The BenQ W4000i, like most BenQ projectors, offers a modern design that balances style and functionality. The W4000i is a good-looking projector with a blend of matte and glossy surfaces. I love the black color scheme BenQ chose to use on this projector. The various dark tones make this projector look sleek and should keep it from being a source of unwanted reflected light. It looks great in my living room. The BenQ W4000i measures 16.55" W x 5.32" H x 12.28" D (420.5 mm x 135.3 mm x 312.1 mm) and weighs 14.55 lbs. (6.59 Kg).

Like most BenQ projectors, the W4000i doesn't disappoint in design and ergonomics. Conveniently located on the right side (when looking from the rear) are easily accessible control buttons for menu access and navigation. From this control, the panel user can adjust settings, control all of the projector's menu-based functions and even power the projector on and off. This user-friendly interface ensures a hassle-free experience. The location and design of the control panel make it easy to operate the projector by feel without the remote control, even when mounted on the ceiling.

The W4000i provides horizontal and vertical lens shift and zoom capabilities. These allow users to fine-tune the position of the projected image without physically moving the entire projector. This flexibility makes setting up the projector according to different room configurations or mounting preferences convenient.

The W4000i offers a wide array of connectivity options. Multiple HDMI ports, USB ports, and audio outputs provide ample opportunities to connect devices like gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and sound systems. This versatility allows for the seamless integration of different multimedia components, enhancing the viewing experience.

The W4000i ventilation design helps keep the projector from overheating during extended use. The W4000i/HT4550i also incorporates noise control mechanisms, ensuring minimal fan noise and minimizing distractions during your viewing sessions.

The W4000i comes with two HDMI 2.0 ports, with one of the connections supporting Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) functionality. Two USB Type-A connections support data and media transfer as well as power. Please see my chart below for a complete listing of all ports.

The BenQ W4000i lens is made up of a high-precision 10-element 6-group lens array that fits perfectly to ensure the image stays clear and sharp from corner to corner. As is typical for projectors with both a focus and zoom wheel in the same space, manually adjusting the zoom to match the focus is simple by using the controls directly above the lens housing. The image looks great once the focus is dialed in. This is the best focus uniformity in a projector under $3,000.

BenQ projectors have menus that are easy to use and understand. The menus are organized in a way that makes sense, so you can find what you're looking for without any trouble. Navigating through the menus is simple and straightforward, so you can quickly adjust settings and explore different options. If you need help or explanations, the menus provide on-screen guidance to make things easier.

You can customize the projector settings to your liking, whether the brightness, color, or other aspects. The menus offer quick access to important functions, so you can easily switch inputs or change the picture mode. With BenQ projectors, the menus are designed to be user-friendly and make getting the best performance from your projector a breeze.

Like other BenQ projectors I have recently reviewed, this unit works on two different menu systems. The first is the BenQ projector menu, allowing users to control most projector features. The second is the Android TV interface. This is a hybrid menu system, but I prefer a more integrated system built around Android if the OS is part of the projector operation.

The FILMMAKER preset picture mode is the best overall setting if you have a room with moderate control over ambient light sources. BenQ recommends this mode when playing 1080p SDR movies. You can see examples in the screen captures in the slideshow above from The Last Action Hero and Heat. These are not new movies by any stretch of the imagination, but the W4000i shows them at their best in FILMMAKER mode, where the projector can reproduce 100% Rec.709 color accuracy and can provide 110" at 48 nits (14fL) which are typically used in controlled dark spaces like movie theaters.

Like all Home Theater projectors, Philip Jones took the time to calibrate the W4000i. Since your room and screen material significantly impact the overall picture, we don't recommend using someone else's calibration adjustments. If your room is brighter/darker or your walls are a different color, your settings would probably be different. Also, the color characteristics of different individual projectors can vary. Therefore copying someone else's results can actually be detrimental to the picture quality rather than improving it. However, I am including Philip’s specific room before and after calibration results.

If you want to make BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST, and SHARPNESS adjustments to optimize your projector for your room, several free test patterns are available on Murideo’s website and YouTube channel. Check out our YouTube video on utilizing several of these test patterns called Optimize The Image of a Projector or TV Using Free Murideo Test Patterns. Murideo also has written instructions located under the resource section of its website. We use Portrait Displays Calman color calibration software to test the projector's color accuracy.

Delta E, as a measure of grayscale/color accuracy of 3 and under, is considered 'Excellent' and imperceptible by the human eye. The W4000i white balance out of the box was outstanding, with an average deltaE under 2. This measurement is better than several projectors we have reviewed, even after those units had been calibrated.  The color tracking out of the box was just 3.8, which is better than many projectors costing significantly more. Utilizing the precise CMS adjustments, we reduced the average Color Tracking Delta E to less than one which is awesome.

The W4000i ,and its twin brother the HT4550i, displays a fantastic image out of the box for many reasons. First, the image is bright, measuring about 3,470 ANSI lumens based on my testing. This is primarily due to BenQ's continued advancements in boosting LED performance. Compared to a traditional 3LED light engine, this BenQ 4LED adds an additional blue LED that boosts the projector's overall brightness. This sounds similar to some laser-based light sources adding an additional blue laser diode, and this is true. However, there are some big differences. This new 4LED system does not introduce any specular artifacts that can often be found in RGB or dual blue laser light sources. The W4000i's engine uses no color wheels, so it is smaller, which reduces the overall size and weight of this new projector. LEDs should run much cooler than lamps or laser-based projectors, but this LED projector is about on par with the other BenQ projectors I've reviewed.

Out-of-the-box, this projector is nearly perfect with my only complaint being that the image leans a little toward greenish blues tones. BenQ has really made sure that the factory calibration on the W4000i is very good. BenQ also realizes that not every person has the ability to control the lighting in their room completely. For that reason, BenQ's new 4LED light source works incredibly well in spaces that always have some uncontrolled ambient light. This is a projector that functions incredibly well for lights on viewing.

The video quality of the BenQ W4000i is already good right out of the box. However, you can make significant changes to the on-screen image by adjusting settings such as Picture Mode, Light Source, and Color Temperature Tuning. For instance, I switched the Light Source mode from SmartEco to Normal and experimented with different Picture Modes like FILMMAKER and USER to find the best image for my viewing room. Using the User mode, I fine-tuned the HT4550i image to match my specific viewing environment.

The BenQ W4000i stands out from lower-priced projectors with its advanced color adjustment settings. Unlike many other projectors in its price range, the W4000i offers a wide range of adjustments to fine-tune the color and image quality. Within the projector's Advanced Color Settings menu, you can adjust various image parameters such as gamma, color temperature tuning, and HDR brightness. The projector offers an extensive Color Management System (CMS) to adjust the image further. These comprehensive color adjustments and an 11-point white balance control make it easier for users to tune the projector according to their preferences resulting in a more accurate and satisfying viewing experience.

The W4000i does an excellent job of upscaling content. Whether it's 1080p videos or sports broadcasts in 720p, even a good quality DVD looked good on the W4000i. The W4000i delivered sharp and detailed images without any issues. As mentioned, the W4000i uses a new 0.66" DMD Texas Instruments (TI) DLP chipset to achieve its 4K (3,840 x 2,160) displayed resolution. Unlike the smaller DLP imagers, this new DMD only needs to shift half as much to display a 4K image.

The BenQ SMARTECO mode automatically adjusts lamp brightness based on projected content. This mode enhances brightness and contrast, resulting in improved picture quality. SmartEco Technology enhances the contrast ratio, providing clearer text and more defined subtle details.

The W4000i is also full HD 3D-ready, allowing you to enjoy 3D movies, videos, sporting events, and games with enhanced depth when wearing compatible 3D glasses. Even though BenQ is marketing the W4000i as a home theater projector, this projector will be used in non-traditional ways. Its short throw functionality, small size, weight, and brightness make this projector usable as part of a home golf simulator.

Overall, the BenQ W4000i/HT4550i delivers impressive video quality and offers a range of features and settings to enhance your home entertainment experience for movies, television, or gaming. Video/Movie enthusiast in the market for a home theater projector under $3000 should definitely consider the BenQ W4000i/HT4550i.  It is highly recommended.