BenQ’s newest 4K projector is meant to provide big-screen entertainment in modern, open-plan living spaces, featuring smart auto-setup capabilities that will deliver “stunning viewing quality” no matter what the room’s layout, wall colour or lighting conditions are like.
The new projector is called the BenQ GP520, and it’s the successor to last year's BenQ GP500. According to the company, it's designed to address three major issues that occur when trying to achieve high-quality projection in open living spaces, said BenQ’s president Peter Huang.
Those issues include colour distortion caused by the ambient light, optimising the picture for different wall colours, and setting up the projector without constant adjustment when it’s moved into different corners of the room.
“With the GP520, families can enjoy flawless 4K visuals no matter where or how it is set up,” Huang insisted.
The BenQ GP520 overcomes these issues with a DLP projection engine that delivers 4K UHD visuals at a maximum of 180 diagonal inches when positioned 15.7 foot or 4.8 metres away from a wall, and a 4LED light source that outputs 2,600 lumens of brightness for up to 30,000 hours, the company said.
In terms of colour, the GP520 can handle 98% of the Rec.709 gamut and 81% of the DCI-P3 space, and it also features BenQ’s proprietary CinematicColour tuning and HDR-PRO technology. According to BenQ, this helps to provide “unparalleled colour performance and sharpness”, enabling a truly cinematic big-screen experience.
The new device can be used together with a tripod (sold separately) and its setup features include autofocus, auto keystone correction, obstacle avoidance and screen fit technology. There’s also an auto cinema mode available, which can automatically adapt the image for different wall colours and ambient lighting conditions. There’s also a digital zoom function that ensures the image remains sharp, regardless of the distance it’s being beamed from.
Elsewhere, there’s Google TV baked into the GP520 for accessing streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix, and there is a pair of 12-watt speakers for audio output. In terms of connectivity, there’s a couple of HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which supports auto low-latency mode for smooth gaming experiences, with a 17.9 millisecond input lag at 4K/60Hz. Bluetooth 5.2 is also supported, enabling wireless connectivity to external speakers and headphones.
BenQ said the GP520 is on sale in the U.K. and Europe now, priced at £1,199 or €1,199. The company hasn’t said anything about a U.S. release, but seeing as the GP500 model from last year went on sale stateside, we suspect this one will also launch over there.
