The catch
BenQ X3100i
Most lifestyle models are far less bulky than this tall 15-pound chassis.
Side by side
BenQ X3100i vs BenQ TK710STi: TK710STi lets the large picture fit in a shorter room
Quick verdict
Go with the TK710STi if the screen has to be large in a short room. The X3100i fits a longer throw, with its 4LED light engine and gaming setup.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Confirm a 120-inch picture fits first
Getting a 120-inch 16:9 picture takes 10 to 13.1 ft from lens to screen with the BenQ X3100i and 6 to 7.2 ft with the BenQ TK710STi.
Where this comes from
Width = diagonal × 16 / √337, which is 104.6 inches at 120 inches. Times each documented throw endpoint, divided by 12, that gives feet. Digital zoom, keystone, cabinet offset and lens-shift limits are not included.
The catch
BenQ TK710STi
Without optical lens shift, even the short throw requires a shelf or mount that's centered.
BenQ X3100i
- Why pick it
- The projector will mount farther from the screen
- A 4LED gaming projector is right for the room
- The catch
- Most lifestyle models are far less bulky than this tall 15-pound chassis.
BenQ TK710STi
- Why pick it
- The room can't give you ten feet of throw
- A simulator layout benefits from a closer mount
- The catch
- Without optical lens shift, even the short throw requires a shelf or mount that's centered.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
TK710STi is the choice when the screen must be large in a short room, and X3100i suits a longer throw with its 4LED light engine and gaming setup.
Each distance range serves a different room
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The projector will mount farther from the screen
The X3100i covers a 1.15 to 1.5 throw and the TK710STi covers 0.69 to 0.83. For a 120-inch picture, that puts the X3100i about ten to thirteen feet back. That is well beyond six to seven feet.
- BenQ X3100i
- Better fit
- BenQ TK710STi
- Depends
A 120-inch picture needs to fit inside ten feet
For a 120-inch 16:9 picture the TK710STi needs about six to seven feet. The X3100i starts around ten feet, which means it cannot meet the shorter distance stated. Leave space for the chassis and for installation clearance.
- BenQ X3100i
- Not suitable
- BenQ TK710STi
- Better fit
I already picked a 120-inch 16:9 screen
Start from the lens and allow 10 to 13.1 ft for the BenQ X3100i or 6 to 7.2 ft for the BenQ TK710STi. Cabinet and mounting clearances get a separate check.
- BenQ X3100i
- Depends
- BenQ TK710STi
- Depends
I don't want to buy the wrong edition for streaming
Both the BenQ X3100i and the BenQ TK710STi are documented with an Included Android TV device. Verify the exact US model and the apps you need, rather than a similar name or older generation.
- BenQ X3100i
- Depends
- BenQ TK710STi
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
Confirm a 120-inch picture fits first
Getting a 120-inch 16:9 picture takes 10 to 13.1 ft from lens to screen with the BenQ X3100i and 6 to 7.2 ft with the BenQ TK710STi.
How we worked this out
Width = diagonal × 16 / √337, which is 104.6 inches at 120 inches. Times each documented throw endpoint, divided by 12, that gives feet. Digital zoom, keystone, cabinet offset and lens-shift limits are not included.
Treat the light ratings with their limits in mind
The BenQ X3100i is listed at 3300 ANSI lumens and the BenQ TK710STi at 3200, so the higher headline is about 3% above the lower one. These are manufacturer ratings and were not measured side by side.
How we worked this out
The exact inputs, as published, are 3300 ANSI for BenQ X3100i and 3200 ANSI for BenQ TK710STi. A percentage appears only within one labeled standard. Manufacturer methods, calibration and picture modes can still differ.
A mount that works for one may not work at all for the other
For a 120-inch 16:9 picture, the X3100i starts around 10.0 feet and the TK710STi tops out around 7.2 feet, so their optical distance windows never overlap.
How we worked this out
120 × 16 / √337 gives a width of 104.59 inches. Minimum for the X3100i: 104.59 × 1.15 / 12 = 10.02 ft. Maximum for the TK710STi: 104.59 × 0.83 / 12 = 7.23 ft.
Plug in your numbers
Will either projector work in your room?
This checks hard limits only. Personal preferences are left out of the math.
BenQ X3100i
Does not work with your numbersFor a 120-inch 16:9 picture, the calculated lens range is about 10.02 to 13.07 ft. You entered 9.50 ft.
BenQ TK710STi
Does not work with your numbersFor a 120-inch 16:9 picture, the calculated lens range is about 6.01 to 7.23 ft. You entered 9.50 ft.
Measure distance from the lens to the screen. The math assumes a 16:9 picture and uses the verified throw range for each exact model.
Option A
BenQ, X3100i
X3100i
This 4LED gaming projector delivers rich color with low latency, wide resolution support, Android TV and a generous vertical shift range.
- Best for
- Gaming that doesn't cost you color
Facts we checked
- 4LED light source at 3,300 ANSI-lumen, with a 100% DCI-P3 claim
- 4.2 ms at 1080p240, 8.3 ms at 1080p120 and 16.7 ms at 4K60
- Included Android TV dongle, vertical lens shift and 1.3x optical zoom
Option B
BenQ, TK710STi
TK710STi
This short-throw variant of the TK710 offers the same laser brightness and low-latency modes from a spot much nearer the screen.
- Best for
- Console and PC gaming with a short throw
Facts we checked
- Laser 4K DLP light engine at 3,200 ANSI-lumen
- 1.2x optical zoom, with a 0.69–0.83:1 throw ratio
- Included Android TV, with 4.2 ms at 1080p240 and 16.7 ms at 4K60
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | BenQ X3100i | BenQ TK710STi | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optical throw ratio | 1.15 to 1.5 | 0.69 to 0.83 | Distance runs from the lens to the screen and is calculated from the image width. |
| Lens distance for 120 inches | 10 to 13.1 ft | 6 to 7.2 ft | The calculation assumes 16:9 and optical adjustment alone. Cabinet depth and cable clearance come on top. |
| Published image-size range | 30 to 300 in | 30 to 300 in | A supported maximum is no guarantee of a bright picture in your room. |
| Published light output | 3300 ANSI lumens | 3200 ANSI lumens | You cannot swap one measurement standard or picture mode for another. |
| Display architecture | single-chip-dlp | single-chip-dlp | Viewers who are sensitive to rainbow flashes may care about single-chip sequential color. |
| Streaming platform | Included Android TV device | Included Android TV device | Before you add a separate streamer, confirm the exact US edition and the apps you need. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With BenQ X3100i
- In independent testing, dark-scene contrast was weaker, and 1440p input was noted as being downscaled internally.
With BenQ TK710STi
- Color is built around Rec.709, which covers less than RGB-laser and cinema-first wide-gamut models.
Decision guide
How to decide
A large screen in a short room points to TK710STi, while X3100i fits a longer throw with its 4LED light engine and gaming setup.
Each distance range serves a different room
The TK710STi covers a 0.69 to 0.83 throw, against 1.15 to 1.5 for the other. For a 120-inch image, the short-throw unit needs about six to seven feet instead of ten to thirteen.
Check the swing path before buying short throw
In a simulator, the beam and chassis have to stay clear of the golfer, the clubs and the impact screen. Throw geometry helps screen candidates, yet it doesn't establish physical safety on its own.
Both come with a way to stream
An Android TV device is included in both reviewed packages. The bigger everyday difference is mounting geometry and laser versus 4LED light source. Adding an external streamer is not what separates them.
What this page can’t tell you
- A 16:9 picture and published optical ranges are the inputs to the throw calculations, which are no stand-in for the exact installation diagram.
- Lumens, contrast and latency as published fall short of a matched real-room picture-quality result.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the home projectors we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 1 of the 90 models checked meet every need here: “Family movie nights happen in our living room”, “I cannot move the position of my shelf or ceiling mount”, and “I want Netflix working from day one”.
1 model fits, out of 90 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Family movie nights happen in our living room”, “I cannot move the position of my shelf or ceiling mount”, and “I want Netflix working from day one”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ X3100i |
|
| |
| BenQ TK710STi |
|
|
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
BenQ X3100i
The projector will mount farther from the screen
See price & reviews on AmazonBenQ TK710STi
The room can't give you ten feet of throw
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money