Take your home theater to the next level with 1 luxe upgrade

Sophisticated Techie BenQ's HT3550i can’t quite replace your TV, but it can make for amazing outdoor movie nights. by Corey Plante Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 Originally Published: July 28, 2021 BenQ

BenQ HT3550i is not a sexy name. But in the months I used it for everything from backyard movie nights to gaming on PlayStation 5, it came to represent a very specific kind of titillation .

BenQ In every circumstance, the screen was bigger and better than everything else available to me.

BenQ The lens array has 10 pieces of high-quality glass that allow for 4K Ultra HD projection .

At 2000 lumens, it offers theater-like quality intended for dark environments.

BenQ But it works perfectly fine in low-light as well.

The screen maxes out around 150 inches on the diagonal. That’s more than 12 feet — basically a movie screen. BenQ has a projection calculator that can help figure out dimensions.

BenQ BenQ’s CinematicColor tech explores multiple color spaces — the standard Rec.709 and more robust DCI-P3 — utilizing more of the visible light spectrum than most projectors or TVs.

As you can see here, the DCI-P3 is wider than the Rec.709. One day, projectors will cover an even bigger swath of visible light and color.

BenQ In plainer terms, the colors really pop.

BenQ You might not have this reaction, but it’ll come close.

A wireless Android TV dongle included with the projector lets you stream a myriad of apps. All you need to do is connect it to wifi.

BenQ One of the remotes can control both the projector and the Android TV stick . (So why are there two remotes?)

BenQ You can also use it to cast video from any device — from Android to Apple — through the projector.

But there are many different inputs to choose from, including HDMI 2.0 and an HDMI with Audio Return Channel (ARC) support if you want to dabble in more complicated home sound systems.

Sony We opted for high-res video games like Returnal that push the PlayStation 5 to its limits while wearing stereo headphones. It makes for an awe-inspiring use of the HT3550i when locked in a dark room.

BenQ The full HT3550i package comes in at just over nine pounds , and the $1,649 price tag is pretty hefty. Still, that’s a lot of power for a fairly portable projector.

But as long as you like the darkness and don’t mind the gentle hum of a cooling fan doing its job, the HT3550i is a solid investment.

Sophisticated Techie is a series featuring elevated tech and gaming products you won't be embarrassed to show to your Tinder date. We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too.

Take your home theater to the next level with 1 luxe upgrade

The screen maxes out around 150 inches on the diagonal. That’s more than 12 feet — basically a movie screen. BenQ has a projection calculator that can help figure out dimensions.

As you can see here, the DCI-P3 is wider than the Rec.709. One day, projectors will cover an even bigger swath of visible light and color.

A wireless Android TV dongle included with the projector lets you stream a myriad of apps. All you need to do is connect it to wifi.

But there are many different inputs to choose from, including HDMI 2.0 and an HDMI with Audio Return Channel (ARC) support if you want to dabble in more complicated home sound systems.

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