BenQ UK has introduced a trio of latest 4K projectors with highly effective brightness specs to serve a variety of environments – all the pieces from pitch-black devoted dwelling theaters to well-lit residing rooms. As a bonus, the brand new fashions help the HDR10+ excessive dynamic vary format, which is a uncommon characteristic to search out in a projector.
The very best 4K projectors serve up cinema-size photographs from both a excessive shelf or ceiling mount in the back of the room or from a espresso desk in entrance of your couch. BenQ’s new fashions are designed to deal with each setups, although there are variations that make every mannequin extra ideally fitted to a selected software.
With its 3,200 ANSI Lumens brightness and HDR-PRO expertise, BenQ’s new W4000i (£2,999 / round $3,750 / AU$5,600) is positioned for darkish dwelling cinema rooms the place getting highly effective distinction from films with HDR is the principle goal. HDR-PRO helps HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG excessive dynamic vary codecs, and it includes a Native Distinction Enhancement algorithm that may divide photographs into over 1000 zones and independently optimize gamma for every one. The W4000i makes use of a 4 LED gentle engine and BenQ’s specs for it cite 100% DCI-P3 shade area protection.
The W2710i (£1,699.00 / round $2,120 / AU$3,175) is an reasonably priced projector that’s additionally designed for darkish room viewing. With 2200 ANSI Lumens, it’s not as brilliant because the W4000i, however has the identical HDR-PRO characteristic to reinforce excessive dynamic vary photographs. DCI-P3 shade area protection is 95% in accordance with BenQ’s specs.
Designed for viewing in brilliant rooms, the TK860i (£1,699.00 / round $2,120 / AU$3,175) presents 3,300 ANSI Lumens gentle output together with HDR-PRO. This mannequin seems to be the most suitable choice for gaming or for informal TV viewing the place excessive brightness is the principle concern, and it additionally includes a built-in 20W treVolo speaker system that ought to present a lot better-than-average sound high quality than what projectors usually ship.
Opinion: HDR10+ is a plus for projectors
Whereas now we have but to see Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR in a projector exterior of ultra-short throw fashions from Formovie and Hisense, some lengthy throw fashions just like the JVC DLA-NZ8 supply HDR10+ help. This Dolby Imaginative and prescient competitor isn’t as generally used for films and TV, however it may be discovered on choose 4K Blu-ray discs and sure titles on the perfect streaming providers, particularly Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Paramount Plus.
The explanation why a dynamic HDR format like HDR10+ is a boon for projectors is that they typically have restricted peak gentle output in comparison with the perfect 4K TVs. And whereas the brightness specs for BenQ’s new fashions are spectacular, they’re nonetheless prone to lack the identical stage of visible punch as you’d get from one of many high mini-LED TVs, and even the most recent flagship OLED TVs when viewing packages with HDR.
With its local-dimming-like capabilities, BenQ’s HDR-PRO characteristic seems designed to assist benefit from all method of HDR-enhanced content material, not simply HDR10+. One other characteristic discovered on the W4000i is built-in Android TV with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and extra apps for streaming. It’s unclear from BenQ’s announcement whether or not streaming on the opposite two fashions is built-in or by way of an exterior dongle, however each seem to have an Android TV choice.
We haven’t but obtained a press launch for related fashions within the US, however BenQ’s high two new projectors seem to coincide with the HT4550i and HT3560 listed on the US web site, which additionally lists the TK860i. US pricing and availability haven’t but been introduced, although we count on that data can be made out there within the very close to future.