Benq V5000i Laser TV projector review: The mighty screen

V5000i in a dark room (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

I placed the projector on the dining table, next to the living room wall, the only vertical surface where I had over 65 inches free. For a review I was not going to screw the light-resistant screen on my wall — so I am skipping that aspect of this product. But this ultra-short throw projector does not really care where it is placed.

The image adjusts itself, automatically if needed, to that space so that you have a perfect picture. Even the keystone can be set in full auto mode. And if that is not enough, you can manually spread the image exactly as you want… very handy when you are fitting this to a screen. I have a small switchboard on this wall and I could use the adjustable legs to angle the image above this.

The standard image — this depends on how far the projector is from the wall — is about 65 inches. Interestingly, the projector comes with two retractable scales at the back so that it knows exactly how far away the wall is and can calibrate the image to that distance. This automatic ability to fix the image to the wall or screen is one of the best aspects of the Benq V5000i.

The Benq V5000i offers a very sharp 4K UHD image thanks to its 2500 ANSI Lumens lamp with a 2,500,000:1 contrast ratio. This means the projector offers the best blacks even if you are using it during the day. And even from an angle the image looks the same and does not split into its component colours like with some older projectors.

Playing a 4K version of the Varaha Roopam song from Kantara (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

Playing a 4K version of the Varaha Roopam song from Kantara, I was impressed by how the projector separated the blacks from oranges and yellows, almost bringing the characters to life in HDR.

With ambitions to replace high-end televisions, the Benq V5000i runs the Android TV software with the help of a dongle that has to be nested inside a cavity on the top of the projector. This also means there is no learning involved in using the projector’s content interface, it is exactly the same as the one on my TV with even the same home screen. However, I felt it was a micro-second slower than on my OnePlus TV. There is a remote that helps you manage the Google interface as well as the projector settings which is again very convenient.

As I watched Shaolin Soccer with my son, I could not help but realize how the speakers on this projector packed a punch like in the cinemas. And the size of the projectors helps it give more depth to the audio. We could feel each kick in the movie resonate across the living room, plotting its path along the way, thanks to the inbuilt Dolby Atmos. But do remember this can be very loud and the bass can shake up the room at full volume, not without its perils if you live in an apartment block like me. So do be careful how you unleash this power.

The Benq V5000i comes with multiple HDMI input options and you can if needed add your Apple TV or Amazon FireStick to get more options than what the AndroidTV offers. You also have the option to use external speakers or soundbars. Both these options are not really needed though, as this projector is more than self-sufficient on both fronts.

The projector offers 2,500,000:1 contrast ratio (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

While this works as a great way to increase your TV screen size even more, the fact is this is not for all households. If you have the kind of space and environment that lets you set up a projector that can beam an impressive 100-inch image with cinema-quality sound, then this is for you.

Otherwise, you should opt for one of the smaller projectors made for smaller spaces. Also, with a price tag of Rs 5,49,000 a lot of homes will not even consider this as an option. But, of course, there are those who want to bring in the next level of entertainment home and for them, this is a perfect option.