BenQ is recalling one of its most popular portable projectors, the BenQ GV31, following reports that defective batteries in the device could overheat, creating fire and burn hazards for users.
The company says anyone who owns a GV31 device should stop using it immediately and contact it for a free battery service or project upgrade.
The GV31 projector was launched globally in 2023, but it was never a best seller, with just 1,249 units sold in the U.S., and smaller numbers in other countries. Nonetheless, the company is being responsible with the recall, which was first issued in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand in May, and expanded to Singapore, Canada and the U.S. at the end of last month.
BenQ has not said why it did not announce the recall simultaneously across all of those countries, but that’s likely because each nation has its own laws and requirements around product safety. When recalls are deemed necessary, companies will work with the individual regulators of each country their products are sold in to determine the scope, how to resolve the issue at hand, and how to warn consumers. In addition, companies must also ensure that they have everything in place to affect the recall, including suitable repair centres, replacement parts, customer support and shipping arrangements so everything proceeds smoothly.
The BenQ GV31 recall was issued following three specific incidents reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission by consumers. In each case, the device owner complained of overheating, and in one case a consumer reported suffering minor burn injuries as a result of the defective battery. While no one was badly harmed, it is a serious risk, given the potential for late night movie-watchers to fall asleep before a film ends. Exploding batteries are a real thing, and so it’s good to know BenQ is taking this seriously.
According to BenQ, the affected units were sold between July 2023 and May 2026 through retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and its own online store. The company said it will either provide a free battery service, if that’s possible, and if not, it will provide customers with a free upgrade. Meaning you’ll potentially get a brand new GV32 projector to replace the old one.
