Review: BenQ V5010i

BenQ is a well-known name in the projector market and with the V5010i they show their high-end ambitions. This triple laser DLP projector uses a special technology to achieve 4K resolution through pixel shifting.

BenQ V501010i

The HDR effect on projectors is generally limited compared to TVs due to lower contrast and brightness. However, the V5010i supports multiple HDR formats, including HDR10 and HDR10+, and has adjustable HDR brightness to optimize the display of HDR content.

The V5010i is very wide and resembles a large soundbar. But it’s elegantly designed and fits nicely into most homes.

Ease of use and features

To equip the BenQ V5010i with smart TV features, a dongle is included with pre-installed Android TV. It plugs in and hides under a cover, and the projector’s remote control is paired with Bluetooth to use it. This means you only need one remote control here.

The remote control is also backlit, which means it can be easily operated in dark rooms. This is important for a projector that will always look its best when the lights are off.

The setup menu is user-friendly and provides access to extensive image adjustments. It includes advanced color settings, gamma adjustment, color temperature adjustment and full color calibration. The projector also has an Auto Screen Fit feature that automatically adjusts the image to fit the screen. In other words, if the image from the projector falls outside the frame of the screen, it is scaled down to fit. This happens during digital cropping and results in a poorer image resolution. We therefore recommend working with the placement until the image fits the screen.

Image quality

Quite remarkably, the projector delivers correctly calibrated images out of the box with a so-called delta E deviation of less than 2. In practice, this means that all colors look just right without the need for professional calibration.

The image appears rich and saturated right out of the box with impressive colors. There’s good depth and natural tones in all scenes, from faces to nature shots.

Contrast is also remarkably good for a UST projector. They haven’t specified the panel contrast, but we can guarantee that it’s better than the others in the field. Just don’t be fooled by the stated figure of 2.5 million, as this is dynamic contrast measured with the lamp at full brightness and then completely off. A number that means nothing.

But the V5010i shows more detail in dark areas of the image compared to many competitors, resulting in a more dynamic viewing experience. This is especially important in dark scenes, as Batman fans will confirm. However, it’s the black level that is the Achilles heel of UST projectors, and even this projector falls short compared to a true home theater projector. Images of a cave, a starry sky or the moonlight over the ocean horizon at night are not an ultra-close projector’s favorite.

In bright scenes, however, the projector retains good detail without overexposing, and compared to the competition, the BenQ V5010i stands out with the best balanced and most color-accurate image.

Sound quality

The sound quality of the BenQ V5010i is satisfactory for a built-in projector speaker. It delivers a good richness in dialog and has a slightly stronger bass than some of its competitors. However, it sounds a bit stuffy and woolly, so as usual, we recommend an external sound system for the best cinematic experience.

Conclusion

The BenQ V5010i is a projector that not only promises a lot, but delivers on most counts. Its impressive color performance and good contrast make it stand out from the crowd. The user experience is intuitive and the factory-calibrated image quality is a big advantage.

The projector balances high performance with good usability. The V5010i is therefore an attractive package for everyday use and also provides great experiences in a home theater context. The Android TV interface isn’t the fastest we’ve come across, so if you’re a very active user, it might be worth investing in a streamer on the side.