BenQ has teased the imminent release of its latest all-in-one home cinema experience, the GP500 4K LED smart projector that was first announced at CES 2023 in January.
Having already launched in the U.S., BenQ is now plotting a wider release with its pending availability in the U.K. The GP500 4K LED smart projector is said to combine “authentic digital cinema colour quality and theatrical sound performance” with smart installation capabilities that should enable anyone to set it up for optimal performance.
It is powerful too, with 8.3 million distinct pixels and a peak brightness that’s rated at 1,500 lumens, together with 90% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and 97% coverage of the Rec. 709 standard. The GP500 further boasts CinematicColour and Auto Colour Calibration functionality, together with support for HDR10 and HLG, plus picture modes ranging from Cinema and Sports to Game and 3D.
On the audio side, users are treated to a four-speaker treVolo sound system that’s said to generate 360-degree sound. Additionally, each speaker can be configured for precise stereo imaging that’s optimised for the viewing location.
With the BenQ GP500 4K LED smart projector, it’s possible to throw up an image of 100-inches diagonally from a distance of just 2.2 metres, up to a maximum of 150-inches if it’s set back 3.3 metres. Other user-friendly features include automatic focus and 2D keystone correction for fine-tuning the picture it generates, plus screen fit and object avoidance for further adjustments.
The projector is powered by the Android TV operating system that provides access to tons of content via streaming apps like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix and YouTube. Content can also be mirrored from mobile devices using Apple AirPlay and Chromecast, and there are two pairs of HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports for anything else the user may want to plug in. Finally, Bluetooth and WiFi provide further connectivity options.
All in all, the BenQ GP500 is a fairly meaty projector system and although it’s not a high-end system, it offers some very nice specs and all-round capabilities. However, prospective buyers may be disappointed to learn that it looks like it’s going to cost more on this side of the Atlantic. BenQ has listed a £1,699 price tag on its U.K. website, compared to a price of just $1,799 (around £1,470) in the U.S.
