The home projector industry is growing fast. While many alternatives aim to provide users with the familiar Smart TV experience instead of a standard TV, others, like the BenQ W5800, strive to provide the components needed to create a complete home theatre. The W5800 is a heavy-duty equipment that takes two people or more to operate. The gadget, power connectors, remote control, and some papers are all in the box.
Build
The BenQ W5800 is a home theatre projector with a devoted design and sturdy feel. A 1.6x optical zoom lens is positioned in the center of the projector and surrounded by air intakes on both sides.
Ports and UI control buttons are on the device’s back (more on that later.) Two HDMI ports are included, one of which supports audio return. The additional ports include:
- Two IR receiver ports.
- One RS232 port.
- One RJ-45 LAN.
- One audio connector supporting 2.0/5.1 channel audio.
- A USB Type-A port for reading media.
Users will notice a panel on top that tapers towards the sides and has the BenQ branding. Overall, the projector’s design is appropriate for the location in which it is intended to be used. The build quality makes it feel like it will handle years of use without breaking a sweat, which gives confidence.
Setup the projector can take some time, though. BenQ says that as the projector lacks built-in speakers, the optimum results will come from using an external sound system with it. To guarantee a complete watching experience, it would be prudent to invest in a high-quality system.
Function
The projector projects images at 120 Hz in 4K UHD. It uses a motorized lens and a laser light source that produces 2600 ANSI lumens. Picture resolution is accurate up to 200″. Users have the option of 2.35:1 and 16:9 aspect ratios. The brightness, clarity, and colour accuracy of the projections are excellent. Thanks to the projector’s 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, most content is represented accurately in terms of colour.
Using a variety of input modalities, the projector impressed users with no lags or reductions in performance even after extended use. The projections are realistic when used with a gaming console, showcasing vivid colours and deep blacks, and the high refresh rates guarantee an immersive gaming experience.
User interface and experience
The W5800 lacks creature comforts but has a simple, intuitive user interface that is nonetheless functional. The user interface is better suited for tech-savvy individuals who enjoy adjusting settings to achieve the desired results. Nevertheless, accessing the menus is not difficult, even for average users.
The projector also includes a dedicated filmmaker mode, which should be useful for filmmakers or users who want to avoid post-processing effects like motion smoothing while maintaining the original aspect ratios and frame rates. This feature is aimed at the premium user segment. The projector can project 3D content using a modulator positioned in front of the lens, eliminating the need for separate 3D glasses, even if it lacks in-built apps or the option to install them. Since the modulator is not part of the projector, we could not test this feature ourselves.
Conclusion
Certain essential functions we have been accustomed to seeing in projectors intended for home theater applications are absent from the BenQ W5800. The projector lacks in-built speakers and a user-friendly, intelligent user interface. Still, the projector performs as intended, which helps to justify its ₹ 6,50,000 price tag.
Dedicated home theater aficionados will enjoy the immersive viewing and gaming experience that the W5800 offers when paired with a high-quality set of speakers. Its picture projection quality is among the best in the industry, and its color accuracy is also impeccable.
