BenQ X3000i Review

The BenQ X3000i is the world’s first 4LED 4K HDR gaming projector. Powered by BenQ’s exclusive CinematicColor technology, images are delivered on the X3000i with a 100% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut coverage and an input lag as low as 4ms, allowing gamers to traverse to open-world games imbued with live realism.

With 4K UHD, high 3000-lumen visual brightness, and a crisp 500,000:1 high contrast ratio with Dynamic Black algorithms; the X3000i comes equipped with 3D readiness and projector-optimized HDR with HDR10 / HLG support to ensure futureproof visual performance.

Highlights

• 100%DCI-P3 CinematicColor of 3000lm brightness HDR10 compatibility
• 16ms(4K@60Hz) and fast to 4ms(1080p@240Hz) for smooth gameplay
• Dual HDMI 2.0b (HDCP2.2) with eARC support for every game console

Specifications

Read full specifications here.

Packaging

The BenQ X3000i comes in a cardboard box with product graphics and logos on the sides. The contents of the package includes the X3000i projector, remote control, power cable and an Android TV dongle and two legs to mount the projector on the ceiling.

Design & Build

Measuring 272 x 197 x 259mm (WxHxD) and weighing 6.4kg, the BenQ X3000i is a large projector.

The projector looks premium with a dark grey pattern at the front with an orange trim, the rest of the body is white. The cube body has a fingerprint-proof texture and has airflow vents on the sides.

At the top is a cover secured by screws which you can remove in order to install the USB dongle to enable the Android TV functionality. On the right side of the projector are the manual focus wheel for the lens, 1.3x optical zoom wheel and control buttons.

All the ports are located at the back. The available ports are 3x HDMI, 1x RS232 In, 1x USB Type A and 1x 3.5mm jack.

The USB port can be used for connecting a pen drive or external HDD, with support for a wide range of file formats including JPEG, PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint files without the need for a laptop or PC. Alternatively, a keyboard or mouse can also be connected.

In addition to its various ports, The BenQ X3000i projector supports Wi-Fi, Google Cast and Bluetooth connections via a wireless USB dongle so you can wirelessly connect with your tablet, smartphone or PC to easily project photos, movies or presentations. The dongle is installed by unscrewing a rectangular box at the back which contains a third USB port.

The base has 2 adjustable feet, both at the front. The vertical keystone function helps with adjusting image vertically, making it easy to project in different positions. The BenQ X3000i also has a color calibration feature to ensure the projected image has the most accurate color possible.

The projector can also be mounted to the ceiling. In this case, all the controls are available on the remote control. The remote is white in color and well designed and lightweight. The buttons are visible enough to use in dark rooms. It is useful for quick access to settings such as picture modes, brightness, contrast, etc. and also to switch between inputs sources.

Hardware & OS

The X3000i runs on Android 10.0 using the included dongle. The OS is simple and straightforward to navigate and comes with lots of preloaded apps. You can also easily update the firmware on the X3000i over the air whenever a new firmware is available. Users can also download a variety of smart apps through the Google Play store.

Netflix is not available natively on the device but you can cast from a Google Chrome browser, connecting your device with an HDMI cable, or manually installing compatible apps directly from Google Play

Image Quality

The X3000i has a native resolution of 4K UHD (3840×2160) at 60Hz, brightness of 3000 lumens and high contrast ratio of 500,000:1.

The BenQ X3000i’s video quality is quite good out-of-the-box. It can be significantly improved by adjusting the picture settings to suit your specific viewing environment.

It has 100% DCI-P3 coverage with HDR10 support and projects bright and sharp images even when there is ambient light. Colors are vivid and bright especially when using the Cinema mode. However, the black levels could be better, as it leaves dark image areas looking greyed out. With that said, most gamers and video enthusiasts would be satisfied with the picture quality of the X3000i.

There are several preset picture modes to choose from (Cinema, Gaming, Living room etc.). There are also three gaming modes – RPG, FPS and SPG.

In terms of gaming, the X3000i provides an immersive 4K HDR gaming experience. It outputs sharp images with astonishing color depth with very minimal input lag offering smooth movements whether it’s a FPS, RPG or racing games.

The amazing color production and details in 4K helps to improve your ability to locate and take out targets even in dark environments.

The X3000i offers flexible projection sizes from 30 to 300 inches, suitable for almost all room sizes. It is possible to project 100″ video from a distance of just 2.5m.

Audio

The BenQ X3000i comes with 2x 5W stereo speakers that are tuned by BenQ’s treVolo audio team and enhanced by Bongiovi DSP (Digital Signal Processor) with Dynamic Stereo Enhancement. Although bass is limited, sound is loud and clear for medium sized rooms. For larger rooms with larger crowds, we recommend connecting to an external sound system.

BenQ X3000i Review Conclusion

With true 4K UHD, high 3000-lumen visual brightness, and a crisp 500,000:1 high contrast ratio and 3D support, the BenQ X3000i projector works great as a cinema and gaming projector.

It is easy to setup and works straight out of the box. The smart features, wireless projection and screen-mirroring capabilities are some exciting features that make it unique.

It comes with very low input lag, specific gaming modes, HDR10 and HLG support along with Android TV. The X3000i’s LED light source also provides over 30,000 hours or 10+ years of usage.