Extremely brief throw (UST) projectors are a fantastic different to a extra conventional projector setup, primarily as a result of they sit a mere few inches from the display screen and might challenge a 100-inch or bigger image. This space-saving association saves you from having to dedicate your total lounge to film viewing, however one other upside to UST projectors is that they’re nice for watching sports activities in well-lit environments, one the place individuals are prone to be getting up and strolling round.
However what about gaming? The perfect 4K projectors can ship pristine footage when used for film viewing, however they aren’t at all times the best choice for gaming, with few fashions that includes HDMI 2.1 inputs with 4K 120Hz help or a game-specific image mode with low enter lag. There are some exceptions, such because the Epson Professional Cinema LS12000 and JVC DLA-NZ8, however on the entire most projectors aren’t well-matched for next-gen gaming consoles.
Ben Q’s new V5000i is trying to handle that shortcoming. It will possibly settle for 4K 120Hz indicators from a PS5 and Xbox Collection X (although pictures are displayed at 4K 60Hz), and it has “low enter lag” based on BenQ, although the corporate’s launch for the brand new projector doesn’t specify an actual quantity. (We have reached out to BenQ for affirmation and can replace this story accordingly.) With its 2,500 ANSI lumens brightness spec, video games also needs to pop properly on its included 100-inch ambient mild rejecting (ALR) display screen, even after they’re performed with room lights on.
With the lights turned off, the V5000i’s specs point out that it’s going to additionally carry out nicely for film watching. It helps the HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG excessive dynamic vary codecs, whereas an up to date HDR-PRO characteristic with Native Distinction Enhancement independently optimizes gamma in additional than 1,000 zones throughout the display screen.
The V5000i makes use of a three-laser (RGB) mild engine, and BenQ’s cites BT.2020 shade house protection at 95% and DCI-P3 protection at 98%. Having seen UST projectors with related specs, we will let you know that colours ought to look vivid on the V5000i, and that each 4K Blu-ray and streaming sources will probably be nicely rendered.
For streaming, the V5000i makes use of an Android TV stick that plugs into one of many projector’s HDMI inputs and is preloaded with in style apps like Netflix. On the audio entrance, BenQ’s UST has a built-in 40W “Trevolo” sound system with help for each Dolby and DTS codecs.
Opinion: Extremely brief throw projectors are the proper big-screen TV different
Whether or not you’re utilizing it for console gaming, daytime TV watching, or nighttime film viewing, UST projectors just like the V5000i are a superb different to each customary lengthy throw projectors and ultra-large-screen TVs. And at $3,499 (round £2,775 / AU$5,175) with a bundled 100-inch ALR display screen, the V5000i appears very moderately priced for what you get.
For comparability’s sake, a superb 4K lengthy throw projector just like the Epson Professional Cinema LS12000 will set you again $5,000, and also you’ll nonetheless need to pay additional for a display screen, whereas another UST projectors just like the LG Cinebeam HU915QE TechRadar not too long ago reviewed are priced even increased than that. Among the finest 4K TVs are available display screen sizes as giant as 98 inches, however you’ll pay $8,500 and up (method up, in order for you one of many largest and finest OLED TVs) for these.
Whereas it’s not the brightest UST projector possibility (the LG mannequin talked about above can hit 3,700 ANSI lumens, as an illustration), the V5000i is has sufficient mild output to look good in a room with some measure of sunshine management, and its ALR display screen ought to assist to boost image distinction. However maybe what’s most fascinating about BenQ’s new projector is its HDR10+ and HDR-PRO with Native Distinction Enhancement characteristic.
HDR10+ is a dynamic excessive dynamic vary format the place picture distinction is adjusted on a scene-by-scene foundation. And whereas it’s not as extensively used because the Dolby Imaginative and prescient format present in just a few UST projectors just like the Formovie Theater and sure fashions from Hisense, applications with HDR10+ will be streamed from a number of the finest streaming providers like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Paramount Plus.
HDR-PRO with Native Distinction Enhancement is a characteristic that will also be discovered on a trio of recent long-throw projectors BenQ is introducing alongside the V5000i: the HT4550i, HT3560, and TK860i. Much like LED native dimming on TVs, this characteristic divides the picture up into a number of zones and an algorithm then analyzes the brightness and makes separate gamma changes to every particular person zone.
We’ve not but seen it in motion, however BenQ claims that Native Distinction Enhancement, together with Enhanced HDR-PRO tone mapping on the brand new fashions, permits for two-times increased peak HDR brightness over the corporate’s earlier era of projectors – a big enchancment.
BenQ’s new HDR processing options, together with low enter lag for a projector, make the V5000i specifically an intriguing all-around prospect for motion pictures, gaming, and extra. The V5000i will probably be obtainable to order beginning in July, and at the moment we hope to have the ability to let you know extra concerning the efficiency of this inexpensive and feature-rich UST projector.
