One of the biggest promises of new technology is that it offers a better experience at a lower price. If you’re designing a golf simulator or other immersive space where you need a short throw projector that can be mounted close to the screen – then you’ll probably be looking at both the BenQ LK830ST and the Optoma UHD35STx projectors. In this article, we’ll compare these models with the following elements using the information from each manufacturer’s website to break down the key differences.

• Laser light engine vs. mercury lamps

• Brightness comparison

• What Screen Ratios are supported?

• Image Color Accuracy and Realism

• Warranty

• Other Factors

On the surface, these two projectors look similar. Both are from well-known and established projector brands and have a short throw lens with a 0.50 throw ratio, making it ideal for both simulation and immersive spaces. Most importantly, both the BenQ and Optoma projectors offer true 4K UHD resolution, unlike many of the latest Epson models that offer “4K Enhancement” technology that only delivers half the resolution needed to meet the industry standard. So why is the BenQ LK830ST more expensive than the Optoma UHD35STx – and is it worth it?

The first – and largest difference between these two 4K UHD projectors is the light source. The BenQ LK830ST uses a dustproof sealed laser light engine with a 20,000-hour laser life. This means that the projector stays brighter much longer than the Optoma UHD35STx, which uses a replaceable mercury lamp that is rated for only 4000 hours. As soon as you start using the Optoma unit, it starts losing brightness, and over time, you’ll want to replace the lamp, especially if you’re using a larger screen. Here’s an example of how a lamp loses brightness compared to a laser.

There are two other things to consider when trying to save money purchasing a mercury powered lamp projector. First, the cost of the replacement lamps is significant. The Optoma BL‑FU240E replacement lamp can cost as much as $290 plus labor every time you replace the lamp. Secondly, many countries have begun to ban mercury lamps, and lamp manufacturers are moving away from these bulbs to more advanced LED and laser light sources. Over the life of the BenQ LK830ST, it will take four replacement lamps on the Optoma UHD35STx (assuming future availability) costing over $1000 for the same period at the current price today.

Here’s where specifications matter. The BenQ LK830ST is rated as 4000 ANSI lumens of brightness. This is because its designed for very large images, whether a 10 foot high golf simulator impact screen or a two story house for house mapping where every lumen counts.   While the Optoma UHD35STx is rated at 3500 lumens, they don’t disclose the lumen standard that they are using. The ANSI standard used by BenQ is the most conservative standard, and some brands use the more liberal ISO standard (to deliver a higher specification number).  Optoma does not disclose what – if any measurement standard they use for their 3500-lumen measurement. Also – as explained above, the brightness of the projector will decrease much faster than the BenQ due to the nature of mercury lamps losing brightness faster than lasers.

Figure 1- BenQ's 4000 ANSI lumens of brightness are perfect for large images like house mapping and golf simulation.

One big advantage of the BenQ LK830ST is that it can support multiple aspect ratios with a simple push of the projector remote button. Both the Optoma and BenQ projectors use a native 4K chip with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The LK830ST has a special “Screen Fill” feature that eliminates squished or stretched images, while maintaining the high pixel density detail of 4K UHD resolution. For example, if you are setting up a golf, gaming, or racing simulator with a 4:3 or 1:1 screen, simply select that aspect ratio from the Screen Fill menu on the projector and it will recalibrate the image so the image is correct – and you can see every detail on the screen exactly the way the designer intended.

The Optoma UHD35STx uses a more traditional approach of either vertically or horizontally stretching the image when changing from 16:9 to 4:3 aspect ratio. While the image will now fit inside the screen, the picture may look distorted. Optoma does not support any 1:1 aspect ratio on this projector, so if you’re using a simulator in a small space with a Carl’s Place DIY screen, BenQ’s screen fill technology will come in very handy.

Figure 2 - BenQ LK830ST can support an accurate image on a 1:1 aspect impact screen.

The fastest way to break the illusion in a golf simulator, game, or immersive space is to have colors on the screen that don’t look natural – such as a brown / green fairway box or artificial blue sky.

The industry standard color reference is the Rec. 709 specification – which golf sim designers use to ensure their courses look perfect on both their monitor and a projector. The BenQ LK830ST 4K golf projector has 93% Rec. 709 coverage, so it can reproduce complex organic colors like clouds, sand, and skin tones that look authentic and natural – as well as unnatural colors like the Green Bay Packer’s helmet if they want to use the projector to watch a game.

The Optoma UHD35STx avoids any specification of industry standard color accuracy measurements in its specification sheet. 

The BenQ LK830ST projector is designed for heavy use and can be used in less than pristine conditions. This model uses a modern sealed laser engine design that protects the sensitive components of the projector from dust that is certified under the IP6X industry dust torture test (same as the Apple Watch) by a third-party lab. The projector comes with a three-year warranty for up to 20,000 hours of use.

The Optoma UHD35STx is not sealed or certified against dust and only has a one-year warranty on the product. In addition, the mercury lamp only has a 90-day warranty.

There are some other small differences between the two projectors. The BenQ LK830ST can be mounted in any position (360-degree mounting) you may need to generate special effects, and each projector is designed to be blended with another one for larger size immersive images. The BenQ also has a LAN port to enable easy control via a local network. If you are going to use the projector for golf simulation, the BenQ has a free golf simulator planning tool that enables you to plan your room online and determine the best mounting location. Finally, the BenQ LK830ST uses less power than the Optoma UHD35STx, saving you money, and making life a little easier on the planet.

BenQ has trained staff to help you find the perfect golf simulator projector – within your room size and budget. To help you make the best decision, you can reach out to one of our experts to set up anything from a chat to a complete online demo, to help you find the right projector for your needs.