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 additional internal HDMI 2.0b port reserved for the included Android TV 11 QS02 dongle, which 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 okay for a home theater. Its decent contrast gives dark scenes solid depth, although scenes with large bright areas look flatter, and its near-perfect accuracy makes content look natural without calibration. However, its poor color volume means the most vivid colors look muted, and it produces rainbow flashes that can distract viewers sensitive to them. Movie motion also looks uneven during camera pans when a streaming device, console, or PC outputs at 60Hz, and the same is seen when using the apps on the QS02 dongle that comes with the projector.
- Nearly perfect pre-calibration accuracy.
Strong dark-scene contrast.
Fan isn’t especially distracting from typical viewing distances.
Lighter color shades lose saturation.
Rainbow flashes can distract viewers who are sensitive to them.
Movie motion is uneven from 60Hz sources and the included native apps.
Contrast performance drops in brighter scenes.
The BenQ X500i is mediocre for outdoor use. Its decent brightness is enough for a movie after nightfall, but the image looks washed out when there's ambient light. It's relatively light, and its short-throw lens is useful in a tight patio or backyard, but it runs only on AC power and lacks a carrying handle, lens protection, or an included case. You'll need to bring your own bag and carefully position, focus, and align it yourself.
Relatively light 7.9 lb. body is easy enough to move.
- Not quite bright enough to pop in rooms with a few lights.
No battery, carrying handle, lens protection, or included case.
Manual focus and limited automatic image adjustment mean you must realign it after moving it.
Lack of lens shift means you need to physically move the unit to adjust the image.
The BenQ X500i is mediocre for bedroom use. Its short-throw lens makes a large image practical in a small room, and its fan is unlikely to be distracting from normal seating distance. However, it requires manual focus and careful placement each time you move it.
Short-throw lens makes a large image practical in smaller rooms.
Relatively light 7.9 lb. body is easy enough to move.
Fan isn’t especially distracting from typical viewing distances.
Manual focus and limited automatic image adjustment mean you must realign it after moving it.
Lack of lens shift means you need to physically move the unit to adjust the image.
The BenQ X500i is good for gaming. It supports 4k @ 60Hz and 1080p @ 120Hz or 240Hz with low input lag, making it responsive for both cinematic single-player games and fast multiplayer titles. Its near-perfect accuracy and decent dark-scene contrast make games look natural and engaging in a dim room, although the image loses impact with ambient light, brighter scenes can look flatter, and vivid colors aren't especially rich. Viewers sensitive to rainbow artifacts may also see red, green, and blue flashes around high-contrast HUD elements.
- Nearly perfect pre-calibration accuracy.
Strong dark-scene contrast.
Supports a ton of different resolutions with decent input lag.
Short-throw lens makes a large image practical in smaller rooms.
Bright enough to look solid in dim rooms.
- Not quite bright enough to pop in rooms with a few lights.
Rainbow flashes can distract viewers who are sensitive to them.
No VRR support.
Contrast performance drops in brighter scenes.
The BenQ X500i's brightness is decent. It produces a pleasant image in a dim room, but it quickly loses punch with ambient light, so it isn't a good fit for rooms with several lights on.
Bright enough to look solid in dim rooms.
- Not quite bright enough to pop in rooms with a few lights.
The BenQ X500i has decent contrast. It looks best in dark scenes, where bright highlights stand out well against darker details. As more of the screen becomes bright, the image loses depth and looks flatter. Most mixed scenes still retain reasonable depth.
Strong dark-scene contrast.
Contrast performance drops in brighter scenes.
The BenQ X500i is okay for portability. It's a mid-size projector, but it's rather light, so moving it between rooms or taking it elsewhere isn't difficult. However, it runs only from an outlet and has no carrying handle, lens protection, or included case, so it needs to be transported carefully. Its manual focus, limited physical adjustment, and lack of post-movement correction also make every new setup less convenient.
- The included QS02 streaming dongle has many wireless and streaming features.
Short-throw lens makes a large image practical in smaller rooms.
Relatively light 7.9 lb. body is easy enough to move.
No battery, carrying handle, lens protection, or included case.
Manual focus and limited automatic image adjustment mean you must realign it after moving it.
Lack of lens shift means you need to physically move the unit to adjust the image.
The BenQ X500i has good color performance. It is very accurate out of the box, so natural scenery and other familiar colors look realistic without calibration. However, it doesn't produce especially rich or vibrant colors overall. Darker and midtone shades fare better, but lighter color details lose saturation and can look muted or washed out.
- Nearly perfect pre-calibration accuracy.
Lighter color shades lose saturation.
The BenQ X500i has great gaming responsiveness. It supports 4k @ 60Hz and 1080p @ 120Hz or 240Hz with low input lag, so controls feel immediate and high-frame-rate games look smooth. Its DLP imaging also keeps pixel transitions clean. However, it doesn't support VRR, so it can't smooth out fluctuations in a game's frame rate.
Supports a ton of different resolutions with decent input lag.
No VRR support.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Aug 06, 2026:
Mentioned the newly reviewed XGIMI Elfin Flip Laser in the Color Volume section.
- Updated Jul 28, 2026: We've converted the review to Test Bench 1.0, which replaces our Color Gamut test with Color Volume and adds a new Rainbow Effect test box. We also updated Effective Contrast (formerly Native Contrast) to account for projector brightness and reworked Judder scoring. The new bench also adds Outdoors and Bedroom usages, plus Portability, Color, and Gaming Responsiveness Performance Usages; Movies is now Home Theater, and all existing usage scores have been updated. See the 1.0 changelog.
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Updated May 29, 2026:
We've added text to some test boxes as a result of our latest test bench.
- Updated May 13, 2026: We've converted the review to Test Bench 0.12, which adds new Judder, Screen Adaptation, Battery, Maximum Volume, Size, Mobility Features, and Physical Setup Features test boxes. We also updated Inputs & Connectivity to verify Bluetooth support with wireless speakers or headphones. See the 0.12 changelog.
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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 versatile short-throw unit for gaming due to its 1080p @ 120Hz and 240Hz capabilities, but it doesn't excel in other ways, as its image quality is just okay overall. The X500i is part of BenQ's Bedroom/Living Room series alongside the BenQ TK700STi; they're similar projectors, but aside from its lower peak brightness, the X500i is better in every way, with better contrast, greater accuracy, and 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 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 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 X500i is much more expensive than the BenQ TH671ST, but it also outperforms it in every way. They're short-throw projectors with an identical throw ratio, meaning that they can both be placed at the same distance from the wall or screen. Still, the X500i is a bit brighter, has better contrast, and is more accurate out-of-the-box. The X500i also has more features for gamers and comes with the advanced QS02 dongle, giving it a well-rounded set of streaming/wireless features. In comparison, the TH671ST doesn't come with a dongle and doesn't have any wireless features or a smart OS as a result.
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.
We've independently bought and tested over 80 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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