The world of high-end home theater has been revolutionized by ultra short throw (UST) projectors, which can create massive screens while sitting just inches from your wall. Today, we'll compare two leading options: the Samsung Premiere 9 ($5,999) and the BenQ V5010i ($9,999).
UST technology has come a long way in recent years. While traditional projectors need significant distance from the screen, these modern marvels can create a 100-inch image from just inches away. This development has made serious home theater setups possible in almost any room.
The Samsung Premiere 9 launched in August 2024, bringing some impressive innovations to the category. Meanwhile, the BenQ V5010i represents the professional-grade approach to UST projection. Both units showcase how far the technology has advanced, but they take different paths to excellence.
One of the biggest challenges for any projector is competing with ambient light. The Samsung's 3,450 ISO lumens significantly outperform the BenQ's 2,500 ANSI lumens. While these measurements use different standards (ISO vs ANSI), the real-world difference is noticeable - the Samsung maintains vivid images even with some lights on, while the BenQ performs best in controlled lighting.
This is where things get interesting. Samsung's triple laser technology uses separate red, green, and blue lasers to create colors, eliminating the need for a color wheel (a spinning disc that traditional projectors use to create colors). This results in exceptionally vibrant colors covering 154% of the DCI-P3 color space - the standard used for digital cinema.
The BenQ takes a more calibrated approach, focusing on accuracy over vibrancy. It covers 98% of DCI-P3, which is still excellent, but prioritizes color precision over maximum saturation. For movie purists, this might actually be preferable.
Both projectors use laser light sources, which can be dimmed precisely for better black levels than traditional lamp projectors. The BenQ edges out slightly in absolute black level performance, but the Samsung's higher brightness gives it better contrast in well-lit rooms.
Here's where the practical considerations come in. The Samsung's 0.189:1 throw ratio means it can project a 100-inch image from just 4.5 inches from the wall - slightly closer than the BenQ's 0.25:1 ratio. This might seem like a small difference, but it can matter significantly when positioning your furniture.
The BenQ offers more sophisticated setup tools, including an 8-point corner adjustment system that can compensate for slightly uneven walls. The Samsung's setup is more basic but still effective for most situations.
The Samsung Premiere 9 really shines here with its integrated Tizen smart TV platform - the same system used in their high-end TVs. This means built-in streaming apps, voice control, and Samsung's Gaming Hub for cloud gaming. The interface is polished and responsive, making it feel more like a TV than a traditional projector.
The BenQ takes a more minimalist approach to smart features, focusing instead on picture quality and calibration options. While it has basic smart functionality, you'll likely want to connect a streaming device for the best experience.
Both projectors include 40W speaker systems, but their approaches differ. Samsung uses a 2.2.2 channel setup with upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos effects. The BenQ uses a more traditional configuration with dual tweeters and woofers.
In practice, the Samsung's audio is more immersive, though neither will replace a dedicated surround sound system for serious home theater use.
At $5,999, the Samsung Premiere 9 delivers exceptional value for its feature set. The triple laser technology, bright output, and comprehensive smart features make it a compelling package for most users.
The BenQ V5010i at $9,999 is targeting a more specialized market - users who demand absolute color accuracy and advanced calibration options. While it's excellent at what it does, the price premium is significant.
For bright, multipurpose rooms, the Samsung is the clear winner. Its higher brightness and more vibrant colors help it compete with ambient light, while the smart features make it more convenient for casual viewing.
In a controlled environment, the BenQ's superior black levels and color accuracy become more apparent. If you're building a serious home theater and have the budget, these advantages might justify the higher price.
The Samsung's Gaming Hub and lower input lag make it the better choice for gamers, though neither projector matches the responsiveness of gaming monitors or TVs.
The Samsung Premiere 9 represents the sweet spot for most users, combining excellent performance with valuable features at a more accessible price point. Its triple laser technology and bright output make it versatile enough for any room, while its smart features add significant value.
The BenQ V5010i is a more specialized tool, offering superior calibration options and slightly better picture quality in ideal conditions. However, its premium price makes it harder to recommend except for the most demanding users.
For most people looking to create a high-end home theater experience, the Samsung Premiere 9 offers the better balance of performance, features, and value. It's a remarkable example of how far UST projector technology has come, making true cinema-sized displays accessible to more homes than ever before.
| Samsung Premiere 9 | BenQ V5010i |
|---|---|
| Price - Total Investment Required | |
| $5,999 (better overall value) | $9,999 (premium pricing) |
| Brightness - Critical for room versatility and daytime viewing | |
| 3,450 ISO lumens (excellent for bright rooms) | 2,500 ANSI lumens (best in controlled lighting) |
| Laser Technology - Impacts color accuracy and longevity | |
| Triple laser (separate RGB lasers, no color wheel) | RGB laser (traditional design) |
| Color Coverage - Determines vibrancy and accuracy | |
| 154% DCI-P3 (more vibrant) | 98% DCI-P3 (more accurate) |
| Throw Ratio - Affects installation flexibility | |
| 0.189:1 (4.5" from wall for 100") | 0.25:1 (requires slightly more distance) |
| Built-in Audio - Important for all-in-one solution | |
| 40W 2.2.2 channel with Dolby Atmos | 40W dual tweeter/woofer system |
| Smart Features - Impacts everyday usability | |
| Full Tizen OS with Gaming Hub, streaming apps | Basic smart features, needs external devices |
| HDR Support - Affects contrast and dynamic range | |
| HDR10+, HDR10, HLG with dynamic tone mapping | HDR10, HLG with standard tone mapping |
| Gaming Features - Important for gamers | |
| Gaming Hub, ALLM, lower input lag | Basic ALLM support |
| Setup Features - Affects installation ease | |
| Basic auto setup | Advanced 8-point correction |
| Light Source Life - Long-term durability | |
| 20,000 hours | 20,000 hours |
| Operating System - Daily usability | |
| Tizen OS (full smart TV interface) | Basic Android TV |
| Resolution - Picture detail capability | |
| 4K UHD (3840x2160) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
The Samsung Premiere 9 is significantly better for bright rooms with its 3,450 ISO lumens compared to the BenQ V5010i's 2,500 ANSI lumens. This makes the Samsung a more versatile choice for rooms with ambient light.
At $5,999, the Samsung Premiere 9 offers better value than the $9,999 BenQ V5010i. The Samsung delivers comparable performance in most areas at 60% of the cost.
While both projectors perform best in controlled lighting, the Samsung Premiere 9 is more flexible for different environments. The BenQ V5010i really needs a dedicated theater room to justify its premium price.
The Samsung Premiere 9 has superior smart features with its full Tizen OS, built-in streaming apps, and Gaming Hub. The BenQ V5010i has basic smart features but typically requires external devices for streaming.
For a 100-inch screen, the Samsung Premiere 9 needs 4.5 inches from the wall, while the BenQ V5010i requires slightly more distance due to its 0.25:1 throw ratio.
The BenQ V5010i focuses on color accuracy with 98% DCI-P3 coverage, while the Samsung Premiere 9 offers more vibrant colors with 154% DCI-P3 coverage but slightly less accuracy.
Both projectors feature 40W audio systems, but the Samsung Premiere 9 has a superior 2.2.2 channel Dolby Atmos setup compared to the BenQ V5010i's standard speaker configuration.
The Samsung Premiere 9 is better for gaming with its Gaming Hub and lower input lag. The BenQ V5010i supports gaming but doesn't offer specialized gaming features.
Both the Samsung Premiere 9 and BenQ V5010i have a 20,000-hour laser light source life, typical for premium laser projectors.
The BenQ V5010i offers more precise setup tools with 8-point correction, while the Samsung Premiere 9 has simpler but effective auto-setup features. Neither strictly requires professional installation.
Yes, both can replace a TV, but the Samsung Premiere 9 is better suited with its TV-like interface and bright output. The BenQ V5010i is more focused on dedicated home theater use.
The Samsung Premiere 9 offers better HDR performance with HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG support plus dynamic tone mapping, while the BenQ V5010i supports standard HDR10 and HLG formats.
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: avsforum.com - valueelectronics.com - youtube.com - techradar.com - youtube.com - news.samsung.com - samsung.com - soundandvision.com - samsung.com - sound-advice.online - trustedreviews.com - 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
