BenQ X300G 4K Gaming Projector review

As far as playing the part goes, the X300G fits the role to the T. A cute and unique squarish form with speakers on either side, a kickstand to adjust tilt angle and orange highlights that match with the PS5 DualSense controller. BenQ’s true 4K implementation in this case is also a means to an end, but it does flash each frame four times a second, qualifying for the moniker. Rated at 2000 lumens, it does skimp on DCI-P3 coverage compared to BenQ’s more accomplished home-cinema projectors, but the real virtue here is input lag and the X300G claims a mighty fast number of 4.2ms, if you’re content with 1080p/240Hz. Bump up the resolution and this number tumbles, but even then, 16ms for 4K/60Hz is respectable and at par with most other cinema projectors that aim to please gamers occasionally. BenQ continues to pursue the external dongle-type Android 11 implementation via its QS02 HDMI stick. It comes bundled in the box and there’s nothing wrong with it and it even comes with Google-certified Netflix and makes for a fully self-contained unit, aiding in its “portability” appeal.

BenQ believes in true optimisation for its different lines and the most impressive quality of the X300G is its ability to adapt to its environment. Auto keystone and autofocus work in tandem with motorized optical zoom, which is surprisingly generous in this category. Care for a gamer’s opinion though and they’ll be the first ones to call out leystone and corner fit adjustments as they rob the display of precious pixels and add an even more sinister side effect - latency. For anyone into FPS games, input lag is the difference between life and death. Virtually speaking, of course! But it’s also the raison d'être of the X300G, ironically, considering its compact and almost portable form factor. It is more likely to be plonked on any available table, chair or stack of books that faces an empty wall so the seriousness of the set-up will depend on how seriously you take your gaming.

Connectivity is solid with twin HDMI 2.0 ports, twin USB-A ports and a USB-C that is compatible with the PD standard as well as a display port so you can connect your handheld gaming device to it while it gets charged and enables gameplay too. Gaming-specific features such as crosshair to enhance your target visibility while playing an FPS game and SettingXchange, allowing you to connect a laptop and recall specific settings such as colour and game, made by you or even others. The Auto mode keeps things simple for noobs and selects the right mode the moment it detects a games console.

Boasting BenQ’s famed CinematicColour suite of picture enhancements, the menu is slightly different and curtailed compared to what you may find on the more serious models from the brand. But as we have come to expect, the colours and motion were well-judged right from the get-go. The picture menu uniquely also has dedicated presets for different kinds of games like FPS, RPG and SPG, with SPG being the most vibrant and OTT of the lot. FPS mode along with HDR was the most balanced with natural tone and when you bring down the HDR brightness by a notch to -1, it manages to convey all the drama and deceit of Resident Evil Village via our MacBook Pro. 1080p/240Hz games are appropriately lag-free and immersive but the frame rates at higher resolutions need some trial and error, especially when you’re consuming OTT video.

On the other hand, the brightness and contrast levels were acceptable even with some ambient light bleeding into the room and the short throw distance allowed maximum light to be transferred to the screen. Although it can do a head-panning 120in image, we could get a 90in image on our screen with no zoom, no corner fit and mild keystone correction. Designed to be placed at odd locations, it’s impossible to avoid using some amount of keystone, even after we had used all sorts of books, props and folded paper to physically align the X300G best we could. The side-effect of input lag is minimal, but for most non-pro gamers, this would be negligible enough to overlook. What’s impressive is the spatial audio generated by the side-mounted speakers and the bottom-firing passive radiator. There isn’t much bass to speak of, but the holographic soundstage puts the sound literally in the middle of the room, with no indication that the sound is emanating from the projector enclosure itself. It does make it easy to carry the X300G from one location to the next and not worry about the accompanying audio hardware. One of the weak links was the motorized autofocus, which while extremely convenient for plug-and-play set-up, never really nailed the sharpness consistently across the screen’s width. Not a deal breaker, because this is noticeable only when you read fine text on screen. If you’re used to reading a lot of info on screen during gameplay, you might need to squint a little but watching movies will leave you wide-eyed with its accurate colours and ample detail in the contrasts. An ALR screen would, of course, be a plus, but even on our regular micro-perf screen, the results were thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable.

BenQ may have used creative liberty in its marketing to call this a “portable” projector. But besides its handy form factor, it genuinely is a fun little device that can transform any space into a gaming zone.  Easy set-up, mostly automated, and a picture that makes movies look fantastic in HDR too, this is more for the casual gamers and the not-so-casual moviegoers. Hook up a games console or even an Apple TV with Arcade games and a gaming controller and you’re bound to have a rum time.