BenQ has introduced the W4100i 4K HDR projector, the direct successor to the HT4550i/W4000i, and the final piece in its premium home theater lineup. It slots between the compact W2720i, aimed at smaller rooms and casual setups, and the flagship W5800, which is built for large, dedicated theater spaces with higher brightness demands.
The W4100i is designed for what most people actually have—a normal living room or media space around 12 x 15 feet. It delivers a theater-like image up to 120 inches without requiring a full custom installation, while still offering the flexibility to go bigger if the room allows.
BenQ W4100i Uses 4LED Light Source, Not Laser Technology
While many higher-end projectors are moving to laser light sources, BenQ has chosen a 4LED light engine for the W4100i. The earlier W2720i also relies on the same 4LED technology.
Like laser light engines, BenQ’s 4LED system is built for long life without lamp replacements, providing consistent brightness and color performance over time. It supports 100% coverage of both BT.2020 and DCI-P3 color gamuts through BenQ’s CinematicColor technology, ensuring accurate reproduction regardless of the source. The design uses dedicated red, green, and blue LEDs, plus a fourth LED that boosts overall brightness with an emphasis on green.
Beyond color, 4LED can achieve deep black levels for more realistic contrast, while also running cooler than typical laser-based solutions.
Image Enhancement for Home Theater
The BenQ W4100i delivers true 4K UHD resolution through pixel-shifting and supports dynamic HDR. It includes Filmmaker Mode, which maintains motion cadence, color, dynamic range, and brightness as intended by the director, along with native 24p playback for frame-accurate presentation.
The projector also features BenQ’s AI Cinema Mode, which enhances detail and color depth in compressed streaming content. HDR-Pro with dynamic tone mapping supports HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. Compared to the HT4550i (W4000i), the W4100i improves its dynamic contrast ratio from 2,000,000:1 to 3,000,000:1, while outputting 2,050 lumens at D65. The result is deeper blacks, higher brightness, and more realistic depth across all types of content.
Smart TV Integration
The W4100i also includes BenQ’s QS02 HDMI plug-in media streamer running Android 11. This provides direct access to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and thousands of additional apps through the Google Play Store. Google Assistant voice control is built in for hands-free operation.
The plug-in media streamer also provides access to Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi, enabling direct streaming through Apple AirPlay and Google Cast without additional hardware.
HDMI & Gaming Support
The W4100i offers gaming support with a 17.9ms input lag at 4K/60Hz. It also remains one of the few projectors that include 3D viewing capability (DLP-Link 3D glasses sold separately).
For audio, HDMI-ARC/eARC support allows a simple, single-cable connection to an external sound system—a necessary option, as the built-in 5-watt speaker is insufficient for a full home theater experience.
Comparison
| W4100i | HT4550i | W2720i | W5800 | |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 |
| Price | $2,999 | $2,999 | $2,499 | $4,999 |
| Projection System | DLP | DLP | DLP | DLP |
| Light Source | 4LED | 4LED | 4LED | Laser/Phosphor |
| Light Source Life Hours | 20,000 hrs (Normal) 30,000 hrs (ECO) | 20,000 hrs (Normal) 30,000 hrs (ECO) 20,000 hrs (Smart ECO) | 20,000 hrs (Dynamic) 20,000 hrs (Normal) 30,000 hrs (ECO) | 20,000 (Normal) 25,000 (ECO) |
| Resolution (Via Pixel Shift) | 4K UHD (3840×2160) | 4K UHD (3840×2160) | 4K UHD (3840×2160) | 4K UHD (3840×2160) |
| Light Output (ANSI lumens) | 3200 | 3200 | 2500 | 2600 |
| Native Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio (Full On/Full Off) | 3,000,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 (w/ Light Source Dimming) | 2,000,000:1 (with Light Source Dimming) | 2,000,000:1 (with Light Source Dimming) |
| Color Display | 1.07 Billion (30 bit) | 1.07 Billion (30 bit) | 1.07 Billion (30 bit) | 1.07 Billion (30 bit) |
| Throw Ratio | 1.15 ~ 1.50 | 1.15 ~ 1.50 | 1.0 ~ 1.3 | 1.52~2.45 |
| Zoom Ratio | 1.3x | 1.3x | 1.3x | 1.6x |
| Lens Specs | F/# 1.8 – 2.25, f 17.02 (Wide)~22.21(Tele) mm | F/# 1.8 – 2.25, f 17.02 (Wide)~22.21(Tele) mm | F/# 1.8 – 1.85 mm, f 10.55 (Wide)~13.7(Tele) | F/# 2.1 ~ 3.0 , f 16.0 (Wide) ~25.7 (Tele) mm |
| Projection Offset (Full-Height) | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| Keystone Correction | Vertical ± 30 degrees Horizontal ± 30 degrees | Vertical ± 30 degrees Horizontal ± 30 degrees | Vertical ± 30 degrees Horizontal ± 30 degrees | Vertical ± 35 degrees Horizontal ± 35 degrees |
| Lens Shift | Vertical ±60% Horizontal ±21% | Vertical ±60% Horizontal ±15% | Vertical ±5% | Vertical ±50% Horizontal ±21% |
| DCI-P3 Coverage | 100% | 100% | 90% | 100% |
| Rec. 709 Coverage | 100% | 100% | 98% | 100% |
| Picture Modes | AI Cinema HDR AI Cinema 3D Bright Bright Cinema Cinema HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG ISF Day ISF Night User | 3D Bright Bright Cinema Cinema HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG ISF Day ISF Night User | AI Cinema HDR AI Cinema 3D Bright Bright Cinema Cinema HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG ISF Day ISF Night User | 3D Bright Bright Cinema Cinema HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG ISF Day ISF Night User |
| Filmmaker Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Input | HDMI-1 (2.1/HDCP2.3) HDMI-2 (2.1/HDCP2.3) HDMI-3 (2.1/HDCP2.3 | HDMI-1 (2.0b/HDCP2.2) HDMI-2 (2.0b/HDCP2.2) | HDMI-1 (2.1/HDCP2.3) HDMI-2 (2.1/HDCP2.3) HDMI-3 (2.1/HDCP2.3 | HDMI-1 (2.0b/HDCP2.2) HDMI-2 (2.0b/HDCP2.2) |
| LAN (RJ45) | 1 (10/100 Mbps) | 1 (10/100 Mbps) | – | 1 (10/100 Mbps) |
| 3D Sync Out (VESA Standard) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| USB Type A | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| USB Type B | 1 (mini) | Not Indicated | 2 (mini – 1 service only | 1 (for service only) |
| RS232 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wired Remote In | – | – | – | – |
| DC 12V Trigger | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Speaker | 1 x 5 Watts | 1 x 5 Watts | 2 x 5 Watts | – |
| HDMI-ARC/eARC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Optical (S/PDIF) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth (via Plug-in Android Dongle) | Yes (ver 5.0) | Yes (ver 5.0) | Yes (ver 5.0) | – |
| WiFi (via Plug-in Android Dongle) | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Power Supply | AC 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz | AC 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz | AC 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz | AC 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Typical Power Consumption (110V) | 330 Watts | 380 Watts | 241 Watts | 450 Watts |
| Acoustic Noise (Typ./Eco.) | 30/29 dB | 32/28 dB | 28/26 dB | 30/27 dB |
| Dimension (HWD – mm) | 135.3 x 420.5 x 312.1 | 135 x 420.5 x 312 | 143 x 420 x 305 mm | 525.2 x 145.7 x 392.2 |
| Dimension (HWD – inches) | 5.31 x 16.56 x 12.28 | 5.31 x 16.54 x 12.28 | 16.45 x 5.63 x 12.01 | 20.7 x 5.7 x 15.49 |
| Net Weight (kg) | 6.1 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 10.5 |
| Net Weight (lbs) | 13.45 | 14.55 | 14.11 | 23.1 |
| Remote Control | RCI074 | RCI074 | RCI074 | RCV024 |
| Android TV | QS02 dongle | QS02 dongle | QS02 dongle | – |
The Bottom Line
The W4100i succeeds the HT4550i and slots between the W2720i and W5800 in both features and price. While it doesn’t radically depart from the HT4550i, it adds refinements such as improved dynamic contrast and AI-driven video processing.
BenQ continues to favor 4LED light engine technology for key models, including the W4100i, though the flagship W5800 still uses a Laser/Phosphor light engine. The company also emphasizes DLP imaging, meaning the lumens rating reflects White Light Output (WLO); Color Light Output (CLO) is lower. By contrast, LCD projectors typically list equal WLO and CLO. For example, the slightly higher-priced Epson LS9000 offers matching WLO and CLO ratings.
To offset the lower CLO, BenQ implements color and contrast enhancements through CinematicColor™ and HDR-Pro technologies. Having used BenQ projectors in my own collection, I can attest that they remain strong contenders in both consumer and professional markets, and the W4100i appears to be another solid entry.
Price & Availability
- The BenQ W4100i is priced at $2,999 at Amazon
- The BenQ HT4550i is priced at $2,999 at Amazon
- The BenQ W2720i is priced at $2,499 at Amazon
- The BenQ W5800 is priced at $4,999 at ProjectorScreen.com
The W4100i can be ceiling-mounted with the optional CMOOG3 Universal Ceiling Mount ($79 at Amazon).
Related Reading
- BenQ Releases TK710 and TK710STi “Casual” Gaming Projectors
- BenQ’s X-Series Gaming Projectors for 2023 Make Large-Screen Gaming a 4K Experience We Really Want to Try
- Dangbei MP1 Max 4K Lifestyle Projector: Half Laser, Half LED, All Out to Replace Your TV
- Epson’s New LS9000 True 4K Laser Home Theater Projector is Just $3999 – We Like!
