BenQ W1000+ review

This budget full HD projector has much to recommend it

Reviews
By
published
BenQ W1000+
This is the upgraded version of the BenQ W1000, with a faster spinning colour wheel to minimize the rainbow effect

TechRadar Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Performance transcends price point expectations

  • +

    Neat, compact design

  • +

    Calibration possibilities

Cons

  • -

    Motion judder

  • -

    Who needs a 3W speaker?

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The BenQ W1000+ can be yours for roughly the same amount as you'd pay for a good 40-inch TV. And none can offer the same bigscreen thrills.

The machine is capable of casting a 300-inch image thanks to the high output of its optical engine.

The W1000+ is a single-chip DLP design with a redesigned colour wheel. This spins faster, which augurs well for minimisation of the dreaded 'rainbow effect' – while the coatings that colour its six segments have been revamped. The results of such tweakery are claimed to be an improved contrast ratio over the W1000 and colour fidelity.

Read TechRadar's BenQ W1000 review

The 1.2:1 zoom lens is not motorised, so you have to adjust it from the projector itself (a built-in, cross-hatch pattern is a boon here).

Inherited from the former W1000 is the comfortable backlit handset, 1080p24 compatibility and somewhat pointless 3W speaker.

The superb menu system has a number of fixed presets, while another three sets of user-definable ones are also available. For these, the range of adjustable parameters is on a par with far more expensive units.

Power consumption: Watts

White screen: 225W
Power consumption was right in line with projectors capable of similar brightness levels.

Test footage: 230W
We measured a 5W increase while watching live footage. Switch on the Economic Mode and energy usage drops to 200W.

Contrast ratio:

Claimed: 3500:1
Measured: 1603:1

We measured an average contrast ratio for this BenQ. At this price point, a 1603:1 contrast ratio is actually quite good. Switch this projector to the Dynamic Setting and contrast jumps to 2224:1

Luminance:

Cinema Setting: 22.9fL
Dynamic Setting: 33.8fL
Colour accuracy: 6900K

Warm: 5840K
Normal: 6900K
Cool: 8000K
User 1: 5830K
User 2: 6910K
User 3: 8030K
Lamp Native: 7530

Out of the box the W1000+ measured commendably. There are a lot of user options, and we were able to adjust the white balance to achieve 6500K.

Fast spinner

The W1000+'s lamp can be switched from its 'normal' mode to 'economic'. Doing so yields a moderate reduction in brightness and fan noise, which, despite the faster-spinning colour wheel, isn't really that troublesome to begin with.

The W1000+ produces a top-notch picture for the price. It doesn't represent the last word in black-level performance but dynamic range is unexpectedly good.

With Legion (BD), I could can make out the clouds in a bright desert sky while simultaneously picking out dark features in the interior of a car. Colour is also conveyed well, and the W1000+'s resolving power is excellent. Detail is far more evident than you have any right to expect at this price level.

The rainbow effect was barely evident, either. It's only some noticeable more motion judder that lets the side down. Overall, though, the W1000+ gets my vote.

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview

Martin Pipe