interactive SMART Boards make it easy to view third-party multimedia sources, such as digital cameras and visualisers, and to share screens remotely with students using a class set of iPads, Chromebooks or laptops.
Top Five Uses of SMART Interactive Software
- SMART Learning Suite software, including SMART Notebook and Lumio, features many interactive software tools and resources that enable teachers to create diverse and engaging lesson plans.
- The ability to write and draw on the smartboard, insert images and links and annotate videos.
- Record audio and video and embed them into the content.
- Play interactive games with the free resources provided.
- Live and interactive lessons.
- Online assessments and tools to collaborate with pupils or teachers anywhere!
- SMART Ink allows teachers to write over open applications, files, browser tabs, and PDFs. You can even annotate YouTube videos with digital ink and save them for later.
- The IQ experience is the free Android software included in the SMART Board interactive display. It’s like a built-in computer with the Learning Suite software, browser and plugins should you not have a computer connected. It includes the ability to save created documents to the cloud.
- SMART Board Drivers include everything to connect your SMART Board interactive whiteboard to a Windows PC or Mac. Included is Smart Ink and the software for SMART Board calibration.
- SMART Teamworks with Google Workspace and Office 365 integration is SMART Technologies’ collaboration software and a virtual meeting room. Support for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, along with wireless screen sharing between devices.
Interactive SMART Whiteboard Tips and Tricks for Teachers
- Math Equation Editor, built-in to the notebook software, allows you to handwrite maths equations and turn them into text. Used with GeoGebra, you can import data into graphs.
- Wirelessly share an iPad with the SMART whiteboard. It’s helpful if you don’t have a dedicated visualiser attached to your computer or interactive display.
- Brainstorm with students using the concept mapping addon to the SMART software suite.
- The infinite cloner takes images and turns them into manipulatives. Just right-click on the object and select “Infinite Cloner”.
- Use the video search addon in Notebook Plus to find educational videos to add to your lesson directly.
Using Smartboards Beyond the Classroom
Smartboards are commonly known in education, but they also have a business line of products that share many of the features of their education cousins.
The SMART QX Pro and MX Pro series use SMART Ink and are powered by the iQ Android OS, meaning versatility in a corporate setting.
Both ranges have an integrated microphone array, with the premium QX Pro having an integrated HD camera and 40-point precision touch display.
SMART Meeting Pro is their business software for collaboration and video conferencing, including full functionality with Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
Digital signage where interactivity is not required is also available with the NX series in screens of 65”, 75”, and 86” sizes.
Our Opinion on SMART Boards
The Classroom365 team has been installing new SMART Boards for the education market since 2004, and the latest interactive displays from SMART Technologies are great products. They are reliable, tough, and good value. SMART Technologies is the market leader, and the education market is ultra-competitive.
One of the main positives is the SMART Learning Suite software and the fact that many teachers are already familiar with it. This means teachers do not have to learn a whole new software platform, even though there is more compatibility between the different file formats between manufacturers than there used to be.
SMART is a premium product and is a bit more expensive than competitors. You also have to factor in the licensing costs to purchase the SMART licence for the Notebook Plus and factor in this cost for the full functionality. The first-year software licence is no longer included with each new SMART Board price. For large projects, consider a DfE-approved education leasing agreement. This may be suitable for your school.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does SMART Board cost?
Prices (from £1,299 ex VAT) for interactive SMART Boards vary among suppliers, depending on whether the purchase is for education or business use. Schools will receive an educational discount, which can be considerable.
What’s the difference between a SMART Board and a Smartboard?
SMART Board is a registered brand name from SMART Technologies for its interactive display products. “Smartboard” is often used more generally by schools to describe interactive whiteboards, classroom touchscreens or similar teaching displays.
What are the disadvantages of Smartboards?
The main disadvantage is the initial cost, although Smartboards are supported by a 5-year warranty and require relatively low maintenance compared with older projector-based systems. The SMART GX Series offers a low-cost option.
Can you use a SMART Board without a computer?
Yes, the latest SMART Boards can run independently. They have an inbuilt operating system that allows them to work independently. The GX Series runs Android 14, while the mid-range MX Series runs a bespoke Android iQ OS.
Are SMART Boards wireless?
SMART Boards have Wi-Fi, enabling internet browsing, Google Drive access and firmware updates. They also have an Ethernet port for a wired connection.
Mark Friend, BSc (Hons), is a Company Director at Classroom365 and has worked in technology for nearly 30 years. His IT career started with Rothschild Bank in Sydney, Australia, before working as a Global VPN Project Manager for the British Council. Mark has 20 years of experience in the UK education sector, helping schools integrate the latest tech into their curriculum and ICT vision.