BenQ has established a solid reputation in the display market, known for producing a range of monitors and projectors catering to both professional and home entertainment needs. Today, we’ll be focusing on the BenQ W2720i, a 4K HDR-PRO projector designed to bring the big-screen experience to your living room. It aims to offer a high-quality image with vibrant colours and sharp detail, creating an immersive cinematic atmosphere. This projector is positioned as a versatile option for movie nights and gaming at home. I actually own the previous model, the W2700, which hit the market about 5 years ago, so I’m eager to see what this upgraded model has to offer, as there are many differences, actually side by side, the W2720i and W2700 look almost nothing alike.
BenQ W2720i
A key selling point of the W2720i is its suite of features designed to enhance the viewing experience. These include a gorgeous 4K resolution, HDR-PRO technology for improved contrast and colour depth, and what BenQ terms “AI Cinema Mode,” which optimises image settings based on the content being displayed and ambient room conditions. Connectivity options and ease of setup are also important considerations for a home cinema projector, and BenQ seem to have made some strides there too.
In terms of price, the BenQ W2720i sits within a competitive segment of the 4K projector market. It’s not an entry-level option, with its focus on performance and features, but it’s also not positioned at the ultra-high-end. The W2700 I own has been one of the most popular 4K projectors for the same reason, offering pretty much the best image quality for under £2000 for the last few years, and now the W2720i looks to take that crown for itself.
The specifications of the W2720i reveal a projector designed with home cinema in mind. Admittedly this is punching about the price, size and throw ratios you see from those cheap wall projectors on Amazon, but if you’re serious about setting up a large screen and starting your home cinema journey, you can see from the list below, the BenQ is serious business for the media enthusiasts out there.
Features
- AI-enhanced 4LED lighting system for brilliant contrast and natural colour.
- HDR10+ and Filmmaker Mode for detailed and lifelike colour.
- Android TV for access to streaming favourites.
- AI Cinema Mode for an optimised picture in different lighting conditions.
- Smart Scene Enhancement for highlighted detail and realism.
- CinematicColor DCI-P3 (90%) and Rec.709 (98%) coverage.
- Factory calibration report for guaranteed colour accuracy.
- 4K UHD resolution for sharp images.
- HDR-PRO for enhanced tone mapping and contrast.
- HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG format compatibility.
- Frame-by-frame image optimisation with HDR10+.
- Filmmaker Mode for experiencing cinematic vision.
- Built-in Android TV dongle for smart features.
- Chromecast is built-in for streaming from Android smartphones.
- Auto Screen Fit for matching image to screen size.
- 8-point corner fit for image adjustment.
- Vertical lens shift (+/- 5%) for easy installation.
- Three HDMI sockets (one 4K/120Hz, one with eARC).
- HDCP 2.3 compliance.
- USB media device port.
- 2.5A charging port.
- 12V trigger and RS-232 interface for home automation.
Specifications
One thing I really like about this projector, is that it comes pre-calibrated out of the box. They list all the features they’ve used, and tell you how to achieve. In this case, we can see the results for Rec 709 and DCI-P3, covering both SDR and HDR content. It achieves a fantastic Delta-E colour accuracy of just 0.58!
