BenQ X3100i vs BenQ X500i

106 facts in comparison

Based on 314 Reddit opinions. Close race—BenQ X3100i edges ahead.

314 opinions
BenQ X3100i leads by 5pts
Reddit's Pick
BenQ X3100i
86%
A-
Based on
448 Redditors
Winner

BenQ X3100i

~$1,799
158 opinions

tldr; 4K DLP gaming projector with low input lag and 3000+ lumens - the "fire" all-rounder for PS5 gaming and movies alike.

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VS
BenQ X500i
81%
B+
Based on
460 Redditors

BenQ X500i

~$1,499
156 opinions

tldr; 4LED short throw with built-in Chromecast and HDMI eARC - flexible placement but insufficient lumens for 150"+ screens.

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Image QualityBrightnessGaming & Input LagThrow DistanceNoise & Heat
🖼️IMA
☀️BRI
🎮GAM
THR
🔇NOI
72
Points
58
Points

Score by Category

Image Quality
74%81%
Brightness
86%48%
Gaming & Input Lag
93%90%
Throw Distance
50%50%
Noise & Heat
42%9%

Why is BenQ X500i better than BenQ X3100i?

  • Better image quality (81% vs 74%)
  • 4LED light source - no rainbow effect
  • Short throw capability for tight spaces
  • ?? Built-in Chromecast and HDMI eARC
Based on 908 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge

Reddit prefers the BenQ X3100i

Winning by 5 points (86% vs 81%)

Better brightness
Better value
Better noise
High confidence (908 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 908 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

BenQ X3100i
8.6/10
448 mentions
BenQ X500i
8.1/10
460 mentions
BRIGHTNESS
BenQ X3100i8.6/10
BenQ X500i4.8/10
IMAGE QUALITY
BenQ X3100i7.4/10
BenQ X500i8.1/10
INPUT LAG
BenQ X3100i9.3/10
BenQ X500i9.0/10
THROW DISTANCE
BenQ X3100i5.0/10
BenQ X500i5.0/10
VALUE
BenQ X3100i8.5/10
BenQ X500i6.7/10
NOISE
BenQ X3100i4.2/10
BenQ X500i0.9/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

BenQ X3100i: 4|BenQ X500i: 1
BrightnessBenQ X3100i
BenQ X3100i86%
BenQ X500i48%
Image QualityBenQ X500i
BenQ X3100i74%
BenQ X500i81%
Input LagBenQ X3100i
BenQ X3100i93%
BenQ X500i90%
Throw Distance
BenQ X3100i50%
BenQ X500i50%
ValueBenQ X3100i
BenQ X3100i85%
BenQ X500i67%
NoiseBenQ X3100i
BenQ X3100i42%
BenQ X500i9%
BenQ X3100i86%
BenQ X500i81%
BenQ X3100i wins by 5 points

Key Specs

SpecBenQ X3100iBenQ X500i
Resolution
4K UHD (3840x2160)
4K UHD (3840x2160)
Brightness
3300 ANSI Lumens
2200 ANSI Lumens
Contrast Ratio
600,000:1
600,000:1
Light Source
4LED
4LED
Light Source Life
Up to 30,000 hours (ECO mode)
Up to 30,000 hours (Eco Mode)

Key Highlights

BenQ X3100iWinner
?? Low input lag for competitive gaming
📺 3000+ lumens - works in lit rooms
📺 "Fire" 4K sharpness upgrade from 1080p
?? Good deals around 1400 EUR used
🎯 Safest all-rounder pick for mixed use
BenQ X500i
⚖️ 4LED light source - no rainbow effect
📐 Short throw capability for tight spaces
?? Built-in Chromecast and HDMI eARC
⚠ Not bright enough for 150"+ screens
⚖️ Good for 100-120" in controlled light

Topic Battles

BenQ X3100i: 3|Tied: 1|BenQ X500i: 1
🖼️Image Quality
BenQ X500i wins
BenQ X3100i
74%
BenQ X500i
81%
☀️Brightness
BenQ X3100i wins
BenQ X3100i
86%
BenQ X500i
48%
🎮Gaming & Input Lag
BenQ X3100i wins
BenQ X3100i
93%
BenQ X500i
90%
Throw Distance
BenQ X3100i
50%
BenQ X500i
50%
🔇Noise & Heat
BenQ X3100i wins
BenQ X3100i
42%
BenQ X500i
9%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for BenQ X3100i

Best Praise
+8 pts
For the price the 3100i is really good for gaming.
r/projectors
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Top Criticism
+2 pts
Hey, thanks for taking the time to reply. I did not mean to say that information is wrong, just showing another source for comparison ... apologies if I sounded rude, that was not my intention. I wonder whether the lower contrast in the x3100i is because of the brighter black floor. Also, looking at the curve on rtings, the contrast ratio is significantly lower on very dark scenes, and almost identical in more balanced scenes, so In practice I wonder how much of a difference that makes when watching movies. Do you think the choice should be based on amount light control and screen size? Another question, because I’m also kind of torn between these models: do you think the 4led source in the x models has big benefits compared to the single laser of the tk models (less artifacts / wider color gamut) or do you think the contrast would be the more decisive factor?
r/projectors
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3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for BenQ X500i

Best Praise
+5 pts
In that group— unless you need to compete with a lot of ambient light the X500i will have the best picture quality. It has one of the highest native contrast specs of any 4K projector and color is excellent. It’s also a true short throw. The TK700STi would be my second choice. It’s very bright so will do better on larger screens or rooms with some lights on. But it’s lamp and the color won’t be as good. See my review here: https://www.avsforum.com/threads/benq-tk700sti-review-owners-thread-4k-hdr-low-lag-short-throw-gaming-projector.3198258/ Of those models the X300G would be my last pic. It’s a great projector for what it is: a small semi-portable with easy setup. It will have better picture quality that the 700 But its lumen output is limiting.
r/projectors
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Top Criticism
+2 pts
Here is the first problem I noticed. Between the BenQ TK700Sti and X500i, those are short throw projectors that will give you around 180"-200" with about the 10 feet of space you have. Unless you want to ceiling mount or place on a coffee table, but you have kids from what I recall, so wall mounting is best which will allow you to adjust the distance to a degree. As far as the X500i, I don't recommend it. It doesn't have enough brightness for gaming. Colors where frequently off. However, it does have great input lag. Out of the box it's a great projector, but after a week or so you'll notice the flaws. Biggest one being color accuracy. The TK700Sti, I owned it some years ago and thought it was great. Also a great gaming projector, but uses a bulb which you'll have to replace and can get dim overtime. I do like BenQs, but I feel there are better options. I've owned about 12 - 15 projectors and the one that gave me the most joy was the Dangbei Mars Pro. The picture is absolutely stunning!!! Great color accuracy and great picture that allows for lights on viewing due to its laser capabilities!!!! You don't need a projector screen at all, but if you do, I can recommend a gray screen that helps with lights on viewing even more for under $50. The Dangbei originally retailed for over $2,000, but with discounts from Amazon, I got mine for $1,200. The dangbei also has MEMC/Frame Interpolation Technology that gives you that extra clear and smooth video play. You're not going to get that from 90% of BenQ projectors. The Dangb Mars Pro also allows blows out any dust collected in the projector with a push of a button from the home screen. Something I've never seen before. Definitely go with the Dangbei Mars Pro and Amazon will give you a 30 day return window if you don't like it. Forgot to mention, the Dangbei is trash as a smart projector, so for the sound and smart capabilities, I have the Roku streambar pro hooked up to mine. Beautiful amazing sound and picture!!!
r/hometheater
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3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

BenQ X3100i
BenQ X500i
$1500$2000$2500$3000May '25Jun '25Jul '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26Low: $1788Low: $1492.3Current: $1788
BenQ X3100i
All-time low!
$136 below 90-day avg
BenQ X500i
All-time low: $1411.77(2024-04)
$28 below 90-day avg

Which is Better?

BenQ X3100i Wins
86%
X3100i
vs
81%
X500i

Close race, but BenQ X3100i edges ahead by 5 points based on 908 Reddit opinions.

Why BenQ X3100iWinner
  • Better Value for Money (85% vs 67%)
Why BenQ X500i
  • ⚖️ 4LED light source - no rainbow effect
  • 📐 Short throw capability for tight spaces

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

31%Positive
Positive
31%
Neutral
65%
Negative
4%
Based on 448 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

28%Positive
Positive
28%
Neutral
66%
Negative
6%
Based on 460 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, BenQ X3100i or BenQ X500i?
Based on 908 Reddit comments, BenQ X3100i has a slight edge with 86% positive sentiment vs BenQ X500i's 81%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy BenQ X3100i or BenQ X500i?
Both have similar approval ratings (86% vs 81%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about BenQ X3100i?
Reddit users highlight: Low input lag for competitive gaming. 3000+ lumens - works in lit rooms. Fire" 4K sharpness upgrade from 1080p. With 448 mentions and 86% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about BenQ X500i?
Reddit users highlight: 4LED light source - no rainbow effect. Short throw capability for tight spaces. Built-in Chromecast and HDMI eARC. With 460 mentions and 81% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 908 Reddit comments: 448 about BenQ X3100i and 460 about BenQ X500i. Data was sourced from Projectors community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

314 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/2/2026