The LG ProBeam BU53PST is a compact new 4K short-throw laser DLP projector that retails for $4,299 MSRP. It utilizes a multi-channel laser light source, provides a 3,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, and delivers up to 5,000 ANSI lumens of brightness.

The BU53PST is a professional laser projector designed for various applications such as simulator markets, office meeting rooms, digital signage, and even home entertainment. It has 4K (3,840 x 2,160) UHD resolution, provides 5,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, has more than 20,000 hours of laser life, includes lens shift, 1.2x optical zoom, and built-in wireless connectivity. 

We reviewed the other LG model in this series, the LG ProBeam BU60PST, and were impressed by the projector's picture quality and feature set. Check out our review by clicking the link.

As a leading manufacturer of flat-panel TVs, LG understands that some customers are looking for a bigger and more immersive image than even the largest OLED or LCD TV can provide. The BU53PST is part of the LG ProBeam projector lineup. The ProBeam series of projectors are designed to make front projection more accessible and appealing to a broader range of business and education professionals.

Utilizing a Texas Instruments DLP (.47″ DMD) with XPR technology, the ProBeam BU53PST displays 4K (3,840 x 2,160) UHD resolution.

The ProBeam BU53PST light engine is enclosed, preventing dust particles from settling inside the sealed, laser-projected light path and obstructing the projected image.

The ProBeam BU53PST utilizes a laser-phosphor light source that provides a manufacturer-rated 5,000 ANSI lumens of brightness designed to produce sharp, clear images in venues with active external light sources. A light output rating of 5,000 lumens is bright enough to be utilized in many business, hospital, museum, and education environments where ambient light is present. LG uses a high-output laser diode in the BU53PST rated to provide up to 20,000 hours of near-maintenance-free operation. Providing 20,000 hours of operation is equivalent to playing videos on this projector for eight hours daily, which translates to the laser diode lasting for seven years!

The combination of laser phosphor illumination and DLP imaging ensures excellent performance and durability. In addition, routine lamp replacements and maintenance are not needed so that the ProBeam BU53PST can be placed in difficult-to-reach locations such as creative museum displays or high-ceiling installations in auditoriums.

The ProBeam BU53PST is a short-throw projector allowing it to sit close to the screen. The projector offers a 1.2x manual zoom lens along with horizontal and vertical Lens Shift, which is rare on DLP projectors of this size and price point. Combined with the 12-point Warping function, these features reduce image distortion and allow precise alignment with the screen.

While LG ProBeam models do not have all the smart features found in the CineBeam products, the ProBeam BU53PST does have several notable features that enhance connectivity and productivity.

The BU53PST features a range of built-in preset modes, including seven preset video modes and six preset audio modes. These preset modes help you get the most from the projector within different venues. 

The BU53PST features two built-in speakers and an HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) with a simple connection to soundbars to offer an immersive experience. The projector also includes Bluetooth so you can play audio from a device such as a smartphone through the projector's internal speaker or a connected audio system. You also can connect Bluetooth headphones or speakers to play sound from the projector.

The BU53PST offers monitoring and control via a network supporting 3rd-party solutions from Crestron, Control4, and Savant, as well as supporting RS232C. The BU53PST also provides HDBaseT compatibility allowing a single CAT6 cable to carry 4K signals hundreds of feet to the ProBeam BU53PST projector.

The BU53PST is compatible with HDR10 content and is also one of a limited number of projectors capable of Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping. This feature, developed for LG's consumer CineBeam projectors, automatically adjusts the projector's tone mapping curves based on the scene playing to optimize the unit's HDR performance.

The BU53PST's combination of high brightness, low maintenance, and good picture quality make it a compelling alternative to a large flat-panel TV in almost any professional space. LG says the BU53PST fits as easily in the living room as in the meeting room.

• 4K (3840 x 2160) UHD Displayed Resolution 
• DLP (.047" DMD) with XPR imaging
• 5,000 ANSI Lumens
• Laser Light Engine with up to 20,000 hours lifespan (NORMAL mode)
• 3,000,000:1 (Dynamic Contrast Ratio)
• 1.2x Zoom Ratio
• Lens Shift (+/- 50%V 20%H)
• HDR10 with Dynamic Tone Mapping
• Integrated Wi-Fi & RJ45 for network connection
• WebOS 4.5
• Wireless screen share via Miracast
• Wireless content share via TV Plus app (Android, iOS) or DLNA device
• Dual 5-watt speaker system with Bluetooth
• Bluetooth audio output with lip sync adjustment

The BenQ TK700 4K HDR Short-Throw Console Gaming Projector is a $1,499 projector with 3200 ANSI lumens. The TK700 is part of BenQ’s Console Gaming Projector Series. Spoiler alert: the TK700 is great for gaming, but you could also definitely use it for watching your favorite movies and shows.

BenQ sent Projector Reviews a demo sample of the TK700 to review. To thoroughly test the projector, I connected my PlayStation 5, Razer Blade 17 4K – GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop, Kaleidescape Compact Terra 6TB movie server, and Kaleidescape Strato C 4K movie player to the TK700 via 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 cables. I projected onto a 110-inch Screen Innovations (SI) Solo Pro 2 Unity AT Pure White 1.3 gain screen for this review.

As always, I will provide you with an independent and honest review of the BenQ TK700 4K Short-Throw Gaming Projector.

OVERVIEW

The TK700 is a 4K lamp-based gaming projector designed for competition console gaming. The TK700’s lamp light source brightness is rated at 3,200 ANSI lumens. The lamp life span is rated at 4,000 hours in Normal mode and up to 15,000 hours in Lamp Save mode.

The TK700 is not to be confused with the BenQ TK700STi 4K Console Gaming Projector. For starters, the TK700STi is $1,699, which is $200 more than the TK700. The extra cost of the TK700STi is in part due to it being a smart projector with Android TV (ATV). The “i” located at the end of TK700STi indicates that the TK700STi is an intelligent projector that allows media streaming using an included BenQ QS0I ATV dongle. The QS0I Android TV dongle is effortlessly installed into the third HDMI input port, concealed under the dongle cover located on the projector’s rear.

The TK700 is purpose-built to be paired with a PlayStation or Xbox; both gaming consoles already have built-in smart features. Having smart features built into the TK700 would have been redundant and driven the price up. The TK700 has BenQ’s Black Detail Enhancement feature, and the TK700STi does not. The TK700 has FPS game mode, and the TK700STI has FPS, RPG, and SPG game modes.

The TK700 and TK700STi are both short-throw projectors, but the TK700 has a 1.3x zoom lens, and the TK700STi has a 1.2x zoom lens. The TK700 produces a 150-inch image at 12.03 feet from the projection surface, and the TK700STi produces a 150-inch image at 9.8 feet from the projection surface. Lastly, the TK700 has 3200 ANSI lumens compared to the TK700STi’s 3000 ANSI lumens. You can read my full review of the BenQ TK700STi by clicking here.

One of a few important items to us gamers is input lag. As far as input lag goes, BenQ states 0-20ms is high speed, 20-40ms is fast, 40-62ms is slow, and anything lower than 63ms is very slow. The TK700 has a BenQ rated input lag of 4K@60Hz: 16.67ms, 1080p@240Hz: 4.16ms, 1080p@120Hz: 8.33ms, and 1080p@60Hz: 16.67ms. In addition, it should be noted that this competition-level console gaming projector comes with a unique game mode for FPS gaming with audio, visual, and optimized latency settings.

The video format, distance from the projector lens to the screen, and the zoom setting play a factor in the TK700’s projected image size. BenQ states the TK700 preferred projector image size is 60-inches to 200-inches. However, if you do not mind the image being slightly out of adjustment, the TK700 can project an image as small as 30-inches and as big as 300-inches.

HIGHLIGHTS

• MSRP - $1,499
• Technology - Single DLP Chipset; Texas Instruments Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)
• 3840x2160 4K UHD displayed resolution
• Brightness (Manufacturer Claimed) – 3,200 ANSI lumens
• HDR Game Mode
• HDR10 and HLG Compatible
• Built-in 5-watt chamber speaker
• Dual HDMI 2.0b ports
  • HDMI Input#2 supports eARC, allowing Dolby Atmos and 7.1-channel audio to pass-through

Today, I bring you the BenQ TK700STi. BenQ proudly states the TK700STi is the “World’s First 4K HDR Gaming Projector; 4K @ 60Hz” and “Game with 16ms Lowest Input Lag Ever Paired with 4K Resolution.” In addition, it should be noted that this gaming projector comes with unique game modes for FPS (First-Person Shooter), RPG (Role-Playing Game), and SPG (Sports Game) gaming modes with audio, visual, and optimized latency settings for each type of game.

For this review, I was given access to an early model BenQ TK700STi. The TK700STi is a short-throw projector with a small rectangular shape. As a result, the projector took up only a small amount of space. The TK700STi has white plastic chassis with the front sporting a very cool-looking grey face.

The $1,699 price tag makes the TK700STi perfect for the gaming enthusiast and anyone else who wants an all-in-one, full HD 3D ready smart projector which requires only a flat viewing surface or projector screen and a power outlet to get the entertainment started with audio provided by its built-in 5-watt speaker.

The BenQ TK700STi uses a single Texas Instruments (TI) DLP (.47" DMD) chipset to deliver 4K UHD resolution. While a DLP chip does not actually have 8.3 million mirrors, it can deliver a perceived resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K UHD).

The DLP chip inside the TK700STi uses a technology called pixel-shifting. DLP XPR technology leverages the immense speed of the DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) to process pixels faster than the rate of the video signal. This speed is how DLP can utilize one imaging chip to create multiple colors and multiple pixel locations.

So, while the newest 0.47″ DMD chips only have about 2.1 million mirrors, they can deliver 8.3 million pixels of onscreen resolution. As we have discussed in the past, this system works so well that it would be difficult for a viewer to see a difference in resolution when compared to a native 4K UHD (8.3 megapixels) display.

The CTA (Consumers Technology Association) states that 4K UHD must produce 8.3 million distinct pixels on the screen, which is four times the resolution of Full HD 1080p. DLP True 4K UHD Technology is Texas Instruments’ pixel-shifting technology that assists projectors in achieving true 4K resolution on-screen with 8.3 million distinct pixels.

OVERVIEW

The TK700STi has a rated brightness of 3000 ANSI lumens. An ANSI lumen is a unit of measurement developed by the American National Standards Institute to measure brightness. The light source is rated to last up to 15,000 hours.

The TK700STi can project a perfectly clear image as small as 60 inches and as big as 200 inches. If you do not mind the image being slightly out of adjustment, you could project an image as small as 30 inches and as big as 300 inches. The TK700STi DLP with XPR technology definitely helps to provide sharp images.

The “i” located at the end of the model number indicates that the TK700STi is an intelligent projector that allows media streaming with the use of an included BenQ QS0I Android TV (ATV) dongle. The QS0I Android TV dongle is easily installed into the third HDMI input port, which is concealed under the dongle cover located on the rear of the projector.

BenQ offers a less expensive gaming projector called the XI300i. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the XI300i is $1,299. The XI300i is a 1080p (1920 x 1080) smart gaming projector with 3,000 ANSI lumens. The XI300i also has BenQ’s “GameMaestro” preset audio-visual game modes with 8.3ms@120Hz low latency. We gave this projector a Highly Recommended award because of its good picture quality, unique LED light source, and extensive game-focused feature set.

BenQ also offers a $1,799 Home Entertainment 4K HDR High Brightness Smart Projector if you prioritize cinema-style home entertainment over gaming. BenQ states, “Our TK850i is specially designed for binge-watchers, aiming to provide an authentic home entertainment experience with its excellent 4K image quality & color performance, hyper-realistic HDR PRO technology, and the good brightness for brightly lit viewing scenarios, such as your living room. Thus, the low latency is not a top priority for people who have higher standards over these areas.”

Take a look at Philip Boyle’s review of the BenQ TK850i for additional information.

However, if you are looking for a 4K UHD gaming projector, the $1,699 TK700STi is the projector you want.

Model	X1300i	TK700STi	TK850i
Price	$1299	$1699	$1799
Displayed Resolution	1920 x 1080	3840 x 2160	3840 x 2160
Light Source	LED	240W Lamp	245W Lamp
Brightness (ANSI Lumens)	3000	3,000	3,0000
Contrast	500,000:1 Dynamic	10,000:1	30,000:1 (Dynamic)
3D	Yes	Yes	Yes
DLP Chip	0.47" DMD	0.47" DMD	0.47 DMD
Speakers	2 x 5W (treVolo)	1 x 5W	2 x 5W
Weight	14.1 lbs	6.83 lbs	9.2 lbs

The BenQ TK700STi target customer is the individual who wants a high lumen gaming projector that is also moveable for multipurpose usage. The TK700STi provides hassle-free gaming and streaming entertainment experience. Google Play Store for Android TV, direct casting via Chromecast from an Android or iOS device, and gaming via Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch means hours of fun-filled entertainment utilizing the TK700STi. The built-in 5-watt speaker is a nice added bonus.

It seems like only yesterday I was reviewing the Optoma UHD50X projector. When you look at the UHD35 on paper or even at the projector out of the box, you would be tempted to think that Optoma just slapped the same components into an almost identical box. Maybe they did, but the performance of this projector is not a carbon copy of the UHD50X. The internal components may be identical, but the picture is different. Different good or different bad? You are going to have to read on... Like its older brother, the UHD35 is a gaming projector, and, like the UHD50X, it shares a lot of amazing specifications and technology.

As a gaming projector, the Optoma UHD35 core components operate at much higher levels of performance than a standard projector. Some of the key differences include the projector’s refresh rate, low input lag, and the ability to produce superior contrast. This level of performance provides the gamer with the ability to identify objects in the extreme ranges of bright and dark or to keep from getting killed by another player. Projectors like the UHD35 are optimized to work better with gaming consoles and high-performance gaming computers. This better performance is a result of being able to display a higher dynamic range of colors, higher resolution, and much faster refresh rates. Sound quality is also critical and in this review, I’ll let you know how the UHD35 does on all those fronts. Put simply, gaming projectors do more than offer a bigger and better television screen, they offer performance at a level that, until recently, was only available by owning a high-performance gaming display.

Optoma UHD35 Specs
Price	$1,299
Technology	Texas Instruments™ 0.47” DMD
Native Resolution	3840x2160
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	3600
Contrast	000, 000:1, 1, 1,000,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	1:1
Lens Shift	No
Lamp Life	4000/10,000/15,000 (Bright/ECO/Dynamic)
Weight	8.6lbs.
Warranty	1 Year (Parts & Labor), 90 Days (Lamp)

Overview

Optoma says that the UHD35 is the next generation of 4K UHD cinema gaming projectors. I paraphrase.

As with its previous UHD projector offerings, Optoma is focusing heavily on both the input lag rating of the Optoma UHD35 and its 4K cinema performance. When it comes to gaming, Optoma publishes a specification of 4.2ms vs the UHD50X input lag of 15.7 milliseconds in Advanced Gaming mode. This lamp-based DLP projector uses a Texas Instruments .47 DMD imager with TI’s proven pixel-shifting technology. This technology allows the Optoma projector to display true 4K resolution onscreen by using a single mirror to create multiple pixels of data, faster than the human eye can see.

Optoma says they want their users to be able to immerse themselves in a world of Ultra HD gaming, live sports, TV shows, and movies. The UHD35, like its predecessors, is designed to deliver impressive cinema-quality images, all with 3,600 Lumens of brightness. That’s the manufacturer’s claim. Since I don’t have the ability in my lab to measure input lag, my editor, Phil Jones will be testing this feature and adding an editor's addendum to this review. Like the UHD50X, the UHD35 offers a refresh rate of 240Hz with the exact same limitations. The UHD35 can project images up to 300-inches and, at least on paper, should be quite a projector at its price point.

The UHD35 is packed with Optoma’s latest technology and features. It boasts High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) compatibility, Full 3D, and two HDMI 2.0 ports.

The Optoma UHD35 has a manufacturer Lumens rating of 3,600 ANSI Lumens, an increase of 200 over the UHD50X, and a contrast rating that is nearly double that of the UHD50X at 1,000,000:1. The UHD35 makes use of Optoma’s BrilliantColorTM technology and an 8 segment color wheel that Optoma says will produce, “the truest and most accurate colors,'' presumably in this class or price point. You better believe that we’re going to check it out. Finally, Optoma is touting the UHD35’s HDR 10 & HLG support, which the manufacturer claims will provide, “the brightest whites, deepest darks, and lifelike color.”

As always, my goal is to provide you with a good idea of how the Optoma UHD35 lives up to the manufacturer’s claims, and if this projector is the right choice for your home entertainment/gaming needs. And away we go!

Highlights

• Price: $1,299.95 
• Technology: Single-Chip DLP (0.47″ DMD)
• XPR Technology
• Light Source: Lamp
• Display Resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
• Native Resolution: 1080x1920x4
• Brightness (Manufacturer Claim): 3,600 Lumens
• Light Source Lifespan: up to 15,000hrs (Dynamic), 10,000hrs (ECO), 4000 hrs (Bright)
• Contrast: 500,000.1
• HDR10/HLG Compatible
• HDR Tone Mapping

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EPSON BRIGHTLINK 595WI Projector Intro:  The Epson Brightlink 595Wi is an ultra short throw, interactive projector, sporting 3300 lumens.  It targets the education projector market, suitable for both K-12 and higher education applications.  Features include WXGA resolution (i.e., 1280 x 800 pixels), Wired and Wireless (with optional WiFi dongle) networking,  advanced user interactive inputs using dual pens plus finger touch, and classroom filling sound.  The Brightlink 595Wi is the most advanced of three new Epson interactive projectors in this series.  The Brightlink 575Wi projector is the entry interactive model with 2700 lumens, while the mid-level Brightlink 585Wi is very similar to the W595Wi, but lacks the finger touch user input interactive capability of the 595Wi. Art reviewed the BrightLink 585Wi in May 2014 (HERE) and because that model is in most aspects very similar the 595Wi, where appropriate I have used text from that earlier review for this review of the 595Wi.   Epson also offers a non-interactive model in the BrightLink 5xx series, the $1499 Brightlink 585W (no “i”), for those not interested in full interactivity. This Brightlink series of projectors from Epson may primarily focus on schools, (including large educational discounts), but are also widely sold for business use as well. It brings ultra short throw and interactivity to conference rooms, training rooms, and at trade shows.   The Brightlink Pro 1410Wi projector (review HERE) offers interactive capabilities along with video conferencing capabilities, and targets the executive boardroom while costing $100 more than the 595Wi.The Acer K335 is a versatile WXGA (1280 X 800) DLP pocket projector with enough light output to deal with less than ideal lighting conditions despite its small size!EPSON BRIGHTLINK PRO 1410Wi PROJECTOR:  This ultra-short throw projector is Epson's flagship interactive, geared for serious presentation work in corporate boardrooms, and training rooms. Extremely capable!