Verdict
The BenQ X3100i is marketed as a gaming projector but this very capable 4 K HDR beamer is also a great choice for pic fans thanks to its shining and elaborated scene . A compact design , visceral apparatus and extensive play features that include very gloomy comment retardation round off out a solid package .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The BenQ X3000i is a 4 K HDR DLP projector and the latest in the marque ’s line of descent - up of beamers chiefly aimed at gamers who desire big screenland immersion commingle with dedicated gambling feature .
The 4LED promiscuous source has a claim smartness of 3,300 ANSI lumens , while gamers will be delighted with the four predetermined secret plan style and super - blue input signal lags , plus FPS crosshair feature for easier aiming , along with the brand ’s SettingXchange feature for update and tradition play configurations .
However , there ’s slew of potential for film fans as well , with the promise of meliorate direct contrast execution , 100 % coverage of the DCI - P3 wide colouration gamut , and a ramp up - in effectual scheme with BenQ ’s CinematicSound spacial audio recording . All of which means the BenQ X3100i could be a fantastic all rounder .
Availability
The BenQ X3100i is available now and can presently be picked up for £ 1,949 in the UK , $ 2,199 in the US , € 2,599 in Europe , and AU$3,199 in Australia . All these prices are reasonable for a 4 K HDR projector with a figure of cutting - edge picture show and play - related feature , along with some impressive specifications .
If you ’re looking for choice to the X3100i , the Optoma UHZ55 is worth deal . This optical maser - power 4 kB HDR DLP projector deliver 3,000 lumens , a crushed input stave , offer flexible frame-up , and even support for WiSA wireless audio . It can be purchase for £ 1,699 in the UK , $ 2,459 in the US , and € 2,099 in Europe .
Design
The BenQ X3100i continues the mark ’s ‘ cubist full stop ’ with its square plastic shape , rounded corners and lily-white finish . It ’s heavyset and well built , with a gloss blackened front that has a design impress on it to break up the uniformity . There ’s an orange trim around the outer edge , and a large recessed electron lens that ’s offset to the left as you face it .
There are vents on the sides that pull double duty handling both the cooling fans for the LED light source and the built - in utterer . There ’s a dial on top for vertically shift the image , while on the odd mitt side near the genus Lens are manual controls for zooming and focusing the epitome . There are also basic controls in eccentric you lose the remote .
At the rear you ’ll recover a pair of HDMI 2.0b comment , all of which support 4K/60Hz , HDR10 , HLG and ALLM , while stimulation 2 also supports eARC . There ’s also a USB embrasure , an visual digital yield , and a 3.5 mm analogue output , along with a 12V initiation and an RS-232 connexion for sequential control . In terms of wireless connectivity there ’s Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , Google Chromecast andApple AirPlay .
BenQ claim built - in Android goggle box in its marketing , but this is n’t rigorously straight . In world there ’s a removable board at the top behind which you ’ll obtain Mini HDMI and Micro USB connector for tie BenQ ’s Android telly dongle , which you then slot into a provided compartment . While this is technically internal , it ’s decidedly not a build - in bright arrangement in my book .
The provided remote is a duple purpose accountant that handles both the projector and the separate Android TV smart organization . While it ’s comfortable to reserve and comfortable to use with one hand , it uses some jolly unnoticeable ikon to identify the various buttons . So you will want to familiarise yourself , but on the positive side the menus and military operation are reactive .
Features
The BenQ X3100i is a longer give projector than some of the others on the brand ’s play line - up , with a stroke ratio of 1.15 to 1.5 and a 1.3x zoom . This permit you to contrive a 100 - column inch image from 2.5 - 3.3 m and a 150 - inch screen from 3.8 - 5 m. There ’s also 40 - 60 % vertical lens system slip , digital zoom , and adjustable feet to make instalment quick and easy .
The 4LED lite source has the benefit of a very long life story , with BenQ claiming 30,000 hour . This easy liken to a decade of marathon gambling sessions , and myriad moving picture Night . It ’s also very bright at 3,300 ANSI lumens , so you’re able to apply the X3100i in a elbow room with a point of ambient light , although the darker you’re able to make thing the better the results .
Otherwise the X3100i is a received single - crisp DLP projector with a claimed resolution of 4 K – although this is reach using a Full HD DMD and XPR four - way pixel shifting . The X3100i also support eminent dynamical grasp , specifically HDR10 andHLG ( hybrid logarithm - gamma ) . In addition BenQ claims this beamer track 100 % of the DCI - P3 across-the-board colour gamut .
The X3100i sports a good system based around a pair of treVolo chambered loudspeaker system each of which is driven by 5W of amplification . BenQ calls this organisation CinematicSound , and it ’s designed to deliver room - filling spatial sound recording using a Bongiovi DSP chipset . If that name sounds intimate it ’s because the engineering was developed by Jon Bon Jovi ’s cousin !
The X3100i is chiefly target at gamers , and as such it boasts a number of gaming related feature of speech including four dissimilar biz way depending on the genre . The projector can also mechanically notice a connected console and select the appropriate modality . There ’s even a crosshair feature to make targeting easier in first person shooters .
Finally there ’s BenQ ’s SettingXchange , which is a musical composition of software you could download on your PC and used to synchronise with the projector . It allows you to update the beamer ’s firmware , but also import custom gaming configurations and colour parameter create by experts and professional gamers . This is intended to improve the gaming experience and nurture a good sense of collaboration and community .
away from the general pain in the ass of hold to unscrew the top of the X3100i to install BenQ ’s Android boob tube dongle , the political platform it provides is fairly basic . It ’s also not the most robust , and I experience a telephone number of smash and glitches when using it . While most of the main streamers are present and optimised for the beamer , due to ongoing issues with Google there are no UK television set catch - up apps .
Performance
The BenQ X3100i is a DLP projector and thus benefit from the relative strengths and weaknesses of this special video display engineering . The individual microprocessor chip nature of the optic block , along with a decent lens ensures pin sharp images with no alliance consequence , while the enjoyment of LEDs rather than a coloration cycle should minimise potential rainbow artefacts – although their absence ca n’t be assure .
The four light-emitting diode certainly deliver the good in terms of smartness , with BenQ ’s claims of a elevation light of 3,300 ANSI lumens appearing correct in actual examination . However , the more accurate Cinema manner will reduce this to around 2,000 ANSI lumens but that ’s still pretty bright and certainly sufficient to fork up punchy images that really pop when viewed in a darkened room .
The inclusion body of the quaternary light-emitting diode in addition to the usual reddened , green and aristocratic does n’t just encourage the brightness , it also allow the X3100i to reach a all-embracing coloring material gamut than is possible with a DLP beamer that utilize a colour cycle . The BenQ is able-bodied to cover nearly 100 % of BT.709 in SDR and almost all of the DCI - P3 colour gamut with HDR , resulting in a pleasingly colourful introduction .
The X3100i does n’t just deliver wider colours , it actually manages to do so while remain imposingly precise out of the box . The greyscale , gamma and colour mistake are all below the visible room access of three , which make this projector a good choice for film fans as well a gamers . There are also calibration controls for improving the truth , although most would n’t notice the difference .
The fatal floor are fairly typical for a DLP projector and more a obscure grey , and this was especially obvious when take in The Crow on 4 K Blu - beam of light with its nighttime cityscape bathed in shadow . Even with the active inglorious lineament engaged the genuine intra - frame contrast proportion is a far call from the claim 600,000:1 , and the native on / off contrast ratio is confining to 1,000:1 in reality .
However , the increased brightness , the wide-eyed colours and the overall accuracy countervail any weakness in terms of contrast , and thanks to some competent whole tone mapping a film like The Greatest Showman really pop in term of its 4 K visuals and HDR - enhanced colours . Whether you ’re design a pic nighttime or gambling session this beamer should put a grinning on on your face .
As you ’d expect from a DLP projector motion treatment is superb , with the lightning immobile response time of the engineering smoothly delivering all the effort in Furiosa ’s frenetic natural process scenes with no signs of blurring , judder or other artefacts . This legato motion does n’t just apply to motion-picture show , and the same fluid delivery is also applicable to games , once again making this a great all rounder .
The absence seizure of a colour wheel does at least mean there ’s no luxuriously - pitch whimper as it whizzes around , but the four LEDs still command cooling and there is a average degree of fan stochasticity . However with the beamer ’s built - in speakers blasting forth or an outboard sound system filling the room with audio , the fan will be drowned out and should n’t really be an issue most of the time .
Unsurprisingly given the X3100i is in the main aimed at gaming it excels in this area , and while limit to 24p or 60Hz when watch movie and television shows , you may go as high-pitched as 240Hz with 1080p PC games . The solution is a silky - fluent and super - responsive gaming experience with remark lags that range from 16ms with 4K/60Hz , down to an incredibly low 4ms at 1080p/240Hz .
The X3100i automatically detected my PS5 and switched into the appropriate game way , and playing Grand Theft Auto V resulted in a befittingly chaotic and vehement experience with incredibly unruffled movement , along with the bright and detailed 4 K HDR imaging . Thanks to this beamer ’s large screen characterization it ’s an immersive experience , but to really enjoy it you ’ll need to induct in bigger and better audio .
The sound system itself is reasonably good for more casual showing , but a academic degree of expectation management is required . The two speakers do n’t have the shell or power to create a soundstage that complement the big concealment simulacrum , despite the ingenuity of Bon Jovi ’s cousin , and with just 5W of amplification for each loudspeaker system they also ca n’t go too tatty without begin to distort .
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Should you buy it?
The BenQ X3100i projector ’s oarlock sharp 4 K HDR visuals , superior gesture manipulation , multiple game modality , incredibly low remark interim , FPS crosshair feature , and SettingXchange customisation make this beamer a great selection for gamers .
Despite the BenQ X3100i ’s overall play prowess , there is one area where it ’s lack . The HDMI 2.0 inputs think of this projector ca n’t accept 4K/120Hz signals , which is a ignominy give its dissolute response times and low stimulation meantime .
Final Thoughts
The BenQ X3100i fork up big , bright and colorful 4 kilobyte HDR images thanks to its 4LED light generator . Once you add in its great apparent motion handling , good characterisation accuracy and master of ceremonies of consecrate gaming features you have a beamer that ’s a good option for film fans and hardcore gamers .
The cube - shaped design is fashionable if a little plastic in construction , and the optic adjustments and setup options make installation quick and easy . It ’s define to HDMI 2.0 , so no 4K/120Hz , and the Android TV sassy system of rules could be better , but otherwise it ’s a crack all debauchee .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every projector we review good over an protracted period of time . We usePortrait Displays Calman people of color standardisation softwareand diligence standards to liken features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to survey a product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
The X3100i ’s HDR only extends to HDR10 and HLG .
