Quick answer: Choose the SMART Board GX for best-value everyday classroom teaching, the MX Pro when you want a more powerful built-in computer and the full software experience for heavy daily use, and the QX Pro for large rooms, lecture theatres and the highest performance. The GX covers the essentials, the MX Pro is the all-round sweet spot, and the QX Pro is the premium, large-format choice.
SMART makes three main interactive display ranges, and the names (GX, MX Pro, QX Pro) say little about what actually separates them. This guide compares them head to head so you can match the right board to your rooms and budget. For the wider background on interactive displays, see our interactive whiteboards and screens buying guide.
Browse all models in the interactive screens collection, or call 01382 913 913 for a recommendation.
At a glance: GX vs MX Pro vs QX Pro
| Range | Best for | Built-in computing | Typical setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| GX | Best value, everyday teaching | Core Android experience | Standard classrooms, multi-room fit-outs |
| MX Pro | Power and headroom for heavy use | iQ with more power and full software suite | Departments using interactive lessons daily |
| QX Pro | Premium, large formats, top performance | Highest processing power | Lecture theatres, halls, universities |
SMART Board GX: the best-value classroom board
The SMART GX (V3) Series delivers the core interactive experience, responsive multi-touch, built-in SMART whiteboarding and screen sharing, on a clean Android interface, at the most accessible price point. It is the right choice when you are fitting out many classrooms on a fixed budget and want every room to have a capable interactive screen without paying for features a typical lesson will not use. Where budgets are tightest, the entry-level SMART GX ZERO brings the SMART experience to the lowest price.
Choose the GX if: you are equipping standard classrooms, want strong value across many rooms, and your teaching is mostly whiteboarding, presenting and screen sharing.
SMART Board MX Pro: the all-rounder with iQ
The SMART MX Pro (V5) with iQ steps up with a more powerful built-in computer (the iQ experience), the full SMART software suite, and smoother handling of multiple apps, larger files and wireless screen sharing from several pupil devices at once. For departments that teach interactively every day and want headroom for future software, the MX Pro is the sweet spot between cost and capability, and the model most schools settle on.
Choose the MX Pro if: interactive teaching is central to how you work, you want reliable multi-device sharing, and you want the board to stay capable for years without feeling slow.
SMART Board QX Pro: premium and large-format
The SMART QX Pro is the top of the range: the most processing power, the best collaboration features and the largest sizes. It suits lecture theatres, large halls, universities and flagship teaching or training spaces where the highest performance and a big display are the priority.
Choose the QX Pro if: you need the largest formats, the strongest performance, or are fitting out a high-profile space where the display is a centrepiece.
What about non-interactive or Windows needs?
If a room only needs a presentation or signage screen rather than touch interaction, the SMART NX non-interactive display is a more economical fit. And whichever interactive range you choose, you can run full Windows by adding a slot-in SMART OPS PC Module, rather than wiring in a separate PC. For very small or specialist spaces, the compact SMART Board MINI 727 is also available.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the SMART GX and MX Pro?
The key difference is the built-in computing. The GX runs a core Android experience that handles everyday whiteboarding, presenting and screen sharing well. The MX Pro adds SMART's iQ with a more powerful processor and the full software suite, giving smoother performance with multiple apps, larger files and multi-device sharing. The GX is the value choice; the MX Pro is for heavier daily use.
Is the QX Pro worth it over the MX Pro?
The QX Pro is worth it when you need the largest screen sizes, the highest performance, or are fitting out a high-profile space such as a lecture theatre or hall. For a typical classroom, the MX Pro already offers more than enough power, so most schools only choose the QX Pro for specialist or large rooms.
Which SMART Board offers the best value for a whole-school rollout?
For equipping many classrooms at once, the SMART GX (or GX ZERO at the entry level) usually offers the best value, giving every room a capable interactive screen within budget. Schools often mix ranges: GX in standard classrooms and MX Pro or QX Pro in halls, ICT suites and key teaching spaces.
Do all three ranges run the SMART software?
Yes. The GX, MX Pro and QX Pro all run SMART's interactive whiteboarding and screen-sharing software. The MX Pro and QX Pro add more processing power and the fuller iQ experience, which makes a difference when running multiple apps or larger lessons, but the core teaching tools are available across the range.
Can I add a Windows PC to any of these boards?
Yes. All three ranges accept a slot-in SMART OPS PC Module, which turns the display into a full Windows computer with no separate box or trailing cables. This is the tidiest way to run Windows-only software on a SMART Board.
Still not sure which SMART Board to choose?
Tell us your room sizes, how you teach and your budget, and we will recommend the right model and screen size. Browse the interactive screens range, call 01382 913 913, or email info@presentationspaces.co.uk.