BenQ TK700STi: full specifications | Display technology | Single-chip DLP |
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| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160, XPR) |
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| Rated brightness | 3,000 ANSI lumens |
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| Measured brightness (vivid) | 2,650 ANSI lumens |
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| Contrast ratio | 10,000:1 |
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| Throw ratio | 0.9 to 1.08:1 (short throw) |
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| Image size | 100 in from 1.96 m (3.33 m wide at 3 m) |
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| Input lag (1080p/120) | 4.16 ms |
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| Input lag (4K/60) | 16.7 ms |
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| Lamp life (Eco) | 15,000 hours |
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| Smart TV | Android TV dongle included |
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| Weight | 3.1 kg |
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| Typical UK price | £1,099 |
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Who is the BenQ TK700STi for?
The TK700STi is the right projector if gaming is a real part of how you will use it, and your room is on the smaller side. The combination of a 4.16 ms input lag and a 0.9:1 short throw is unusual and genuinely useful: you get console-grade responsiveness on a 100-inch screen thrown from under two metres, which means it works in a room where a standard-throw projector simply would not have the distance. It is bright enough to double as the family film projector with the curtains drawn, and the bundled Android TV dongle means you can stream the moment you unbox it. For a multi-purpose games-and-films room, it is the standout here.
It is less suited to two groups. If you want the deepest blacks and the most cinematic picture in a fully dark room, the 3LCD Epson EH-TW7100 has the edge on black levels and freedom from rainbow effect. And if you cannot place a projector fairly precisely, the lack of lens shift will frustrate you: the TK700STi relies on careful positioning plus keystone, so it wants to sit roughly square-on at the right height. For a games room where you can set it up properly, though, it is excellent.
How the BenQ TK700STi performs
Gaming response
This is its reason to exist, and it delivers. In its fast game mode we measured 4.16 ms of input lag at 1080p and 120 Hz, which is class-leading and feels genuinely instant under the thumbs, and around 16.7 ms at 4K and 60 Hz, which is still excellent. For fast-paced shooters and platformers on a 100-inch screen, the responsiveness is a different experience from a typical projector, and BenQ's dedicated game-mode picture presets keep the image sharp without adding lag. If you have ever found a projector too laggy to game on, this is the one that fixes it.
Brightness and short throw
We measured 2,650 ANSI lumens in its punchier modes, which is bright enough to stay watchable with the curtains drawn rather than the room fully blacked out, a real advantage for a living room used in the evening. The 0.9:1 short throw is the other headline: it fills a 100-inch screen from under two metres, so it sits close to the wall, out of the way of foot traffic, and works in rooms a standard projector cannot. The trade-off is that there is no lens shift and only a tiny 1.2x zoom, so you do lean on keystone correction and need to position it carefully.
Smart TV, sound and lamp life
The bundled Android TV dongle plugs into a concealed internal HDMI port and brings Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and the rest built in, so it is a complete streaming projector out of the box. The single 5 W speaker is weak, though, so plan on a soundbar for anything beyond casual use. The lamp is rated at a long 15,000 hours in Eco, which keeps long-term running costs down, and the 3.1 kg body is light enough to move between rooms if you want to.
The honest downsides
There are three. First, it is single-chip DLP, so a small minority of viewers will catch a faint rainbow effect in high-contrast scenes; if you are sensitive to it, the 3LCD Epson is the safer choice. Second, there is no lens shift, so placement is fussier than the Epson, and heavy keystone correction softens the image, so it pays to position it well rather than rely on the correction. Third, the built-in speaker is poor and really needs a soundbar. None of these undoes the gaming strengths, but they are the price of a games-focused short-throw projector.
The good
- Class-leading 4.16 ms input lag at 1080p/120 Hz
- Short 0.9:1 throw fills 100 in from under 2 m
- Bright 2,650 ANSI lumens for curtains-drawn rooms
- Android TV dongle adds streaming out of the box
- Long 15,000-hour Eco lamp life
The not-so-good
- Single-chip DLP can show a faint rainbow effect
- No lens shift, so placement must be precise
- Weak 5 W speaker needs a soundbar
- Black levels trail the 3LCD Epson in a dark room
Best for: the gamer who wants console-grade responsiveness on a big screen in a smaller room, and is happy to add a soundbar. Not the pick if you want the deepest cinema blacks (try the Epson) or need flexible placement (the Epson's lens shift wins).
