Promethean ActivPanel 10 vs 8

[Gongalong]

Hi folks,

 

We've just had a Promethean ActivPanel 10 installed in a classroom, which I naively thought would be much like an 8. The side and bottom menus seem to have gone, which had the really useful annotate feature, along with access to the Locker and timer apps. I've looked through some Promethean videos and their support pages but am none the wiser really as to whether these are still features, although it suggests they've offloaded it to the PC and you're expected to use their Windows app. We do have something called "OPS" as an input (I'm assuming Open Pluggable Specification) so possibly an Android module that can have these features installed.

 

I'll drop their support an email anyway and ask the question, but anyone know if these features are now offloaded or still available somewhere? It will be a shame if the immediate annotation feature has gone, along with the timer app etc.

 

 

[thimon]

You need to install the ActiveInspire software onto the device you’re connecting to the screen, they’ve removed all such features from the screens, which I was not aware of when I ordered the AP10 model. You can no longer natively annotate over the screen without that software on your device, as such I’ve deployed it to all school devices. I have been advised to look at their LE models, which still retain the built in annotation https://www.prometheanworld.com/products/interactive-displays/activpanel-le/

[thimon]

Update: You might be able to purchase the OPS-A2 modules separately and install them into the AP10 screens, which looking online have all the tools built in. We’ve got a call with our Promethean account manager tomorrow to talk through things, will try and clarify if we can do this with our AP10 screens. https://avpartsmaster.co.uk/business-solutions/promethean-ops-a2-8r64s-activpanel-ops-a2-8r64s

[thimon]

ActiveSuite software was heavily pushed from the conversation. The LE series have everything built in still, but are only 1080p. Clarification on some questions asked being sought. Will try and update further. 

[Gongalong]

I've spotted we have an input on the screen described as "OPS" so I wonder if it was purchase with the OPS unit. I didn't have much time with it, but can hopefully get to the screen early next week and do some more investigation. I've pinged Promethean support an email as well to see if they could shed any light on whether these features are available. A 1080p screen (to overcome cable length issues) with whiteboard, built-in annotation, and a timer app and 99% of our teachers would be happy.

[synaesthesia]

Argh, that's a pain - just looking to order a pair of these. It's all well and good promoting their own software but it's *FAR* better IMO to be as agnostic as possible. I want someone to be able to come in with an apple scrapbook, chromebook, Toshiba Libretto or anything else and still have the same experience as everyone else. If we go down the route of changing it out, we're much, much better off saving a grand and getting a pair of Viewsonics instead.

Thanks for this thread, very well timed!

[Gongalong]

Yep, I naively assumed features wouldn't have been removed, but I've still to look at the panel in anger...

[synaesthesia]

Just asked our AV supplier if they could get hold of any older units for this reason - they've come straight back to me to say that all their bundles come with the OPS-A2 unit for this exact reason. Could be a potential life saver!

[Gongalong]

I definitely spotted a whiteboard feature (and this OPS input), but not annotation of anything on other inputs. Will investigate next week...

[thimon]

Yeah your OPS input will be the OPA 1 module. I’m hoping we can purchase OPA 2 modules (about £160) and slot those in instead. Will check in with our Promethean account manager next week. 

[Gongalong]

So we definitely have an OPS, and apparently it might be the OPA 2 module. I need to test by putting the HDMI and USB cables directly into that, along with a setting change, and then I can still use annotation. Once I've tested I'll confirm either way. We're also going to look into these LE models and see if they're good enough for future purchases.

[thimon]

The LE models are confirmed as actually being 4K, so don’t really know why we wouldn’t go with that model going forward. More talks with Promethean required! 🙂

[synaesthesia]

Word of warning on the LX panels (do you mean those?) - the speakers are DIRE which is why I've instantly ruled them out going forward. 10W isn't enough for any decent size classroom IMO - the 15w in the full units are only just good enough.

[Gongalong]

LX have apparently been replaced by the LE. I'd not heard of the LX, but apparently Promethean made them sufficiently poor that they hoped they would be ignored and the higher end models would be bought. I'll ask about speaker power in the LE.

[gaz350b]

The annotation on any source was probably one of the best features! Just waiting on deliver of 2 V10s will report back as well when we get them installed.

[synaesthesia]

Oh, so I see. Cat amongst the pigeons there then, 20w speakers in the LE so they do learn something then!

If they're still around the £1000 price point for 75 inches then probably a decent option.

Edited November 18, 2025 by synaesthesia

[Gongalong]

It transpires that we definitely have the OPA 2 module. That needed to be updated, but once done it has an app called "HDMI IN". You connect HDMI and USB to the module, and then it behaves like a big Android tablet. You swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access annotation and other apps, albeit not as intuitive as the older panels. I've been told that the LE behaves at least like the ActivePanel 8's, so annotation, timer app etc. are readily accessible. We have been quoted £1,095 + VAT for the LE screen versus £1,459 for the ActivPanel 10, plus bracket, install etc. I suspect we'll go for an LE screen next.

[synaesthesia]

Yeah, those prices match up with what we were given - I was suprised as the last AP9 we had was only just over a grand, but the inclusion of the OPS unit gave the reason. We've used the OPS hdmi in a few times where age & abuse has damaged all the other HDMI ports!

 

Got a couple of the Viewsonics in now, will try and get one hooked up ahead of fitment time to see how it behaves!

[Gongalong]

Will be interested to hear what you think of the Viewsonics. I tried to persuade SLT to at least try Benq, but it was vetoed on the basis of consistency of screen UI. But when the screen UI changes with every generation of panel... One of our first Prometheans has just failed (over 10 years old), which is why we bought the ActivePanel 10. I think this is our second to fail, the other being an equally old one.

[synaesthesia]

Exactly our thinking - with the changes to Promethean, and our trust going Viewsonic anyway, now seemed a good a time as ever. All the same functions were there, so it'll just be a matter of a little staff training and hopefully intuition - but our supplier has also hooked us up with staff training if we need it too.

[BenQ_Chris]

@Gongalong it's interesting you were told about "constantly changing UI" on the BenQ. We did have a substantial one (as did the whole industry) in the transition to Google EDLA (which we standardise on and always have annotation tools built in at not extra cost - even the entry level RE04A). I've been at BenQ since 2016 and we've only really had 3 major UI iterations in that time and that has been moving in the direction of standardisation across the models. Happy to provide more information or a demo to SLT. One other thing to add, all the cloud services on the interactive panels are 100% subscription free too.

 

As always, any questions, please ask.

 

Thanks, Chris

Senior Technical Sales Manager

BenQ UK

[itskdog]

On 13/11/2025 at 19:40, thimon said:

The LE series have everything built in still,

 

Note that the LE series don't have ActivInspire Professional licences, you can only use the free "Personal" edition with those boards, which are missing key features like shapes.

[thimon]

Oh for fudge sake 😀 will go back to Promethean tomorrow… thank you for the heads up!  

[Gongalong]

18 hours ago, BenQ_Chris said:

@Gongalong it's interesting you were told about "constantly changing UI" on the BenQ. We did have a substantial one (as did the whole industry) in the transition to Google EDLA (which we standardise on and always have annotation tools built in at not extra cost - even the entry level RE04A). I've been at BenQ since 2016 and we've only really had 3 major UI iterations in that time and that has been moving in the direction of standardisation across the models. Happy to provide more information or a demo to SLT. One other thing to add, all the cloud services on the interactive panels are 100% subscription free too.

 

As always, any questions, please ask.

 

Thanks, Chris

Senior Technical Sales Manager

BenQ UK

 

Chris, you're quoting me incorrectly 😊 I said "consistency of screen UI", and that's not between Benq models, that's between models of different manufacturers i.e. retaining one manufacturer in a school to keep the UI consistent (SLT's want), but that hasn't worked work anyway because a single manufactuer (or Promethean at least) are changing their UI across models. It's probably unrealistic because features are inevitably going to change, but the bulk of our teachers don't use a lot of the advanced stuff, they just love that built-in annotation and timer app!

[MisterTechMan]

On 25/11/2025 at 09:39, Gongalong said:

Will be interested to hear what you think of the Viewsonics. I tried to persuade SLT to at least try Benq, but it was vetoed on the basis of consistency of screen UI. But when the screen UI changes with every generation of panel... One of our first Prometheans has just failed (over 10 years old), which is why we bought the ActivePanel 10. I think this is our second to fail, the other being an equally old one.

After a trial of the other brands, we have just had 30 Viewsonics installed.  Really really pleased and no issues so far.