BenQ GS50

As we set up the new GS50 from Taiwan’s BenQ, it occurred to us that it combines characteristics from the last two BenQ projectors through our doors. The physical design puts it clearly in the same camp as the near-cubic BenQ 3000i — but that was a 4K projector more than double the price of this one. Technically the GS50 is closer to the Sound+Image award-winning GV30, a ‘portable’ projector with an unusual circular design which made it very easy to aim (straight up at the ceiling if you wish), while being super-simple to set-up.

A lot of those abilities transfer over to this GS50 equally successfully. But here you get more lumens, and higher resolution — this delivers a Full-HD pixel count of of 1920 × 1080 (compared with the GV30’s 1280 × 720). For that, the price rises from the GV30’s $999 to $1599. Worth the upgrade?

Going anywhere

BenQ is publicising the GS50 as being as “especially designed for outdoor lovers”. We were testing during a cold snap under a La Niña weather pattern, so we confess most of our viewing took place indoors, where we could also give it the benefit of a proper screen. Outdoors you’ll need at least a large clear surface, at best an outdoor screen which might add some gain to the projector image — the company’s publicity images show the GS50 in use on a siimple drop-screen, but if you’re having regular outdoor shows, you could invest