BenQ’s latest ultra short throw projector is looking to address the shortcomings of many of its competitors with the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 inputs and 4K 120Hz support and a dedicated Game Mode that enables it to support next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
The company this week announced the BenQ V5000i, which is one of the first UST projectors that appears dedicated to video games. Notably, it’s capable of accepting 4K/120Hz signals, though the images will be displayed at 4K 60Hz. The company also specifies an input lag of just 17.9ms in Game Mode - not bad at all for a projector. With brightness rated at 2,500 lumens and a 100-inch ambient light rejecting screen included in the box, those graphics promise to really dazzle, even in sunlit rooms.
The BenQ V5000i also promises to do well for movie lovers, especially when the lights are switched off. It supports HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range, and includes an updated HDR-PRO feature that sports Local Contrast Enhancement, a technology that’s said to independently optimise gamma across 1,000 separate on-screen zones. Similar to LED local dimming on TVs, this feature divides the image up into multiple zones and an algorithm then analyzes the brightness and makes separate gamma adjustments to each individual zone.
The UST projector features a three-laser RGB light engine that provides 95% coverage of the BT.2020 colour space and 98% of DCI-P3, promising extremely vivid colours for streaming content.
In order to stream content, the V5000i relies on an Android TV streaming device that plugs into one of its HDMI inputs and comes preloaded with various apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. There’s a 40-watt Trevolo sound system built in, with support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Another notable tidbit is the price of the BenQ V5000i. It’s set to cost $3,499 (£2,775 in the U.K.) and the screen will be bundled for free, which makes it seem very reasonable compared to its competitors. For instance, the Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 that has similar specifications is priced at around $5,000, while the LG CineBeam HU915QE costs even more than that. UST projectors are often considered by some as an alternative to the most massive TVs too, and the BenQ V5000i is way cheaper than most 98-inch models from the likes of Samsung and LG, which cost in excess of $8,000, and even more if you’re looking for an OLED.
Admittedly, the BenQ V5000i is not the brightest UST projector around, with LG’s CineBeam capable of hitting 3,700 lumens, but it’s bright enough that it should still look great in any room where light can be blocked out with curtains etc. What’s more, with its HDR processing capabilities, low input lag and decent specs elsewhere, it’s an intriguing all-rounder for gaming and movies.
