ERRATA - BenQ says that Netflix is restricting their app from all projectors, not just theirs. I will try to get confirmation from Netflix that this is the case. Of note: When I review laptops I often discuss that items that are thinner and lighter carry a cost premium vs. larger, heavier devices that deliver comparable levels of performance. The same is true of projectors. There are much brighter projectors that don't cost more than this but they are far less portable.
I wish we could get an answer about swapping out for a fire stick… yes or no? Does this project better on to a white screen or a black screen? How loud can the speakers get? Thanks!
You can get a 720P projector for under $100, add a portable battery and speakers for less than half the price of this projector. At this price you're better off getting an Optoma that displays true 1080P and supports 3D movies. At $799 you can get 4K.
really suprised engineers settled on this exact case. Because it looks remarkably similiar to the BlissLights Sky Lite thats been popular for years that shines ambient blacklite around the room.
It's a pity there's still no such thing as a "deal" for projectors. I'm a teacher who has to move around a lot because of COVID and a 1080p sub 3/400 dollar projector that fits in a bag and is usable in a somewhat bright room would be a game changer.
I don’t think this projector is as good as my epson project home cinema 2250. I have 12ft by 8ft screen., I painted black and the picture quality is amazing. This BenQ is lower end., I’m sure there other BenQ that cost little more and gives you much satisfaction.
I got a Xgimi Halo portable projector, it is amazing, 600-800 ANSI, 600 on battery & 800 mains power, 2-4hr battery pending on brightness, on full brightness (mains) you can still watch with curtains open (not fantastic but still very clear) in room I got it, there is an over head light (60w) in-between wall and projector, I can have it on with curtains drawn, and still watch a film clearly 👍🏻🤪😜, and it has Harmon Kardan speakers as well.
Same issue with Netflix on my Cosmos Max, however the folks at XDA has a way to get Netflix (the Android TV version) onto your device with 4k and HDR. If you are tech savvy enough, you probably can do the same with this projector.
Glaring Red Flags on this! $599, which is acceptible price for a normal 1080p projector. This being marketed as a bluetooth speaker adding these features are really cutting into value! This is 720p. My $600 Optoma from 4 years ago has a 3000 lumens value. To put into perspective, LiFX bulbs are 1400 brightness. The specs on BenQ's preorder site say 300 lumens! Which is not much brighter than an old light bulb !
this unit is portable, making focus on that feature, it even has a way to carry around from that yellow fabric on the top it is not meant to be cheaper, is meant to sound nice, be portable and have a internal battery, not on having more lumens or having higher resolution, you are complaining about a portable unit for being portable not every product has to be what you bought many years ago, nor it can be priced the same if is meant to be portable, something tells me your optoma needs a bag to carry it around, is fucking heavy and does not have a internal battery and the internal speaker probably sound like crap over the noise of the fan when the unit gets hot
@@arch1107 benq puts out the same style of projectors as optoma. You remember those mini projectors the size of a walkman? Those always fascinated me. I was just saying tie in all the bells and whistles at this price and the consumer is getting an expensive night light / speaker / firetv combo. and it's not bright at all. I know brightness. 3000 lumens you can get a great $20 "shop light" led strip to put behind a tv that is 3000 lumens. That is a great brightness that can be watched even with ambient sunlight. The brightness on this is Nothing. For comparison I looked up iphone flash light which is rated at 400.
@@Paperclown it does not matter, because optoma have very little portable models, and this model in particular is clearly focused on being portable your comparison only pointed at flaws that are part of the concept of being portable with a battery inside, good speaker and the limited but decent image quality you focused on the bad things of a portable unit, i see how good it is, but don't see it as the perfect solution for every situation
@@arch1107 then pre-order it, i don't care. $600 to watch movies in the backyard during Christmas season still makes bad marketing. When all I do is run an extention cable out and play from the Nvidia Shield TV. It still is horrible design because at 300 lumens any Tiki Torches or LED lights in the party yard will bleed out the image. Talking absolute dark requirement as shown by Lon. AND.. he said it himself, the sweet spot the throw is 5 feet from the surface and 60 inch area. Gonna have to sit pretty close to the bedsheet movie screen it just makes absolute NO SENSE.
Lon I just ordered the benq gv30. Is it possible to install a Roku stick or fire stick instead of their android stick under that cover and if yes would that affect updating the firmware or software for the device itself. In other words must their android stick be the only one under the cover for updating the device.
Nice looking projector but that price is too steep for those specs. 720p and 300 lumens for $600! Nah. That's the price of an Epson Home Cinema 880, a 1080p 3 LCD projector with 3300 lumens! I don't think convenience/lifestyle features on the BenQ can make up for such a disparity in raw specs.
@Ayjop lol, the 3300 is in ANSI Lumens! not some fake/made-up lumen rating. Epson is the CHAMPION of projector brightness and has been leading the charge for companies to implement the industry standard. they even have lawsuits against those who use misleading ratings such as lux.
ERRATA - BenQ says that Netflix is restricting their app from all projectors, not just theirs. I will try to get confirmation from Netflix that this is the case.
Of note: When I review laptops I often discuss that items that are thinner and lighter carry a cost premium vs. larger, heavier devices that deliver comparable levels of performance. The same is true of projectors. There are much brighter projectors that don't cost more than this but they are far less portable.
I wish we could get an answer about swapping out for a fire stick… yes or no?
Does this project better on to a white screen or a black screen?
How loud can the speakers get?
Thanks!
Hi! Just wanted to say that this was one of the few reviews that I found useful in helping me decide on this purchase. Tks so much for doing this.
Great review as always lon. Keep up the good work.
You can get a 720P projector for under $100, add a portable battery and speakers for less than half the price of this projector. At this price you're better off getting an Optoma that displays true 1080P and supports 3D movies. At $799 you can get 4K.
Can you replace the Benq stick with a Fire stick?
I wonder if you replace the android device with a Firestick in that lil spot, would that work?
To expensive for what it is, Xgimi Halo is far better for about $100 more 🤪
really suprised engineers settled on this exact case. Because it looks remarkably similiar to the BlissLights Sky Lite thats been popular for years that shines ambient blacklite around the room.
Firestick fits perfect replace android with firestick.
thanks Lon. very nifty projector that could be fun for a bunch of different scenarios.
It's a pity there's still no such thing as a "deal" for projectors. I'm a teacher who has to move around a lot because of COVID and a 1080p sub 3/400 dollar projector that fits in a bag and is usable in a somewhat bright room would be a game changer.
Is there a liklihood that HBO gave BenQ a financial incentive to not by Netflix compatible?
Can I sync my Sonos speakers with this?
can I use wireless keyboard mouse in USB C port with OTG?
PLEASE TELL ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I don’t think this projector is as good as my epson project home cinema 2250. I have 12ft by 8ft screen., I painted black and the picture quality is amazing. This BenQ is lower end., I’m sure there other BenQ that cost little more and gives you much satisfaction.
I got a Xgimi Halo portable projector, it is amazing, 600-800 ANSI, 600 on battery & 800 mains power, 2-4hr battery pending on brightness, on full brightness (mains) you can still watch with curtains open (not fantastic but still very clear) in room I got it, there is an over head light (60w) in-between wall and projector, I can have it on with curtains drawn, and still watch a film clearly 👍🏻🤪😜, and it has Harmon Kardan speakers as well.
Same issue with Netflix on my Cosmos Max, however the folks at XDA has a way to get Netflix (the Android TV version) onto your device with 4k and HDR. If you are tech savvy enough, you probably can do the same with this projector.
Seems kinda low end for the price but interesting review!
Hi, is there a way to zoom in or out without having to move the projector near or further?
i thought most projector doesnt support NF, at least other TH-camrs had confirmed this.
LED lamp user replaceable?
All under 1080p isn't worth the money. We live in 2021.
Weird TH-cam says it is new but i have seen this - caches cleared still the same
You likely saw the livestream we did the other day
@@LonSeidman Ah must be gittin olde!, thanks.
Glaring Red Flags on this! $599, which is acceptible price for a normal 1080p projector. This being marketed as a bluetooth speaker adding these features are really cutting into value! This is 720p. My $600 Optoma from 4 years ago has a 3000 lumens value. To put into perspective, LiFX bulbs are 1400 brightness. The specs on BenQ's preorder site say 300 lumens! Which is not much brighter than an old light bulb !
this unit is portable, making focus on that feature, it even has a way to carry around from that yellow fabric on the top
it is not meant to be cheaper, is meant to sound nice, be portable and have a internal battery, not on having more lumens or having higher resolution, you are complaining about a portable unit for being portable
not every product has to be what you bought many years ago, nor it can be priced the same if is meant to be portable, something tells me your optoma needs a bag to carry it around, is fucking heavy and does not have a internal battery and the internal speaker probably sound like crap over the noise of the fan when the unit gets hot
@@arch1107 benq puts out the same style of projectors as optoma. You remember those mini projectors the size of a walkman? Those always fascinated me. I was just saying tie in all the bells and whistles at this price and the consumer is getting an expensive night light / speaker / firetv combo. and it's not bright at all. I know brightness. 3000 lumens you can get a great $20 "shop light" led strip to put behind a tv that is 3000 lumens. That is a great brightness that can be watched even with ambient sunlight. The brightness on this is Nothing. For comparison I looked up iphone flash light which is rated at 400.
@@Paperclown it does not matter, because optoma have very little portable models, and this model in particular is clearly focused on being portable
your comparison only pointed at flaws that are part of the concept of being portable with a battery inside, good speaker and the limited but decent image quality
you focused on the bad things of a portable unit, i see how good it is, but don't see it as the perfect solution for every situation
@@arch1107 then pre-order it, i don't care. $600 to watch movies in the backyard during Christmas season still makes bad marketing. When all I do is run an extention cable out and play from the Nvidia Shield TV. It still is horrible design because at 300 lumens any Tiki Torches or LED lights in the party yard will bleed out the image. Talking absolute dark requirement as shown by Lon. AND.. he said it himself, the sweet spot the throw is 5 feet from the surface and 60 inch area. Gonna have to sit pretty close to the bedsheet movie screen it just makes absolute NO SENSE.
@@Paperclown lol, you are very obsessed, i bet you will buy one and make a video about it and how much you love the unit
more money less features
Lon I just ordered the benq gv30. Is it possible to install a Roku stick or fire stick instead of their android stick under that cover and if yes would that affect updating the firmware or software for the device itself. In other words must their android stick be the only one under the cover for updating the device.
I have that same question
Neat design
Lon you are so awesome!
This BenQ projector is begging for the Retrotink 5X to be used with it...
Hmmmm :)
Appreciate your attention to detail and honesty.
720p for $500? I will pass. At this resolution, all it can do is media. Forget about using it for anything else.
Nice looking projector but that price is too steep for those specs. 720p and 300 lumens for $600! Nah. That's the price of an Epson Home Cinema 880, a 1080p 3 LCD projector with 3300 lumens! I don't think convenience/lifestyle features on the BenQ can make up for such a disparity in raw specs.
@Ayjop lol, the 3300 is in ANSI Lumens! not some fake/made-up lumen rating. Epson is the CHAMPION of projector brightness and has been leading the charge for companies to implement the industry standard. they even have lawsuits against those who use misleading ratings such as lux.