Between them, Optoma and BenQ account for most of the projectors in this catalogue — 40 BenQ and 18 Optoma. They are not competing for the same room. One is built around breadth and price, the other around brightness and venue scale, and the specification that separates them is throw ratio.
Head to Head
Scroll across to compare all details.
| BenQ | Optoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Models we stock | 40 | 18 |
| Price range | $499 – $13,999 | $909 – $43,118 |
| Brightness range | 500 – 10,000 lm | 3,500 – 22,000 lm |
| Ultra short-throw (<0.6:1) | 7 | 7 |
| Short-throw (0.6–0.99:1) | 14 | 4 |
| Standard throw (1.0:1+) | 17 | 0 |
| Sold without a lens | 2 | 7 |
| Cheapest golf-capable | TH671ST — $949 | ZW350ST — $909 |
The single most revealing line in that table is standard throw: BenQ stocks 17 such models, Optoma stocks none. Optoma's range here is built exclusively around short and ultra short-throw optics, which is what a golf bay actually needs. BenQ's range is wider and includes home-theatre models that suit a long room but would sit behind the golfer in a short one.
Where Each Brand Wins
BenQ — breadth
40 models from $499 to $13,999, covering every throw class. If your room is unusual, the answer is more likely to be in this range.
BenQ — entry price
Golf-capable short-throw starts at $949 with the TH671ST. Nothing in the Optoma range reaches that low with a comparable throw ratio.
Optoma — brightness
Up to 22,000 lumens against BenQ's 10,000. That is the difference between a controlled home bay and a bright commercial room with ambient light.
Optoma — golf focus
Every stocked Optoma is short or ultra short-throw. You cannot accidentally buy one that needs 18ft of room depth.
Optoma — venue scale
7 large-venue models with interchangeable lenses, for multi-bay and commercial installs where the lens is chosen to the room.
BenQ — resolution for the money
More 4K models at mid-range prices, useful if image detail matters as much as raw brightness.
The Models, Side by Side
Throw distance below is what each projector needs to fill a 12ft screen — the most common simulator width.
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| Model | Throw ratio | Distance for a 12ft screen | Brightness | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optoma ZW350ST | 0.52:1 | 6ft 3in | 3,600 lm | WXGA | $909 |
| Optoma GT2400HDR | 0.48:1 | 5ft 9in | 4,200 lm | 1080p | $1,299 |
| Optoma 4K400STx | 0.5:1 | 6ft | 4,000 lm | 4K | $2,289 |
| Optoma ZU607TST | 0.58:1 | 7ft | 6,000 lm | WUXGA | $4,799 |
| Optoma GT2000HDR | 0.5:1 | 6ft | 3,500 lm | 1080p | $1,199 |
| BenQ LW830ST | 0.52:1 | 6ft 3in | 4,000 lm | WXGA | $1,599 |
| BenQ LH830ST | 0.5:1 | 6ft | 4,000 lm | 1080p | $1,999 |
| BenQ LH860ST | 0.5:1 | 6ft | 5,000 lm | 1080p | $2,399 |
| BenQ LK830ST | 0.49:1 | 5ft 11in | 4,000 lm | 4K | $2,499 |
| BenQ AW30ST | 0.72:1 | 8ft 8in | 3,200 lm | WXGA | $1,199 |
| BenQ LW600ST+ | 0.72–0.87:1 | 8ft 8in–10ft 5in | 2,800 lm | WXGA | $1,199 |
| BenQ AH30ST | 0.69–0.83:1 | 8ft 3in–10ft | 3,000 lm | 1080p | $1,499 |
| BenQ X500i | 0.69–0.83:1 | 8ft 3in–10ft | 2,200 lm | 4K | $1,749 |
| BenQ TK700ST | 0.9–1.08:1 | 10ft 10in–13ft | 3,000 lm | 4K | $1,799 |
| Optoma ZU507TST | 0.6:1 | 7ft 2in | 5,000 lm | WUXGA | $3,999 |
| Optoma ZU820TST | 0.75–0.95:1 | 9ft–11ft 5in | 8,200 lm | WUXGA | $7,499 |
| Optoma ZU920TST | 0.65–0.75:1 | 7ft 10in–9ft | 9,800 lm | WUXGA | $11,439 |
| BenQ MW560 | 1.55–1.7:1 | 18ft 7in–20ft 5in | 4,000 lm | WXGA | $499 |
| BenQ MW560C | 1.55–1.7:1 | 18ft 7in–20ft 5in | 4,000 lm | WXGA | $499 |
| BenQ GV32 | 1.2:1 | 14ft 5in | 500 lm | 1080p | $549 |
| BenQ GV50 | 1.2:1 | 14ft 5in | 500 lm | 1080p | $749 |
Optoma · ultra short-throw · 0.52:1
Optoma ZW350ST
$909
Best for: The cheapest way into a genuinely short-throw golf projector, in a room where depth is tight.
- Fills a 12ft screen from about 6ft 3in
- 3,600 lumens, laser light source
- Short enough to mount well clear of the golfer
- The least expensive golf-capable projector in the Optoma range
BenQ · short-throw · 0.69–0.83:1
BenQ TH671ST
$949
Best for: A first simulator on a tight budget, where the room has a little more depth to play with.
- Zoom range gives latitude in where you mount it
- 3,000 lumens, 1080p
- Fills a 12ft screen from roughly 8ft 3in to 10ft
- The lowest entry price of any golf-capable projector we stock
Optoma · bright commercial · 0.75–0.95:1
Optoma ZU820TST
$7,499
Best for: A commercial bay, a bright room, or a large screen where lumens are the constraint rather than price.
- 8,200 lumens — far beyond a home bay's needs
- WUXGA resolution with a powered short-throw zoom
- Fills a 12ft screen from about 9ft to 11ft 5in
- Built for continuous operation in a commercial venue
Our Verdict
Choose on room before brand. If your bay is short and your budget is firm, BenQ's short-throw range starts lower and gives you more to choose from. If the room is bright, large, or commercial, Optoma is the stronger range — every model is already short-throw, and the top of the range goes places BenQ's does not. The one mistake to avoid is buying on brightness or resolution alone and discovering the projector needs more depth than the room has. Work out your throw distance first; both brands have a good answer once you know the number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Optoma or BenQ better for a golf simulator?
They aim at different rooms. Every Optoma we stock is short or ultra short-throw — the range is built around simulator and venue installs, and it runs to 22,000 lumens. BenQ spans all three throw classes and starts far cheaper, but part of that range is home-theatre equipment that happens to suit a bay. For a typical home simulator both brands have a credible answer; for a bright commercial room Optoma has more of one.
Why does Optoma have no standard-throw projectors here?
Because standard throw does not suit a golf bay. At 1.5:1 a 12ft screen needs the lens 18ft back, which puts the projector behind the golfer and casts a shadow on every swing. Optoma's stocked range is deliberately short and ultra short-throw.
Which brand is cheaper?
BenQ, at the entry end — the range starts at $499 against $909 for Optoma. The two cheapest golf-capable models are close though: the BenQ TH671ST at $949 and the Optoma ZW350ST at $909.
Which brand is brighter?
Optoma, by a wide margin at the top. Its range reaches 22,000 lumens against BenQ's 10,000. That headroom only matters in a bright or large room; in a controlled home bay both brands have plenty.
What does 'sold without a lens' mean?
Large-venue projectors ship as a body only and you choose the lens separately, which sets the throw ratio. We stock 7 such Optoma models and 2 from BenQ. Their product pages list the compatible lenses and prices.
Can I use a home-theatre projector in a simulator?
Often yes, provided the throw ratio and brightness suit the room. The thing to check is throw: a home-theatre model is usually standard throw, which needs far more depth than a bay typically has.
Need help applying this to your space? Ask SimGolfer about your setup.