BenQ’s new 4K gaming projector has a big flaw for console gamers
This projector only offers 4K gaming at 60Hz
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
BenQ has unveiled its latest4K gaming projector, and it looks set to be the brand’s best yet, but there’s something important to bear in mind if you’re planning to use it with a console.
The new BenQ X3000i projector (viaWhatHiFi) promises to deliver a true4Kresolution with vibrant colors thanks to its HDR10 support. The inclusion of 100% DCI-P3 means it can produce a full spectrum of colors to bring your gaming experience to life, and it can deliver a 1080p resolution at 240Hz for smooth gameplay.
If you’re looking to snatch one up for yourself it’s currently up for pre-order on theBenQ storefor $1,999 / £1,699 / AU$3299. It’s expected to start shipping in early March on a first-come-first-served basis.
However, if you’re thinking about snatching up this projector to use with yourXbox Series XorPS5, there are a few things to consider first.
For one, and most importantly for console gamers, you might struggle to actually achieve those ultra-high settings. That’s because this projector only has HDMI 2.0 ports, limiting you to 1080p gaming at 120Hz or 4K at 60Hz.
Plus at these lower refresh rates, your input lag will go up. At 1080p / 120Hz you’ll experience an 8ms delay and 16ms at 4K / 60Hz.
Smoother gaming
These aren’t the worst stats in the world, but you can do better. To get the most out of your PS5 and Xbox Series X (which are capable of 4K gaming at 120Hz) you might be better off opting for a TV of a similar price as this projector. Sure, the image won’t be as large, but you can find TVs withHDMI 2.1support and input lags as low as 1ms for a better gaming experience.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
On top of that, as this is along throw projector, you’ll need to place it a fair distance from the wall you’re projecting onto. For a 100-inch image, it’ll need to be 2.5m (8.2ft) away from the wall you’re using, and for a 150-inch picture, you’ll need to position it 3.8m (12.5ft) away.
Thankfully the BenQ projector boasts solid keystone correction tools so it can sit at an angle and still deliver solid performance, but we’d recommend working out where you could put it before placing your pre-order.
The audio is also a little lackluster. The X3000i only offers a pair of 5W speakers that likely won’t deliver a top-notch performance. That said, thanks to the X3000i’s eArc audio port and its Dolby Atmos support if you can hook up one of the best soundbars to this projector you’ll get a significantly better experience.
If that’s enough to put you off you can check out our picks for thebest 4K projectorsout there, as well as what we think are thebest gaming TVstoo.
Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.
Best Dragon Age games in 2024 - every series entry ranked
I reviewed the PS5 Pro and recommend these 7 enhanced games to try first
Your doctor may have an AI assistant taking notes during your next Zoom call
