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BenQ Projector Buyer's Guide — All 13 Models Compared

BenQ Projector Buyer's Guide · 13 Models Compared

Which BenQ Projector Is Right For You?

BenQ makes 13 different short-throw and ultra-short-throw projectors — each one engineered for a specific room, budget, and use case. Some are flagship 4K builds for premium golf simulators and dedicated home theaters. Some are commercial-grade dust-sealed units for classrooms and themed entertainment. Some are entry-tier 1080P projectors for first-time sim builders and multi-purpose rooms. This guide walks through the four questions to answer first, the three light-source tradeoffs to understand, and the right BenQ pick for nine common use cases — from a $949 first sim bay to a $6,499 commercial flagship.

Curated by Swing Sphere, an authorized BenQ dealer. Real people on the phone at (833) 796-4777 to help you pick.

The Four Questions To Answer First

Answer These Four Before You Pick A Projector.

Everything that follows in this guide flows from these four answers — resolution, throw type, brightness, and light source.

1

Resolution: 4K, 1080P, or WXGA?

4K (3840×2160) for premium home theater, detail-critical sim, and large screens. Native 1080P (1920×1080) for most golf simulation, home use, and gaming. WXGA (1280×800) for classroom, signage, and commercial install where text legibility matters more than cinematic detail.

7 of 13 models are 4K · 5 are 1080P · 1 is WXGA
2

Throw: UST or Short Throw?

Ultra Short Throw (UST, <0.5 ratio) sits 12–24 inches from the screen, ideal for tight rooms and ceiling mounts directly above the screen. Short Throw (0.69–0.83) sits 9–13 feet back, behind the golfer or seating, with more flexibility on placement and screen size.

7 of 13 are UST · 6 are Short Throw
3

Brightness: How Lit Is The Room?

3,000 lumens handles controlled-light rooms (dark home theater, dim sim bay). 3,500–4,000 lumens is the sweet spot for most rooms with normal ambient light. 5,000+ lumens for very large screens, well-lit commercial spaces, or classrooms with windows.

Range: 3,000–5,500 ANSI lumens
4

Light Source: Laser, LED, or Lamp?

Laser = brightest and longest life (20,000–38,000 hrs), zero maintenance. LED = no lamp replacements ever (20,000–30,000 hrs), good color stability. Lamp = lowest upfront cost ($949 entry) but eventually requires replacement (4,000–15,000 hrs by mode).

9 laser · 3 LED · 1 lamp
Flagship 4K Tier · $4,000+

Flagship 4K BenQ Projectors

Top-of-the-line builds for premium home golf simulators, dedicated home theaters, commercial sim installations, and detail-critical use cases. True 4K resolution (3840×2160), wide color gamuts, and the most advanced calibration in the BenQ lineup.

Flagship
BenQ BR9708
$6,499 · 4K DCI-P3 short throw

The most premium BenQ projector in the lineup. True 4K with per-unit ΔE<2 factory calibration — every BR9708 ships with its own individual calibration certificate.

  • 4K UHD 3840×2160
  • 4,500 lumens · 98% DCI-P3
  • Per-unit ΔE<2 calibration
  • Short throw + V/H lens shift
See full details 4K + Golf Mode
BenQ LK936ST
$4,899 · 4K + Atmos + motorized

True 4K + Golf Mode picture preset + motorized lens shift + eARC Dolby Atmos. The crossover pick for premium home theater + dedicated sim.

  • 4K UHD 3840×2160
  • 5,100 lumens · 92% Rec.709
  • Motorized V/H lens shift
  • eARC Dolby Atmos passthrough
See full details Brightest
BenQ LU935ST
$3,999 · 5,500 lumens WUXGA

Highest brightness in the lineup at 5,500 lumens. WUXGA resolution (1920×1200) for large-screen commercial install and very bright rooms.

  • WUXGA 1920×1200
  • 5,500 lumens (brightest)
  • V/H lens shift
  • 20,000-hour laser
See full details
Premium UST · $2,500+

Premium Ultra Short Throw BenQ Projectors

UST builds for commercial installations, themed entertainment, simulator bays with limited depth, and high-end residential installs where the projector sits inches from the screen.

UST + Blending
BenQ LU895UST
$3,499 · WUXGA UST + IP6X

Ultra-short throw at 0.25 ratio + IP6X dust seal + edge blending ready. Built for commercial multi-projector blending and themed entertainment installs.

  • WUXGA 1920×1200
  • 0.25 throw ratio
  • IP6X dust sealed
  • Edge blending ready
See full details 4K UST + Gaming
BenQ LK830ST
$2,499 · 4K UST + IP6X

True 4K UST + IP6X + 4.2ms input lag. Best pick when you need 4K, ultra-short throw, dust sealing, and gaming-fast response in one unit.

  • 4K UHD 3840×2160
  • 0.49 throw ratio UST
  • IP6X dust sealed
  • 4.2ms gaming input lag
See full details
Mid 4K · $2,000+

Mid-Tier 4K BenQ Projectors

Real 4K resolution at a more accessible price point. The mid-tier 4K models add unique capabilities — curved-screen warping and integrated Android TV streaming — without the flagship price.

Curved Screens
BenQ AK700ST
$2,899 · 4K + Auto Screen Fit

4K + Auto Screen Fit with curved screen warping — the only BenQ projector with built-in curved-screen geometric correction. Ideal for curved sim screens.

  • 4K UHD 3840×2160
  • Auto Screen Fit + curved warping
  • 3,500 lumens
  • Short throw
See full details Value 4K
BenQ TK710STi
$2,199 · 4K + Android TV included

Lowest-priced 4K BenQ short throw with the QS02 Android TV dongle included — Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and casting built in. Sim + home theater + streaming in one unit.

  • 4K UHD 3840×2160
  • QS02 Android TV included
  • 3,200 lumens
  • Short throw
See full details
1080P Installation · $1,500+

1080P BenQ Installation Projectors

Native 1080P projectors built for installations — commercial spaces, classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, sim bays, and themed entertainment. Real BenQ laser engineering at workhorse pricing.

Auto Screen Fit
BenQ AH700ST
$2,299

1080P + Auto Screen Fit + short throw — easy setup with automatic screen detection and geometry correction.

  • 1080P · 3,500 lumens
  • Auto Screen Fit
See details Long Life
BenQ AH500ST
$1,999

1080P UST laser with 38,000-hour Eco lifespan — the longest-rated light source in the lineup at this price.

  • 1080P · 4,000 lumens
  • 38,000-hr Eco laser
See details Commercial
BenQ LH830ST
$1,999

1080P UST + IP6X dust sealed + Blending Ready. The 1080P workhorse for commercial sim and themed installs.

  • 1080P · 4,000 lumens
  • IP6X + Blending
See details WXGA Commercial
BenQ LW830ST
$1,599

WXGA UST + IP6X commercial install projector — the budget pick for classroom, training rooms, and signage where text legibility matters most.

  • WXGA · 4,000 lumens
  • IP6X commercial
See details
Entry Tier · Under $1,500

Entry-Tier BenQ Projectors

The entry points into BenQ's golf simulator projector lineup. Real BenQ engineering at the most accessible price points — for first-time sim builders, budget-conscious buyers, and casual home sim rooms.

LED · Lamp-Free
BenQ AH30ST
$1,499 · 1080P LED 30,000-hr life

1080P + 4-LED light source rated to 30,000 hours + Golf Mode picture preset. The lamp-free entry point — zero light source maintenance, ever.

  • 1080P FHD · 4-LED
  • 3,000 lumens · 95% Rec.709
  • 30,000-hr LED life
  • Golf Mode preset
See full details Lowest Price
BenQ TH671ST
$949 · 1080P lamp entry

The lowest-priced way into BenQ's golf simulator projector lineup. Native 1080P + short throw + 3,000 lumens. Lamp-based — lowest upfront cost, occasional lamp replacement down the line.

  • 1080P FHD · Lamp
  • 3,000 lumens · 92% Rec.709
  • 4,000–15,000 hr lamp
  • 0.69–0.83 short throw
See full details
Pick By Use Case

Nine Use Cases. Nine Picks.

The fastest way to narrow down: find your situation below and skip to the model we'd recommend.

Premium home golf simulator — no compromise

Dedicated bay, 200"+ screen, daily use

Pick: BenQ BR9708 ($6,499) or LK936ST ($4,899)

BR9708 if you want flagship 4K with per-unit ΔE<2 factory calibration. LK936ST if you want 4K + Golf Mode + motorized lens shift + Atmos for a sim-theater dual-use room.

Commercial / multi-bay simulator install

Indoor golf facility, country club, retail demo

Pick: BenQ LU895UST ($3,499) or LH830ST ($1,999)

LU895UST for blending-ready WUXGA install with IP6X dust sealing. LH830ST for 1080P fleet builds where you need consistent dust-sealed installations at scale.

Home theater + sim dual-use room

Movie night Friday, sim session Saturday

Pick: BenQ LK936ST ($4,899) or TK710STi ($2,199)

LK936ST for premium theater + sim with Atmos passthrough and motorized lens shift. TK710STi if value matters more — 4K + Android TV streaming included.

Curved simulator screen

Curved impact screen, immersive bay

Pick: BenQ AK700ST ($2,899)

The only BenQ projector with built-in curved-screen geometric warping. Auto Screen Fit automatically detects and corrects for screen geometry, including curved screens up to spec.

Classroom, training room, or signage

Long daily runtime, mixed lighting, durability

Pick: BenQ LW830ST ($1,599) or LH830ST ($1,999)

LW830ST WXGA for text-heavy classroom and signage use. LH830ST 1080P if you need full HD detail. Both IP6X dust sealed for commercial reliability.

Themed entertainment / museum / commercial install

High-touch environment, dust/maintenance concerns

Pick: BenQ LU895UST ($3,499) or LK830ST ($2,499)

LU895UST for WUXGA blending-ready installs. LK830ST for 4K UST in commercial spaces requiring premium resolution + IP6X sealing.

Brightest possible image / large screen

200"+ screen, bright room, max impact

Pick: BenQ LU935ST ($3,999)

5,500 lumens — the brightest projector in the BenQ lineup we carry. WUXGA resolution with V/H lens shift for flexible commercial install.

First sim bay, never want to replace a lamp

Lamp-free, set-and-forget, ~5 hrs/week use

Pick: BenQ AH30ST ($1,499)

4-LED light source rated to 30,000 hours — zero lamp replacements ever. 1080P + Golf Mode + 95% Rec.709 color. The right pick for first-time sim builders who want zero maintenance.

Absolute lowest BenQ price

Budget-first, fine with occasional lamp swap

Pick: BenQ TH671ST ($949)

The entry point into the BenQ golf sim lineup. Native 1080P, 3,000 lumens, short throw — real BenQ engineering at the lowest catalog price. Lamp-based with 15,000-hour LampSave mode.

Lamp vs LED vs Laser — The Real Tradeoffs.

Three light source technologies, three different cost/longevity profiles. Here's what actually matters when you're picking between them.

Lamp · 1 model

Traditional Lamp Light Source

Mercury vapor lamps — the legacy projector technology. Lowest upfront cost. Lamp brightness degrades gradually over time, and the lamp itself eventually needs replacement at $120–150. Best at the entry tier where the upfront savings outweigh future replacement cost.

Best for: Entry budget, casual use (under 5 hrs/week), first-time builders. Model: TH671ST ($949).
LED · 3 models

4-LED Light Source

Solid-state LED arrays — no lamp ever. Rated to 20,000–30,000 hours of operation, which translates to roughly 20–40 years at typical sim use. Better color stability than lamps over the projector's lifetime. Mid-range pricing — pays back the upfront premium over lamp models in 3–5 years of daily use.

Best for: Daily home sim use, set-and-forget reliability, mid-budget builds. Model: AH30ST ($1,499).
Laser · 9 models

Laser Phosphor Light Source

Highest brightness, longest rated life (20,000–38,000 hours), zero maintenance. Lasers maintain color accuracy and brightness more consistently than lamps over their lifetime. Standard across the entire mid and premium tiers — anything $1,599 and up runs laser.

Best for: Commercial installs, daily premium sim use, multi-bay facilities, anyone wanting maximum reliability. Models: BR9708, LK936ST, LU935ST, LU895UST, LK830ST, AK700ST, TK710STi, AH700ST, AH500ST, LH830ST, LW830ST.
Full Comparison

BenQ Projectors — Side-By-Side Comparison.

All 13 BenQ projectors compared by tier. Click any model name to see the full specs and details for that projector.

Flagship 4K Tier
Spec BR9708 LK936ST LU935ST
Resolution 4K UHD 4K UHD WUXGA
Brightness 4,500 lm 5,100 lm 5,500 lm
Color gamut 98% DCI-P3 92% Rec.709 92% Rec.709
Calibration Per-unit ΔE<2 Factory Factory
Throw Short Throw Short Throw Short Throw
Lens shift V/H Motorized V/H V/H
Light source Laser Laser Laser
Price $6,499 $4,899 $3,999
Premium UST + Mid 4K Tier
Spec LU895UST AK700ST LK830ST TK710STi
Resolution WUXGA 4K UHD 4K UHD 4K UHD
Brightness 4,000 lm 3,500 lm 4,000 lm 3,200 lm
Throw UST 0.25 Short Throw UST 0.49 Short Throw
Unique feature Blending Ready Curved warping 4.2ms gaming Android TV
IP rating IP6X — IP6X —
Light source Laser Laser Laser Laser
Price $3,499 $2,899 $2,499 $2,199
1080P + WXGA Installation Tier
Spec AH700ST AH500ST LH830ST LW830ST
Resolution 1080P 1080P 1080P WXGA
Brightness 3,500 lm 4,000 lm 4,000 lm 4,000 lm
Throw Short Throw UST 0.499 UST UST
Unique feature Auto Screen Fit 38,000-hr Eco Blending Ready WXGA commercial
IP rating — — IP6X IP6X
Light source Laser Laser Laser Laser
Price $2,299 $1,999 $1,999 $1,599
Entry Tier
Spec AH30ST TH671ST
Resolution 1080P 1080P
Brightness 3,000 lm 3,000 lm
Color gamut 95% Rec.709 92% Rec.709
Throw Short Throw Short Throw
Light source 4-LED Lamp
Light source life 30,000 hrs 4,000–15,000 hrs
Golf Mode ✓ —
Price $1,499 $949
Throw Distance Reference

How Far Each Projector Sits From The Screen.

UST projectors sit a foot or two from the screen. Short throw projectors sit roughly 5–9 feet back depending on screen size. Here's a quick reference for a 120" screen — the most common golf simulator size.

Throw type Distance for 120" screen BenQ models
Ultra Short Throw (UST) ~12–24 inches LU895UST, LK830ST, AH500ST, LH830ST, LW830ST
Short Throw (0.69–0.83) ~6–7 feet BR9708, LK936ST, LU935ST, AK700ST, TK710STi, AH700ST, AH30ST, TH671ST
FAQ

BenQ Projector Buyer's Guide — Frequently Asked Questions

The questions we get most often when people are picking between BenQ models.

Do I need 4K for golf simulation?+
Not necessarily. Most golf simulation software still renders at 1080P internally, so a native 1080P projector displays the source resolution without scaling. 4K projectors are a meaningful upgrade if (a) you're using your projector for premium 4K home theater too, or (b) you're projecting onto a very large screen (200"+) where the extra pixel density helps. For a typical 120"–150" sim screen, native 1080P from a BenQ AH30ST or AH500ST looks excellent.
Lamp vs LED vs laser — which should I pick?+
Lamp ($949 TH671ST) is the lowest upfront cost, but the lamp eventually needs replacement at $120–150. LED ($1,499 AH30ST) is lamp-free for 30,000 hours — pays back the upfront premium in 3–5 years of daily use. Laser ($1,599+) is brightest, longest-life (up to 38,000 hours), zero maintenance. If you'll use the projector heavily (3+ hours daily), go LED or laser. If casual use under 5 hours per week, the TH671ST lamp model is fine.
What's the difference between Short Throw and Ultra Short Throw (UST)?+
Short throw projectors (0.69–0.83 throw ratio) sit about 6–7 feet back from a 120" screen. Ultra short throw (UST, <0.5 ratio) sits 12–24 inches from the screen. UST is ideal for tight rooms, ceiling mounts directly above the screen, and any install where the projector needs to be close to the wall. Short throw is more forgiving on placement and allows the projector to mount well behind the golfer in a sim bay.
Why does IP6X matter?+
IP6X is a dust ingress protection rating — the optical engine is sealed against dust contamination. Critical for commercial installations (museums, themed entertainment, classrooms with chalk dust, multi-bay sim facilities) and recommended for any high-use environment. Five BenQ models in our lineup carry IP6X: LU895UST, LK830ST, LH830ST, LW830ST. Worth the premium if reliability over years of dusty operation matters.
What's Golf Mode and which projectors have it?+
Golf Mode is a BenQ-specific picture preset calibrated for golf course rendering — greens, sky, fairway, sand traps, rough. It boosts vividness in the green/yellow color range that golf course graphics rely on most. Available on the LK936ST, AK700ST, TK710STi, AH700ST, AH500ST, LH830ST, LW830ST, and AH30ST. Not available on the TH671ST entry model.
Which projector for the brightest image / large screen?+
The BenQ LU935ST at 5,500 ANSI lumens is the brightest in the lineup. Use this for large screens (200"+), well-lit rooms, or commercial installs with significant ambient light. Beyond that, the 5,100-lumen LK936ST and 4,000-lumen AH500ST / LH830ST / LW830ST / LK830ST also handle bright rooms well.
Can I use a BenQ projector for both my sim and home theater?+
Yes. The LK936ST ($4,899) is the dual-use pick — 4K + Golf Mode + Atmos passthrough makes it equally great for sim sessions and premium movie nights. The TK710STi ($2,199) is the value dual-use option — 4K + Android TV streaming included. Even the entry AH30ST ($1,499) and TH671ST ($949) work well for general 1080P home theater alongside sim use.
What's the warranty on BenQ projectors?+
Standard 3-year limited (parts and labor) manufacturer warranty across the BenQ lineup. Swing Sphere is an authorized BenQ dealer — we handle warranty claims directly. Call (833) 796-4777 if anything ever needs attention.
Is financing available?+
Yes — Shop Pay Installments splits any purchase into monthly payments at checkout with no hidden fees. Available on every BenQ projector in our catalog.
I still can't decide. Can someone help?+
Yes — call us at (833) 796-4777. We'll walk through your room dimensions, screen size, lighting conditions, and use case, and recommend the right BenQ projector. We're an authorized BenQ dealer and we sell every model in this guide.
Authorized BenQ Dealer

Talk to a real person before you buy.

Authorized dealer · 3-year warranty · (833) 796-4777

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