The BenQ X3000i Projector Review: A Game-Changer

Projectors these days are getting better and better as technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. With its advanced features, impressive image quality, and versatile connectivity options, it promises an immersive visual experience in the comfort of your own home. In this review, we will dive into the key aspects that make BenQ’s flagship gaming projector, the X3000i a game-changer in the world of 4K projectors.

First Impressions: Design and Build Quality

The BenQ x3000i projector showcases a sleek and modern design that is quite different from what we usually see in the case of projectors. The design seamlessly blends into any living space. It is huge, that’s one of the many details that stands out. The projector offers dimensions of 7.8 x 10.7 x 10.2 inches and weighs around 6 kilograms.

features a compact form factor with smooth lines and a glossy finish, exuding a very fine aesthetic. The build quality looks solid. Heat dissipation mechanisms are also in place, keeping the projector cool during extended usage.

Set-up

Setting up and operating the BenQ x3000i projector is a breeze. The intuitive menu system and the well-designed remote control make navigation and adjustment of settings straightforward.

Whether you’ll be placing the projector in a ceiling mount, on a flat surface or lower than the screen, that's essentially all the assembly that is required. The projector also comes with two ‘adjustable feet’ that the Quick Start guide shows how to use. They are also very intuitive as I hardly read the guide and assembled the projector with ease. However, I feel these should have been attached by the manufacturer itself.

Performance

Image Quality

One of the USPs of the BenQ X3000i 4K gaming projector is its image quality. Equipped with a 4K UHD resolution as well as HDR10 support, this projector delivers stunningly sharp and vibrant visuals. The colours are rich, accurate, and well-saturated, thanks to the projector's wide colour gamut. The contrast ratio is great with deep blacks and excellent detailing. This leads to an overall great viewing experience. Whether you're watching movies, showcasing presentations or gaming, the image quality is simply brilliant.

There are three different gaming modes for users to choose from. The projector uses 1,920 x 1,080-pixel DLP chips. These chips utilize fast-switch pixel shifting to put a 3,840 x 2,160 pixels output.

Projection

The projection performance of the BenQ x3000i is outstanding. It offers a brightness of up to 3,000 ANSI lumens, ensuring clear and vivid images even in the daytime (with the curtains on, of course). It can deliver a suitably bright image for a 250-inch-diagonal, a 1.0-gain and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The projector utilizes a high-performance DLP chip and BenQ's CinematicColor technology, which optimizes colour accuracy and eliminates motion blur.

The reason behind this projector’s ultra-bright display is that it uses 4LED light sources. Red, green, blue and blue. The fourth blue is used to boost the overall brightness. The brand claims that the LED last 20,000 hours in full-power mode and 30,000 hours in Eco mode. The colour gamut extends to a wide 100% Rec.709 as well as 100% DCI-P3.

For the gamers out there, the BenQ X3000i offers delivers a latency of 16.6ms for 4K at 60 frames per second or 1080p at 120 frames per second. Although impressive, this is way over 1ms that wired monitors offer. The X3000i offers 5 preset colour modes for gaming – first-person shooter (FPS), role-playing games (RPG) and sports player games (SPG).

Audio Quality: Better Than Expected

The X3000i offers virtual 3D surround sound via 5-watt treVolo stereo speakers powered by Bongiovi Digital Power Station. The high quality of the audio surprised me. For a projector, it was better than expected and the volume was high enough to fill a large room.

While the BenQ X3000i projector offers built-in speakers which are relatively more robust than their competitors, for a truly immersive experience, it is recommended to connect external speakers or a sound system to complement the visual prowess of the projector.

The audio I/O ports available are:

• 3.5mm
• S/PDIF audio-out ports
• An HDMI port that supports eARC
• Bluetooth

Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Pros: 

• Good in-built speakers 
• Ultra bright display 
• 8 preset colour modes (5 cinema modes + 3 gaming modes) 
• DLP projection 
• 4LED light source
• Low latency 
• 100% DCI P3 colour gamut 
• Supports up to 200 inches of screen 
• Multiple I/O ports: 3xHDMI, 1x digital optical out, 1x USB 2.0, 1x 3.5mm audio port, 1x RS-232, 1x 12V trigger. 

Cons: 

• Higher latency than monitors 
• In-built speakers could have been better 
• Using 4LED UHD DLP instead of Native 4K panels 

This is hands down the most effective and feature-rich 4K gaming projector I have ever used. BenQ X3000i projector is, without a doubt, a pricey yet remarkable addition to the world of 4K projection.

With great image quality, comes great responsibility and the X3000i does exceptionally well. Its versatile connectivity options and smart features such as additional positioning options, make it stands out in its genre. Although it is essentially a gaming projector, it is also a great option for movie enthusiasts and content fiends. While the audio quality may not be its strongest suit, which is the case for almost all projectors, the x3000i delivers where it truly matters – stunning visuals and an immersive viewing experience.

To be honest, given the price of this BenQ projector, anything less than what it offers would have been seriously disappointing. The LED projector is not only light years ahead of its lamp light counterparts, it is also a powerhouse when it comes to performance. The 3,000 ANSI lumens LED light source is no joke. Combine that with the low lag input, the 3840 x 2160 resolution, the preset audio/video modes for gaming and the multitude of connectivity options and we have a perfect 4K LED gaming projector.