BenQ TH690ST Review | 85 Data compared

The BenQ TH690ST is an entry-level, short-throw 1080p DLP gaming projector featuring a solid-state LED light engine that offers a lengthy 30,000-hour operational lifespan, removing the need for lamp replacements. It provides deep color coverage—reaching 98% of the Rec.709 color space—and boasts highly responsive, low-latency performance with input lag measured at 18ms for 1080p/60Hz and 10ms for 1080p/120Hz gaming, making it highly effective for fast-paced gameplay. The projector supports 3D media and features robust, dual 5-watt TreVolo-tuned stereo speakers that deliver surprisingly loud and clear audio dialogue. Furthermore, its lightweight 7.9-pound build and short-throw lens allow users to project a massive 100-inch image from just five feet away, ensuring immense setup flexibility in compact spaces. However, the projector exhibits notable limitations, particularly regarding out-of-the-box color accuracy, which suffers from prominent hue errors and a severe green tint in its brightest mode unless professional calibration is performed. Its light output also falls short; while rated at 2,300 ANSI lumens, testing revealed a lower output of 1,762 lumens, resulting in a duller, less vibrant presentation that lacks the necessary luminance for impactful...

The BenQ TH690ST is an exceptionally versatile, compact short-throw DLP projector that delivers reference-level color accuracy and impressive contrast for both home theater and gaming applications at a $999 price point. Testing reveals a native contrast ratio of 1,765:1, which climbs near 3,000:1 in the seamlessly hidden SmartEco LED mode—extraordinary performance that drastically outclasses typical DLP displays. Gamers will appreciate the 1080p native resolution supporting 120Hz signals with an incredibly low 8.3ms input lag and virtually no motion blur. For movies, it reliably accepts Ultra HD signals, maps 84.98% of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut for HDR10 and HLG content, and flawlessly renders 3D media with zero visible crosstalk. It is highly portable, projecting a massive 100-inch image from just under five feet away, and features robust, chambered internal Trevolo speakers that provide clean audio with a surprising amount of bass. Despite its high praise, the projector has a few minor drawbacks. In terms of usability, the small included remote control completely lacks a backlight, making it somewhat cumbersome to navigate in dark home theater rooms. When testing HDR signals,...

The BenQ TH690ST LED Gaming Projector Review concludes with a highly positive evaluation, awarding the device a "Highly Recommended" accolade. Priced at $1,099, this 1080p HDR short-throw console gaming projector utilizes a solid Texas Instruments DLP chipset. Its long-lasting 4LED light source delivers 2,300 ANSI lumens and boasts an exceptional operational lifespan ranging from 20,000 hours in Normal/Smart Eco modes up to 30,000 hours in Eco mode. Designed to offer an immersive alternative to traditional monitors, it projects a massive 100-inch image from just 4.9 feet away, making it highly effective for space-constrained environments. The evaluation highlights several explicit pros and cons for prospective buyers: Pros: Outstandingly low gaming latency featuring an 8.3ms input lag at 1080p@120Hz, an efficient 4LED light engine, 3D capability, integrated dual 5-watt treVolo chamber speakers, a dedicated HDR Game mode, broad HDR10 and HLG compatibility, and immersive short-throw capabilities. Cons: The handheld remote control lacks backlighting, the system includes no ARC/eARC audio connections, and it completely lacks built-in smart features or streaming applications.

The BenQ TH690ST is an entry-level, full HD 3D-ready 4LED gaming projector that delivers an immersive big-screen experience, especially well-suited for console gaming on the PS5 or Xbox. While advertised at 2,300 ANSI lumens, testing showed a maximum output of 1,743 lumens in Bright mode, which remains plenty luminous for multipurpose rooms with ambient light. The projector shines in color reproduction, offering 84% DCI-P3 and 98% Rec.709 color coverage alongside a robust Advanced Color Settings menu for precise color calibration. Gamers will appreciate its highly responsive performance, featuring low latency input lags of 8.3ms at 1080p@120Hz and 16.7ms at 1080p@60Hz. Additionally, BenQ’s official HGiG membership ensures optimal HDR tone-mapping directly from gaming consoles, and the integrated dual 5-watt treVolo chamber speakers offer good, customizable audio depth via a User Sound EQ.

Here is a specific summary of the BenQ TH690ST hardware review: Overview and Key Features The BenQ TH690ST is a portable LED gaming projector weighing 7.9 pounds and measuring 14.4 x 4.6 x 9.6 inches, making it compact enough to travel in a backpack. It features a short-throw lens with a 0.69 ~ 0.83 throw ratio, allowing it to project a massive 100-inch image from just 4.9 feet away from a wall or screen. The hardware design incorporates dual 5-watt treVolo speakers on the sides, air inlets and outlets that keep fan noise between 37dB and 44dB depending on the light mode, and a top-mounted push-button control panel. For connectivity, the rear panel hosts dual HDMI 2.0b ports with HDCP 2.2 encryption, a 2.5A USB Type-A port capable of powering streaming sticks, an RS-232 port, SPDIF digital audio, and standard audio input/output jacks. Pros and Cons Pros: The projector's short-throw capabilities offer excellent placement flexibility in small rooms without sacrificing image size. It boasts highly versatile connectivity, including a high-output USB port that easily integrates optional smart upgrades like the...

The BenQ TH690ST, as reviewed by Home Cinema Choice, is a specialized 4LED short-throw projector capable of producing a 100-inch image from 4.9 feet, ideal for small spaces. It impresses with excellent shadow detail in "Smart Eco" mode and supports smooth 120Hz playback, making it a strong choice for gaming and casual cinema. Conversely, the unit is limited to a 1080p native resolution, with the reviewer noting that it cannot achieve true 4K sharpness despite accepting 4K signals. Further drawbacks mentioned include occasional color smearing during fast gaming and the visibility of the "rainbow effect" for sensitive viewers.

The BenQ TH690ST is a 1080p short-throw DLP gaming projector positioned as a feature-rich, step-up alternative to entry-level models. It is highly praised for its exceptional out-of-the-box color accuracy, great shadow detail, and impressive onboard audio powered by twin 5-watt chamber speakers. Gamers will benefit from its competitive low input lag, measuring at 16.3ms for 60Hz and 8.3ms for 120Hz. Structurally, it features a 1.2x manual zoom and requires 69 inches of distance to throw a 100-inch-wide image, making it highly accommodating for smaller rooms. However, it does not support a 240Hz refresh rate, meaning it cannot match the ultra-low 4ms input lag times found in premium 4K models like the BenQ X3000i or TK700STi. Despite its strong performance in SDR cinema and game modes, the projector falls short in several key areas. Its rated brightness of 2,300 ANSI lumens is relatively low for a dedicated gaming projector, causing daytime imagery to look somewhat washed out unless room lighting is tightly controlled. Additionally, its handling of HDR content is a notable drawback, delivering less-saturated color and contrast than its SDR...

The BenQ TH690ST is an entry-level short-throw 1080p gaming projector that delivers an impressive step up in performance for its $1,099 list price. Designed around a four-LED solid-state light source rated for up to 30,000 hours in Eco mode, it features exceptional out-of-the-box color accuracy, good shadow detail, and highly responsive low-input lag times (measured at 16.3ms for 60Hz and 8.3ms for 120Hz). Its short-throw lens allows it to project a large 100-inch image from 69 inches away, making it ideal for smaller rooms, while its 1.2x manual zoom adds rare setup flexibility for this class. Additionally, the projector features a robust onboard audio system consisting of dual 5-watt chamber speakers that can easily fill a large family room without requiring external speakers. However, the projector has notable limitations, particularly its native resolution of 1,920-by-1,080 pixels and its lack of support for a 240Hz refresh rate found on pricier models. At 2,300 ANSI lumens, its brightness is lower than most competing gaming projectors, which results in a washed-out image during daytime viewing in rooms with ambient light. Furthermore, its single-chip...

The BenQ TH690ST is a 1080p short-throw gaming projector powered by a solid-state four-LED light source that delivers 2,300 ANSI lumens. It provides a solid step up from entry-level models by offering low input lag times (16.3ms at 60Hz and 8.3ms at 120Hz), 1.2x manual zoom, and impressive built-in 5-watt chamber speakers. The projector stands out for its excellent out-of-the-box color accuracy and strong shadow detail when viewing standard-definition (SDR) content. While its short-throw lens requires 69 inches to project a 100-inch-wide image, it offers the shortest throw distance among its immediate competitors, making it highly capable for small rooms. However, the projector has notable limitations, particularly its low brightness level for a dedicated gaming projector and its tendency to display distracting single-chip DLP rainbow artifacts. Furthermore, its high-dynamic-range (HDR) performance is underwhelming, delivering less saturated color and contrast than its SDR counterpart, which prompts the recommendation to stick to SDR video sources. While it lacks the 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh rates found in higher-end models like the BenQ TK700STi, it remains a budget-friendly, highly functional alternative for users...

The ⁠BenQ TH690ST is a highly recommended, flagship Full HD 1080p gaming projector designed as an affordable gateway for console gamers who want massive screen immersion without the premium price tag of a native 4K model. Priced at $1,099, this short-throw projector can cast a massive 100-inch image from just 4.9 feet away, making it ideal for smaller rooms where space is limited. It is heavily praised for its exceptionally low input lag, reaching down to 8.3ms at 1080p@120Hz and 16.7ms at 1080p@60Hz, ensuring incredibly fluid and responsive gameplay for fast-paced console games. Additionally, the modern 4LED light source delivers 2,300 ANSI lumens of brightness and boasts a long lifespan of 20,000 to 30,000 hours, vastly outperforming older, lamp-based alternatives. Projector Reviews While the projector excels in performance, reviewers highlight a specific balance of pros and cons. On the positive side, it offers superb color accuracy (supporting HDR10 with 84% DCI-P3 coverage), crisp built-in dual 5-watt treVolo speakers, 3D capability, and an HDR Game Mode that easily toggles settings for bright or dark rooms. On the downside, the projector lacks...

The 7Review evaluation positions the BenQ TH690ST as a highly capable, short-throw 1080p LED projector designed primarily for console gaming, though it performs remarkably well with standard TV and HDR films as well. A major standout feature is its ultra-low latency, boasting a swift 8.33 milliseconds response time at 1080p/120Hz and 16.67 milliseconds at 60Hz, making it ideal for fast-paced movement. Additional strengths include outstanding color accuracy covering 98% of the Rec. 709 gamut, a 4LED lighting engine with a massive 30,000-hour maximum lamp life, useful dual 5-watt built-in TreVolo speakers, and a short-throw lens that casts a 100-inch image from only 4.9 feet away. On the downside, the reviewer notes several hardware and performance limitations. The system lacks a native resolution of 4K (maxing out at 1,920 x 1,080) and features no built-in smart operating system, meaning users must hook up external media players or consoles to access streaming apps. Furthermore, the remote control is not backlit, making it clumsy to use in dark rooms. In terms of performance issues, utilizing the digital keystone feature introduces a warning regarding...

BenQ TH690ST Projector Review Summary The BenQ TH690ST is a 1080p short-throw DLP projector featuring a 4-LED light source and a larger 0.65 DMD chip. Despite its gaming-focused marketing—boasting a remarkably low input lag of 8.2 ms at 1080p 120Hz and 16.4 ms at 60Hz—it surprises as an excellent home cinema performer. Out of the box, the projector delivers highly accurate color fidelity, closely tracking the rec.709 HDTV gamut with linear gamma. Its greatest strength is its native contrast ratio, which exceeds 1800:1 (and over 3000:1 in SmartEco mode), significantly outclassing competing LED projectors and eliminating the distracting gray frame typical of smaller chips. Additionally, it features high-quality integrated 2x5W Trevolo speakers that rival premium third-party audio systems. However, the projector has notable drawbacks, primarily its loud and disruptive fan noise. In "Normal" and "SmartEco" modes, the noise levels hit an unbearable 45.5 dB, forcing users into the quieter "Economic" mode (38.7 dB) to enjoy films comfortably. While it accepts 4K HDR signals and automatically optimizes brightness mapping, it lacks an image interpolation mode to counter slight judder. It also...

The BenQ TH690ST is a 1080p short-throw projector from BenQ's Immersive Gaming series that acts as a competent, entry-level alternative to more expensive 4K models. Built around a solid-state, four-LED light source and a DLP chip, it offers excellent color accuracy, good shadow detail, and strong onboard audio via two 5-watt chamber speakers, saving users the cost of external sound systems. While it requires 69 inches of distance to project a 100-inch-wide image—meaning it sits between traditional short-throw and ultra-short-throw systems—it still boasts the shortest throw distance compared to its immediate 4K peers. Its 1.2x manual zoom adds rare setup flexibility for a short-throw lens, and its low input lag (measured at 16.3ms for 60Hz and 8.3ms for 120Hz) makes it highly responsive for gaming. However, the projector has notable limitations, particularly its rated brightness of 2,300 ANSI lumens, which is relatively low for a gaming projector and can result in a washed-out image during daytime viewing. Its HDR performance is also lacking, delivering less-saturated colors and contrast than standard SDR material, meaning users are often better off converting HDR...