Experience the Ultimate in Gaming and Streaming with the BenQ W4100i Super-Projector | Review

What does BenQ bring to the projector scene? With its gaming-focused X-range and budget-friendly G-line, this brand has carved out a niche for itself by offering versatility, solid mid-range pricing, and impressive picture quality. The BenQ W4100i exemplifies this philosophy, executing it with ease.

At $2,999.99, it’s not exactly a budget option, but it’s more affordable than many top-tier 4K gaming projectors. When I first unboxed it, I had just come from testing the Sony Bravia 7, a $10,000 projector, and the Bravia 8, which costs $16,000. That experience certainly set a high bar, but the BenQ holds its own impressively well.

Key Specs

Price	$2,999 / £2,999
Brightness	3,200 lumens
Resolution	4K (3840 x 2160) (pixel shifting)
Light source	4LED
Throw ratio	1.15 – 1.5:1
HDR	HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Image size	Up to 150 inch
Audio	1x 5W speaker
Ports	3x HDMI 2.1,
Dimensions	16.56 x 5.31 x 12.28 inch
Weight	6.1kg

The design of the BenQ W4100i is sleek and understated, featuring the same cool gray finish as its predecessors. Its soft, rounded corners and matte surface give it a premium feel, while the compact, oblong shape allows it to blend into any environment. Although the finish isn’t flawless—there are some noticeable seams and an awkward protrusion for the rear I/O section that houses the included streaming dongle—it still maintains a sturdy presence.

The back of the unit has user-friendly controls, and the top features manual focus and zoom dials concealed under a retractable hatch. If I had to nitpick, the sliding door could be smoother; it feels a bit stiff when opening. Beneath those dials, you’ll find knobs for vertical and horizontal lens shifting, providing a solid range of picture placement options, complemented by adjustable feet for tilt adjustments.

With dimensions of 16.55 inches wide and 12.28 inches deep, the W4100i may not fit on every shelf, but it’s not as bulky as some specialized models. Weighing in at 6.59 kg, it’s also suitable for ceiling mounting.

If you’re looking for a versatile projector, the BenQ W4100i comes packed with features. It includes three HDMI 2.1 ports, supports 4K 120Hz inputs, HDR10+, Dynamic Tone Mapping, and boasts 3,200 lumens of brightness, along with an integrated speaker system and Android TV streaming. This impressive feature set positions it well between high-end enthusiasts and casual users, a challenging balance to strike.

However, not all features are perfect right out of the box. The 5W speaker doesn’t compare to the Anker Nebula X1’s four side-firing speakers; it’s more of a backup option if your main audio setup fails.

The included Android streaming dongle is a nice touch, more than what you’d find in many specialized projectors, and it has its own dedicated HDMI port, leaving three others available. During testing, everything ran smoothly, although I did notice that some local streaming apps in the UK were still unavailable on this platform.

Like the Sony Bravia 7, all zoom, focus, and lens shift controls are manual. While this can be a bit inconvenient and means there’s no picture setting memory, once you’ve set it up, you’re good to go. The lens shift feature is a valuable addition, even at this price point.

With 3,200 lumens, the BenQ W4100i performs well, outshining many competitors in its price range. The BenQ X3100i edges ahead with 3,300 lumens, while the pricier Sony Bravia 7 offers 2,200 lumens and the Bravia 8 reaches 2,700. If brightness is crucial, the Anker Nebula X1 provides 3,500 lumens in a portable format.

This brightness is sufficient for a dark home cinema, but it may struggle against brighter ambient light while still preserving darker details. Fortunately, with BenQ’s HDR Pro system, Dynamic Tone Mapping, and Dynamic Black, the image quality is enhanced as much as possible.

The projector natively outputs at 1080p, utilizing a DLP chipset for pixel shifting up to full 4K resolution. While native UHD will cost you more, the image remains crisp and smooth.

It’s worth noting that the BenQ W4100i can accept a 4K 120Hz signal from your PS5 or Xbox Series X but scales it down to 1080p to achieve that refresh rate. For solo gaming, I’d recommend using the 4K 60Hz mode to maximize resolution, though latency increases from 13ms at 1080p to 17.9ms at 4K.

This projector accommodates both immersive and competitive gameplay, though it may not deliver the ultimate experience found in a dedicated gaming TV. If you’re seeking something more premium, consider the Sony Bravia 7.

Out of the box, the BenQ W4100i impresses with vibrant colors, excellent motion handling, and fine details in bright scenes. While I did notice some rainbow effects during transitions from dark to bright scenes in titles like Stranger Things (4K HDR, Netflix) and Dunkirk (Blu-ray, via PS5), they were fleeting and likely wouldn’t be noticeable in regular viewing. However, some detail in darker scenes was occasionally lost, even with low ambient lighting.

That said, the picture quality is still a significant upgrade over a $1,000 projector, though it does hint at not being a top-tier specialist device.

When it comes to color performance, the BenQ W4100i truly excels. Subtle tonal shifts in Joker (Blu-ray, via PS5) were beautifully rendered, with vibrant oranges standing out against muted backgrounds. Dunkirk showcased rich depth and texture, while Detective Pikachu (Blu-ray, via PS5) burst with the energy of an arcade classic, and games like Astro Bot displayed a sharp color palette.

This is all with the lights off, of course.

Testing with ambient lighting while playing Alan Wake 2 and rewatching Joker revealed some loss of detail in darker scenes. While it still outperforms many cheaper models, it doesn’t quite match the brightness of the Sony Bravia 8. But then again, do you want to spend an extra $10,000 just for that?

Both my PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 performed well with the BenQ W4100i. Dropping to 1080p for competitive titles didn’t feel like a compromise, and I enjoyed Donkey Kong Bananza in full 4K glory simultaneously. Response times are slightly longer than those of a dedicated gaming TV, but it’s not a dealbreaker. I never felt hindered during solo gaming sessions.

The contrast in Alan Wake 2’s iconic musical scene was stunning, making it one of my favorite gaming experiences through this projector.

The BenQ W4100i aims to be an all-in-one solution, and if you’re investing in a premium setup for both movies and gaming, it’s a solid choice. While you’ll need to spend more for full 4K 120Hz support from Sony’s Bravia line, the picture quality, colors, contrast, and depth of this projector can save you a significant amount compared to those higher-end options. There are a few quirks, and minimizing excess lighting will enhance your experience, but I’d gladly allocate a $3,000 budget for this projector in my setup.

As for being the best projector for PS5 or Xbox Series X? The BenQ W4100i has a sibling in the BenQ X3100i, which is still available for around $2,200 to $2,800. It offers some additional gaming features, like slightly lower 4K latency and user-generated game profiles, and its more compact design makes it easier to fit into a gaming setup.

That model remains my top recommendation for those seeking a pure gaming experience, but if you have even one Blu-ray in your collection, the extra streaming capabilities of the W4100i could justify the investment.

I tested the BenQ W4100i with the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, playing games, streaming, and watching Blu-rays. I evaluated it in both dark and ambient lighting, using Filmmaker HDR mode for movies. My tests included Joker, Dunkirk, and Detective Pikachu on Blu-ray via the PS5, as well as Stranger Things in 4K HDR on Netflix. I played Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2 with HDR off, and enjoyed Astro Bot and Alan Wake 2 on the PS5.