Despite costing pretty serious money for what is ostensibly a fairly casual projector, the BenQ X3100i looks at first glance to be all about having fun. Its cubic design is cuter and cooler than that of most home-entertainment projectors, and BenQ is keen to stress that this is a projector designed very much with gaming in mind.
The more time we spend with the X3100i, however, the more convinced we are that its hip looks and strong gaming chops are actually just the start of its charms.
By gaming projector standards, the X3100i's £2099 asking price represents quite a chunk of change. It is, though, BenQ's current flagship gaming projector, and goes the extra mile to try to justify its price by including an unusually potent built-in speaker design (that partly explains the quirky cubic shape), and an integrated Android TV smart system.
Something different Like all of BenQ's X series of gaming projectors, the X3100i enjoys a more striking, cutesy design than typical home entertainment projectors are treated to.
It stands much taller for starters - in fact, it is almost as tall as it is wide. Its top and sides are finished in a crisp, living room-friendly white, while its front edge enjoys a starkly contrasting glassy black finish with an orange trim.
The X3100i ships with a project-focused remote of its own and a smart remote associated with the Android TV dongle. The latter handset includes a handy selection of four direct video streaming app buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and Disney+.
The BenQ X3100i is a DLP projector illuminated by a 4LED lighting system.
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