BenQ is updating its lineup of high-end CinePrime projectors with a new model that could well be its most capable ever released. It’s called the BenQ CinePrime W5800, and it offers extremely high brightness and an advanced feature set that should ensure users can perfectly replicate cinema-style images in the comfort of their own home.
The BenQ CinePrime W5800 is a 4K DLP laser projector featuring the company’s proprietary CinematicColour and HDR-Pro technologies, but unlike its previous CinePrime models it doesn’t utilise pixel-shifting techniques to achieve 4K resolution. Instead, it can output 4K content natively with the full 8.3 million pixels.
In terms of brightness, the BenQ CinePrime W5800 is right up there with its 2,600 lumens rating, which is more than enough to enable daytime viewing, even though it’s certainly not as highly rated as some other models. According to BenQ, the W5800 is the first laser projector in the world to hit such high brightness levels. As for the picture size, it can output a maximum 200-inch image on a wall or screen, though its 1.6x zoom function enables what the company says is the most optimal viewing experience at 150-inches, with the projector placed just 16.6 feet away. There’s a 2D lens shift feature on board to help with the setup process, so you can get a perfect picture even if you’re unable to position the device in the most ideal location.
According to BenQ, the W5800 covers 100% of both the Rec.709 and DCI-P3 colour gamuts, enabling it to reproduce “true Hollywood colours”. It supports Filmmaker Mode too, so those colours will be just as the creator intended, while those who prefer visual enhancements are also well catered for. For instance, the HDR-Pro engine helps to enhance contrast and the Dynamic Black Technology boosts contrast in HDR mode, ensuring more vivid and impactful bright and dark scenes, the company said.
HDR10 and HDR10+ are both supported, which is something that the rival Sony VPL-XW5000ES lacks.
As for inputs, there’s a bit of everything with two USB-A ports, an optical digital audio port and two HDMI 2.0 ports that support Dolby Atmos and eARC passthrough.
Not surprisingly, a projector as powerful as the BenQ W5800 doesn’t come cheap, with the company slapping on a £4,600 price tag.
