BenQ AK700ST 4K Laser Short Throw Golf Simulator Projector

The BenQ AK700ST is a 4K laser short throw projector made for golf simulators, with 4,000 lumens, golf color modes and Auto Screen Fit that sizes the image to your screen with one button.

Why it made the list

Once a room has a premium launch monitor and a good impact screen, a 1080p picture can look soft on a large surface. The AK700ST projects native 4K UHD at 3840 by 2160, so fairway texture, trees and greens hold detail across a big screen. Its laser light source is rated for 20,000 hours, so there is no lamp to buy.

Setup is where it stands out. Auto Screen Fit uses a camera to find the edges of your screen and fills it at the press of a button, which skips a lot of manual zoom and keystone work during install.

What it does well

• Native 4K UHD resolution for large screens
• 4,000 lumens from a laser light source rated for 20,000 hours
• Auto Screen Fit for one-button alignment
• Golf picture mode alongside Cinema, Game and HDR modes
• Keystone adjustment of 30 degrees vertical, horizontal and rotation

The 1.2x zoom also gives you some room to fine-tune image size without moving the mount, which the fixed-lens AH500ST can’t do.

Who it’s for

Golfers finishing a dedicated simulator room who want the projected picture to match a high-end launch monitor. It also suits rooms that double as a home theater, since it handles movies and games in 4K with HDR10 and HLG.

Who should skip it

Skip it if your room is very short or your ceiling is low. Its 0.69 to 0.83 throw ratio means it sits farther back than a 0.5 throw model like the AH500ST. Skip it too if you are building on a budget, since 1080p projectors cost far less.

Key specs, explained

The throw ratio of 0.69 to 0.83 means about 7 to 8.3 feet of distance for a 10-foot-wide image. The contrast ratio is listed at 3,000,000:1 with 95 percent Rec. 709 color coverage. Input lag is 33.4 ms at 1080p 60Hz. It has two HDMI 2.0b inputs with eARC audio return, plus USB-C and a 10-watt speaker. It weighs 7.48 pounds and measures 11.94 by 4.43 by 9.23 inches. PlayBetter lists a universal ceiling mount in the box.

How it compares

The BenQ TH671ST 1080p Short Throw Projector has the same throw ratio range and costs about a third as much, but it is 1080p, 3,000 lumens and lamp-based. Choose the AK700ST if you want 4K detail, a laser you never service and faster setup.

Good to know

Auto Screen Fit works best when your screen has a border the camera can see, and BenQ says it supports gray impact screens. For non-standard screen shapes, BenQ recommends setting the aspect ratio in your graphics card settings. The laser engine is dustproof, which helps in a garage.

Questions about the BenQ AK700ST

Is the AK700ST true 4K?

Yes, BenQ lists 4K UHD at 3840 by 2160. It also supports HDR10 and HLG.

Does the AK700ST work in a low-ceiling room?

It can, but it isn’t the best fit. Its 0.69 to 0.83 throw ratio needs more distance than a 0.5 throw projector, so tight rooms are better served by the AH500ST.

Does the AK700ST come with a ceiling mount?

Yes, PlayBetter lists a universal ceiling mount among the included accessories, along with a remote and a wireless USB dongle.