I do somewhat miss the backlit remote of BenQs past and, as I'll get into later in my review, wish BenQ had included a hot key for the HDR brightness feature. It's logically laid out and features convenient hot keys for the various onboard game modes, Amazon Prime, screen mirroring and even a button to toggle the onboard sound mode. It offers IR as well as Bluetooth connectivity and has a built in microphone for voice search. The X3000i comes packaged with the same slim, rubber keyed unit that was included with the TK700STi. All the controls/connections have a quality feel to them and the chassis is handsome enough. Overall, the X300i feels stout and well built. Also around back we can just make out the two 5W aluminum chamber speakers peering from behind their grilles. The X3000i features an RS232 and 12V trigger for home theater integration. Around back you'll find the other 2 HDMI 2.0b ports, as well as a pair of audio outs in the form of an optical S/PDIF and 3.5mm stereo plug (the X3000i also supports eARC from it's HDMI 2 input). This combined with the completely flat top surface has a significance we'll get to later in the setup section. BenQ has moved all the onboard controls and the lens zoom/focus rings to the left side of the projector. The top of the projector is completely featureless and, after loosening two screws, hides a small cubby with an HDMI 2.0b port and a micro USB power lead where the included QS01 streaming stick can be docked. An interesting element of the X3000i is this glass panel actually extends over and protects the lens. The outside of the X3000i is finished in a textured white plastic, all except the front faceplate which has a dark grey 3D cube pattern beneath a glass panel. I would still classify this as a compact projector but at a hair over 14 lbs this is certainly a lot heftier than the nearly portable (and lamp based) TK700STi gaming projector I reviewed last year. While in pictures the projector looks quite small, in reality it's a cube with a footprint roughly 10 inches square and stands almost 8 inches tall. The X3000i breaks from the tradition of small rectangular boxes I've grown accustomed to seeing from BenQ. Please keep hands, arms, feet and legs inside the vehicle at all times HDMI ports: 2 external HDMI 2.0b/HDCP2.2, 1 internal HDMI 2.0b/HDCP2.2 (for ATV dongle)Īudio Out: HDMI eARC (supports Dolby ATMOS), S/PDIF optical, 3.5mm stereo jack Remote: Bluetooth/IR with mic, not backlit Smart Streaming: Android TV (installable dongle) Keystone: 2D, Auto Vertical +/- 30 degrees, Manual Horizontal +/- 30 degreesĬolor Gamut (MFR): 100% DCI-P3 (filter required) Light Source Life: 20,000 hrs Normal/SmartEco, 30,000 hrs Eco More granularity over the HDR brightness setting No way to further limit brightness / lower black floor in SDR Same throw ratio as popular BenQ HT2050A and HT3550/TK850 Superb 4K image clarity and motion handling How does the latest and greatest from BenQ stack up? Let's find out! There is a lot of excitement around the X3000i and for good reason. As if all that wasn't enough the X3000i comes to market boasting the same ultra fast 16ms (4K/60) gaming response we first saw on the TK700STi last year! 47" chip we're used to seeing on DLPs in this price range. 65" imaging chip which is a departure from the smaller. We've also never seen one claiming to reproduce 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, which BenQ is touting for the X3000i! Putting all that color on the screen is a brand new. BenQ rates the X3000i at an astounding 3000 ANSI lumens! While we've seen plenty of LED powered DLP projectors over the years we've never seen one that claims this level of output. This system replaces the traditional UHP lamp / color wheel combination seen on the majority of projectors in this price range with 4 rapidly strobing, high output LEDs (one each for red, blue and green with an additional blue "pump" LED that is there to boost green light output). This is BenQ's second 4LED solid state projector to hit the market and the first to offer 4K resolution. BenQ is no stranger to firsts but I'd be doing a disservice to the X3000i if I didn't explain just how different this projector is from everything that has come before. But reviewing the BenQ X3000i just felt a little… different. It's always an exciting time when I get to review a brand new projector.
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