The BenQ GP500 is a 4K HDR portable smart projector that brings a theater experience to the home living room. This projector boasts impressive picture quality, is easy to use, and features a range of connectivity options, making it an excellent choice for many users. In this review, we will delve deeper into the specs and features that benefit the BenQ SP500 projector and see if it’s the right pick for you. If you want to learn more about this projector, continue reading on to our full BenQ GP500 review (>>> Check its pricing on Amazon).
BenQ GP500 Review of Features:
| BenQ GP500 | |
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| Resolution | 3840x2160 |
| Brightness (Lumens) | 1,500 ANSI |
| Contrast | 100,000:1 |
| Input Lag | 25ms |
| Throw Ratio | 1.00:1 - 1.30:1 |
| Screen size | 40" - 200" |
| Speakers | 5.0 Watts × 4 |
| Today's Best Price | BHPhotoVideo.com |
Design
Looking at the GP500, we found it to have a sleek and modern design for a portable projector. It has the design quality of an object that would blend seamlessly with our homes and office. In addition, the projector is lightweight, weighing only 11.9 lbs.
At the projector’s base, four built-in treVolo speakers deliver 5 watts of power in a metal grille that provides 360-degree surround sound. We found the speaker performance great, and you could comfortably use the GP500 without a soundbar or dedicated sound system.
On the back of the projector, you’ll find a range of inputs that includes two HDMI 2.0b ports that support 4K at 60 Hz, with one of the two also being an HDMI ARC port. Additionally, there are two USB Type-A ports and your power connection. Audio devices have a 3.5mm output and an optical output S/PDIF output, allowing you to connect external audio systems. Check our review of another BenQ projector presented during the CES2023 – the HT2060.
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Picture Quality
We found the BenQ GP500 to feature bright and vibrant picture quality thanks to BenQ using a 4 LED HDR compatible light source for this projector, producing true-to-life colors and deep blacks. This factors into the high dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000:1 that the BenQ GP500 has, meaning it can display a wide range of shades between black and white, further improving the accuracy of color. This projector offers solid image quality; regardless of if you’re gaming or watching movies, it handles the transition between dark and bright scenes excellently. The native 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160 gives you an incredibly detailed image, and images move fluidly thanks to the 60 Hz refresh rate at 4K.
Focus Features)
Brightness
The BenQ GP500 handles brightness decently, but we noted that it works best only in light-controlled indoor environments. The projector’s brightness rating is only 1500 lumens, which works well in a light-controlled space. Still, it would struggle in overly bright rooms like a classroom or office where there would likely be a significant amount of bright fluorescent lighting.
Smart Features
The GP500 is a smart projector that features BenQ’s Android TV streaming stick, the QS01 to power the Android Smart TV OS. What sets BenQ apart is its unique approach to the QS01 stick. Instead of taking up one of the ports, the streaming stick is directly connected to the device. We could unscrew the top panel, revealing the stick. The top panel also houses an additional HDMI port and USB power cord when the dongle is not in use. The QS01 features built-in dual-band Wi-Fi and allows you to stream from popular streaming services available on the Android platform.
Ease of Use
We appreciated the auto-keystone that helped us line up and square or image away on the projector screen. In addition, the GP500 features an automatic focus adjustment that operates seamlessly and accurately. We noted that the projector was precise every time and didn’t need any manual adjustments. This is an impressive projector in terms of ease to use and set up, especially compared to other projectors at this price point, requiring manual tweaking to achieve a similar focus.
Thanks to the integration into the Android platform, you get the usual features and ease of use that we’ve come to expect from smart Android devices. We were pleased with how easy using and navigating the GP500 was. The projector also includes a remote control that makes adjusting settings on the fly and navigating the GP500s Android-based menus easy.
Pros
- Easy to setup and use.
- Great 4K HDR picture quality and native 4K UHD resolution at a good price point.
- Bright LED light source
Cons
- Only 1500 lumens rated brightness
The Bottom Line: BenQ GP500 Review
In conclusion, the BenQ GP500 is one of the better portable smart home theater projectors we’ve seen. It delivers excellent picture quality, is easy to use, and hosts a wide array of smart features, all at an affordable price. The image quality is perfect on the projector, the built-in speakers are surprisingly good, and the setup was a breeze. If you are looking for a way to experience film and games on a large screen without buying a new, massive TV and instead would like the customization of a projector, the BenQ GP500 is worth checking out (>>> Check its pricing on Bhphotovideo).