BenQ GV30 portable projector review: A wireless alternative to your wired smart TV

BenQ has been slowly expanding its portfolio of portable projectors in India. Earlier this year, the company launched the BenQ GS2 portable projector in India at a price point of INR 79,990 in India to answer the requirements posed by the pandemic and subsequently the work-from-culture. More recently, the company launched the BenQ GV30 portable projector in India at a price of INR 54,990.

Now, 55K might seem like a lot of money for a projector. But in reality, it’s not. Projectors don’t come cheap, least of all portable projectors -- the kind that we are talking about today. But that is not the only factor that justifies the hefty price tag of the BenQ GV30 projector. The BenQ GV30 portable projector comes packed with features -- easy to use design, Bluetooth speaker, and Android TV and wireless casting support to name a few -- that makes all the difference.

We will talk about all of that in the review below. So, keep reading...

BenQ GV30 portable projector: Design

The BenQ GV30 portable projector features a unique design that is radically different from what we have seen in the case of the company’s GS2 portable projector (REVIEW). It looks like a wheel of cheese that is kept on a stand, which is not exactly a bad thing. One of the issues that I faced while using the GS2 projector was adjusting the viewing angle such that the projected screen would be parallel to the ground. However, its design posed a limitation and made it difficult to make the necessary adjustments.

In the case of its GV30 portable projector, BenQ opted for a design that was ingenious yet incredibly easy to use. The BenQ GV30 features a circular disk-shaped body that is secured carefully on a magnetic base, which makes it easy to set up the projector. In the front, you get the lens that projects content (images or video) and on top, you get four buttons, two of which control the volume, while one powers it on, the other one can be used for connectivity. On the right side, you get ports for projecting content. You also get speakers on both sides. More on that later.

The projector is accompanied by a streaming stick. This streaming stick is powered by Google’s Android TV, which gives users access to scores of apps including YouTube and Amazon Prime Video to watch their favourite movies and shows. It also enables them to download more apps from the Play Store. This streaming stick goes inside the projector and upgrades its abilities immediately. You also get a remote controller to operate this projector from a distance.

BenQ GV30 portable projector: Performance

Now, let’s talk about the performance. But first, some details.

The BenQ GV30 projector offers a projection angle of 135 degrees with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. It offers an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a peak brightness of 300 ANSI Lumens. On the audio front, it has two 4W speakers and an 8W woofer. It runs on Android 9.0 and it has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage space. For connectivity, it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2.

Specifications aside, the BenQ GV30 is a decent performer as far as the image and video quality. While it doesn’t offer the best image quality that is available out there, the projected images are clear with the right balance of colours. During my time with it, I watched a bunch of shows on Amazon Prime Video, such as The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, and I saw refreshingly accurate colours. But the sharpness remained missing. I had a similar experience while watching music videos on YouTube. That said, you do need pitch darkness to get the desired image or video quality. Even the slightest amount of ambient light can hamper the overall experience.

On the other hand, the BenQ GV30 portable projector performed exceptionally well when it comes to audio performance. The sound was clear and loud enough to be heard throughout the house. It’s similar to how my 55-inch smart TV sounds. For more nuanced sound, there is always the option of connecting it with a speaker or a soundbar.

Lastly, the battery. BenQ says that its GV30 projector lasts for around 2.5 hours on a single charge. During my usage, I tested for Normal mode and it easily lasted me for around 2 hours. But this is bound to change with changes in battery settings, display settings and audio levels.

BenQ GV30 portable projector: Conclusion

Now to answer your question, the BenQ GV30 is worth all the big bucks spent on it. It is portable to carry and easy to use. The overall design is refreshing yet practical all thanks to its magnetic base that makes adjusting it easy. The projector is accompanied by a travelling pack that makes it easy to take it just about anywhere. Add to this loud and clear audio quality and built-in support for Android TV.

It’s true that the projected visuals aren’t bright and sharp enough. If you can look past this tiny flaw, you’ll see that the BenQ GV30 portable projector is an easy and rather compact substitute for your static smart TV.