BenQ HT2050A Review – Affordable Home Theater Projector?

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BenQ HT2050A Review
  • Design
  • Weight
  • Connectivity Options
  • Picture Quality
  • Additional Features
4.2

Summary

The BenQ HT2050A is an affordable home theater projector from BenQ’s stable. BenQ has several years of experience in the display technology field, and the brand uses it effectively to offer a brilliant product for people with a shoestring budget. Its higher brightness makes it legible for daytime usage, whereas the efficient picture optimization allows for a low-cost home theater setup.

Are you looking for BenQ HT2050A review? If yes, you’ve landed on the right page.

The BenQ HT2050A is a budget home theater projector, whose design resembles premium BenQ home theater projectors. Considering the features it offers, this projector punches above its weight.

In this BenQ HT2050A review, we’ll take a detailed look at the projector’s design, build quality, and performance.

We’ll also explore its important features & functions, and help you decide if it’s the right projector for you.

Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

BenQ HT2050A Review

BenQ HT2050A 1080P...image
BenQ HT2050A 1080P Home Theater Projector | 2200 Lumens | 96% Rec.709 for Accurate Colors | Low Input Lag Ideal for Gaming | 2D Keystone for Flexible Setup
  • SUPERIOR PICTURE QUALITY: 1080p Projector with brightness of 2,200 Lumens, high native contrast ratio and 96% Rec. 709 color accuracy calibration.
  • HIGH RESPONSIVENESS: The specialized low input lag of 16ms and unique game modes ensure gamers an ultra-smooth gaming experience.
  • WOW YOUR FRIENDS: Take the action to the big screen by projecting a 100 inch screen from just 8 feet away. Projects up to 300 inches.
  • FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY: Supports most media players, gaming consoles, PCs, Macs, and mobile devices with input options such as HDMI, USB, and more
  • AWARD WINNING PROJECTOR: Highly Rated - Projector Central, Best Projector for the Money - CNET
  • DLP TECHNOLOGY: DLP is the leading technology used in 90% of the world’s cinemas and 100% of Digital IMAX theaters. You will experience a longer lasting, slimmer design, sharper and crisper image in BenQ's projector.
  • Compatibility: HDTV Compatibility - 480i, 480p, 576i, 567p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p‎ ; Video Compatibility - NTSC, PAL, SECAM, SDTV‎ ; 3D Compatibility‎ - Frame Sequential: Up to 720p , Frame Packing: Up to1080p , Side by Side: Up to 1080i/p , Top Bottom: Up to 1080p‎
$745.00
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Update: BenQ has launched an updated version of this projector a.k.a. the BenQ HT2060. It features 4LED projection technology, 2300 ANSI lumens brightness, and a whopping 8.3ms input lag.

First Impression & Design

At first look, you’ll see the BenQ HT2050A has a premium design that resembles BenQ’s expensive projectors.

That’s why, this projector is slightly bulky and weighs around 8 pounds. It will take a fair amount of space on your coffee table.

BenQ HT2050A 1080p Home Theater Projector

This projector is an updated version of the BenQ HT2050 with slightly better features and technology.

The silver-color front panel hosts the projection lens and the IR sensor.

Directly over the lens, you’ll notice a focus ring, zoom dial, and lens shift dial. The top features a power, menu, and navigational buttons, indicator lights, and an additional IR blaster.

In terms of connectivity, you get a plethora of options like 2x HDMI ports, VGA port, USB Type-A port, 12V trigger, Mini USB-B port, RS-232 port, audio in and out jacks, and component inputs.

Using the HDMI ports, you can connect numerous devices like Xbox, PlayStation, Computer, Cable TV Box, Laptop, and more to this projector.

Also Read: How to Connect Xbox Gaming Console to a Projector

While the BenQ HT2050A features plenty of wired connections, it sadly misses out on wireless connectivity options.

You can easily tackle this issue by connecting it to a streaming media player. You can connect Amazon Fire Stick, Chromecast, or Roku to one of the HDMI ports and enjoy smart TV-like features, along with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

As a result, you can access your favorite shows from Netflix and Prime Video on the projector. On top of that, you can also enjoy Live TV channels without paying extra fees for a Cable TV box and subscription.

BenQ HT2050A 2200 Lumens Projector

The BenQ HT2050A features 2 adjustable feet at the bottom and a quick-release foot. Inside the box, you get a power cord, instruction manual, backlit remote control, and a warranty card.

For efficient heat dissipation, it has exhaust vents on the front, left, and right sides. Whereas the back features perforations for 10W stereo speakers on either side.

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Built Quality & Performance

Build quality-wise, the BenQ HT2050A is very sturdy and can take a few beating during daily use.

It is primarily targeted as a home theater and gaming projector. Hence it is advisable to ceiling mount this projector in your home theater or living room to prevent any accidental damage to the projector’s body or lens.

BenQ HT2050A Low Input Lag Ideal for Gaming

On the performance front, the BenQ HT2050A sports a 6x RGBRGB color wheel and 2200 ANSI lumens brightness. It covers 96% of the Rec.709 color space for a vibrant image output from a single chip DLP lens with a native 1920 x 1080p resolution.

While this projector retains all the necessary features and functions in the BenQ HT2050, a few new additions make it an incredible package.

Most budget projectors only feature vertical keystone adjustments; however, the BenQ HT2050A also comes with horizontal keystone adjustments.

The 2D keystone adjustments allow you to set the projection in a perfect rectangle even though you place the projector at an offset position.

BenQ HT2050A 2D Keystone for Flexible Setup

BenQ HT2050A’s additional important feature is the low input lag. The previous model had an input lag of 33ms, whereas the BenQ HT2050A now sports an input lag of just 16.67ms. The low input lag makes a massive difference while playing fast-paced games.

Also Read: 7 Best Projectors for Gaming under $700

As mentioned earlier, the BenQ HT2050A is ideal for a budget home theater setup. Thus, you can place it in a small room and still enjoy a bigger projection display.

The 1.3x optical zoom helps you enjoy a 100-inch screen from a distance of 8.2 feet and a 120-inch screen under 10 feet.

Also Read: How Far Should You Sit from a 120-inch Screen

You also get ±10% vertical lens shift with this projector. The vertical lens shift allows you to move the projected image up and down to fine-tune the projection settings.

However, you can only summon the lens shift feature from the lens shift dial on the projector itself and not from the remote control. It’s because the lens shift dial physically moves the projection lens up and down.

Expensive projectors like the Epson Home Cinema 4010 use special motors to automatically move the projection lens using the remote control buttons.

BenQ HT2050A 96% Rec.709 for Accurate Colors

If you’ve never owned a projector before or currently use a cheap projector, you’d be blown away by the image quality of the BenQ HT2050A.

While it doesn’t feature HDR; its 6x RGBRGB color wheel and 96% Rec.709 color space coverage gives you vibrant color reproduction while watching movies and playing games.

The BenQ HT2050A also features 3D capabilities. However, to take full advantage of the 3D feature, you’ll need DLP Link 3D glasses, which cost up to $40 for a pair.

In terms of sound quality, the 10W stereo speakers do a decent job during casual gaming or movie watching. However, to get the full audio experience, it is better to invest in a Vizio soundbar system to enhance the overall sound quality.

Also Read: How to Connect 5.1 Speakers to a Projector

Important Features & Functions

  • 2D Keystone Adjustments – The 2D keystone adjustment feature allows you to adjust the projection in vertical and horizontal directions. While most budget projectors feature vertical keystone adjustments.
  • ±10% Lens Shift – The Lens Shift feature is usually found in premium projectors. It allows you to move the projection lens physically up or down by 10%. Thus, you can fine-tune your projection without having to move the projector.
  • Low Input Lag – Input lag refers to the delay between when a projector registers an action and the time it takes to display it on the projection screen. The low input lag goes unnoticed in regular usage; however, it makes a huge difference during fast-paced games. Hence, you’ll enjoy playing competitive games and AAA gaming titles on this projector.
  • User-friendly Remote – Other than lens shift, you do not need to touch the projector to control its settings. The backlit remote control is useful for summoning various features like 3D display, picture-in-picture, keystone settings, viewing mode, brightness, color temperature, and more. In comparison, a lot more settings can be accessed from the projector’s OSD menu.
  • 3-Year Warranty – While this isn’t a feature or an important function; however, a longer warranty period is definitely a cause for celebration. The BenQ HT2050A features a 3-year warranty period, compared to the 1-year on the BenQ HT2050.

BenQ HT2050A Review: Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio
  • Ideal for gaming due to low input lag
  • Vibrant color output
  • 1.3x optical zoom allows for a bigger projection from a shorter distance
  • An abundance of connectivity options, including component ports

Cons

  • Certain users can experience the rainbow effect due to the DLP chip
  • HDR feature is absent
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BenQ HT2050A Review: Frequently Asked Questions

Is BenQ HT2050A a 4K projector?

Unfortunately, BenQ HT2050A doesn’t have native 4K resolution, it has Full HD native resolution. You can take a look at BenQ TK800M for high quality 4K projector.

Does BenQ HT2050A have Bluetooth?

Unfortunately, this projector doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity built. Although, you can use Chromecast or Amazon Fire Stick to add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.

Is the BenQ HT2050A a wireless projector?

Since the BenQ HT2050A doesn’t have a built-in battery, it always needs to be plugged in for power. Moreover, wireless connectivity options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also absent.

How to watch 3D on BenQ HT2050A?

To watch 3D on BenQ HT2050A, you need to enable 3D mode on your projector and use DLP link 3D glasses.

Conclusion

The BenQ HT2050A sits in the budget segment and is an excellent pick for an inexpensive home theater setup.

With this projector, you get the best of both worlds. With 2200 lumens brightness, 6x RGBRGB color wheel, and 96% Rec.709 color space coverage, you get vibrant and realistic color reproduction. Moreover, the low input lag makes it ideal for fast-paced and competitive gaming.

With a plethora of connectivity options, you can connect various devices like PCs, streaming media players, gaming consoles, and a speaker system all in one go.

Thus, if you are looking for the perfect budget home theater projector, you wouldn’t go wrong with the BenQ HT2050A.

Have any questions about the BenQ HT2050A? Please don’t hesitate to leave your questions in the comment section below.

Thank You!

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