ProjectorsReviews

Review: BenQ TK800

BenQ has been going strong with its projector lineup and the latest to launch on to the market is the TK800. This one is a DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector that offers 4K big-screen experience. The TK800 is also HDR10-enabled – so it offers perfect viewing experience in brighter spaces.

The projector was launched in time for FIFA World Cup in the region and the company reiterated that the projector was perfect for viewing the sports-related footage. This is because the TK800 offers a dedicated Football and Sports mode.

According to BenQ, Football Mode preserves natural skin tones while intensifying green grass, simultaneously clarifying the announcer’s commentary among the cheering crowd of an open-air stadium. As for Sports Mode, the company said it prioritises clear acoustical quality for the announcer’s voice and details such as squeaking sneakers, referee whistles and ice scraping under skates.

In terms of connectivity, the BenQ TK800 comes with a very good selection. There’s 3.5mm audio in, power in, audio out, VGA input, dual HDMI inputs (one is HDCP 2.2), USB type A, RS232 and a 12volt trigger (can be used to trigger motorised curtains or projector screens). Controls on top of the projector include power, a 5-way D-pad, source selection, eco button, back, menu and mode.

There’s also a backlit remote in the box that can control all the functions. The lens of the projector is quite recessed into the unit so there’s no need for a lens cover, and hence, one isn’t provided. Next to the lens is the 4K HDR logo and an IR port for the remote. Like most other projectors, there’s a second IR port, too.

Zoom and focus for the lens are manual and this being an entry-level 4K projector, there is no lens shift control either. What it does have is auto keystone adjustment. The documentation we received from BenQ claimed that the TK800 accompanied a natural resolution of 3840-by-2160 pixels or ‘True 4K’ as it is referred.

However, that definitions seems to be more of a marketing thing than certified. The projector uses DLP XPR Technology, created by Texas Instruments, to enable lower resolution chip that uses pixel-shifting technology to achieve the 8.3 million pixels needed for 4K. This isn’t a very big problem in itself.

However, if you are a hardcore 4K enthusiast, you might start feeling something is missing. This is because pixel shifted 1080p is never going to look as sharp as native 4K. However, if you are watching a movie or a rapidly moving game content, you might not be able to notice the difference.

The BenQ TK800 looks better than a standard 1080p DLP projector but lacks the fine details and clarity of one with an actual 4K DLP. At my home, I was able to watch content on a 100-inch screen produced by the TK800. However, in bigger rooms, the TK800 can generate a massive 300-inch projection.

The TK800 offers 3,000 lumens and hence it is a perfect projector for use in locations that aren’t entirely devoid of ambient light, even outdoors. The projector offers a bulb life of just 4,000 hours of ‘normal’ use. That translated to three years use of four hours a day. And this can be doubled by using the SmartEco mode.

The BenQ TK800 is definitely not a budget projector when considering the price point it is available at. But then, the TK800 combines 4K resolution with a bright picture, very good image quality, HDR experience, and 3D capability. The BenQ TK800 might be one of the options you could look at if you want to upgrade from a 1080p projector.

Price: AED 4999

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Chris Fernando

Chris N. Fernando is an experienced media professional with over two decades of journalistic experience. He is the Editor of Arabian Reseller magazine, the authoritative guide to the regional IT industry. Follow him on Twitter (@chris508) and Instagram (@chris2508).

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