Gaming Projector Buying Guide: Input Lag, 120 Hz and Throw Distance (2026)

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A 100-inch picture costs far less with a projector than with a TV. For gaming, though, projectors were long a poor choice because many home cinema models add noticeable delay. Today there are models with very low input lag and, in some cases, 240 Hz. This guide explains which spec sheet numbers matter, how far the projector has to sit from the wall, and which five models are currently available on Amazon.de.

Transparency: We have not tested these projectors ourselves. All technical details come from BenQ spec sheets and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (as of October 2026). We calculated the screen distances from the manufacturer's throw ratio. We don't list prices because they change constantly.

Projector or TV?

A projector makes sense if you want a very large picture and can darken the room. A good gaming TV needs no distance from the wall and handles 4K at 120 Hz with VRR on PS5 and Xbox. None of the projectors in this guide can do that: according to BenQ's spec sheets, none of them supports 4K at 120 Hz. BenQ also doesn't list VRR in the specs of any of the five models.

If you mostly play competitively, a gaming monitor or a gaming TV is the better fit. For racing, sports and story games or couch co-op with friends, a projector is a real alternative.

Key criteria

1. Input lag in game mode

Input lag is the time between the console's signal and the finished image. BenQ says pure home cinema projectors can exceed 40 ms and recommends gaming models that reach about 16 ms at 4K 60 Hz. According to their spec sheets, the models in this guide range from 4.2 ms (1080p at 240 Hz) to 16.7 ms (4K or 1080p at 60 Hz).

Important: the low figures only apply in the projector's game mode. On the TK705 series, ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) switches to that mode automatically when the console launches a game, according to BenQ.

2. Resolution and refresh rate

There are two camps:

What the projector supports	Good for	Examples below
4K at 60 Hz plus 1080p at 120/240 Hz	console and PC, fast high-frame-rate games	BenQ X3100i, BenQ TK710
4K at up to 60 Hz	story games, racing games, movies	BenQ TK705i, BenQ TK705STi
1080p at 60 Hz	entry level, couch gaming	BenQ TH575i

PS5 and Xbox Series X output up to 120 Hz, so only a gaming PC can use 240 Hz. On the X3100i and TK710, BenQ says a 1440p 120 Hz signal is downscaled to 1080p at 120 Hz.

3. Throw distance and throw ratio

The throw ratio tells you how far the projector has to be from the screen: distance = ratio × image width. A 100-inch 16:9 image is about 2.21 m (87 in) wide. That gives these distances:

Model	Throw ratio (per BenQ)	Distance for 100 in (calculated)
BenQ TK705STi	0.8 (short throw, fixed zoom)	approx. 1.8 m
BenQ TK705i	1.0 to 1.3 (1.3x zoom)	approx. 2.2 to 2.9 m
BenQ X3100i	1.15 to 1.5 (1.3x zoom)	approx. 2.5 to 3.3 m
BenQ TK710	1.15 to 1.5 (1.3x zoom)	approx. 2.5 to 3.3 m
BenQ TH575i	1.49 to 1.64 (1.1x zoom)	approx. 3.3 to 3.6 m

In small rooms, a short-throw projector is the easiest option. Otherwise a projector on the coffee table may end up in your way. In the TK710 manual, BenQ recommends testing distance and image size with the actual unit before mounting it permanently.

4. Brightness and the room

Brightness is listed in ANSI lumens. BenQ recommends at least 1,500 ANSI lumens for gaming and HDR, and more for bright rooms. All five models below are rated between 3,000 and 3,800 ANSI lumens. Even so, the darker the room, the better the contrast and black levels.

5. Light source: lamp, LED or laser

Light source	Life per BenQ (normal mode)	Model below
Lamp	6,000 hours	TH575i
4LED	20,000 hours	TK705i, TK705STi, X3100i
Laser	20,000 hours	TK710

With a lamp you will eventually have to buy a replacement. LED and laser last much longer, according to the manufacturer.

6. Connections and sound

Make sure there are enough HDMI inputs for all your devices, plus eARC if audio should go to a soundbar or receiver. The built-in speakers are small (5 to 16 watts per BenQ). For better sound, see our gaming soundbar buying guide. Connect the console with a certified cable; more on that in the HDMI 2.1 cable buying guide.

Five example projectors

Example model

Console and PC at 240 Hz: BenQ X3100i

4K projector with a 4LED light source and 3,300 ANSI lumens. BenQ lists 4.2 ms input lag at 1080p 240 Hz, 8.3 ms at 1080p 120 Hz and 16.7 ms at 4K 60 Hz. It also has 40 to 60% vertical lens shift, 1.3x zoom, two HDMI 2.0b inputs, eARC with Dolby Atmos and an Android TV dongle in the box. At 6.8 kg it is the heaviest unit here. Sold and shipped by visunext Deutschland, only a few left in stock (checked October 2026).

Resolution / light: 4K UHD, 4LED, 3,300 ANSI lumens
Input lag: 4.2 ms (1080p/240 Hz), 16.7 ms (4K/60 Hz)
Throw ratio: 1.15 to 1.5
HDMI: 2 × HDMI 2.0b, eARC

A good fit if you connect a PC and a console, want high frame rates and need flexible placement thanks to lens shift.

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Example model

Laser light source: BenQ TK710

4K projector with a laser and 3,200 ANSI lumens. Same latency figures as the X3100i per BenQ: 4.2 ms at 1080p 240 Hz, 8.3 ms at 1080p 120 Hz, 16.7 ms at 4K 60 Hz. BenQ says it throws a 100-inch image from about 2.5 m. Two HDMI 2.0b inputs, eARC with Dolby Atmos, a 5-watt speaker, +10% vertical lens shift, 3.0 kg. BenQ lists no smart TV system, so you will need your own streaming stick. Sold and shipped by visunext Deutschland, in stock (checked October 2026).

Resolution / light: 4K UHD, laser, 3,200 ANSI lumens
Input lag: 4.2 ms (1080p/240 Hz), 16.7 ms (4K/60 Hz)
Throw ratio: 1.15 to 1.5
HDMI: 2 × HDMI 2.0b, eARC

A good fit if you want low input lag and prefer a laser light source.

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Example model

For small rooms: BenQ TK705STi

Short-throw projector with a 0.8 throw ratio: a 100-inch image needs only about 1.8 m by calculation. 4K, 4LED, 3,000 ANSI lumens, and BenQ lists 5 ms input lag at 1080p, 1440p (output as 1080p) and 4K, all at 60 Hz. It cannot go above 60 Hz. It also has two HDMI 2.1 inputs with ALLM, eARC, a USB-C port delivering up to 30 W for charging (for example a Switch or Steam Deck), built-in Google TV and 2 × 8 W speakers. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Resolution / light: 4K UHD, 4LED, 3,000 ANSI lumens
Input lag: 5 ms (4K/60 Hz)
Throw ratio: 0.8 (fixed)
HDMI: 2 × HDMI 2.1, ALLM, eARC

A good fit if your room is small and you mainly play at 60 Hz.

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Example model

Same tech, standard throw: BenQ TK705i

Technically the same as the TK705STi (4K, 4LED, 3,000 ANSI lumens, 5 ms at 4K 60 Hz, HDMI 2.1 with ALLM, eARC, 30 W USB-C, Google TV), but with 1.3x zoom and a 1.0 to 1.3 throw ratio. That suits setups where the projector sits behind the couch or hangs from the ceiling. BenQ rates it at 26 dBA in normal mode and 24 dBA in eco mode. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Resolution / light: 4K UHD, 4LED, 3,000 ANSI lumens
Input lag: 5 ms (4K/60 Hz)
Throw ratio: 1.0 to 1.3 (1.3x zoom)
HDMI: 2 × HDMI 2.1, ALLM, eARC

A good fit if you have more distance to the screen and play games and watch movies at 60 Hz.

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Example model

Full HD entry point: BenQ TH575i

1080p projector with a lamp and 3,800 ANSI lumens, the brightest here. BenQ lists 16.7 ms input lag at 1080p 60 Hz, one HDMI 1.4a input, a 10 W speaker and 1.1x zoom. According to the Amazon listing, a Google TV dongle is included. A 100-inch image needs 3.3 to 3.6 m by calculation, so it suits larger rooms. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Resolution / light: 1080p, lamp, 3,800 ANSI lumens
Input lag: 16.7 ms (1080p/60 Hz)
Throw ratio: 1.49 to 1.64
HDMI: 1 × HDMI 1.4a

A good fit if you want a budget way into big-screen gaming and Full HD is enough.

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How to set up console and projector

Place the projector square to the screen. Keystone correction reshapes the image digitally, while lens shift (X3100i, TK710) moves it optically.
Connect the console directly to the projector and send audio to the soundbar via eARC.
Pick a game mode on the projector (on BenQ, for example FPS or RPG). On the TK705 series, ALLM handles this.
Console: BenQ notes that consoles on automatic output prioritize 120 Hz over 4K. On the X3100i or TK710 you then get 1080p at 120 Hz. If you want 4K at 60 Hz, set the console output to 2160p at 60 Hz manually.
Keep projector and console firmware up to date.

Quick checklist before buying

Measure the distance to the screen and compare it with the throw ratio.
Input lag in game mode: no more than about 16 ms at 4K 60 Hz.
Need 120 Hz? Then choose a model with 1080p@120.
Enough HDMI inputs, plus eARC for the soundbar.
Make sure you can darken the room.

For a couch-friendly gamepad, see the gaming controller buying guide.

FAQ

Is a projector too slow for gaming?

Not necessarily. The models here range from 4.2 to 16.7 ms input lag in game mode according to BenQ. Older or pure home cinema projectors can exceed 40 ms, BenQ says.

Can a projector do 4K at 120 Hz from a PS5 or Xbox?

None of the projectors in this guide. The X3100i and TK710 reach 120 Hz at 1080p, the TK705 series only 60 Hz.

What is 240 Hz good for?

Only a gaming PC benefits, because PS5 and Xbox Series X output up to 120 Hz. BenQ lists the X3100i's lowest input lag of 4.2 ms at 1080p 240 Hz.

How far from the wall does the projector need to be?

Distance = throw ratio × image width. For a 100-inch image (about 2.21 m wide) that is roughly 1.8 m with the TK705STi and 3.3 to 3.6 m with the TH575i.

Are the built-in speakers enough?

To start with, yes, but at 5 to 16 watts per BenQ their output is limited. A soundbar via eARC sounds much fuller.

Sources

As of October 2026. Technical details come from BenQ and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (ASINs in the text):

* Ad link: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to Amazon.de – the price stays the same for you.