BenQ has today announced the launch of the first fully immersive 4LED projector for console gaming – the X1300i.

The BenQ X1300i is all about large scale, fast-paced gameplay, according to the brand. Additionally, we’re told to expect professional audio, high brightness, high contrast and long-lasting colour.

The new X1300i projector throws a 100-inch diagonal image at just 2.87 metres. Moreover, BenQ’s new 4LED light source is said to achieve higher optical efficiency. Incorporating an additional blue LED, the RGBB light source enhances the 1.4X optical efficiency for longer-lasting colour reproduction with increased vibrancy and 3000 lumen brightness output.

Finally, the X1300i is powered by LED Dynamic Black Technology. Apparently, this intelligently detects the fluctuating light and black levels of the game and accurately matches the dynamic scene.

Oh, and then there’s the 8ms@120Hz low latency, ensuring that gameplay is uninterrupted.

The neat cuboid design of the X1300i sports a pair of 5 Watt treVolo chamber speakers for in-game audio. You also get a trio of pre-set game modes designed for the most popular console genres: FPS (First Shooting Game), SPG (Sports Game) and RPG (Role-Playing Game).

Also, thanks to BenQ’s CinematicColor expertise, you get customisable in-game colours.

The X1300i is also supported by Android TV for live streaming, voice assistance and mirror casting.

The X1300i is available from December and RRP’s at £1249.

The post BenQ X1300i 4LED Gaming Projector appeared first on GadgetyNews.

BenQ has announced that its upcoming DesignVue professional design monitors, the PD2705Q and PD3420Q, are the first in the world to have achieved prestigious certifications from CalMAN, Pantone and VESA.

The BenQ DesignVue monitors are aimed explicitly at creatives who rely on exact colour reproduction, HDR quality and precise image clarity.

Featuring IPS HDR panels in 27-inch (PD2705Q) 2560×1440 and 34-inch (PD3420Q) with ultrawide HDR 3440×1440 resolutions, both monitors also boast a 5ms response time, 60Hz refresh rate and built-in speakers.

Embedded with BenQ’s exclusive AQColour Advantage, we’re told that ICC/ISO professional standards are met to deliver detailed precision and assure out-of-the-box Delta E ? 3 colour accuracy. Furthermore, the monitors are said to achieve 100% of industry-standard sRGB and Rec.709 wide colour gamuts. Also, the factory-calibrated displays arrive with a unique calibration report for guaranteed quality for designers relying on exact colour matching.

Additionally, the PD3420Q is HDR-10 compatible, having achieved the prestigious status of VESA DisplayHDR 400. Allowing videographers to preview HDR video content during editing sessions for realistic results in an instant.

You also get nifty presets such as Darkroom Mode to adjust the image brightness and contrast for work in dark environments; M-book Mode to replicate the colour from Mac devices, etc.

Good news if you use multiple input sources and/or multiple screens. BenQ has included KVM switch connectivity enabling smooth switching between two PC inputs on one display with a single mouse and keyboard. We are also promised colour consistency across all screens from different product lines will be displayed at the same level.

Finally, as well as HDMI, DisplayPort and USB connectivity, there is a USB-C port that transmits high-speed video, audio, data and 65W power delivery.

Naturally, the displays also feature BenQ’s exclusive industry-leading Eye-Care technology to reduce eye fatigue via its low blue light, flicker-free and anti-glare features.

We are awaiting confirmed UK pricing and availability details.

The post BenQ Boasts World’s First HDR Monitors appeared first on GadgetyNews.

BenQ scores Best Buy Projector and Best Home Theatre Projector at the EISA Awards 2019.

The top DLP projector brand is flushed with success as it announces two of its projectors have won highly sought-after awards from EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association). Winning in the 2019/2020 Best Buy Projector (W2700) and Home Theatre Projector (W5700) categories. 

BenQ CinePrime W2700

EISA selected the BenQ CinePrime W2700 (€1599) as its Best Buy Projector as “the compact 4K HDR projector brings large-screen home entertainment to the living room without compromising on performance or emptying the wallet.”

The judges recognised that the CinePrime W2700’s latest DLP chip design for 4K detail, coupled with a bespoke colour wheel and factory calibration introduces DCI-P3 wide-colour capacity to the market for the first time.

BenQ CinePrime W5700

Regarding the BenQ CinePrime, W5700 (€2699) EISA noted its colour accuracy, image detail, HDR playback and install flexibility and stated that “Ben Q’s W5700 flagship projector is an easy recommendation for a dedicated home theatre. The 11-element all-glass lens is optimised for 4K and delivers crisp, sharp images.”

Steve Chu, President of BenQ Europe, told GadgetyNews:

We’re pleased to be receiving two EISA awards this year. The accolades are important as they are from such a well-respected organisation and highlight how BenQ continues to inspire customers through innovative products. The winning projectors, for example, have been recognised for their true 4K HDR CinematicColor technology in particular, which offers big-screen, cinematic experiences, as envisioned by filmmakers. It’s great to be recognised for products that are pushing the boundaries in home cinema technology.

The awards will be presented at an official ceremony on the first day of IFA, Berlin, on 6th September 2019 and we will be swinging by to congratulate the team.

The post BenQ Wins Best Buy and Home Theatre Projector Awards appeared first on GadgetyNews.

The BenQ ScreenBar is one of those things where you first look at it and think, “what’s the point?” That is until you use it. You see, if you have limited desk space but would still like a lamp to illuminate your keyboard, etc. this is where the ScreenBar plays its trump card.

BenQ ScreenBar lamp design

The ScreenBar measures 18-inches wide. As soon as you lift it from the packaging, the lamp feels like another quality BenQ lighting item as it’s solidly constructed from aluminium. The metal tube is about 3/4-inch in diameter and is fitted with a row of LEDs.

Fitting it to your monitor is done by way of a clever, and deceptively heavy, counter-weight mount. The entire tube rotates a little enabling you to get the right angle. Additionally, you can further adjust it by moving the mount on the monitor a bit.

Along the top of the aluminium bar are four touch controls. The buttons are for power, an auto-brightness feature, brightness controls, and colour temperature controls. Brightness varies between a bright max output of 320 lumens and a low light output that works well at night.

The lamp is powered entirely by USB and BenQ bundles in a 60-inch long cable for this.

Lighting was fairly even and easy to adjust from shining on the screen.

BenQ ScreenBar lamp performance

We have had the ScreenBar sat atop an old Phillips and a new BenQ monitor (23-inch and 27-inch respectively), and there were no issues as far as fitment went. However, my other half regularly uses a webcam for family Skypes, and the ScreenBar meant that the cam had to be repositioned. A minor niggle but perhaps something to consider. The plus side is that there is minimal overhang from the lamp’s stand so if your monitor has an integral webcam, chances are this won’t interfere with it.

Bright idea

The light output is quite directional, thankfully. My main concern was that the lamp would create glare on the screen – not something anyone needs. However, I should have realised that a company such as BenQ who actually make monitors with eye-friendly tech would have this covered. The band of light can be aimed to stay off of the screen and just light up your desk and keyboard. Furthermore, the light quality is exceptionally even and doesn’t appear to have any hot spots.

The lamp illuminates the area of my keyboard and mouse perfectly. No need for a long goose-necked lamp clamped to the edge of my desk here.

Flicker-free and temp control

Another area where BenQ have seemingly worked their eye-care, flicker-free magic is with the LEDs themselves. To my knowledge, most LEDs will strobe or pulse. I have taken both video and still shots of the lights and have not been able to decern either. Now, this is not to say that they are not strobing, but it leads me to assume that the rate at which they do so will not produce any ill effects to our eyesight.

The colour temperature can be varied between a very cold/ blue, 6500K and a reasonably warm 2700K. Just as the BenQ WIT desk lamp does, the ScreenBar has warm amber-tinted LEDs mounted next to standard blue/white LEDs. When set to its warmest 2700K, the colder LEDs are pretty much switched off, so you also get less light on the warmest setting. Naturally, for the settings between warm and cold mix the two LEDs for the temperature you want.

If you leave the adjustments to the auto-brightness, then the photosensor mounted directly on top of the bar takes control. I have had mixed results from allowing the sensor to do its job; however, this may be due to my monitors being directly in front of a window. With the blind shut then the sensor is pretty accurate with the amount of light it decides to dish out. Also, the automatic setting seems to ignore your colour warmth choices. Again, something to keep in mind.

Although, the ScreenBar does remember the settings from the last time you used it. So, as soon as you turn on your PC or monitor (depending on whose USB out you are using for power), the lamp will be how you left it.

BenQ ScreenBar lamp review conclusion

The BenQ ScreenBar has left me with one initial question – why the heck as this not been done before? Again, this lamp goes to prove that some of the most genius designs are the simplest and most overlooked.

This monitor-mounted lamp takes up no desk real estate, has adjustable brightness and warmth and even an automatic mode. Furthermore, it’s solidly built and, once set-up does not move unless you really want it to.

Aside from the premium price tag, we cannot find a downside to the BenQ ScreenBar lamp.

BenQ ScreenBar price and availability

You can buy the BenQ ScreenBar right now for £90 from Amazon.

The post BenQ WiT ScreenBar Lamp review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Projectors are generally designed to perform well and yet be hidden away. The BenQ W2000 has been designed for living rooms. It also boasts being able to perfectly render the Rec 709 global HDTV colour standard. GadgetyNews takes a front-row seat.

The W2000 is a Full HD single-chip DLP projector. It features BenQ’s CinematicColour technology, which aims to deliver the full Rec.709 colour standard for HD images. This should mean more accurate colours straight out of the box.

BenQ W2000 design

The W2000 brings the bling thanks to its champagne gold coloured fascia. This might not be to everyone’s taste, but it does make it distinctive. This is also BenQ showing that the W2000 is designed to look good in a living room.

It is compact and lightweight projector and neatly designed with gently curved edges and a mostly white plastic body, save for that golden flourish.

There are some top-mounted controls for when you don’t have the included backlit remote to hand. There is also a little sliding door beneath which are the focus and lens shift wheels.

The rear panel houses all the connectivity options. Here you’ll find a pair of HDMI inputs, one each of composite and component video, RCA audio ins, a D-Sub PC port and an RS-232 port for control.

The HDMIs can handle the MHL protocols for playing content from your mobile phone.

Additionally, there’s a 12V trigger output (handy for those with a motorised screen), a 3.5mm audio loopthrough, and both standard and mini USB ports. You also can buy an optional Wireless Full HD Kit (WDP01).

Those USB ports are for powering the wireless kit and for updates. They’re not there for playing multimedia off thumb drives. Bit of a shame that.

BenQ W2000 performance

BenQ claims the DLP (Digital Light Processing) engine delivers a maximum brightness of 2000 ANSI Lumens and a promising contrast ratio of 15,000:1.

As is normally the case with single-chip DLP projectors, colour is delivered via a six-segment (RGBRGB), six-speed wheel. This has been specially coated and angled to help achieve that Rec.709 standard.

You may shrug your shoulders as everyone seems to be all about HDR these days. However, Rec.709 is still the standard for Blu-ray. Also, I for one am not grumbling about it boasting its Rec.709 credentials, especially at this price.

Set up

Set-up is relatively straightforward, with twist-to-extend feet at the back and a pop out foot at the front to help you to position the picture correctly.

It’s a relatively short-throw projector, allowing for a picture of up to 100-inches from 2.5m away.

However, with just a 1.3x zoom on board, you’ll want it a little closer to get a decently-sized picture.

Side projection and settings

I really like the W2000’s ability to project from the side. Not all homes can allow for a projector sitting front and centre. Thanks to the Side Projection with 2D Keystone, the trapezoid effect is eliminated when the projector is placed at an indirect angle. So, you can set up the projector in a corner or on a side table to free up valuable space.

There’s a handy built-in test pattern that certainly helps get things right. A little tweaking using the manual focus, zoom and vertical image shifting controls tucked away under a sliding panel on the top and all is golden.

I used the Cinema Rec.709 picture mode from the settings. This, as expected, is pretty much spot on from what I can tell.

If you wish, the W2000 is also ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) certified for pro calibration.

The ISF presets are available for day and night, alongside ‘bright’, ‘vivid’ and a handful of others. I still preferred ‘cinema’ and found it to be the most natural and accurate.

I ran the lamp at ‘normal’ – you can also opt for ‘eco’ or ‘smart eco’ (a sort of dynamic contrast setting that will adjust itself based on the content on screen). My opinion is to stick with normal.

At 2000 ANSI lumens max brightness, there are brighter. That said, the W2000 goes for colour accuracy above all else. Moreover, it does this very well. Besides, having to draw the curtains is hardly a chore

Viewing

The W2000’s picture quality is outstanding. You would be hard pushed to guess the price of this projector when you see the image presented.

Colour

Its particularly good at handling colour. Straight out of the box using the Cinema preset with no manual adjustments made, the tones look wonderfully natural and nuanced.

The sense of balance in the colour palette is outstanding too. At no point is one of the six main colour elements attempting to dominate over any of the others.

Skin tones look believable under even the most difficult of film lighting conditions, with no blocking or striping.

There’s easily enough colour tone subtlety to ensure people’s faces always look natural rather than doll-like.

Nothing is ever overblown or overdone. Lesser projectors in this price bracket may be tempted to push colour saturation up so the image pops, but you tend to lose natural tones. However, the W2000 remains superbly balanced.

It handles depth really nicely too. Images appear layered. By this I mean buildings appear to stand in front of one another and textures have a great sense of realism. It makes for a wholly immersive picture that is complemented by its superb handling of colour.

OK, go for something more expensive and you will get more detail and sharpness. Yes, there is a touch of softness here and there. You might lose a little of the finer details in faces and clothing, but it still does really well.

Contrast

Contrast is reasonably strong, especially if you use the Smart Eco mode, thanks to the punchy look the W2000 delivers with bright colours and whites, even during dark scenes.

You do get a smattering of DLP’s rainbow effect in exceptionally bright areas, but I have seen much worse.

Black levels

My favourite film is Blade Runner, I also quite enjoyed Blade Runner 2049. Both favour plenty of dark scenes and this is where the W2000 shows its weakness. Black levels just don’t go deep enough for this kind of behaviour.

On occasions, it left things looking a little washed out, this in turn affects shadow detail too.

Additionally, I must add that this issue really only stands out in very dark scenes, and won’t affect that much of your overall viewing time. The black level shortcomings are far less of an issue in rooms where there’s a touch of ambient light around than they are in completely blacked out rooms too.

Motion handling

Motion, on the whole is pretty darned good.

Content hardly suffers from judder. I say hardly, as I did notice a few moments where edges of buildings in extremely clear shots were affected. But, I was paying particular attention to them. I very much doubt that such things would be caught in the average viewer’s peripheral vision.

Sound quality

There has never been a point in a projector review where I have stated that the in-built speakers are you best option. There’s a reason for that. The BenQ W2000 does not break this rule.

However, the W2000 does take its audio duties remarkably seriously. It combines 20W of audio output with a resonant sound chamber design. Also, there’s ‘MaxxAudio’ processing and algorithms apparently used by Hollywood studios to boost the perceived bass and treble range.

It possibly is the best sounding projector I’ve tested. If you have the projector in front of you the audio is almost good enough for you to be convinced that its emanating from at least somewhere in the vicinity of the pictures on the screen. Almost.

The mid-range is clear and open and there is plenty of treble detailing.

Bass presence is reasonable but it is the treble that seems to get the extra helpings here.

Other observations

The W2000 has not been put over as a gaming projector.

Input lag isn’t really that noticeable to my casual gaming prowess, however, I have read figures of between 30ms and 60ms of input lag (the amount of time it takes to render its pictures). Again, anyone looking for a professional grade gaming projector may feel this.

What is impressive is just how how quietly the W2000 runs. The fan is working but the large chassis certainly must aid airflow as I wasn’t distracted by any cooling noises.

BenQ W2000 review conclusion

The BenQ W2000 certainly boasts bang for buck.

It produces a natural colour palette and wholly immersive picture that’s way above its pay grade.

BenQ have really worked hard to enable the W2000 with the skills to deliver Rec.709 remarkably well right out of the box. Unfortunatley, this prowess with colour highlights its weakness with with black level response.

Home cinema fans will love its range of connectivity as well as that excellent Rec.709 preset.

To round up, the BenQ W2000 looks decent, has amazing colour skills and connection options. It might not be as strong with its black levels but it’s still worth checking out at this price.

BenQ W2000 projector price and availability

You can buy the W2000 right now directly from BenQ for £811. Alternatively, Box.co.uk and Amazon have it for under £800.

The post BenQ W2000 projector review – Sub £800 Rec.709 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Desk lamps. We’ve had a few through here but they all do the same job. The Bestek LED desk lamp, however, has an additional skill beyond mere illumination.

Naturally, this light from Bestek will illuminate the immediate area. The thing is, so will many other offerings.

If you are like me, due to limited desk space, you will need your gadgets to multitask where possible. Well, this does just that.

Bestek LED desk lamp design

The lamp body is an extremely glossy black plastic. It looks modern and all but it is a bit of a bugger to keep clean and shiny.

Cleaning aside, it cuts quite a handsome silhouette. I do like the flat and edgy design. In fact, it sits rather well with my living room decor, let alone my office.

There are no less than three hinges (base, neck and head). These allow the lamp to positioned perfectly.

The well-weighted base features touch sensitive controls. Here you get the regular on/off but also a range of lighting modes and intensity choices.

Also in the base is a very handy USB port. Told you it could multitask! This will charge your portable gadgets while you work.

Finally, the power cable is a neat red braided cord. Granted, this will be mostly shoved down the back of a desk but I still like this touch of flare nonetheless.

Read our BenQ WiT desk lamp review

Bestek LED desk lamp performance

[amazon_link asins=’B01LYKKIM6′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’gadgnews-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=”]Most of the 1.5kg of this lamp is in the base. This gives it a very steady and secure footing. Furthermore, it also allows the lamp arm to be angled pretty much however you need it so that the light shines on where it’s required.
 
The LED light has a colour temperature range of 2700K-6000K.
 
That natty USB port is rated at 5V 0-2.4A so perfect for phones, tablets and the likes.
 

Ergonomics

Back to that highly adjustable range of movement permitted by the three joints.

The lower lamp arm can be swung through 60 degrees, with only 15 degrees past upright, but 45 degrees forward towards the desk.

The upper arm can be adjusted 140 degrees, with the lower hinge rotating 90 degrees as well as the LED itself delivering 180 degrees rotation.

Yes, 360 rotation, or even 240 would be nice on the LED itself but that’s probably just me.

Another neat side effect of this flexibility is that you can fold the lamp away almost flat when not in use.

Controls

There’s a number of functions to be had once you turn the Bestek LED desk lamp on.

Press and hold the touch sensitive On button and choose one of the modes. Your choices are: Reading, Study, Relaxing, or Sleep.

Reading

This is actually the second brightest mode by default with a slight yellow tint to illuminate without blinding.

Study

Very bright brilliant white colour.

Relaxing

Similar to Reading mode but with slightly more yellow tint.

Sleep

Think “Night mode” on your smartphone.

60min

In addition to those functions there’s also the intriguing 60min mode. Well, it was intriguing for a moment until the penny dropped. You’re probably quicker than me though.

Yup, 60min mode turns off the light after, you guessed it, 60 minutes. Handy for those who vow to just have an hour reading in bed before going to sleep which inevitably turns in to a couple of hours.

Bright ideas

Those modes can be further augmented with the custom brightness settings.

Across the bottom of the touch-sensitive stand, beneath the mode buttons are a number of dots. These allow you to cycle through 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% brightness, on any mode.

Bestek LED desk lamp review conclusion

I am well impressed by this lamp. Not only do you get touch controls and a USB port, but you also get a selection of modes and brightness settings. A great feature set, especially when you consider its price.

If I was going to be really picky I would have liked a notch in the base to stand a phone or tablet whilst it charged. Oh, and have the lamp head able to rotate 360-degrees. I really wouldn’t expect a Qi Charging pad at this price but, well, there is plenty of space on that base…

But, these are by no way deal breakers.

I think that this desk lamp is a great buy.

Bestek LED desk lamp price and availability

The desk lamp is available in black or white right now from Amazon for the amazing price of £29.99

The post Bestek touch LED desk lamp review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Optoma are well known for the projectors, we’ve had a few through here before. The HD29Darbee, however, has been tuned for gamers as well as home cinema fans.

Gaming projectors apparently have more in common with buses than I originally thought. We’ve gone months without seeing one and then, all of a sudden, two arrive with weeks of each other.

At the beginning of the month we had the rather natty BenQ W1210ST picture-slinger. Today we are taking a look at the Optoma HD29Darbee.

Optoma HD29Darbee design

This is not the strongest point to start for the HD29 I will have to admit.

It’s not sleek, sporty or full of flair. To be honest, you probably don’t want that kind of distraction either. However, I am a sucker for some bits of style. Unfortunately, what Optoma presents here is a glossy white projector similar in aesthetics to anything you’ll find in a meeting room.

The HD29Darbee measures 298 x 230 x 96.5mm (WxDxH), which is nice and compact.

[amazon_link asins=’B074DYV8P3′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’gadgnews-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=”]Around the rear of the device you’re given two HDMI ports. The first input, located on the outermost side of the projector, supports HDCP and pass through audio. This means that it will work with any 1080p video source. Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles, and PC’s will all work fine on this port.
 
The second HDMI port supports the same technology, but adds MHL 1.2 capability. MHL, or Mobile High-speed Link, enables mobile devices to connect to an HDMI port.
 
The advantage of MHL 1.2 over the older version is that you can use an active adapter. Active adapters can connect to any phone or tablet on the market. If they don’t support MHL naturally, the active adapter will add this functionality to your device.
 

Check out our review of the BenQ W1210ST gaming projector

 
Optoma also gives you a 3.5mm audio line out, a 12V supply to run a motorised projector screen, and a 3D-sync port for active 3D glasses.
 
Up front is a 3200 lumen bulb that dishes out a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1080p resolution.
 
On the top of the projector are the controls and a zoom lever whilst focusing is done using the lens ring.
 
Finally, the projector also comes bundled with a natty little remote.
 
Everything here is where it should be and is fit for purpose. Kind of like a mid-range German saloon car.
 

Optoma HD29Darbee performance

This projector has been designed to be portable. To this end it weighs a mere At 2.38kg and comes with its own carry bag.

You will have no doubt noticed the large vents on either side of the HD29Darbee. These appear to allow for a larger, and slower moving fan than some other projectors. The result of this is remarkably quiet operation, even when gaming.

Screen size

At a guesstimate, I reckon I was using the projector to throw an image of around 100-inches. This is worked out by the projector being around 9-10 feet away from the wall (screen).

If I had the room, I am sure that I could get an even larger usable viewing area that still would be great.

Brightness

I was really impressed by the brightness of this projector.

Even with the curtains open and the lights on (I review in the evening and it’s most definitely autumn right now) the image is clear, sharp and vibrant.

However, close the curtains and flick off the lights and the colours really pop.

Those 3200 lumens can actually feel too bright in a darkened room for movie watching. 2000, or even 1500 lumens should suffice.

The HD29Darbee actually has a 1000 lumens ‘eco’ mode but that’s not quite bright enough for my taste.

Lamp life comes in at around 5000 hours at full brightness. But, unless you intend on doing all your gaming and box set watching in a well-lit room, you should easily get more than that.

Colour

Straight out of the box, the depth and vibrancy of the video produced was impressive. Whether that’s because whoever had it before me had done all the tweaking or it was down to the HD29Darbee’s REC.709 HDTV colour gamut, I don’t know. What I do know is that I left it at the default settings for the majority of the time and was perfectly happy with that.

However, there are 10 colour presets to choose from. The Sharpness setting, for instance, increases contrast, making even the finest details come to life.

In use

The days of expecting Full HD at 1080p projected at 100-inches to be nasty and pixelated seems to be behind us now. Thanks to the Darbee image processing magic the picture is stunning.

Whether I was playing a Blu-Ray from the Oppo UDP-203, Netflix from my tablet or a film from Amazon over my Fire Stick. The HD29 presented an image that had the wow-factor.

Additionally, even when gaming this thing was no slouch.

In Enhanced Gaming Mode you get a 16ms refresh rate.

It’s not as snappy as the recently reviewed BenQ but, when testing it out with a bit of Doom and CS:GO I still found it very playable.

Also, the colour and brightness uniformity was pretty spot on. Optoma states 80%, but it looks better than that.

Even when getting close to the image, it remains sharp.

Audio

As is usual with portable projector speakers, you will be better off adding external ones. The 10w unit does a decent enough job for when you haven’t got access to additional speakers, but things soon start to get muddy.

But, let’s face it, if you are installing a projector, chances are that you have speakers too.

Optoma HD29Darbee review conclusion

Optoma have again managed to produce a projector that is impressive for the price. We are talking under 600 notes here!

I really like the colour depth and detail and the ease of set up. It also proved its worth for casual gaming, however I would suggest you looked at the GT1080Darbee if gaming is your main thing.

All-in-all, you get great bang for your buck with the HD29.

Price and availability

You can grab yourself an Optoma HD29Darbee from Very for £599.99. The same goes for Amazon UK too.

The post Optoma HD29Darbee gaming projector, amazing price – review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Using projectors for gaming can be a tricksy thing to get right. However, BenQ happily state that their W1210ST HD unit is up to the task. GadgetyNews wanted to check out that claim.

What we have here in the W1210ST is a Full HD DLP projector with a short-throw lens. It is also packing an ultra-low input lag mode that BenQ believes makes it ideal for gaming.

Does its performance live up to its lofty claims though?

It’s a tough job, but off I went to game on a 100-inch ‘screen’.

BenQ W1210ST design

When I was told that BenQ wanted to send over a gaming projector, I was expecting a small, neat, portable jobby.

However, the W1210ST is fairly large. It does come in a carrying case and is pretty light. But isn’t tiny. It weighs in at 3.6kg and measures 38.05 x 27.7 x 12.17 cm.

Saying that, it looks slick and wears its dimensions well.

Be this because of the rounded edges or natty gloss white and matte silver colour-scheme, I care not. What is important that it looks better than your standard office projector.

The lens is recessed and comes with a detachable cover. This saves it from fingerprints and damage when moving it around.

Atop the W1210ST is a little hatch that hides the zoom and focus wheels.

Underneath the front of the projector is a neat drop-down foot. I only discovered this after realising that this unit had no vertical image shifting option.

Around the rear you will find two HDMI and a VGA port. There is also a 12V trigger port for automatically firing up a motorised screen, and a 3.5mm audio loop-through system. For me, this is plenty for the projector’s target audience.

All-in-all, it’s not a bad looking thing, to be honest.

BenQ W1210ST performance

The W1210ST claims 2,200 Lumens of light output and a contrast ratio of 15,000:1. Highly impressive specs for a Full HD projector in this price range.

As well as the gaming modes, more on those later, you get Normal, Smart Eco and Eco lamp settings too.

Normal is best avoided unless you’re in a room with a fair bit of ambient light in it. Smart Eco provides the most contrast-rich image and my go to mode for movies. Eco reduces fan noise to whisper-quiet levels, slightly boosts image stability and increases shadow detail. All very lovely things, but you do lose some of the contrast dynamics when compared with Smart Eco.

Set-up

The aforementioned focus and zoom wheels enables quick sorting of the size of picture you want.

I was really impressed just be the amount of zoom on offer from this short-throw projector. Obtaining a large image from a short distance makes this ideal for the average London home. Let’s face it, even elsewhere around the country, getting a regular projector the required distance away can be tricky.

With this, you can get a 100-inch image from a throw distance of as little as 1.5m.

Due to the lack of vertical image shifting, chances are that you will need to use the drop-down leg.

[amazon_link asins=’B01M4HAOZP’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’gadgnews-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=”]This will also mean you’ll need to use keystone correction to get the sides of the image straight. Thankfully, the W1210ST’s keystone system works well with very little noticable distortion.

The projector offers a ‘first install’ procedure. This wizard guides you through the basics of setting it up.

You are provided with some presets too. For me, Cinema and Game are the ones we really need here.

Right out of the box, these modes appear to be well calibrated for their duties. I would, however, recommend turning off noise reduction for all sources.

Additionally, although this *should* be obvious, ensure that Fast Mode is on when you’re gaming. This reduces input lag (the time the projector takes to render image data received at its inputs), and it does it well.

Audio

This is generally a weak link in many of the projectors we’ve had through here. I am glad to report, not so with the W1210ST.

Here we get 2x10W speakers bolstered by BenQ’s Resonant Chamber technology. That tech cunningly uses spaces in the projector’s bodywork to add more dynamic range to audio playback.

I was actually taken aback at just how loud it was as my expectations were kind of low. I would still be tempted to use external speakers for movies though.

Gaming

Flicking through the menu will find that the W1210ST has not one, but two gaming modes.

Cunningly named Game and Game Bright, you can probably ascertain what’s going on here. Yup, the latter boosts the brightness and raises the contrast floor as well as the colour saturation. This is actually a handy setting if you are unable to make the room you’re gaming in dark enough.

The Fast Mode option delivers an input lag of only around 10ms. I will let that sink in for a moment. 10ms.

This is the lowest input-lag I’ve come across as far as I am aware. I have just taken delivery of another gaming projector, so we’ll see how that does.

Picture quality

I will admit now, I had to remind myself that the W1201ST can be used for more than gaming.

The thing is, it was just really good at it.

Thanks to its exceptionally low input lag (in Fast mode) gaming is slick and precise.

Changes in direction are immediate in first person shooters (FPS), driving is smooth and reactive and colours are strong.

Playing the likes of Left 4 Dead 2 and CS:GO, were actually as enjoyable as playing on my PC. This was even more impressive as I was streaming my games via my NVIDIA Shield tablet.

Aiming and shooting was so much better than I had experienced with other projectors.

In a darkened room colours really pop thanks to great contrast. None of that wishy-washy nonsense.

If you play close attention to the images, you can detect some judder, especially when the projector is working hard with Project Cars. But, concentrate on your driving, and you hardly notice at all.

Detail levels are amazing. Crysis, Doom and BioShock, for example, really show-off the textures and shading without gaining or haloing.

Movies

As I said earlier, it’s not only about gaming.

Movies are equally impressive. Whether pinging over BluRay titles from the Oppo BDP-203, or simply using HD content from YouTube, you still get the same detailing and crispness expected from a Full HD projector.

Granted, it’s not a flawless performance. There was a little bit of noise evident in darker scenes, but this wasn’t enough to distract from any of the on-screen action.

Also, some dark scenes lose a little shadow detail when you’re using the Smart Eco lamp mode. The easy solution is to flick over to Eco mode, but then you will lose some black-level response.

BenQ W1210ST conclusion

If the idea of gaming on on 100-inch+ screen makes you smile, then the W1210ST can do just that.

It is also more keenly priced than anything else with comparable specs as a movie projector.

But it is with gaming where the W1210ST shines, with special thanks to its is class-leading low imput lag.

Add in punchy, vibrant and sharp images with great contrast then you have an awesome all-rounder.

BenQ W1210ST price and availability

You can go get your own W1210ST right now from Amazon right now for £890.

The post BenQ W1210ST Full HD gaming projector review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

There have been a number of LED lamps that have made their way through Gadgety HQ, but the BenQ WiT is different. Not only does it look different, it boasts to be the first lamp designed for e-reading.

LED lighting is the future. I recently swapped out the halogens in the bathroom for LED units. We also have a number of LED lamps around the house. I am even considering replacing the low energy bulbs in the main ceiling fittings for LED. Why?

Well, LED is actually more efficient than even the low energy bulbs, they can also produce a brighter, whiter light. Furthermore, you don’t get that delay when switching them on as with the low energy bulbs.

So, when I was asked to take a look at the new BenQ WiT lamp I was intrigued. Yes, at first glance it looks just like an anglepoise-style desk lamp but, upon closer examination, it offers much more.

Features such as touch controls, customisable light temperature and brightness, to name but a few. Wide, Intelligent, Tailor-made – WiT.

BenQ WiT lamp design

Let’s start looking at the Wit from the business end of the light.

The lamp head is long and curves upwards at the ends. It is no surprise to discover that BenQ calls this “Smile Curve tech”.

At the rear end of the lamp-head is an aluminium ring, this is touch sensitive and is used to switch the light on and off.

Atop the lamp is a dial. This has a push control for selecting brightness or colour temperature mode and then you dial in the level.

That lamp is attached to the arm using a ball joint. The arm has two further points of articulation.

Additionally, it can also rotate at the base.

That base is extremely heavy. This gives the entire lamp great stability, even when hyper-extended.

I am a sucker for braided cable and the WiT comes packing. There is 6 foot of cable that terminates in a jack that fits the AC adapter and plug-type of your particular country. The cable also runs visibly through the lamp arm. I love this design touch.

The lamp measures 65 x 22 x 90 cm and weighs in at 4.7kg. Practically all that weight is in the stand as the rest of the lamp is made from aluminium or zinc.

The WiT is available in five different colours, I was sent the silver one which will suit any decor.

BenQ WiT lamp performance

The WiT looks and feels well designed and constructed. It could easily be a statement piece, depending on the room.

Ergonomics

It is really easy to adjust the lamp to how you want it.

The lamp’s adjustable arm has two hinges. This allows the head of the lamp to be as low as 12-inches from the desk’s top.Alternatively, you can have it stand up to 33.5-inches high.

If you really need the height, BenQ sells a floor stand that will convert the WiT LED e-Reading desk lamp into a floor lamp. You can also purchase a desk clamp if you find the base takes up too much room.

Furthermore, the lamp-head angle can also be fully adjusted using its ball joint.

Thanks to torque springs and friction control, all movement is extremely precise. More importantly, the lamp does not droop  but remains in position.

Lighting

Having a lamp that would look equally great in an architect’s studio, swanky loft apartment, or in the office is all very well and good, but what about those lighting skills?

The LED lighting itself (18 watts worth) is flicker-free, dimmable, and adjustable in both colour temperature (between 2700K and 5700K) and brightness.

The lamp head’s unique curved shape provides a 35-inch illumination range, which is 150% wider than many regular reading lamps.

The lamp’s LED panel has a stated 50,000 hour lifespan. That works out to using the lamp for 8 hours a day, for 17 years. In other words, you won’t have to replace the lamp for a very long time.

All of this together is designed to support different types of reading. The cool light is to focus and warmer when you wish to relax.

Control

The BenQ WiT lamp has two controls. The chrome ring on the end and the dial on top.

The ring is a touch control that toggles power just by touching it.

Twisting the knob adjusts the brightness level in brightness mode or changes the colour temperature from cold to warm while in colour temperature mode. To switch between modes, simply press down on the dial and you’ll feel it click.

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However, the ring has one more function in addition to toggling power. If you touch and hold the ring, a green LED will light up.

This puts the lamp into Eye-Care Mode which sets the brightness level based on the ambient light automagically. This sets the light so that it’s brighter on the sides (up to 1800 LUX) and darker in the middle section, reducing screen reflection and contrast glare. Perfect for screen work/e-reading.

In use

I have had the WiT in my little office area, as well as in the living-room.

As a focus lamp in the living-room it is great. Being able to control the brightness and temperature, as well as positioning, means that one person can read whilst the other watches a film without arguing about the lights.

Of course, it is when using screens that the WiT shines or, rather, doesn’t.

The ambient sensor really does work to reduce screen glare. I found that it was comfortable to work under with my keyboard illuminated whilst my screen did not suffer with reflections and glare as would normally be the case with a desk lamp.

Also, the WiT looks so damn cool and contemporary.

BenQ WiT lamp review conclusion

The WiT is an extremely good-looking desk lamp, in my opinion.

Its aluminium and zinc alloy construction is sleek and gives off a premium vibe.

I love the design touches such as being able to get it in white with a silver head (as reviewed), as well as with heads in gold, pink, blue, or green. That braided cloth-wrapped power cord which is visible winding its way from the power adapter through the arms to the lighting module are also colour coded. This just adds to the WiT’s designer credentials.

Furthermore, the lamp does as it promises. Screen glare is greatly reduced as is eye-strain and fatigue.

My only gripe, which is extremely tiny, is that the touch sensitive ring is very sensitive. The amount of times I accidentally turned the lamp off when using the adjustment dial is innumerable. But, that might be just because I’m a big-handed klutz.

I really do like how the WiT looks and performs and have no qualms in recommending it to designers, architects, gamers and e-reader users alike. The price might seem excessive but I’ve seen similarly-priced lamps with less to offer.

However, if you like the design but are in the market for something smaller, the WiT Genie might be better suited. Amazon UK seems to only be currently listing it has a holding page though.

BenQ WiT lamp price and availability

You can get kitted out with your own WiT right now for £178 from Amazon.

It is available in 5 different colourways: Blue, Red, Silver, Green, Gold.

The post BenQ WiT desk lamp review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

BenQ has announced their new ZOWIE XL2546 monitor with Dynamic Accuracy (DyAc). This promises to provide PC gamers with another option to suit their personal preferences.

Since its release in Dec. 2016, the XL2540 has become the monitor of choice for tournaments. These include such competitions as the ESL Pro League Season 5, ESL ONE Cologne, PGL, DreamHack Open Series and other tournaments with competitive FPS titles.

Now there’s a new and improved version of the 24.5-inch e-Sports monitor.

ZOWIE XL2546

The fresh XL2546 has the same increased smoothness that was introduced in the XL2540 but with the addition of DyAc. The latter tech provides increased movement clarity in-game.

This means that actions with vigorous screen movement, such as spraying of weapons, will benefit most from DyAcTM as being able to see more clearly can help with recoil control.

Like the XL2540, the benefits of the XL2546 and its native 240Hz refresh rate can be fully activated when the computer generates over 240 frames per second(FPS). With that in mind you’ll need a system that can provide that kind of performance.

It’s recommended that you’re kitted out with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 or better. Alternatively, an AMD Radeon RX 480 or better.

The ZOWIE XL2546 with DyAc will make its tournament debut at DreamHack Atlanta 2017 where it has been selected as the official monitor.

You can experience it first hand if you drop by the ZOWIE booth at DreamHack Atlanta from July 21st to 23rd.

The post ZOWIE XL2546 240Hz e-Sports monitor packs DyAc smoothness appeared first on GadgetyNews.