In the realm of immersive gaming experiences, nothing tops the larger-than-life projector and screen combo. In this high-stakes battle, we bring you a comprehensive 4K gaming projector shootout, where cutting-edge technology and pixel-perfect precision collide. As gaming enthusiasts continue to seek gigantic visuals and unparalleled realism, we've assembled two of the most formidable 4K video game projectors on the market. Each unit is vying for the coveted title of the best 4K gaming projector. Join us as we delve into a world of vibrant colors, razor-sharp details, and breathtaking gaming immersion, where only one projector will emerge as the undisputed champion.
For today's matchup we're pitting against each other two of the top 4K home theater projectors for gaming, the BenQ HT4550i and the Optoma UHZ50.
Our projection experts have spent many hours with both projectors playing video games and watching movies in order to provide you this head to head competition. We'll break down the specs and help you pick the better projector to meet your needs.
The Optoma UHZ50 is being marketed first and foremost as a solid gaming projector above being a home theater unit. It defiantly is outstanding when it comes to playing video games on a huge screen, but it also offers great performance in the home theater setting. Whether you're into watching movies, sports, tv shows or video games the Optoma UHZ50 offers an all in an affordable, laser projector. You can read our Optoma UHZ50 review here.
BenQ is one of the few major manufacturers to be bucking the laser light source trend, instead focusing on the new advancements in LED projection technology. The BenQ HT4550i is one of these new high quality 4K LED projectors. This home theater BenQ projector is the top of their line of new home projectors.
So, which gaming/cinema projector is better, the BenQ HT4550i or the Optoma UHZ50? And most importantly for enthusiasts like you, which projector should you buy to conquer your digital enemies?
Check out our expert comparison of these two fantastic new 4K gaming projectors for home cinemas to learn who gets crowned the winner.
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Optoma UHZ50 |
BenQ HT4550i |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
3000 |
3200 |
Both projectors put out a similar amount of light but the BenQ HT4550i has a brighter output by 200 lumens. |
Throw Ratio |
1.21:1 - 1.59:1 |
1.15:1 - 1.50:1 |
When it comes to placement and throw ratio these gaming projectors are pretty similar. |
Screen Size |
34.20" - 302.67" |
30.01" - 300.15" |
Once again, the specs on these projectors are close. |
Projector Lens Shift |
Vertical +10% |
Horizontal +/-15% & Vertical +60%
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BenQ's 4K cinema projector gives you significantly more installation flexibility than the very limited lens shift offered by the Optoma projector. |
Chipset |
0.47" DMD |
0.65” DLP |
With the larger chip found on the BenQ HT4550i you'll get a sharper more detailed image. |
Light Source |
Single Laser w/ Color Wheel |
RGGB 4 LED |
The 4 LED lightsource on the BenQ offers better and more vibrant colors. |
Color |
87% DCI-P3 |
100% DCI-P3 |
The BenQ has a distinct advantage when it comes to color but both projectors do cover an extremely wide color gamut. |
Contrast Ratio |
1,074:1 |
900:1 |
Both projectors produce a relatively similar contrast with the Optoma projector getting the win in this regard. |
Input Lag |
4K/60: 16.7ms | 1080p/240: 4ms
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4K/60: 17.9ms | 1080p/240: 8.7ms |
These 4K gaming projectors both have incredibly low lag times and are among the best you'll find. However, the UHZ50 does beat the HT4550i by a small margin when it comes to input lag. |
Build-In Speakers |
10.0 Watts × 2 |
5.0 Watts Mono |
The built-in speakers on the Optoma UHZ50 give it a much more robust soundscape. |
Price |
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Both provide a fantastic value for the price but the Optoma UHZ50 is clearly the less expensive projector. |
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Add to Cart
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Add to Cart
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Optoma UHZ50
The Pros
- Bright laser light source
- Excellent, low input lag below 17ms
- Great picture out of the box
- Good black levels given the high brightness
- Smart projector that supports streaming apps, including Netflix
- Supports 3D
- Built-in 10W speakers allow you to watch content without an external sound system
- Relatively light weight making it a great choice for indoor and outdoor movie nights
- Has 3 HDMI ports
The Cons
- Color gamut isn't fantastic for a home theater projector
- Limited lens adjustments and no horizontal lens shift
- Built in speakers are lacking in depth and power of a surround sound system
- Lens is not as high quality reducing the image sharpness
- Streaming apps are frustrating and quality is inconsistent
BenQ HT4550i
The Pros
- Bright LED light source
- Excellent, low input lag below 20ms
- Unusually great picture out of the box
- Uses larger .65" DLP chip
- Wide 100% DCI-P3 color gamut
- Comes with an Android TV media player that supports streaming apps, including Netflix
- Supports 3D
- Built-in 5W speakers allow you to watch content without an external sound system
- Relatively light weight making it a great choice for indoor and outdoor movie nights
The Cons
- Lacking in native contrast for a home theater projector
- Doesn't maintain lumen output outside of bright picture mode
- Limited lens shift
- Built in speakers are lacking in depth and power
- Lens is not as high quality reducing the image sharpness
- Only has two HDMI ports
So Which 4K Projector Should You Buy, The Optoma UHZ50 Or The BenQ HT4550i?
Both of these 4K gaming projectors provide an absolutely incredible images on your projector screen both for playing video games and for watching movies. Like with every other shootout, it’s a challenge for our projection experts to easily pick a winner. Each unit has significant advantages and disadvantages compared to the other.
With all that being said, you're reading this article to have our projection experts help you decide which projector to get for your house. Between the BenQ HT4550i and Optoma UHZ50, the winner of this 4K UHD projector showdown is the………
BenQ HT4550i!
Why Buy The BenQ HT4550i?
This contest really could have gone either way. So why did we choose the BenQ HT4550i over the Optoma UHZ50?
The BenQ HT4550i wins this showdown because of the picture quality. While the UHZ50 produces a fantastic image the picture you get from the HT4550i is better. It's sharper thanks to the larger DLP Chip and more vibrant thanks to the 4LED light source. Both are excellent gaming projectors, but when it comes to movie watching the HT4550i comes out ahead.
The brighter light output is also a bonus, especially for those looking to enjoy their entertainment device with the lights on.
Another big advantage of the BenQ HT4550i is the lens shift. While not to the degree of a projector like the Epson LS11000, the lens shift offered by the BenQ projector gives you more installation versatility. The Optoma UHZ50 needs to be lined up perfectly with the projector screen, making installation more of a challenge.
BenQ has shown us with the HT4550i that LED projectors have come a long way and are now on par with the likes of laser projectors.
Why Buy The Optoma UHZ50?
If we were purely basing our winner on gaming performance the Optoma UHZ50 would be the champion. Its somewhat lower lag time helps give you an edge in FPS and other high speed games.
We typically recommend external speakers over those integrated into the projector. However if you're planning to use the built-in speakers on your projector, you're going to be happier using the Optoma UHZ50 with its more powerful and robust audio.
The three HDMI ports also give it a bonus for anyone who wants to connect multiple consoles.
For those looking to save money, the Optoma UHZ50 would be the better choice for them. The picture quality you get from this 4K Optoma projector is really and you'll still be happy, especially your wallet.
Which Projector Do You Think Is Better?
Which unit do you think is better, the BenQ HT4550i or the Optoma UHZ50? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.
We'll be breaking down the comparison between the Optoma UHZ50 and BenQ HT4550i even further in our projector shootout series on YouTube. So make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can get notified when our shootout goes live plus other great content in our pipeline.
If you have any questions on these projectors or anything else projection related don’t hesitate to hit us up at ProjectorScreen.com. Thanks for reading and keep on projecting!
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | BenQ |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-10 Business Days |
Lumens: | 3200 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | LED |
Contrast Ratio: | 3,000,000:1 |
Chipset: | DLP |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.15:1, - 1.50:1, (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 1920x1080 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 17.9ms | 1080p/60Hz: 17.9ms | 1080p/120Hz: 21ms | 1080p/240Hz: 8.7ms |
3D Support: | Full HD 3D |
Built-In Speaker: | Yes |
Warranty: | 3 Year |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Operating System: | Android TV |