VIDEO TEST BenQ GS50: Hands on with the Splashproof Portable Projector
- 01 Nov, 2022
The BenQ GS50 is currently available for pre-order only, estimated stock arrival is March 2022. Here is a list of alternatives instead:
When you first open the packaging of the new ultra portable Benq GS50 projector, it’s a pleasantly surprising experiencing compared to other projector models we have seen in the past.
Read on for a hands on VIDEO review of the BenQ GS50.
The GS50 projector is an extremely well thought out model and full of surprises with a soft carry case and even an Android 4k dongle.
The first impression of the GS50 is striking with its really funky outdoor design. In fact it wont look out of place on any staycation and will be perfect for camping, caravanning or any kind of outdoor activities / party. We can see this projector being used everywhere from indoors to hot tub parties since its also IPX2 splashproof and drop proof.
BenQ have thought long and hard about the design of this projector and have gone to great lengths to hide all the ports to ensure its waterproofed and sealed. In fact its one of the best we’ve seen with its rugged casing combined with soft rubber.
The remote is also a high end design with Google assistant AND Amazon Prime buttons and voice control.
Image quality is exceptional on both battery and mains power with great colours and high brightness levels with HDR10 & HLG, 500 ansi lumens and native Full HD at 1080p.
Sound quality whilst not quite as rich as say a portable Bose speaker, its still great high performance sound with 2.1 channel Bluetooth speaker and extra bass so you’ll never have to swap it out for an external speaker.
It also means you can use the handy Bluetooth button on the top of the projector to connect to your phone to stream music so its great for parties in the garden or for use on-the-go.
One slightly disappointing thing is the rather large power pack which is not as portable as we d like to see however its fairly normal with a projector with this high output level.
Connection options
It has a built in pop-out tripod stand as well as a standard tripod slot underneath. However at at 2.3kg its going to need a professional sturdy tripod if connecting one as a mini tripod wont cut it for this size model.
The GS50 comes also with a separate 4k streaming dongle for a better wireless mirroring experience. With inbuilt streaming there is no need to even connect to your phone (although you still can). The dongle neatly sits inside the GS50 casing tucked away from damage or dirt. You can swap it to another TV dongle of your choice such as Firestick, Roku, Nvidia etc making the GS50 more future proof / upgradeable.
Everything is beautifully designed when it comes to connections, with seals everywhere cleverly concealing all the ports and dongles. Its perfect for outdoors or the more accident prone amongst us.
It even has an easy grip handle on the side
Setting Options
When you first turn on the projector it may appear a little dim so the first thing to do is to change the factory settings as they maybe setup for eco (battery) mode. The image is far better when Picture Mode is changed and the brightness is wacked up.
We would also turn AUTO FOCUS off as it can be annoying if it constantly focuses but the GS50 does offer sensitivity settings here to make it a more useful feature.
Keystone correction on the Benq GS50 benefits from 4 Corner keystone correction fit which will certainly come in handy if your table or walls are not flat.
As usual with the latest ultra portable projectors they come pre-installed with an APP STORE and different apps can be downloaded and pre installed such as YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and more.
SCREEN MIRRORING is also made easy on this model and it even separates out iPhone, Android and Laptops for easy one-click connection.
The GS50 projector has the latest SMART TV with Android 9 on and we found it really easy to use.
Overall Verdict Benq GS50 Ultra Portable Projector
What makes this projector stand out, is not only is it one of the highest specs of any portable projector on the market today with its Android 9 interface, USB C, 500 ansi lumens and native Full HD, but also its well thought out design.
The GS50 has all the key features for outdoor or indoor projection offering a powerful built in battery whilst being splashproof and droproof.
The only downside we can see apart from the bulky power supply is that some people may consider this to be a bit too big for a portable projector at 2.3kg and 19 x 15 x 15cm. However it does have excellent speakers in-built but they weigh a lot. Arguably if you have a portable external speaker already you may be better off with a model without the speakers in a smaller format but if you are looking for an all-in-one solution with great speakers, look no further than the new Benq GS50.
