The catch
BenQ X500i
With a lower rated output, it has less light-output headroom for a very large screen.
Side by side
BenQ X500i vs BenQ TK710STi: Laser brings light and no different lens or gaming response
Quick verdict
The TK710STi is for you if a large picture or some room lighting calls for the higher published light output. The X500i is for you if its lower-cost LED package suits a dark-room budget. Both use the same 0.69 to 0.83 throw range and list the same gaming latency, which means the laser upgrade fixes neither a placement problem nor a refresh problem.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A laser upgrade will not save a shelf in the wrong place
Eight feet from a 120-inch screen is too far back for either optical range, since the longest 120-inch distance for them is about 7.2 feet. If that describes your constraint, look at a longer lens before paying for more light.
Where this comes from
BenQ X500i: 0.69 to 0.83 throw. 104.59 × 0.83 / 12 = 7.23 feet. BenQ TK710STi: The same 0.69 to 0.83 optical throw range.
The catch
BenQ TK710STi
Extra rated brightness does not come with more optical placement range or a documented gaming format.
BenQ X500i
- Why pick it
- You watch in the dark and want to keep the projector cost down
- Your screen already works with the shared short-throw range
- The catch
- With a lower rated output, it has less light-output headroom for a very large screen.
BenQ TK710STi
- Why pick it
- At the same short distance, you need more rated light output
- Brightness is worth more to you with a larger screen or occasional lighting
- The catch
- Extra rated brightness does not come with more optical placement range or a documented gaming format.
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What this page compares
Short gaming room? The BenQ X500i and TK710STi share a throw range, so look at the brightness claim, lamp-free upkeep and high-refresh limits.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A seven-foot lens position in a dark room
At roughly this distance, either can frame a 120-inch picture optically.
- BenQ X500i
- Good
- BenQ TK710STi
- Good
The same room, but with lamps left on now and then
Higher published output backs the case for the TK710STi, although light falling on the screen still lowers contrast.
- BenQ X500i
- Good
- BenQ TK710STi
- Better fit
An eight-foot shelf that cannot be moved
From that distance, neither can fill a full-width 120-inch image optically.
- BenQ X500i
- Not suitable
- BenQ TK710STi
- Not suitable
Upgrading solely for quicker 4K/60 response
That is not a reason to upgrade that the published input-lag figures back up.
- BenQ X500i
- Similar
- BenQ TK710STi
- Similar
In practice
Differences you will notice
A laser upgrade will not save a shelf in the wrong place
Eight feet from a 120-inch screen is too far back for either optical range, since the longest 120-inch distance for them is about 7.2 feet. If that describes your constraint, look at a longer lens before paying for more light.
How we worked this out
BenQ X500i: 0.69 to 0.83 throw. 104.59 × 0.83 / 12 = 7.23 feet. BenQ TK710STi: The same 0.69 to 0.83 optical throw range.
A bigger image can use up the whole light-output difference
Area is 56 percent greater for a 150-inch 16:9 picture than for a 120-inch one, while the TK710STi's manufacturer brightness rating is 45 percent higher. Even those headline figures do not imply that a 150-inch TK710STi image matches a 120-inch X500i image in brightness per square foot.
How we worked this out
BenQ X500i: 2,200 ANSI-lumen claim. Area ratio = (150 / 120)² = 1.5625. BenQ TK710STi: 3,200 ANSI-lumen claim. Output ratio = 3200 / 2200 = 1.455. Ratings are not calibrated-mode measurements.
In a small shared room, the simpler computer connection may win
When a gaming laptop gets carried into a room that doubles as the children’s play space, X500i can take video from a compatible USB-C DisplayPort port, whereas TK710STi needs an HDMI path or a suitable adapter. X500i’s 5W output is too small to count on for powering a gaming laptop, so plan for that separate lead as well.
How we worked this out
BenQ X500i: USB-C DisplayPort input, PD out 5V/1A, equal format-specific lag to TK710STi. BenQ TK710STi: HDMI video inputs and no USB-C DisplayPort input in the manufacturer interface table.
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 X500i
Does not work with your numbersFor a 120-inch 16:9 picture, the manual-table lens range is about 6.01 to 7.23 ft. You entered 9.50 ft. Optical fit only: use the 1.2x optical zoom, level square placement at the fixed image height, body/cable space, 50 cm wall clearance and free airflow. No optical lens shift. For image quality, BenQ recommends the manual’s non-gray table rows. Test the actual image before mounting. Digital correction adds no optical range.
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, X500i
X500i
This short-throw 4LED gaming projector puts a big image in front of a desk or sofa without taking up the full depth of the room.
- Best for
- You watch in the dark and want to keep the projector cost down
Facts we checked
- 120-inch placement: About 6.0 to 7.2 ft
- Light engine: 4LED, 2,200 ANSI-lumen claim
- Portable computer connection: USB-C DisplayPort input with 5W power out
- Speakers built in: A pair of 5W speakers
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
- At the same short distance, you need more rated light output
Facts we checked
- 120-inch placement: About 6.0 to 7.2 ft
- Light engine: Laser, 3,200 ANSI-lumen claim
- Portable computer connection: HDMI video inputs, no USB-C DisplayPort input listed
- Built-in speakers: One 5W speaker
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | BenQ X500i | BenQ TK710STi | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120-inch placement | About 6.0 to 7.2 ft | About 6.0 to 7.2 ft | Neither leaves any extra room to work with at this screen size. |
| Light engine | 4LED, 2,200 ANSI-lumen claim | Laser, 3,200 ANSI-lumen claim | The main hardware reason to step up is higher rated output, with picture-mode caveats. |
| Portable computer connection | USB-C DisplayPort input with 5W power out | HDMI video inputs, no USB-C DisplayPort input listed | A compatible laptop can plug straight into X500i, though it still needs an adequate power supply of its own. |
| Built-in speakers | Two 5W speakers | One 5W speaker | It alters the built-in arrangement but proves nothing about sound quality or room loudness. |
| 4K gaming | 16.7 ms at 4K/60 | 16.7 ms at 4K/60 | The laser source brings no documented response advantage. |
| 1080p gaming | 4.2 ms at 240 Hz, published | 4.2 ms at 240 Hz, published | A compatible high-refresh source and the right mode are required on both. |
| Streaming | Included Android TV device | Included Android TV device | For supported apps, neither purchase calls for a separate device. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With BenQ X500i
- In deeper rooms, some rear shelves don't suit the short lens.
With BenQ TK710STi
- Color is built around Rec.709, which covers less than RGB-laser and cinema-first wide-gamut models.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You watch in the dark and want to keep the projector cost down
Go with BenQ X500i. Your screen already works with the shared short-throw range
At the same short distance, you need more rated light output
Go with BenQ TK710STi. Brightness is worth more to you with a larger screen or occasional lighting
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the home projectors we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ X500i |
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| BenQ TK710STi |
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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 X500i
You watch in the dark and want to keep the projector cost down
See price & reviews on AmazonBenQ TK710STi
At the same short distance, you need more rated light output
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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