BenQ X500i vs X3100i
These BenQ gaming projectors publish nearly identical latency tables but use very different optics. X500i is the short-throw choice; X3100i is brighter and uses a standard-throw lens with vertical lens shift.
Room depth is the first filter because it can decide the comparison before brightness or color coverage matters.
| Specification / decision | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD | 4K UHD |
| Brightness | 2200 ANSI lumens | 3300 ANSI lumens |
| Throw ratio | 0.69–0.83 | 1.15–1.50 |
| Optical zoom | 1.2x | 1.3x |
| Vertical lens shift | No listed lens shift | 40%–60% |
| DCI-P3 coverage | 84% | 100% |
| 4K/60 latency | 16.7 ms | 16.7 ms |
| 1080p/240 latency | 4.2 ms | 4.2 ms |
Manufacturer specifications are shown with their original measurement standards. We do not claim independent hands-on measurements unless explicitly stated.
X500i is for rooms that cannot give the projector much depth
At 100 inches, X500i’s 0.69–0.83 throw range needs roughly 5.0–6.0 feet from lens to image plane. X3100i needs roughly 8.4–10.9 feet. At 120 inches, those ranges become about 6.0–7.2 feet and 10.0–13.1 feet.
That difference is fundamental. If your room has seven feet of usable lens distance for a 120-inch screen, X3100i is not the correct optical architecture regardless of its higher brightness.
X3100i gives more brightness and installation adjustment
BenQ lists X3100i at 3300 ANSI lumens versus 2200 ANSI lumens for X500i. It also lists vertical lens shift and a slightly wider optical zoom range. In a dedicated room with enough depth, those features make permanent mounting easier.
Gaming latency is effectively the same on the spec sheet
Both list 16.7 ms at 4K/60, 8.3 ms at 1080p/120 and 4.2 ms at 1080p/240. The choice should therefore be driven more by room geometry, brightness and lens features than by the advertised gaming latency.
Color coverage differs
BenQ lists 100% DCI-P3 coverage for X3100i and 84% for X500i. That supports X3100i’s positioning as the more cinema-oriented flagship, while X500i trades some of that specification for short-throw convenience.
Decision shortcut
This is one of the easiest projector comparisons to resolve because the throw ratios are so different.
- X500i: choose when short-throw geometry is necessary or highly convenient.
- X3100i: choose when you have enough room depth and value higher listed brightness, lens shift and wider color coverage.
- Both: similar published gaming latency, so do not pay more solely for input lag.