If you're looking to create a home theater experience that rivals or surpasses what you'd get at the movies, you might be considering an ultra short throw (UST) projector. Let's compare two of the most compelling options available today: the BenQ V5000i ($3,499) and the Formovie Theater ($2,999).
Before diving into the specifics, let's talk about what makes UST projectors special. Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far from the screen, UST projectors can create massive images from just inches away. This means you can place them in a TV console rather than mounting them on the ceiling or placing them behind your seating area.
The technology has come a long way in recent years. Both projectors we're looking at use triple laser technology - think of it as having three separate colored lasers (red, green, and blue) working together to create incredibly accurate colors. This is a huge improvement over older lamp-based projectors or even single-laser systems.
The BenQ V5000i was released in mid-2023, while the Formovie Theater arrived slightly earlier. Both represent the latest generation of home theater projectors, offering features that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.
Both projectors deliver 4K resolution, which means 3840 x 2160 pixels - four times the detail of standard HD. But resolution is just the beginning. Here's where things get interesting:
The Formovie Theater boasts an impressive 107% coverage of the Rec.2020 color space (think of this as the total range of colors it can display). This is actually higher than what many professional cinema projectors can achieve. The BenQ V5000i, while still excellent, covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is slightly smaller.
In terms of brightness:
While the Formovie has a slight edge in brightness, both are plenty bright for most home theater setups. You'll only notice the difference if you're watching in a room with significant ambient light.
This is where the BenQ V5000i really shines. With an input lag of just 17.9ms (the time between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen), it's one of the more responsive UST projectors available. It also supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically switches to game mode when it detects a gaming console.
The Formovie Theater supports gaming too, but it's clear gaming wasn't the primary focus in its design. While it supports ALLM, its input lag specifications aren't prominently advertised, which usually indicates they're not as competitive.
Both projectors run on Android TV, giving you access to most major streaming services. However, there are some differences in their implementation:
The additional HDMI 2.1 ports on the Formovie might matter if you're planning to connect multiple next-gen gaming consoles or other high-bandwidth devices.
Sound quality often gets overlooked in projector discussions, but it's crucial for the overall experience. The BenQ V5000i features a 40W Trevolo sound system, while the Formovie Theater includes a 30W Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Both support Dolby Atmos, but in my experience, you'll still want to pair either with a dedicated sound system for the best home theater experience.
Both projectors can create a 100-inch image from roughly 8-9 inches away from the wall. This is incredibly convenient for most home setups. However, there are some differences in their adjustment capabilities:
The BenQ offers more flexible image adjustment options, which can be helpful if your installation isn't perfectly aligned. The Formovie is slightly more particular about placement but offers excellent picture quality once properly positioned.
At $2,999, the Formovie Theater represents excellent value, especially considering its superior color coverage and brightness. The BenQ V5000i at $3,499 asks for a $500 premium but justifies it with better gaming features and more refined image processing.
In my experience setting up home theaters, the room itself often determines which projector will work better. If you can't control ambient light completely, the Formovie's extra brightness might be crucial. Conversely, if you're creating a dedicated theater room, the BenQ's superior contrast might be more noticeable.
Both projectors represent remarkable achievements in home theater technology. They deliver picture quality that would have cost many times more just a few years ago, and their ultra-short-throw design makes them practical for many homes where traditional projectors wouldn't work.
For pure home theater use, the Formovie Theater offers slightly better value and picture quality. However, if you're planning a mixed-use setup that includes gaming, the BenQ V5000i might be worth the extra investment.
Remember that either projector will need a proper screen for the best results - preferably an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen designed for UST projectors. This can add $500-1,500 to your total cost but is essential for optimal performance.
Whichever you choose, you'll be getting a projector that can create a truly cinema-quality experience in your home. The decision ultimately comes down to your specific needs and how you plan to use it most often.
| BenQ V5000i $3,499 | Formovie Theater $2,999 |
|---|---|
| Color Gamut - Determines how rich and accurate colors appear | |
| 98% DCI-P3, 95% BT.2020 | 107% Rec.2020 (notably better) |
| Brightness - Critical for rooms with ambient light | |
| 2,500 ANSI lumens | 2,800 ANSI lumens (slight advantage) |
| Gaming Performance - Important for responsive gameplay | |
| 17.9ms input lag, ALLM support (excellent) | Basic ALLM support, unspecified lag (not optimized) |
| Sound System - Built-in audio quality for those not using external speakers | |
| 40W Trevolo speakers (better) | 30W Bowers & Wilkins |
| HDR Support - Affects contrast and dynamic range | |
| HDR10+, HDR10, HLG with dynamic tone mapping | HDR10+, Dolby Vision (wider format support) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use and streaming | |
| Android TV 11, built-in streaming | Android TV 11, Netflix certified |
| Throw Ratio - Determines how close to wall needed | |
| 0.25:1 (100" from 8.2") | 0.23:1 (100" from 7.8") |
| Connections - Important for future-proofing | |
| 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0 | 3x HDMI 2.1 (better) |
| Value Proposition - Overall price to performance | |
| Higher price, better gaming focus | Better value for pure home theater use |
The Formovie Theater has a slight edge in picture quality with its superior 107% Rec.2020 color gamut coverage compared to the BenQ V5000i's 98% DCI-P3. For movie viewing in a dedicated home theater, the Formovie Theater's better color reproduction makes it the stronger choice.
The BenQ V5000i is significantly better for gaming with its 17.9ms input lag and dedicated gaming features. The Formovie Theater isn't optimized for gaming, making the BenQ the clear choice for gamers.
The Formovie Theater outputs 2,800 ANSI lumens while the BenQ V5000i delivers 2,500 ANSI lumens. Both are bright enough for most home theater setups, but the Formovie has a slight advantage in rooms with ambient light.
At $2,999, the Formovie Theater offers better value for pure home theater use, while the BenQ V5000i at $3,499 justifies its higher price with gaming features and better built-in audio.
Yes, both projectors perform best with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen specifically designed for UST projectors. This is essential for optimal picture quality and contrast.
Both run Android TV 11, but the Formovie Theater has better streaming app support with Netflix certification. The BenQ V5000i offers similar functionality but may require external streaming devices for some apps.
Both projectors can display a 100-inch image from about 8 inches from the wall, with the Formovie Theater being slightly more space-efficient with a 0.23:1 throw ratio versus BenQ's 0.25:1.
The BenQ V5000i has a more powerful 40W Trevolo sound system compared to the Formovie's 30W Bowers & Wilkins speakers, though both benefit from an external sound system for true home theater audio.
Yes, both the Formovie Theater and BenQ V5000i support true 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) with HDR capabilities.
The Formovie Theater has a slight advantage with its higher 2,800 ANSI lumens brightness, making it marginally better for rooms with ambient light.
Both use triple laser technology rated for approximately 20,000 hours of use, which equals about 10 years of viewing at 5.5 hours per day.
The Formovie Theater offers better connectivity with three HDMI 2.1 ports, while the BenQ V5000i has one HDMI 2.1 and two HDMI 2.0 ports.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: projectorscreen.com - projectorscreen.com - avsforum.com - techradar.com - projectorreviews.com - projectorcentral.com - digitaltrends.com - digitaltrends.com - ooberpad.com - techradar.com - projectorcentral.com - rtings.com - formovie.com - projectorreviews.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorscreen.com - projectorcentral.com - nothingprojector.com - formovie.com
