BenQ InstaShow WDC10C Review: Easy Setup, Secure, Fast and Intuitive
Introduction
I work for a large insurance company and every time I'm in a conference room, there is always someone struggling to present their computer screen either due to cluttered wires or the software/driver in their machine not working. Mirroring devices such as Chromecast and Roku have been in the market for a while, but they normally require the user to install some software or driver and they also suffer from awful lag which makes them not reliable. Not only that, but these mirroring devices also require you to connect them to a WiFi network which then makes your computer vulnerable to attacks.
The BenQ InstaShow WDC10C aims to solve all of these problems by offering users a seamless presentation experience using a series of transmitters and a receiver. It can be connected to any projector or TV that supports an HDMI input but what truly separates BenQ's WDC10C from the crowd is its simple to use design. This is a true plug-and-play solution that does not require any software to be installed and does not need to be connected to a WiFi network and it is able to completely encrypt your wireless presentation using 128 bit AES encryption.
It sports a $1100 price-tag on BenQ's Direct Store and comes with 1 year of warranty. At $1100, the WDC10C is very expensive but that's because it works exactly as advertised which makes it a great solution for enterprises. It is bundled with two transmitters (known as the InstaShow buttons) and one receiver and you also get a holder to store the two transmitters when not in use.
The WDC10C supports up to 16 buttons so that means that everyone in the conference room can present at the press of a button. BenQ sells the additional InstaShow buttons for $500 on their direct store and they are sold in pairs so you get two buttons and one button holder.
Specifications
| BenQ WDC10C Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacture | BenQ |
| Model Name | WDC10C |
| Product Name | InstaShow |
| Product Color | Black |
| Video outputs | HDMI 1.4, comply with HDCP |
| Frame Rate | Up to 60 fps depending on environment |
| Max Resolution | Up to 1920x1080 |
| Simultaneous connections | 16 pcs |
| Audio | Stereo, Radio quality 16bits 48KHz |
| Wireless | IEEE 802.11ac, 5GHz, 2T2R |
| Data rate wireless | Up to 867Mbps |
| Authentication protocol | WPA2 (WPA2-PSK (Pre-Shared key) / WPA2-Enterprise) |
| Security | AES 128 bit |
| Support | Windows, MAC, Chrome. Any OS has USB-C with Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C with Display Port Alt Mode |
| Reach | Max. 8m between InstaShow Button and InstaShow Host |
| Power | x1 (150cm, USB Type A 3.0, micro USB) |
| Cable | USB Type-C |
| Reset Button | x1 |
| Mode Key | x1 |
| LED | Red (boosting), Green (wifi connected), Blue (presenting) |
| Power Supply | DC 5V±10%, 0.9A |
| Power Consumption | Normal: 4.5W |
| Dimension (WxHxD) | 84.5 x 188.3 x 19.9 mm |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Release Date | April 2019 |
Packaging
The WDC10C comes in a BenQ branded box that weighs roughly 3 lbs and measures 84.5 x 188.3 x 19.9 mm. On the front of the box you will find some basic information about the WDC10C and a picture of the InstaShow button and receiver. The features are listed on the side of the box and also instructions on how to setup the WDC10C.
The WDC10C is well packaged and the items inside are wrapped in plastic to prevent any accidental damages during shipping. Overall, packaging is top notch and the product arrived in perfect condition.
BenQ includes high quality thick cables which is nice to see. The transmitters and receiver inside are well packaged and everything feels well secured inside the box. Inside you will find the two InstaShow buttons, one receiver, one button holder, adapter, USB power cable, HDMI cable and a quick-start guide. BenQ also includes a mounting kit, Velcro strap, screws and double-sided sticky pad.
Features
Let's talk a little bit about some of the features that makes the WDC10C unique from other products on the market. My favorite feature of the WDC10C is that it can easily be expanded up to 16 InstaShow buttons using both HDMI & USB-C connections. This makes it easy to start presenting with a simple tap and it eliminates the hassles of passing a cable around.
The WDC10C is a true hardware solution that works out of the box and does not require a software or driver to be installed. After plugging the InstaShow button into the source laptop, it only takes just a few seconds to start presenting wirelessly.
Furthermore, the WDC10C comes with support for AES 128-bit security encryption and WPA2 authentication protocols. This is very important for enterprises because it encrypts your transmissions to keep the presentation safe from wireless hacking.
Unlike most mirroring devices on the market, the WDC10C does not need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. InstaShow eliminates network login hassles which is very important for enterprises because it reduces the risk of virus and malware exploits.
Each InstaShow button has a dedicated 'mode' button which can be used to toggle between video and presentation mode. The video mode can optimize videos for smooth playback without affecting network bandwidth while the presentation mode is great for presenting PowerPoint slides.
Design
BenQ's WDC10C sports a minimalistic compact design with a dark finish that looks really attractive. It is made out of sturdy plastic and has a nice quality feel to it which I really like. The receiver has two antennas on each side which are used for the transmitter to automatically connect to it with a click of the button.
The older WDC10 model used an HDMI for video and audio output and a USB-A to supply power but the newer WDC10C model uses the USB-C connection to transmit power, video, and audio over a single connection.
At the top of the InstaShow button, you will notice a large button which you press to connect to the receiver. The light around the button turns blue when you are connected to the receiver and it turns red when you are disconnected from it.
On the side of the InstaShow button, there is a little "mode" button which can be used to change settings between the Presentation and Video modes. The InstaShow buttons have rubber feet underneath to keep it in place and offer stability.
As far as ports go, the InstaShow receiver has one HDMI port, one Micro USB for power, one RJ45 for Ethernet connection and a dedicated button for pairing additional transmitters. There is also a reset button on the back which can come in handy if you need to reset everything back to default settings.
The WDC10C can be mounted in three ways and BenQ includes the necessary accessories for you to do that. First, you can use the included mounting plate to mount it to the ceiling. Second, you can use the Velcro strap to secure it to the projector and third, there is also a double-sided tape to attach it directly to a wall.
Setup
The BenQ InstaShow WDC10C is really easy to setup. All you have to do is connect the transmitters and receiver and press the button and you are ready to present. It really does not get any easier than that. BenQ has done a fantastic job of making the setup process super easy and intuitive. The good thing about the WDC10C is that it supports up to 16 transmitters so everyone in the conference room can be connected and ready to present at the press of a button.
There are many ways that you can mount the receiver and the mounting process is very simple. You can mount the WDC10C to the wall by using the included mounting plate or you can mount it to a projector arm with the included Velcro strap. Or if that does not work for you, you can mount it directly to the wall using a double-sided tape. BenQ has made the mounting process really simple and it shows.
The InstaShow buttons require a USB-C port but if you have an older computer that does not have a USB-C port, you can get the older WDC10 model which needs a USB-A and HDMI port. Once the InstaShow button is plugged in the USB-C port, you will see it light up and all you have to do is press it and it will automatically start to pair itself to the receiver and you should then see the light turn green which means you are ready to present.
Performance
The WDC10C delivers fantastic performance with zero lag and I am truly impressed by performance of the WDC10C. I plugged the WDC10C into my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th gen using the USB-C cable and within a few seconds, my laptop's display was mirrored on my big monitor. I measured the FPS using a Chrome plugin tool called 'FPS Extension' and it consistently displayed 60 frames a second.
I was able to stream a movie to my big TV for three hours non-stop and it never randomly disconnected like my Chromecast sometimes does. During my three hour streaming, I did not notice any delay or framerate drop and the audio was perfectly in sync with the video.
The WDC10C is able to achieve a lag-free experience by creating its own 802.11ac wireless connection which is amazing. BenQ has designed the InstaShow primarily for enterprises who work with presenting spreadsheets but the dedicated 'Video' mode can be used to view videos.
Conclusion
The InstaShow WDC10C has everything you can ask for in a high-end wireless presentation system. It sports a sturdy build quality, an extremely easy setup process, excellent wireless performance, and it encrypts your wireless presentation by default. Connectivity is great with the WDC10C and it works with USB-C or Thunderbolt 3. BenQ's InstaShow WDC10C is an excellent wireless presentation system that does exactly what it is designed to do and I can safely recommend it to enterprises or professional users who are looking for the perfect wireless presentation system.
Pros:
+ USB-C Connectivity
+ No Software Required
+ Excellent Performance
+ Build Quality
+ Easy Setup
+ Encryption
Cons:
- Price
The WDC10C is a true hardware solution that does not require a software and does not need to be connected to a WiFi network in order to work.
It supports AES 128bit encryption which is another reason why it is perfect enterprises.
BenQ is selling the WDC10C for $1100 which is definitely not cheap but that is to be expected for a wireless pretension system of this caliber.
Overall, the BenQ InstaShow WDC10C easily deserves our gold award.
Final Score 9.5
