When it comes to creating a home theater experience, Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors have revolutionized what's possible. Today, we're comparing two popular options: the BenQ V5010i ($2,499) and the Formovie Theater ($2,999). Both offer impressive features, but they serve different needs and budgets.
Before diving into the comparison, let's understand what makes UST projectors special. Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far from the screen, UST projectors can create large images from just inches away. This means you can place them in a TV console and still get a massive picture - often 100 inches or larger.
Both projectors use laser technology, but there's a key difference. The Formovie Theater employs a triple laser system (using separate red, green, and blue lasers), while the BenQ V5010i uses a single laser with color wheels. This difference affects both image quality and price.
The Formovie Theater's triple laser system produces noticeably better colors, covering an impressive 107% of the Rec.2020 color space (which is the standard used for 4K content). In practical terms, this means more vivid and accurate colors, especially noticeable in nature documentaries or animated films.
The BenQ V5010i isn't far behind, offering 95% of BT.2020 coverage. For most viewers, this difference might not be dramatic, but cinema enthusiasts will appreciate the Formovie's edge.
Brightness is another key factor:
Both are bright enough for most rooms, but the Formovie has a slight advantage in well-lit spaces.
Both projectors support HDR (High Dynamic Range), which enhances contrast and color in compatible content. The Formovie Theater includes support for Dolby Vision, which is a more advanced form of HDR that adjusts picture settings scene-by-scene. The BenQ handles HDR10, which is still excellent but not quite as sophisticated.
If you're a gamer, you'll be interested in input lag (the time between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen). Both projectors offer good gaming performance:
The Formovie Theater runs Android TV 11, offering built-in streaming apps and Google Assistant integration. The BenQ V5010i also has smart features but uses a more basic system. Both support:
Here's where we see a significant difference:
The Formovie Theater includes a premium 30W Bowers & Wilkins sound system with Dolby Atmos support. It's one of the best built-in audio systems I've heard in a projector, often eliminating the need for a separate soundbar.
The BenQ V5010i offers a 40W system (dual 5W tweeters and dual 15W woofers) that's good but not quite at the same level of sophistication.
Both projectors are designed for easy setup, but there are differences:
The BenQ V5010i offers excellent value at $2,499, while the Formovie Theater justifies its $2,999 price with superior performance. Both use laser light sources rated for approximately 20,000 hours of use - that's about 10 years of typical viewing.
Consider these factors:
In my experience testing both projectors, the Formovie Theater edges out the BenQ in pure performance, but the BenQ offers better value for most users. Here's how they perform in different scenarios:
Both perform well, but:
Consider these key questions:
Both the BenQ V5010i and Formovie Theater are excellent UST projectors, but they serve different needs. The Formovie Theater is the technical winner with better color reproduction, contrast, and audio, making it ideal for dedicated home theater enthusiasts. The BenQ V5010i offers tremendous value and easier setup, perfect for users wanting to upgrade from a TV to a projector without breaking the bank.
For most users, I recommend the BenQ V5010i unless you specifically need the Formovie Theater's premium features. Both will provide years of enjoyable big-screen entertainment, and either one represents a significant upgrade from traditional TV viewing.
| BenQ V5010i ($2,499) | Formovie Theater ($2,999) |
|---|---|
| Light Source Technology - Affects color accuracy and longevity | |
| Single laser with color wheel | Triple laser RGB (superior color reproduction) |
| Brightness - Critical for room versatility and HDR impact | |
| 2,500 ANSI lumens | 2,800 ANSI lumens |
| Color Gamut - Determines how vibrant and accurate colors appear | |
| 95% BT.2020 (very good) | 107% Rec.2020 (exceptional) |
| Built-in Audio - Important if not using external speakers | |
| 40W system (dual 5W tweeters, dual 15W woofers) | 30W Bowers & Wilkins with Dolby Atmos (superior quality) |
| HDR Support - Affects contrast and color in modern content | |
| HDR10, HDR10+ | HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ (more formats) |
| Gaming Features - Critical for responsive gaming | |
| ALLM, ~20ms input lag | ALLM, MEMC, <16ms input lag (better for gaming) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use and streaming | |
| Basic smart system | Android TV 11 with full app store |
| Maximum Screen Size - Determines ultimate viewing potential | |
| Up to 120 inches | Up to 150 inches |
| Installation Flexibility - Important for room setup | |
| Better auto-alignment features, easier setup | More precise manual adjustments, better long-term stability |
| Value Proposition - What you get for the money | |
| Better value for casual users, bright rooms | Worth extra cost for dedicated home theater, superior color |
The Formovie Theater ($2,999) is superior for dedicated home theater spaces due to its better contrast, more accurate colors, and superior HDR handling. The triple laser system provides noticeably better picture quality in controlled lighting conditions.
Both perform well in ambient light, but the BenQ V5010i ($2,499) handles bright rooms slightly better despite its lower lumens rating, thanks to its optimized brightness processing.
The BenQ V5010i offers better value for casual users, while the Formovie Theater justifies its higher price with superior performance and features for enthusiasts.
The Formovie Theater's 30W Bowers & Wilkins sound system is excellent for most users, while the BenQ's 40W system is good but may benefit from external speakers for the best home theater experience.
Both support ALLM, but the Formovie Theater has slightly better input lag and additional gaming features like MEMC, making it the better choice for serious gamers.
Both are ultra-short-throw projectors requiring similar placement, typically 4-15 inches from the wall depending on desired screen size, with the BenQ V5010i having slightly more flexible positioning.
The Formovie Theater offers superior picture quality with better color accuracy (107% Rec.2020) compared to the BenQ's 95% BT.2020, though both provide excellent 4K resolution.
Both use laser light sources rated for approximately 20,000 hours, equivalent to about 10 years of typical use, with no lamp replacement needed.
The BenQ V5010i has better automatic alignment features and is generally easier to set up, while the Formovie Theater requires more precise manual adjustment but offers more fine-tuning options.
Yes, both projectors can effectively replace a TV, offering 100+ inch screens with smart features and streaming capabilities, though the Formovie Theater has a more comprehensive Android TV system.
While both work on white walls, an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen is recommended for optimal performance, especially important for the BenQ V5010i in bright rooms.
Both handle motion well, but the Formovie Theater has superior motion processing with MEMC technology, making it slightly better for fast-moving sports content, while the BenQ V5010i still performs admirably for most viewers.
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: projectorscreenstore.com - projectorreviews.com - thesmarthomehookup.com - lbtechreviews.com - youtube.com - benq.com - projectorscreen.com - projectorcentral.com - visunext.co.uk - fonearena.com - projektoren-datenbank.com - benq.com - techradar.com - projectorcentral.com - rtings.com - formovie.com - projectorreviews.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorscreen.com - projectorcentral.com - nothingprojector.com - formovie.com
