BenQ X500i Review: Affordable Excellence

Now, straight up, let me simply say, I is likely to be in love with the BenQ X500i. It’s true, I’ve examined an enormous quantity of projectors and screens in my time, however the X500i hits the candy spot for just about the whole lot. Value, efficiency, picture high quality, type issue, it ticks all of the containers.

It’s completely balanced, and when you’re in search of one of many finest gaming projectors with 4K on the market proper now, there’s little question in my thoughts that this might nicely be it. It’s near convincing me that I must sling my 21:9 ultrawide monitor away for good, it’s that spectacular. 

It’s not flawless. It has a couple of minor points, however on the entire, for a reasonably respectable $1699/£1,499 charge, what you’re getting for that funding is critically epic. Let’s take a step again for a second although. In case you’re new to the projector scene, I’m guessing your first query goes to be “Effectively why?”, why get a projector to start with?

It’s unquestionably, a luxurious merchandise. In case you’ve already picked up the finest gaming monitor, then going for one thing like a projector isn’t warranted. These are halo merchandise, for nerd dens, and evenings together with your buds or your loved ones, sitting again, having fun with your beverage of alternative, and simply crashing out with a little bit of informal gaming, or film leisure on a 150-inch show. It’s, simply such a completely fulfilling factor to have the ability to do.

Earlier than you make this your major show for all issues, keep in mind you’ll nonetheless discover higher specs with devoted gaming screens and shows. In spite of everything, projection has come a good distance, however so too have PC screens, and it’s exhausting to compete with the refresh charges, coloration accuracy, and pixel densities dished out by a few of the newest and biggest OLED tech. However, each of those merchandise are designed with very completely different use circumstances in thoughts, and that’s okay.

One factor so as to add, like most issues within the PC area, the extra you make investments, often, the higher the product. However there’s a candy spot, that some (not all) projectors inhabit, and fortunately I can say the X500i sits itself in that hole fairly properly.

Specification

Design

So then, BenQ X500i, design, how is it? Actually, beautiful. In case you’re acquainted with any of BenQ’s projector designs, you’ll instantly acknowledge that crisp black and white, high-contrast end. It’s an entirely plastic affair admittedly, to maintain the burden down, however with a sandblast-esque end, it seems to be lots premium regardless.

Out of the field, it measures simply 366 x 118 x 244mm, giving it a reasonably conventional slimline look, in contrast to its far costlier, X3100i cousin. It’s much better suited to being ceiling mounted due to it too, though, in fact, you’ll want to purchase an extra ceiling mount if that’s your purpose. In case you do resolve to go that route, flip over the projector, and beneath not solely will you see a number of M4 threads to mount your ceiling mount, however there are additionally some helpful options embedded within the case, exhibiting you the place the middle line of the lens is, and the middle of gravity is just too, all neat little touches to make the set up that contact smoother.

Shifting to the perimeters of the X500i, you’ll discover some severe air flow carved out of the shroud. There are two followers right here, the consumption an 80mm unit, and the exhaust a 92mm on the opposite aspect of the projector. You’ll additionally spot two critically potent audio system right here as nicely, which produce some critically spectacular sound given their dimension.

On high of the unit, you’ll discover your conventional hand adjustment dials for each focus and zoom simply above the lens, and a whole OSD resolution as nicely, with directional keys, energy button, mode, and eco clean choices, all good additions.

Hop across the again to the I/O and right here’s the true deal with. You’re greeted with two HDMI 2.0b ports (with HDCP 2.2 help), plus the same old assortment of audio choices, plus an RS-232 port and a service port as nicely. However even higher than that’s the inclusion of a USB-C port with DisplayPort connectivity as nicely.

You’ll additionally spot a reasonably hefty wedge-looking object within the again right here too. That is truthfully, one of many solely downsides to this unit. Take away the screw on high and also you’ll launch a canopy supplying you with entry to the mounting location for the Google TV dongle. This matches into an HDMI port to the fitting right here, which is then powered by a quite jankily cable-managed Micro-USB.

It’s a reasonably straightforward course of to do, however it one hundred pc doesn’t really feel notably premium, or that safe as soon as it’s in. Nonetheless, it is a “one and carried out” factor, as soon as it’s in, and powered up, you’ll possible neglect about it after that time. Different equipment, additionally embrace a slim-line distant, with an enormous array of buttons on right here as nicely, and that’s about it.

Options

The X500i’s spec listing is, nicely, superior for this worth. It has a max decision of 4K positive, and it’s pretty restricted at 60 fps (though to be truthful, you’ll want to speculate some severe money, on one of many finest graphics playing cards on the market, to push body charges above that anyway). However what’s cool, is that you could run the BenQ X500i at 2560×1440 at 120 Hz, or 1920x1080p @ 240 Hz, each of that are far simpler to realize excessive body charges in, notably with the AAA titles at present out there to us fancy PC customers. 

The X500i additionally has a console mode that’ll mechanically detect if one of many newest technology of consoles is linked (together with the Nintendo Swap) after which modify its decision and refresh charge accordingly. Fairly neat. There’s additionally help for 4K upscaling as nicely to crisp up your gameplay. It’s not solely dissimilar to an honest 4K TV, to be trustworthy.

Just like the Acer Predator GD711, there’s little point out of latency in any of the supporting supplies, however throughout my time testing the X500i, there weren’t any main considerations on my half for that. Shade help is what you’d count on at this worth, full 30-bit and 1.07 billion supported. It’s a 4LED gentle supply operating by means of a DLP projection system, and the distinction ratio tops out at 600,000:1 with gentle supply dimming enabled.

Apparently brightness supposedly clocks in at simply 2,200 ANSI lumens, but, throughout my time testing, it felt significantly brighter than the likes of the GD711, which studies at 4,000 lumens or so. Picture correction and auto-keystone are supported, together with coloration correction dependent in your projection show. It’s not fairly as superior as that discovered on XGIMI’s Halo+ (which truthfully looks like witchcraft at occasions), however it’s pretty straightforward to configure and modify angles, and display form when you have to.

Different options embrace Google TV help (which continues to be extremely fast and straightforward to arrange when you’ve bought an Android cellphone), Airplay, and Google Forged help as customary. It additionally helps Bluetooth 5.0 as nicely, when you do fancy hooking up a soundbar, or one thing comparable.

Efficiency

So, in day-to-day use, what’s the X500i like? Actually, critically spectacular. I run a number of checks on the projectors I get in. Every part from streaming Netflix, watching 4K HDR movies, testing out some gameplay positive, you recognize, the same old stuff. However the largest problem is the “gray wall”. Particularly, my workplace has a darkish gray wall in it, and I prefer to see if the projector can deal with projecting onto that and producing colours appropriately, with out trying washed out, or any much less shiny than if it was shining onto a white floor. I can say that in that take a look at, the X500i blew me away. 

Even with ambient gentle within the background, it’s exhausting to emphasize simply how spectacular the colour is, even in that situation. Okay, it’s not your on a regular basis state of affairs admittedly, when you do intend to make use of a stable gaming projector, you’re going to get a devoted display to venture onto, however to see it carry out so admirably given the circumstances, is critically spectacular.

The gameplay, whether or not in Elden Ring, or Whole Warfare was buttery easy too, and watching YouTubers streaming Demon Souls, or the All Blacks crush Australia at Rugby was a pleasure. That 4K decision does assist a ton as nicely, upping the readability properly. The audio was nicely rounded too, bassy, however not muddy, with loads of mid and treble to again it up. Nonetheless not fairly on the identical degree as a devoted soundbar, however when you’re caught in a pinch, or slowly shopping for items to your gaming den, the X500i’s bought you coated right here too.

One factor that was a minor destructive was these twin followers. They’re only a bit too noisy, notably while you don’t have any audio enjoying within the background. It’s tremendous when you’re having fun with content material, however when you’re a Netflix menu fiend like I’m, deciding what to observe, or navigating by means of recreation settings and menus, having them whirring away quite loudly within the background is usually a bit distracting, and takes away from the in any other case virtually unspoiled brilliance of this factor.

Right here’s the factor although, provided that worth level, and the competitors round it, there’s little or no to dislike in regards to the X500i. It’s a flawless little unit, excellent for gaming. Sure, you’re nonetheless going to get higher efficiency out of one thing like an AOC Agon Professional AG324UX, or Alienware’s now legendary AW3423DWF (gotta love monitor names), however when you’re after the final word gaming projector, with out investing much more money, that is the perfect you will get.

Do you have to purchase it?

• Sure: If you would like an extremely good worth 4K gaming projector
• Sure: In case you worth coloration accuracy, and spectacular brightness at a number of resolutions
• Sure: In case you’re trying to ceiling mount it
• No: If you would like a projector that’s sub $1,000

BenQ’s X500i is a real titan in the case of the gaming projector scene. Its improbable array of options, mixed with a really phenomenal spec listing, at a worth level that places some severe stress on equally specced gaming screens as nicely, makes this probably the greatest worth and efficiency picks cash should purchase proper now. It doesn’t matter when you’re a PC or a console gamer, this factor will crush no matter you throw at it.

Alternate options

Often, it’s at this level that I let you know that the BenQ X3100i is a greater choose, though much more costly, and critically chunky, and whereas that’s nonetheless technically true, given the worth level of the X500i, and the function set on provide, that’s a critically difficult assertion to make. Sure from a technical standpoint, the X3100i is “higher”, however the variations are minor, and whether or not it’s value the additional price is very debatable at this level. Equally Acer’s GD711, though virtually equally priced, lacks the colour punch that the X500i does.

The one factor that may even mildly come near it’s paradoxically OLED gaming screens, or Ultrawide panels of the same ilk, wherein case the Alienware AW3423DWF goes to be your finest pal or AOC’s Agon Professional AG324UX. Nonetheless, with both of these picks, you’d be giving up the chance to throw up a 150-inch show on command.

In case you’re on a price range and aren’t in search of the snappiest 4K gaming projector on earth, the XGIMI Halo+ alternatively, does beat out the X500i, notably on the moveable entrance. Its spectacular environment-analysis instruments, and auto-adjusting lens, make it a formidable choice for these trying to watch content material and stream on the transfer.

Verdict

BenQ’s X500i is an distinctive 4K gaming projector, with a large function set. On the worth it’s entered the market at, you’d be hard-pushed to discover a higher projector. The one minor fumbles it has, revolve round a barely doubtful Google TV dongle set up (which you’ll neglect about in t-minus seven seconds), and mildly annoying followers when idling. In any other case, you’re getting unbelievable picture high quality, spectacular coloration accuracy, and buttery easy latency, to make even essentially the most keen of console or PC players completely satisfied.