In Brief: BenQ GV50
BenQ’s GV50 is one of the brand’s smallest projectors, featuring a unique circular design and an integrated battery for total portability. Able to tilt up to the ceiling, it packs automatic corrections, Google TV with Netflix certification, and Full HD laser projection at 500 lumens. Here’s our full review of this highly flexible, easy-to-use device.
Pros
- Compact and easy to position
- Automatic keystone/focus corrections
- Ingenious tilt mechanism
- Excellent out-of-the-box colour calibration
- Google TV with Netflix certification
- Well-designed remote control
- Physical control buttons on the projector
- Very quiet operation
- Low power consumption and battery-powered use
- Game mode for improved responsiveness
Cons
- Limited native contrast
- No HDR10+ or Dolby Vision
- Modest brightness level
Technical Specifications
- Model: BenQ GV50
- Dimensions: 130 × 211.2 × 191.4 mm
- Weight: ~2 kg
- Native Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Full HD)
- Light Source: Laser (DLP)
- Brightness: 500 lumens
- HDR Support: HDR10 (no HDR10+ or Dolby Vision)
- Speaker System: 2 × 4 W + 1 × 10 W woofer
- Operating System: Google TV (Netflix-certified)
- Inputs & Outputs: 1× HDMI 1.4, 1× USB-C, 1× USB-A, headphone jack, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
- Battery: Built-in (approx. 1h30 usage in HDR)
The BenQ GV50 used in this review was loaned by the manufacturer. We tested it with a Lumene Movie Palace UHD Platinum 300C projection screen, using professional measuring tools.
Design: Circular Body with a Pivoting Base
Unique Form Factor
The BenQ GV50 embraces a distinctive circular design, unlike typical cuboid mini projectors. It arrives with a plastic base that allows 360° rotation and up to a 270° vertical tilt—meaning you can project onto floors, walls, or even the ceiling.
Compact and Well-Built
At just over 2 kg, the GV50 is easy to transport. The finishes feel robust, with no visible flaws. Grilles around the sides house two 4 W speakers, while a rear grille covers a 10 W woofer. There’s also a convenient strap handle for carrying it around. The top panel features retro-illuminated control buttons (power, volume, a small joystick for menu navigation, back/home commands, and a zoom button)—enough for basic use even without the remote.
Ports on the Left
Rather than placing connectors on the rear, BenQ positions them on the left side (when facing the lens). You get:
- 1 × HDMI 1.4 (for consoles, Blu-ray players, etc.)
- 1 × USB-C
- 1 × USB-A
- Headphone jack
- Power input (external power supply included)
The unit also supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, allowing wireless audio output to a speaker or letting the GV50 act as a standalone Bluetooth speaker.
Installation: Easy Setup with Automatic Corrections
Quick and Flexible Placement
Placing the GV50 is straightforward: put it on a flat surface (or mount it via the universal tripod thread underneath). Turn it on, and the projector immediately auto-focusses and auto-keystones to create a rectangular image. If you move it mid-session, it recalibrates within two seconds. The base design is simple, letting you pivot the projector to aim at walls, angled surfaces, or up onto the ceiling.
Additional Settings
If the auto settings aren’t perfect (it performed well during our tests), you can manually adjust focus, zoom, and keystone in the menu. A “blank beam” function cuts the light if someone passes in front of the lens—protecting their eyes. There’s also a colour correction setting to accommodate different wall colours. BenQ rates it for up to a 120-inch image, though we managed around 130 inches at greater distances.
Interface: Google TV with Netflix Certification
Android Power
The GV50 runs Google TV, giving you direct access to thousands of apps, including Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, and more. The interface is user-friendly with recommended content and family profiles. Netflix support is fully certified here, which can be an issue on some projectors that rely on workarounds.
Projector Settings
Along with standard Google TV menus, there’s a separate “Projector” section to handle geometry correction, brightness levels, and advanced features like “Auto obstacle avoidance.” In the “Battery” sub-menu, you can switch to power-saving modes—but ironically, it doesn’t display the exact remaining battery percentage.
Wireless Casting
Chromecast is integrated for Android devices, and iOS users can also mirror their screens. VLC or similar apps handle local media playback well, supporting a range of video codecs with good fluidity.
Subjective Image Quality: Sharp and Balanced Colours
DLP Laser Full HD
Featuring a DLP chip (0.33-inch DMD) and a 500-lumen laser light source, the GV50 claims to deliver Full HD resolution. In actual use, you do see a subtle grey frame around the image (a known DLP trait), but it’s not too distracting.
SDR and HDR
The projector supports standard HDR10—but not HDR10+ or Dolby Vision. In practice, you have multiple picture modes (Vivid, Cinema, Night Shift, Game, Custom). We found “Cinema” to offer the best balance of clarity and colour fidelity.
Colours appear natural, details remain sharp, and while black levels aren’t super deep (due to a modest contrast ratio), most content looks pleasing—especially in dimly lit environments. With only 500 lumens, it struggles in bright rooms or daylight.
Smooth Motion and Upscaling
Motion handling is quite good, with minimal judder during fast action. Upscaling from lower resolutions, if needed, is done well. As with most DLP units, there’s a mild “rainbow effect,” noticeable primarily to those sensitive to it or during scenes with stark light-dark transitions and subtitled content.
Measurements: Precise Colour, Limited Brightness
Using our measurement tools (Calman software, sensors), in Cinema mode:
- Native Contrast: ~774:1, which beats some rivals like the Epson EF-22 (around half that). Blacks can look a bit grey but are acceptable.
- Gamma Average: ~2.15 (target 2.4). The curve is stable, only flattening at higher values.
- Colour Temperature: ~6791 K (close to 6500 K standard), indicating neutral whites.
- Delta E (SDR Cinema): ~2.38, below the 3.0 threshold, meaning colours are very accurate out of the box.
- HDR Peak Brightness (100-inch image): ~40 cd/m², dropping to ~20 cd/m² at 3m wide. This is quite low. The projector can’t properly “clip” HDR highlights, losing detail in bright areas.
Colour coverage is around 79% of DCI-P3 and 61% of BT.2020—fair for a small portable laser DLP.
Gaming: Solid Response with a Dedicated Mode
Two Game Presets
The GV50 provides a “Game” picture profile. Within that, you can pick Standard (~61.7 ms input lag at 4K/60 signal) or Boost (~28.4 ms, but auto-corrections like keystone are disabled). Although 28.4 ms is still above dedicated gaming monitors, it’s decent for casual gaming sessions.
Accepts 4K Input
The projector accepts 4K signals but downsamples to its native 1080p. The resulting visuals remain smooth enough for most gamers who want a big-screen experience.
Audio: Balanced 2.1 System
Built-In 2.1 Speakers
BenQ includes two 4 W speakers and a 10 W woofer, producing surprisingly balanced sound with a bit of warmth. It’ll fill a small room adequately, though don’t expect deep cinema-level rumble. For more robust audio, use the HDMI ARC output or connect an external speaker via Bluetooth. We noted no major lip-sync issues.
Remote Control
A small, lightweight Bluetooth remote reminiscent of some competitors (like Epson). It features dedicated app buttons (YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix) plus separate controls for projector settings. A Google Assistant button sits near the top, and while some keys appear slightly luminous, they’re not truly backlit in the dark.
Power Use, Battery, and Noise
Low Consumption
We recorded around 40 W of power in Cinema mode (full white screen), which is impressively low for a laser projector. This also means it’s easy to run on battery.
Built-In Battery
Expect about 1h30 of HDR playback per charge. That’s enough for shorter movies or an episode or two of your favourite show, but longer sessions will need a power source.
Minimal Fan Noise
At close range, the fan measured just ~36 dB. It’s barely audible, meaning you can sit right beside it (like on a coffee table or side shelf) without distraction.
Price and Availability
The BenQ GV50 retails at around €699. This places it in competition with portable projectors like the Epson EF-22, some Xgimi MoGo models, and other battery-equipped mini projectors.
Conclusion
Overall Rating: 8/10
| Category | Score | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 9/10 | Clever circular shape with pivoting base. Premium feel, easy to carry, built-in battery, top-panel controls make operation versatile. |
| Connectivity | 8/10 | Minimal but sufficient: 1× HDMI, 1× USB-C, 1× USB-A, headphone jack, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0. No big omissions at this size. |
| Display | 8/10 | Full HD laser with accurate colours, DLP limitations aside. Modest brightness, so best in dim conditions. |
| Brightness | 6/10 | Only 500 lumens, which is borderline in lit environments. Use a dark room to get the best results. |
| Software | 9/10 | Powered by Google TV, complete with Netflix certification and a wide app selection. Setup menus well-integrated, stable casting options. |
| Audio | 8/10 | Built-in 2.1 speakers (4W+4W+10W woofer) provide a pleasantly warm sound. Good for small rooms or quick setups. |
| Final Verdict | 8/10 | The GV50’s rotating base, battery operation, and solid out-of-box calibration make it a top choice for portable projection and gaming. |
BenQ’s GV50 merges portability, user-friendly design, and decent Full HD image quality. The integrated battery and 360° tilt let you project nearly anywhere, from a wall to the ceiling. Despite a modest 500 lumens brightness, it’s sufficient in a dark environment, and the laser-based colour accuracy is a highlight—especially in Cinema mode. Gaming fans get a responsive mode, while the built-in sound is respectable for a compact device. If you seek a truly go-anywhere projector with easy setup and strong streaming features, the BenQ GV50 is well worth considering.
