BenQ HT3050 vs Optoma HD131Xe review

Key points of BenQ HT3050 vs Optoma HD131Xe opposition

BenQ HT3050 – a perfect indoor projector for movies

BenQ HT3050I’ve come up with the idea to compare BenQ HT3050 vs Optoma HD131Xe projectors. BenQ’s HT3050 stereo sound and Cinematic Color Rec. 709 picture quality have stricken me right away. So, it looks like a perfect combination of the picture and the sound of high quality at reasonable price. However, not everything is perfect, 3D glasses are not included, moreover, not all models suit this projector, only DLP-Link glasses are required.

BenQ HT3050 PROS:
  • Not all projectors have the vertical lens shift, I’m glad that this one has and I don’t need to remove it to adjust the picture.
  • It can project on window screen for holiday illumination for example; I have tried its capabilities of projecting on the back of a screen.
  • The stereo sound is massive. The 20W speakers do their job and sound like in a cinema.
  • I’ve been glad to discover that it has a faster color wheel than most DLP models, thus this 6X color wheel causes less rainbow effect.
BenQ HT3050 CONS:
  • Setup process drives me crazy because the info is divided between the remote control and the settings.
  • Be ready for additional spending because it doesn’t have a built-in tuner for watching TV. I couldn’t connect a cable straight to the projector.
  • Lag time is about 50 ms, which is not great for games, at least hardcore ones.
  • It’s noticeably heavy, so I don’t plan to take it at work or even outdoor for evening movie watching.

Optoma HD131Xe – an extremely quick projector for live streams

Optoma HD131XeWhen I have been checking up Optoma HD131Xe vs BenQ HT3050 I didn’t expect that Optoma HD131Xe could impress me greatly but unexpectedly it did! Its 17ms input lag time is an excellent result for serious gaming and live broadcasts streaming.

Optoma HD131Xe PROS:
  • The keystone adjustment solves the problem with setting a beam directly in the middle of a screen that firstly has been directed forward and up.
  • It works pleasantly quite equally on ECO and Bright Modes, so it doesn’t distract from watching. Also, Eco Mode makes brightness more distinct.
  • Contrast ratio 18000:1 works off its cost completely – the contrast between dark and bright colors is drastic.
  • I’ve chosen "Brilliant color" Mode for more colors because it visibly enhances the secondary colors.
Optoma HD131Xe CONS:
  • I’ve noticed that images have some noise, especially in the transition from dark to light areas.
  • The darker black level is not intense and the lamp power is weak, so the picture has less nuanced shades of light.
  • ​It needs additional adjustment because it focuses on the top and the bottom is blurred.
  • Projector heats up quickly and at least one time in an hour it requires rest to cool down.
  • It doesn’t have an image size adjust in setup, so each time I have to change its position to fix a picture’s size.

Do you still have some questions about Optoma HD131Xe vs BenQ HT3050?

Optoma HD131Xe is brighter in comparison to BenQ HT3050 (2500 versus 2000 lumens), but BenQ HT3050 has twice powerful speakers (20 vs 10W). BenQ HT3050 has lower contrast ratio (15000:1 versus 18000:1), while Optoma HD131Xe has weaker lamp type (195 vs 240 W).

Before buying pay attention to BenQ’s HT3050 stereo sound and Optoma’s HD131Xe black margins around the image, but it’s not a great flaw, you will probably get to it soon.

For more practical experience info, check out more of my reviews of these models.

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Common

Product

BenQ HT3050
Optoma HD131Xe

Model

HT3050
HD131Xe

Brand

BenQ
Optoma

Rating

4.5

Reviews

319

Translation properties

Projection system

DLP
DLP

Native resolution

1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080

Aspect ratio

16:9
16:9

Pixel number

8300000
1024000

Brightness

2000 lumens
2500 lumens

Color reproduction

1.07 billion
1.07 billion

Contrast ratio

15000:1
18000:1

Throw ratio range

1.15 - 1.5
1.5 - 1.8

Lamp

Lamp type

240 W
195 W

Lamp life

Normal mode

3500
3500

Eco mode

5000
6000

Lens

F-number

2.59 - 2.87
2.55 - 2.86

Focal length

16.88 - 21.88 mm
22.37 - 26.73 mm

Lens shift

Vertical +- 10%

Zoom ratio

1.0 - 1.3
1.0 - 1.2

Interface

HDMI

3
1

D-sub 15pin

1
1

Composite video (RCA)

1
1

Audio L/R (RCA)

1
1

Audio out (Mini Jack)

1
1

USB (Type A)

1
has not

USB (Type mini-B)

1
1

RS232 (DB-9pin)

1
1

Sound

Integrated speaker

Speaker power

20 W
10 W

Sound type

stereo
mono

Resolution support

640 x 480

1024 x 768

1280 x 800

1400 x 1050

1920 x 1080

Video compatibility

NTSC

PAL

SECAM

3D

Settings

Keystone correction manual

Horizontal +- 30 degrees
Vertical +- 40 degrees

Keystone correction auto

Vertical +- 30 degrees

Operating distance

19 ft
19 ft

Security functions

Audible noise

Normal mode

29 dBA

Eco mode

27 dBA
26 dBA

Operating temperature

Min

5 C
5 C

Max

35 C
40 C

Features

Color

white
black

Wireless

Remote control

Mouse functions

Warranty

1 Year
1 Year

Dimensions

Product size

11.7 x 9.2 x 3.2 inches
12.7 x 9.2 x 3.8 inches

Product weight

8.1 pounds
6.4 pounds

BenQ HT3050 overview

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