X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. How we test projectors

BenQ CineHome HT2550 makes 4K projectors affordable at last

At $1,500, the BenQ CineHome HT2550 is the cheapest projector yet to offer 4K resolution, in addition to HDR10 playback.

Ty Pendlebury Editor
Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.
Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He majored in Cinema Studies when studying at RMIT. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials
  • Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
See full bio
Ty Pendlebury
2 min read
benq-cinehome-ht2550
BenQ

If you want a big screen, 4K resolution is the way to go, and there's no bigger screen than a projector. Until recently, 4K projection has been fearsomely expensive, until, that is, the $1,499 BenQ CineHome HT2550. It's the cheapest model we've seen yet. 

Update, Jan. 12, 2018: Optoma also announced a $1,499 projector at CES using the same DLP technology, the UHD50.

Shop for BenQ CineHome HT2550

See all prices

Specs-wise, the BenQ seems very similar to the Optoma UHD60, but it manages to skim $500 from the price. BenQ claims its projector is "true 4K," with over 8 million individual pixels, though it doesn't appear to be the projector's "native" resolution. Translation: it's likely there is pixel-shift or upscaling involved.  BenQ did not respond to CNET's request for clarification.

THe HT2550 is capable of a brightness of 2,200 ANSI lumens‎ and a (fairly low for DLP) contrast ratio of 10,000:1‎. Inputs include one 4K-compatible HDMI port with HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2, plus one with HDMI 1.4a. The projector also has an analog D-Sub connection, though it has no composite or component analog ports.

Other specs include:

  • HDR10 format support 
  • 0.47-inch TI DLP single-DMD chip
  • Images up to 300 inches
  • BenQ CinematicColor technology and a RGBRBG color wheel 
  • 96 per cent of Rec. 709 color gamut
  • Auto keystone correction and 1.2x zoom
  • USB type A (1.5-amp power) plus type B for firmware updates
  • 3.5mm audio in and out
  • 5-watt speakers
  • Lamp life up to 15,000 hours
  • 3D compatible

As the first truly affordable 4K projector we look forward to seeing more from the CineHome HT2550 -- and hope this model spurs further competition for budget-focused home theater.

The BenQ CineHome HT2550 retails for $1,499 and is now available for preorder from Amazon until Jan. 14 and at BenQ Direct. 

All the cool new gadgets at CES 2018

+60 More
See all photos