BenQ TK700 Review: The Best Gaming Projector for the PS5 and Xbox Series X

While most projectors offer a cinema-like experience for movie watching, high input lag makes most options unsuitable for gaming. Enter the BenQ TK700, a purpose-built gaming projector that delivers 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) gaming with as low as 16ms of input lag. Coupled with great image quality and high brightness, the BenQ TK700 is an excellent projector for both gaming and home theatre use. But is this the right projector for you? Learn why (or why not) in our hands-on BenQ TK700 review.

BenQ TK700 Review Verdict

The BenQ TK700 is a fantastic projector capable of outputting a 4K HDR (high dynamic range) signal. With its super low 16ms of input lag at 4K 60Hz, the TK700 works flawlessly with modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X or Series S. Additionally, the TK700 achieves even lower input lag of 8ms at 1080p 120Hz and 4ms 240Hz, making is a solid choice for use with a gaming desktop or laptop.

Its impressive 3,200 ANSI lumens of brightness holds up well against modest amounts of ambient light. Thus, the TK700 works as a living room projector instead of just in a light-controlled dedicated home theater. While it’s marketed as a gaming projector, and certainly excels for playing video games, the TK700 excels for movie watching. I appreciated its great out-of-the-box color accuracy.

Animated content like “Raya and the Last Dragon” looks superb with punchy colors. Live action videos such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” are vivid with lifelike colors. Because of its high brightness, the BenQ TK700 handles 3D videos like my “Captain America: The First Avenger” Blu-Ray with ease.

While videos look great, the TK700 really shines for gaming. I fired up some Spider-Man Remastered on my Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5), and the responsiveness was unparalleled. Button presses on my DualSense controller were nearly instantaneously displayed on the screen. Even if you’re coming from a gaming TV or monitor, the TK700’s super low 16ms of input lag at 4K 60Hz feels snappy. If you’re willing to dial the resolution back to 1080p, you can even game at high refresh rates like 120Hz with 8ms of input lag or 1080p 240Hz with 4ms of input lag.

Its single 5W treVolo-tuned speaker performs pretty well. However, for audio as big as the on-screen image, I’d recommend using a soundbar or receiver. Thanks to its eARC or enhanced Audio Return Channel support, the BenQ TK700 passed through uncompressed audio surround sound tracks to my Vizio SB36512-F6 Dolby Atmos soundbar.

There’s solid connectivity with its three HDMI inputs, a TOSLink optical SPDIF audio out port, 3.5mm headphone out audio jack, RS232, and USB type-A. One of the three HDMI inputs is conveniently concealed behind a dust cover and while it’s intended for use with BenQ’s QS01 Android TV streaming dongle, I found it worked well with streaming sticks like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Roku Stick 4K+. An Android TV box works well, or you can use streaming apps on game consoles.

While color accuracy is excellent, subpar black levels mean that black looks a little grey. The TK700 lacks lens vertical lens shift, though you do get keystone correction. Ultimately, the BenQ TK700 is an outstanding gaming projector that’s also fantastic for use in a bright living room setting.

BenQ TK700 Specs

• Resolution: 4K UHD (3840×2160) with pixel-shifting
• Brightness: 3,200 ANSI lumens
• Contrast ratio: 10,000:1
• Light source: Lamp
• Projection technology: DLP
• Lamp life: 4,000 hours (normal), 10,000 hours (ECO), 8,000 hours (SmartEco), 15,000 hours (LampSave)
• Throw ratio: 1.127-1.46 (100 inches at 9.8 feet)
• Projection offset: 110%
• Keystone: Auto vertical ± 30 degrees, manual horizontal ± 30 degrees
• 3D support
• Picture modes: 3D, Bright, Cinema, Game, HDR, HDR Game, HDR10, HLG, Living Room, Sport, User
• Input lag: 16.7 ms (1080p@60Hz), 16.7 ms (4K@60Hz), 4.2 ms (1080p@240Hz), 8.3 ms (1080p@120Hz)
• Connectivity: 3x HDMI (1x with eARC support), 1x USB Type A, 1x RS232, 1x optical TOSLink SPDIF, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
• Speaker: 1x 5 Watt treVolo-tuned speaker
• In the box: TK700 projector, remote, power cable, batteries, documentation
• Dimensions: 12.2 x 4.3 x 9.6 inches (312 x110 x 246 mm)
• Weight: 6.8 lbs. (3.1 kg)

BenQ TK700 Video Quality

The BenQ TK700 provides superb color accuracy with little to no tweaking. There’s an impressive 96% Rec.709 color coverage. Animated cartoons like “Raya and the Last Dragon” look stunning with punchy colors. Its 10,000:1 contrast ratio really helped details pop.

Live-action movies and TV shows such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” are gorgeous with lush visuals. Because of its high brightness, the TK700 displays 3D content, which is often dimmer, with aplomb. My “Captain America: The First Avenger” 3D Blu-ray was immersive with no evidence of crosstalk (you’ll just need a pair of 3D glasses like the Boblov DLP Link 3D glasses).

Details really stand out with a razor-sharp image thanks the TK700’s fantastic contrast ratio. Live television such as sports play flawlessly with fast-paced action feeling smooth. Whether you’re firing up a 4K ultra-high definition Blu-ray, standard 1080p Blu-ray, 4K stream, or even 720p and 480p videos, movies look superb.

You’ll find several different picture preset modes: Bright, Living Room, Game, Sports, Cinema, User, HDR10, and HDR Game. Furthermore, there are a few lamp options: Normal, Eco, Smart Eco, Lamp Save. For the brightest picture, put the TK700 in Bright, User, or HDR10 on the Normal lamp setting.

Even in one of the high brightness modes like Bright, User, Game, or Sports, I found color accuracy great. Still, with its RGBWRGBW color wheel, the TK700 pumps in white light which somewhat sacrifices color accuracy. Blacks appear greyer, however all but the most discerning power users will be pleased with the TK700’s image quality.

BenQ TK700 Gaming Performance

When it comes to gaming, the BenQ TK700 really shines. It produces as low as 16ms of input lag at 4K 60Hz, with a super low 4ms at 1080p 240Hz or 8ms on 1080p 120Hz. Even for folks accustomed to gaming on a fast refresh rate display like an OLED TV or a gaming monitor equipped with NVIDIA and AMD FreeSync, the BenQ TK700 is incredibly responsive.

In Spider-Man Remastered on my PlayStation 5, I was blown away at the TK700’s responsiveness which fostered an immersive gaming experience. Button presses manifested nearly instantaneously on the 100-inch screen in front of me. Casual single-player games will be just fine, and best-in-class input lag means the TK700 handles hardcore gaming perfectly. It’s one of the best gaming projectors for modern consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S as well as gaming desktop or laptops. While there’s no high-refresh rate gaming at 4K 120Hz, that’s unheard of on a projector.

BenQ TK700 Audio Quality

Normally, projector speakers suck, and the BenQ TK700 admittedly doesn’t wow with its 5W treVolo speaker. Nevertheless, it’s actually pretty decent and fills up a small to medium-sized room easily. But for the best experience, I recommend using an external audio device like a soundbar or receiver. Thanks to its eARC support, the TK700 can even send uncompressed audio signals from 4K Blu-rays to compatible soundbars and receivers equipped with eARC.

Image Adjustments and Installation

Since keystone somewhat degrades picture quality, it’s best to situate your projector so the on-screen image is as close to perfectly rectangular as possible. However, that’s not always possible. Luckily, the TK700 sports ± 30 degree auto vertical keystone plus manual ± 30 degree horizontal keystone. There’s also a manual 1.3x zoom and a manual focus wheel. Its 1.127-1.46 throw ratio produces a 100-inch image from around 9.8 feet away from the projector screen.

A set of three adjustable feet on the underside of the TK700 allow for positioning on a coffee table or media cart. You’ll also find standard mounting holes for use with a ceiling mount installation.

BenQ TK700 Design and Build

On the front of the unit, you’ll find an infrared (IR) sensor in the lower right-hand side of the projector. There’s also the lens and some ventilation in the left-hand corner.

The right-hand side of the projector features a speaker grille and some ventilation.

Moving around back, you’ll find a slew of inputs and outputs. There are three HDMI inputs including one with eARC and one concealed behind a dust cover, intended for use with a streaming stick. BenQ’s TK700 also packs an RS232 port, 3.5mm audio out headphone jack, USB Type-A, and power cable port.

The left-hand side of the TK700 includes more ventilation to keep the projector cool while operating.

On top of the device you’ll find manual zoom and focus wheels, onboard controls for use without the included remote, an IR sensor, and an ambient light sensor with support for LumiExpert. BenQ’s proprietary LumiExpert automatically adjusts the projector’s brightness based on the amount of ambient light in your room.

Underneath, you’ll find three adjustable feet for leveling the projector when using it on a coffee table or other surface, as well as screw holes for use with a ceiling mount.

BenQ TK700 vs. BenQ TK700STi: Which BenQ Gaming Projector is Right for You?

Benq TK700 vs BenQ TK700STi specs	BenQ TK700	BenQ TK700STi
Resolution	4K 3840 x 2160	4K 3840 x 2160
Contrast ratio	10,000:1	10,000:1
Brightness	3,200 ANSI lumens	3,000 ANSI lumen
Input lag	16ms (4K 60Hz, 1080p 60Hz) 8ms (1080p 120Hz) 4ms (1080p 240Hz)	16ms (4K 60Hz, 1080p 60Hz) 8ms (1080p 120Hz) 4ms (1080p 240Hz
Throw ratio	1.127-1.46 (100 inches at 9.8 feet)	0.9-1.08 (100 inches at 6.5-feet)
Game Modes	FPS	FPS, RPG, SPG
Black Detail Enhancement	Yes	No
Includes BenQ QS01 Android TV dongle	No	Yes

Aside from the TK700, BenQ also offers its short-throw variant, the BenQ TK700STi. In our BenQ TK700STi review, we liked its short-throw ratio which lets you generate a 100-inch image from around 6.5-feet away from the screen. We were also impressed with the TK700STi’s high brightness and liked the included QS01 Android TV streaming dongle.

When compared with the TK700STi, the TK700 is nearly identical in many ways. It features a 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution with pixel-shifting, 16ms of input lag at 4K 60Hz, and a dedicated FPS, or first person shooter, game mode. Both units can game at 1080p 60Hz with 16ms, 1080p 120Hz with 8ms, and 1080p 250Hz with 4ms of input lag. The TK700 is a little brighter at 3,200 ANSI lumens vs. TK700STi’s 3,000 ANSI lumens, although that’s a negligible difference.

Whereas the TK700 is a traditional standard or long throw projector which needs to sit about 10 feet back from the screen to produce a 100-inch or larger image, the TK700STi is better smaller rooms. Additionally, the TK700STi offers three different game modes, SPG, RPG, and FPS while the TK700 only features FPS:

• FPS (first person shooter) enhances details for better on-screen visibility of enemies hidden in the shadows and better surround sound to hear footsteps or detect the direction of gunshots.
• RPG (role playing) offers cinematic colors and theatre-like sound for an immersive audiovisual experience.
• SPG (sports) includes accurate colors and boosts vocals to highlight in-game announcer voices.

But the TK700 includes Black Detail Enhancement for improved dark scene fine details while the TK700STi doesn’t. And the TK700STi comes with BenQ’s QS01 Android streaming stick while the TK700 does not.

Overall, the TK700 and TK700STi are excellent gaming projectors. We recommend the TK700 for folks who don’t need short-throw capabilities and cinephiles because of BenQ’s Black Detail Enhancement. Those with a tighter space who need a short-throw projector should opt for the TK700STi, as well as hardcore gamers seeking more game mode presets like RPG and SPG. But either way, the TK700STi and TK700 are fantastic gaming projectors. You may also consider BenQ’s X3000i 4K 4LED gaming projector.

BenQ TK700STi: Best for gamers and smaller rooms

BenQ TK700: Best for cinephiles and gamers

For a more detailed analysis, check out our BenQ TK700 vs. TK700STi comparison.

BenQ TK700 Review FAQs

BenQ TK700 Review – Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the BenQ TK700 is an exceptional projector for gaming with low input lag of just 16ms at 4K 60Hz. With its low lag 4K 60Hz support, the TK700 pairs well with current-generation (current-gen) game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. However, its great color accuracy makes the TK700 a solid choice for watching movies and TV shows. Additionally, its high brightness holds up well against moderate amounts of ambient light, so the TK700 works well in a living room or other area that’s not a light-controlled home theatre.

So, is the BenQ TK700 right for you? The BenQ TK700 is a great for an immersive low lag 4K UHD big-screen gaming experience. Its good color reproduction and contrast makes it a versatile solution for watching movies and playing video games. Plus, its high-brightness posits the TK700 as a high-brightness living room projector. Although BenQ markets the TK700 as a gaming projector, it’s suitable for family rooms and for watching movies (all but the most discerning cinephiles will be thrilled with its picture quality). In the end, the BenQ TK700 is an outstanding projector that pairs well with the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintento Switch, or your 4K Blu-ray player.

Your turn: Which gaming projectors do YOU recommend?