BenQ has announced a couple of extremely powerful new gaming projectors that should do away with the need to draw the curtains, as the boast an ANSI lumens brightness rating of 3,200.
The new models, the BenQ TK710 and BenQ TK710STi are the latest members of the company’s “Casual Gaming” projector lineup, and they also offer extremely low input lag, ensuring a smooth, super-big screen gaming experience that can be enjoyed in just about any lighting conditions.
The increased brightness appears to stem from BenQ’s decision to swap out the older lamp-based light source found in its older Casual Gaming projectors for a newer, more advanced laser-based projection source.
The two models are basically the same DLP projector, but they’re optimized for different throw distances. For instance, the BenQ TK710 must be placed 10 feet away from the wall to create a 120-inch 4K image, while the TK71oSTi is a “short-throw” model that shortens the distance to just six feet.
The other specifications are basically the same. BenQ points out an input lag of just 4.16 milliseconds when the projectors are being utilized in Full HD mode at blazing 240Hz speeds. When switching to 4K at 60Hz, the input lag drops somewhat to 16.7ms, but that is still pretty damn fast and more than enough to satisfy the needs of most gamers.
Elsewhere, the projector’s promise stunning visuals thanks to their 95% coverage of the Rec.709 colour gamut, plus their 600,000:1 contrast ratio, lightsource dimming and optimised HDR game modes. Indeed, BenQ proudly proclaims they will deliver “lifelike imagery” in first-person shooter and RPG games.
The more traditional BenQ TK710 appears to be easier to set up, with its vertical lens shift, keystone correction and 1.3 x zoom technologies on board. According to BenQ, the TK710STi doesn’t have the lens shift capabilities and it only has a 1.2 x zoom. On the other hand, it appears BenQ is trying to make up for those deficiencies, for the TK710STi is the only one that ships with a free Android TV dongle that can be plugged in to access streaming services like Netflix.
As for connectivity, the two models both sport a pair of HDMI 2.0b ports, with one supporting enhanced audio return to enable 7.1-channel surround sound with Dolby Atmos. Those who don’t have an external sound system will have to make do with the integrated 5-watt speaker or use a pair of headphones, which can connect either through the 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth.
BenQ said the TK710 model is on sale in the U.S. now, priced at $1,799, while the TK710STi costs just a tad more at $1,999.
