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Picture detail is generally good and it’s worth noting how impressive that is given that this projector doesn’t actually have the 3840 x 2160 micro-mirrors on its DLP chip as you might expect. Instead it uses Texas Instruments’ lens shifting DLP XPR technology to effectively quadruple the number of pixels produced by its 0.47in chip, with only 1920 x 1080 micro-mirrors. Whether we are watching the 4K vintage world of The Prestige or the starker setting of Die Hard’s Nakatomi Plaza, the W2700 has the colours, the contrast and the brightness bang on, and that’s no mean feat. The stunning 4K UHD (Ultra-HD) 3840x2160 resolution is four times the pixel count of 1080p FHD (full HD). With 8.3 million distinct pixels for each frame, the W1800i minimizes blur and displays crisp clear video. Additionally, the projector with the new generation 0.47” single-DMD DLP technology (chip) showcases a sleek modern design to complement your viewing space. Once the projector is turned on, the welcome menu prompts you to choose the interface language, to specify the position of the projector and to choose whether or not to activate the automatic keystone correction. The image can then be adjusted within the limits of the screen by using the test pattern in the Installation menu. Once the ideal projection distance has been found, you simply have to adjust the zoom and the height of the feet to achieve the desired result. Thanks to the test pattern available in the BenQ W1800i projector’s installation menu, it is easy to adjust the image within the limits of the screen.
This BenQ includes support for HDR10 and HLG. HDR10 is widely used on UHD gaming consoles from Sony and Microsoft. HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma HDR) is a broadcast and user generated standard format that is seen as the standard for transmitting 4K signals. The picture settings of the BenQ W2700 aren’t as straightforward as the initial set-up, but it’s easy if you’re watching HDR content. With HDR set to Auto, this 2,000 lumens projector does all the work for you, automatically switching the major picture settings to optimum. Ultra HD 4K resolution gives you four times more detail than Full HD with over 8 million pixels! It delivers a sharper, more life-like picture with richer and more natural colour. It also lets you sit closer to the screen – making it ideal for smaller rooms, too. With the BenQ W1800, you get a crystal-clear 120 inch image, with the projector positioned just 3 metres away. BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values has paid off handsomely. Its pictures might not be the showiest around, but they’re refined, natural, authentic and, to use that word again, cinematic.Supercharged by HDR10 and HLG support with BenQ exclusive projector-optimized HDR the W1800i’s high dynamic range performance offers greater brightness contrast range and image optimization in a single step bringing out every detail in 4K video content for superior cinema enjoyment. If you’re mad about movies, you’ll love Filmmaker Mode on this BenQ projector. Designed in collaboration with filmmakers and Hollywood studios, Filmmaker Mode lets you experience the cinematic vision, exactly as the director intended. Overriding the TV’s own motion and picture processing, Filmmaker Mode presents the correct aspect ratio, colour and frame rate – just as the filmmakers intended.
I was pretty set on the TK700STi, which could give me 120” screen from that throw. The W1800i would give me a screen closer to 100”. I’ve read that 120” at that viewing distance is too close, but I’ve seen people on here say that they love it (too big is a myth, right?) For optimal colour, the W1800 features BenQ’s CinematicColor technology. This tech 100% meets the Rec. 709 HDTV standard for colour accuracy, giving you realistic colour with true-to-life texture and depth. The RGBRGB colour wheel and high contrast deliver crisp images and help maximise the full potential of 4K resolution.
Rivals win on brightness and HDR, but this is a superb-value home cinema projector
For some products such as screens are also shipped via UPS, TNT, DHL, DPD and some accessories are shipped via Royal Mail. As a shortcut, with non-HDR, we recommend choosing the Vivid TV preset. We watch Thor in Full HD and the colour palette is well balanced. The gold of Asgard’s palace is as prominent as the green of the planet’s trees and the blues of its oceans in the opening sweeps of the film.
The W1800i is rated 2000 lumens, whereas the TK700STi is 3000 lumens. I believe that this is due to the RGB colour wheel on the W1800i, where the TK700STi has a RGBW and lets through more white light. The room I have will have some ambient light from the window (can shut the blinds) and table lamp. Seems like the TK700STi is better suited, but seems like there are varying opinions on whether 2000 lumens is plenty for this type of use. I was thinking about buying a 0.8 gain grey screen if that makes any difference. The chip is flashed at a rate of 240Hz (four times the normal amount) each time in a different position such that a full 4K, 8.3 million distinct pixels are displayed to the viewer per frame of footage. The only other note to consider is the noise of the projector fan, which is noticeable, but nothing beyond what we’d expect. If you’re sitting right next to the W2700, you’ll hear it, but otherwise it’s not a problem. Verdict This BenQ W1800i UHD-4K projector is not equipped with an LED lamp or laser, but with a conventional lamp that provides a brightness of 2000 lumens, allowing it to be used in a semi-dark or dark room. During the day or in a bright room, however, its brightness is a bit too low to achieve a sufficiently vivid and contrasted image. The lamp’s lifespan reaches 4000 hours in normal mode and 10,000 hours in eco mode. The lifespan of the BenQ W1800i’s lamp ranges from 4000 hours (normal mode) to 10,000 hours (eco mode) depending on the mode of use, which is equivalent to between 5 and 13 years at a rate of 2 hours of daily use. BenQ W1800i: zoom and keystone correction keystone eliminates trapezoid effects when projecting from various room locations for ease and convenience.Unfortunately, it is not possible to access Netflix from the BenQ W1800i, which is not compatible with this streaming service. Even when enabling wireless screen sharing from an Android smartphone, we couldn’t access it. So those who want to enjoy Netflix with this projector will have to do so from a Netflix-compatible computer or AV network player connected to the W1800i via HDMI, or via a Chromecast Video. BenQ W1800i: 4000h, 2000 lumen lamp While many BenQ projectors sport CinematicColor technology, the W1800 adds another video-facing feature that we haven’t seen from a BenQ projector before: Filmmaker Mode. Developed by the Ultra HD Alliance, an industry body comprising a broad church of content creators and consumer electronics companies, the Filmmaker Mode picture preset is designed to deliver images that resemble as closely as a device can manage the video standards used by the creative industries when they master their content. Filmmaker mode is quite common on TVs now, but it’s still rare in the projector world. What’s more, potentially controversially, the W1800 actually defaults to the Filmmaker Mode whenever it receives an HDR image, and then won’t let you switch to any other preset. I’m trying to choose between the new BenQ W1800i and the TK700STi. Room will be 3m x 5m. Projector hitting the long wall (under 3m throw distance). Images live up to BenQ's home cinema promises, achieving a cinematic feel that humbles a good number of more expensive projectors.
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