The BenQ X500i is a short-throw 4k HLG/HDR10/HDR10+ 4LED projector primarily marketed as a gaming projector. Still, it offers a plethora of features for watching movies, many of which come with the projector's bundled QS02 streaming dongle. The dongle supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, casting capabilities with Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay, and support for Google Assistant and Google Voice Search.
Otherwise, the projector has two HDMI 2.0b ports with support for 4k @ 60Hz or 1080p @ 240Hz. It has one extra internal HDMI 2.0b port that's reserved for the included Android TV 11 QS02 dongle, but can also be used with other devices. Due to its short-throw capabilities, it projects a 60-inch image at a distance of about three feet and up to 120 inches at a distance of 6 to 7.2 feet. Finally, the projector has an integrated 10W speaker system.
Our Verdict
The BenQ X500i is very good for watching movies, as long as you stick to dark rooms. It's just not bright enough to look good in rooms with many lights. Once the lights are dimmed, the projector looks impressive due to its great contrast ratio, wide color gamut, and nearly perfect image accuracy right out of the box. It also comes with an impressive list of features, including HDR10+ support, thanks to its included QS02 streaming dongle.
- Great contrast for deep blacks in dark rooms.
Wide color gamut in the Rec. 709 color space.
- Nearly perfect pre-calibration accuracy.
- The included QS02 streaming dongle has many wireless and streaming features.
Bright enough to look solid in dim rooms.
- Not quite bright enough to pop in rooms with a few lights.
Not quite as colorful in the wider Rec. 2020 color space.
Contrast is only mediocre in very dark scenes compared to other projectors.
The BenQ X500i is a solid gaming pick. It accepts 1080p @ 120Hz and 240Hz with low latency, so inputs feel snappy for action games and racers. At 60Hz, the delay is still comfortably low for most players, making it optimal for single-player titles. Competitive esports folks may still prefer a faster flat-panel, but for big-screen play, the X500i feels responsive; just feed it 120Hz or 240Hz whenever you can. It also projects a good-looking image, as it's very accurate out of the box, is quite colorful, and has great contrast for late-night gaming sessions. Its brightness is alright; still, you'll want to dim the lights for the best possible image quality.
- Great contrast for deep blacks in dark rooms.
Wide color gamut in the Rec. 709 color space.
- Nearly perfect pre-calibration accuracy.
Supports a ton of different resolutions with decent input lag.
Bright enough to look solid in dim rooms.
- Not quite bright enough to pop in rooms with a few lights.
Not quite as colorful in the wider Rec. 2020 color space.
Contrast is only mediocre in very dark scenes compared to other projectors.
The BenQ X500i's brightness is decent. It's bright enough for dim rooms, but it washes out if you turn too many lights on. It does have fantastic brightness uniformity, but you'll see some vignetting if you look closely enough.
Bright enough to look solid in dim rooms.
- Not quite bright enough to pop in rooms with a few lights.
The BenQ X500i's contrast is great overall. It performs exceedingly well in bright content compared to other projectors, but it's mediocre in darker content. Still, its contrast never looks bad, and it holds up well in most scenes.
- Great contrast for deep blacks in dark rooms.
Contrast is only mediocre in very dark scenes compared to other projectors.
Changelog
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Updated Jan 30, 2026:
We've modified the text in our Brightness and Native Contrast text boxes as a result of our latest test bench. We've also added Brightness and Contrast performance usages in the Verdict section.
- Updated Jan 21, 2026: We've converted the review to Test Bench 0.11, which renames our Contrast test to Native Contrast, and adds a Sequential Contrast test box. We also added new Brightness and Contrast performance usages in Our Verdict. See the 0.11 changelog.
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Updated Nov 24, 2025:
Added a link to the Best Projectors For Gaming recommendation article in the Popular Projector Comparisons section of this review.
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Updated Oct 23, 2025:
We've added Imaging, Optics, Noise, Supported Resolutions, HDR Format Support, 3D, Input Lag, and Audio Passthrough boxes as a result of our latest test bench. We've also added a Gaming usage in the Verdict section.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The BenQ X500i doesn't have any variants, but it's part of BenQ's 'Immersive Gaming Series,' alongside other products such as the BenQ X3000i, the BenQ X3100i, and the BenQ TK700STi. All of these projectors are marketed primarily as gaming devices, but they all have advanced capabilities for watching movies.
| Model | Light Source | Processing | Throw & Zoom | HDR Formats | HDMI Audio Return | Max Game Refresh (native 1080p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X500i | 4LED | 4K XPR (DLP) | Short-throw 0.69–0.83; manual zoom | HDR10, HLG | eARC | 240Hz |
| X3000i | 4LED | 4K XPR (DLP) | Long-throw 1.15–1.50; 1.3× manual zoom | HDR10, HLG | eARC | 240Hz |
| X3100i | 4LED | 4K XPR (DLP) | Long-throw 1.15–1.50; 1.3× manual zoom | HDR10, HLG | eARC | 240Hz |
| TK700STi | Lamp | 4K XPR (DLP) | Short-throw ~0.9–1.1; manual zoom | HDR10, HLG | eARC | 240Hz |
Our unit was manufactured in May 2024; you can check out our unit's label for more information.
Popular Projector Comparisons
The BenQ X500i is a very good projector, particularly for those seeking a versatile short-throw unit. The included BenQ QS02 dongle is packed with features, and the projector can also project images at a short distance due to its short-throw capabilities. It's also a good option for gamers due to its 1080p @ 120Hz and 240Hz capabilities. The X500i is part of BenQ's Bedroom/Living Room series alongside the BenQ TK700STi; they're similar projectors, but outside of its lower peak brightness, the X500i is better in every way, as it has better contrast, is much more accurate, and has a wider color gamut. If you don't need streaming or gaming features, you could consider the Epson Home Cinema 3800 instead, as it's much brighter than the BenQ, but it's not a short-throw unit, so it needs to be placed much further away from the wall or screen than the BenQ. Ultimately, anyone looking for a short-throw projector that can do it all should consider the BenQ X500i.
Check out our recommendations for the best 4k projectors, the best gaming projectors, and the best projectors for home theater. If you're specifically shopping for a short-throw projector, look up the best short-throw projectors instead.
The BenQ X3100i is a higher-end model than the BenQ X500i and is better overall. The X500i does have some minute advantages, such as slightly better contrast and pre-calibration accuracy, but they can't overcome the X3100i's edge in brightness and colors. The X500i is a short-throw projector; this makes it easier to place closer to your screen than the X3100i. They both come with the advanced QS02 streaming dongle, giving them identical streaming and wireless features. If you're planning to use the projector solely in a dim or dark room, you might not need the extra brightness of the X3100i, but if you hope to use it in a brighter room, the X3100i could be worth the extra money.
The BenQ TK700STi and the BenQ X500i are both part of BenQ's 'Immersive Gaming' series and share many similarities. Still, aside from the TK700STi's higher peak brightness, the X500i is the better product overall thanks to its much better contrast, wider color gamut, and superior pre-calibration accuracy. Plus, the X500i comes with the newer QS02 dongle, which has more features than the older QS01 dongle that comes with the TK700STi.
The Epson Home Cinema 3800 and BenQ X500i are very different projectors and appeal to different needs. The Epson is a barebones projector that offers the best possible image quality at its price point but without any streaming features or any advanced gaming capabilities. The BenQ, on the other hand, has a well-rounded set of features, looks great in dim or dark rooms, and has full streaming and wireless connectivity due to its included dongle. If you're looking for the best possible image quality and you don't care about extra features, go for the Epson, but if you have varied needs and are mostly planning on using the projector in a dim or dark room, then for most people the BenQ has a bit more to offer.
The BenQ X500i is better than the BenQ HT2060. They're similarly sized, and they both have auto vertical keystone correction with slightly adjustable feet, giving them equal portability. When it comes to image quality, however, the X500i has the edge due to its much wider color gamut, better accuracy, and slightly higher brightness, although the HT2060 does have the better contrast. The X500i also projects a sharper image overall due to its pixel shifting technology, and can do so at a shorter range due to its short throw capabilities, while the HT2060 is limited to native 1080p, with a longer projection range. Finally, the X500i comes with the BenQ QS02 smart dongle, while the HT2060 doesn't have a smart OS, requiring you to buy a dongle separately.
We've independently bought and tested over 75 projectors and published detailed results for each, so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab, so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodologies are also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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