While we have already tried several of BenQ’s projectors meant for offices or gaming, the new BenQ GV30 portable projector is aimed to offer portable entertainment with integrated Bluetooth speakers for enhanced audio experiences. Here are our thoughts about the projector.
Design
Steering away from the usual boxy designs of normal projectors, the BenQ GV30 features a design that strongly resembles a normal Bluetooth speaker. And there are high chances anyone would mistake the projector for a portable speaker. When we say portable, it isn’t exactly a pocketable device, but at the least, you can carry it easily.
The GV30 weighs only 1.6kg, which is not so different as compared to a 2-in-1 laptop. There is also a strap on the top of the projector so you can carry it easily. The dimensions of the device are 120 x 196 x 185 mm. The GV30 is the first of its kind to feature a TreVolo based 2.1 Channel Chamber Speaker system, that includes dual 4W mid-range tweeters and one 8W woofer. The tweeters are located on either side of the projector and the woofer on the front end beneath the projector lens.
On the right side of the projector are a series of ports that include an HDMI 1.4 port, a USB-C port for DisplayPort and reader, a 3.5mm audio port, and the power connector. From the USB-C port, users will be able to connect devices with up to FHD resolution at 60Hz. The HDMI port makes it further up to 4K resolution but at 30Hz.
You will also be able to access the BenQ Android TV QS01 dongle by opening the left side of the device. BenQ has provided a guitar pick-like opener to pop-open the speaker lid. It should also be noted that the projector dissipates heat from both the left and right sides with its cooling fans. I was able to hear the fans spinning but it wasn’t to the point that it will disturb your sleep.
For easy access. the power button, the volume buttons, and the Bluetooth button are located on the top portion of the projector.
To make things more interesting, BenQ has also included a neat grey carry bag that can house the projector and other smaller items, including the stand.
Speaking of which, you will need to carry the stand for the device or it won’t sit stationary on the place you want to project the content. I’ve always thought of a projector that is flexible to project almost everywhere, including the roof where the surface is plain from distractions. This isn’t actually possible with normal projectors.
But with the help of the stand, you can align the projector to beam the projection upwards. This is good news for those who love to watch movies from their beds.
The projector also comes with the same standard white color remote that comes with other BenQ projectors and monitors we have reviewed in the past. We just wish BenQ adds back-lit buttons on the remote for easier navigation during dark situations.
Features
While the GV30 is impressive for its portable design, the specifications could be a little disappointing for those looking for higher resolutions. The DLP projection system features 720p of screen resolution. Now, we do not think this is a downgrade because the whole point of this projector is to provide portability and decent battery life. From the content that we played from platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, and so forth, we did not specifically notice any sort of poor-quality visuals and it was enjoyable.
The brightness of the projector goes up to 300 ANSI Lumens and the contrast ratio is 100,000:1. The Osram LED light source has a life of 20,000/30,000 hrs (Normal/Eco). The projector offers up to 97% of Rec.709 color gamut coverage. One of the best things we liked about the projector is the auto vertical keystone adjustment that kicks off whenever a small change of position is detected. The screen alignment is quickly rectified in a few seconds.
We also cast some Netflix content from our PCs and it connects and plays in an instant. The visuals are vibrant, thanks to the BenQ CinematicColor. You get to choose between Plus mode, Cinema Mode, and Day Time Mode for accurate viewing of content, regardless of the situation. The projector is capable of a 135-degree angle of projection. At a distance of 2.1m, you will get a projection of an 80-inch display, at 2.4m, you get a 90-inch TV experience, and at 2.7m of distance, you get a 100-inch projection.
The BenQ GV30 is purely an Android TV projector and the dongle runs on Android TV 9.0 version. It may not be the latest, but it runs very well without lags and has the modern user interface of pure Android TV OS. The IC chip that controls the software is the TSUMV56RUU-Z1 and the device has 512MB RAM, which is sufficient for normal tasks.
One of the main features of the projector is its built-in battery that is stated to deliver up to 2.5 hours of battery life. However, this can differ from how you view the content. For example, we streamed YouTube on battery mode and the device lasted for almost two hours. But when we had cast a Netflix movie from PC to the projector, the device lasted almost one and half hours. We should also mention that when we take out the power cords, the projector automatically switches to the low-power mode by default.
If the projector had a higher screen resolution, then the battery life would have surely been lower. So the 720p of screen resolution is decent for a projector of this category. The projector also has support for WiFi support IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards.
Verdict
While most of the projectors in the market are large in size and meant for office environments, the new BenQ GV30 is the answer for those looking for a model that is easy to carry around, simple to set up, and can provide entertainment where ever you take it. The device is quite small as compared to a normal projector, and its built-in Bluetooth 2.1 speaker system is a bonus, which is a first of its kind. The audio setup features two tweeters and a woofer for a good audio experience.
The projector provides different connectivity options via the HDMI port and the USB-C port. The projector may only have 720p of screen resolution but that is more than enough for a projector of this category. The visuals are good enough to enjoy your favorite movie flicks and the device runs on Android TV 9.0 OS. The included stylish carry bag allows you to easily carry the projector and its accessories if you’re going to a party. The battery life of the projector may be mediocre, but its enough to get you through an entire movie.
