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.
BenQ TK700 Specs | |
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Price | $1399 |
Technology | DLP w/ XPR (0.47” Single-Chip DMD) |
Native Resolution | 1920x1080x4 (3840x2160) |
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim) | 3200 |
Contrast | 000:1, 10, 10,000:1 |
Zoom Lens Ratio | 1.3:1 |
Lens Shift | No |
Lamp Life | 4000 hours |
Weight | 6.8 lbs |
Warranty | 1 year |
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.
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.
BenQ TK700STi Specs | |
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Price | $1699 |
Technology | DLP with XPR (0.47” DMD) |
Native Resolution | 1920x1080x4 |
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim) | 3000 |
Contrast | 000:1, 10, 10,000:1 |
Zoom Lens Ratio | 1.2x |
Lens Shift | No |
Lamp Life | 4,000 hours / 15,000 hours (Eco) |
Weight | 6.83 |
Warranty | 3 years |
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.
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 |
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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.