Projectors / Optoma UHZ66 vs BenQ W2720i
Optoma UHZ66 vs BenQ W2720i
BenQ W2720i
Superb 4LED colour and 240Hz gaming — held back by near-zero lens shift.
Wins overall by 1.0 points
Quick Verdict
The BenQ W2720i takes this by a clear 1.0 points. Superb 4LED colour and 240Hz gaming — held back by near-zero lens shift. The Optoma UHZ66 only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Optoma UHZ66 and BenQ W2720i are both closely matched projector models, and the BenQ W2720i is $1,033 cheaper than the Optoma UHZ66 ($1,966 vs $2,999). On Smart Platform, the BenQ W2720i leads (7.0 vs 1.0/10) — built-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is. On Brightness, the Optoma UHZ66 leads (9.0 vs 7.0/10) — usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates. On Color, the BenQ W2720i leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box. Overall, the BenQ W2720i scores 7.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.4/10 for the Optoma UHZ66. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Optoma UHZ66 | BenQ W2720i |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2999.00 | $1966.00 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2025 |
| Resolution | Native 2716x1528 panel with two-phase pixel shift to 3840x2160 — a larger 0.65-inch DMD than most rivals, though still not native 4K | Native 1920x1080 panel with pixel shifting to place 3840x2160 on screen — not a native 4K panel (0.47-inch TI DMD with four-phase pixel shift) |
| Brightness | 4,000 ANSI lumens | 2,500 ANSI lumens rated, measured 2,704 in Bright mode but only 1,595 in the accurate Filmmaker mode |
| Light Source | Laser phosphor | 4LED — BenQ's four-channel LED, not laser |
| Throw Ratio | 1.40:1 to 2.24:1 — standard to long throw | 1.0:1 to 1.3:1 — standard throw |
| Contrast Ratio | 500,000:1 dynamic | 2,000,000:1 dynamic with light-source dimming; native contrast is not published |
| HDR Formats | HDR10 and HLG only; no Dolby Vision and no HDR10+ | HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG; no Dolby Vision |
| Refresh Rate & Input Lag | Up to 240Hz at 1080p with 4.4ms input lag | Up to 240Hz at 1080p; accepts 4K/120 but downsamples to 1080p/120. Input lag 6.5ms at 1080p/240 |
| Smart Platform | None — this is a dedicated projector with no apps or tuner | Android TV via the bundled QS02 dongle, with licensed Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Disney+ |
| Built-in Speakers | 15W mono | 2x 5W with four sound modes and Dolby Atmos passthrough over eARC |
| Lens Shift | None | Vertical ±5% only — effectively negligible |
| Auto Setup | Digital keystone correction | 2D auto keystone ±30 degrees vertical and horizontal, with 8-point correction |
| Light Source Life (hrs) | 30000 | 20,000 hours in normal mode, 30,000 in eco |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | White | White |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Optoma UHZ66 and BenQ W2720i are level here, at 8.0/10 each. detail, contrast and overall image once properly set up is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Brightness
The Optoma UHZ66 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates. If that is what you are buying for, the BenQ W2720i does not close the gap elsewhere.
Color
The BenQ W2720i leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Optoma UHZ66 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Gaming
The BenQ W2720i leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on refresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support. If that is what you are buying for, the Optoma UHZ66 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Platform
The BenQ W2720i leads clearly here, 7.0 against 1.0 — a 6.0-point margin on built-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the Optoma UHZ66 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Built-in Sound
The BenQ W2720i leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.0 — a 1.0-point margin on onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Optoma UHZ66 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Setup & Placement
The BenQ W2720i leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.5 — a 0.5-point margin on lens shift, zoom, auto keystone and how forgiving placement is. If that is what you are buying for, the Optoma UHZ66 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Optoma UHZ66 and BenQ W2720i are level here, at 7.0/10 each. performance and features relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Optoma UHZ66 if…
- • Brightness matters most to you — the Optoma UHZ66 scores 9.0/10 here (usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates).
Choose the BenQ W2720i if…
- • Smart Platform matters most to you — the BenQ W2720i scores 7.0/10 here (built-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is).
- • Color matters most to you — the BenQ W2720i scores 9.0/10 here (colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box).
- • Built-in Sound matters most to you — the BenQ W2720i scores 6.0/10 here (onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio).
- • Gaming matters most to you — the BenQ W2720i scores 9.0/10 here (refresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support).
- • You want to spend less — it's $1,033 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Optoma UHZ66
Pros
- +4,000 ANSI lumens means it works in a room with real ambient light, unlike most projectors here
- +The 0.65-inch DMD resolves visibly more detail than the 0.47-inch chips used by nearly everything else
- +30,000-hour laser life
- +Very low input lag for gaming
Cons
- −No smart platform at all — you will need a streaming stick
- −No lens shift, so placement is constrained
- −HDR10 and HLG only, no Dolby Vision or HDR10+
- −15W mono audio is an afterthought
- −2023 hardware
BenQ W2720i
Pros
- +4LED gives excellent colour volume — 95 to 100% DCI-P3 without a laser's speckle
- +240Hz at 1080p with 6.5ms lag is genuinely competitive for gaming
- +Real home-cinema optics and picture processing rather than a lifestyle design
Cons
- −±5% lens shift is close to useless — placement is rigid and you will rely on keystone
- −Brightness drops from 2,704 to 1,595 lumens once you switch to an accurate picture mode
- −Reviewers found the bundled QS02 dongle stayed locked in HDR10 mode and did not switch dynamic range correctly
- −No Dolby Vision
- −BenQ runs several parallel Amazon listings for this model
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Optoma UHZ66 or BenQ W2720i better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the BenQ W2720i comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Smart Platform, the Optoma UHZ66 or the BenQ W2720i?+
The BenQ W2720i scores higher on Smart Platform (7.0/10 vs 1.0/10) — built-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is.
Which is better for Brightness, the Optoma UHZ66 or the BenQ W2720i?+
The Optoma UHZ66 scores higher on Brightness (9.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates.
Which is better for Color, the Optoma UHZ66 or the BenQ W2720i?+
The BenQ W2720i scores higher on Color (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box.
Which is better for Built-in Sound, the Optoma UHZ66 or the BenQ W2720i?+
The BenQ W2720i scores higher on Built-in Sound (6.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio.
Is the Optoma UHZ66 worth the price difference over the BenQ W2720i?+
The BenQ W2720i is the cheaper option at $1,966 versus $2,999. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Smart Platform.
What's the warranty on the Optoma UHZ66 vs the BenQ W2720i?+
The Optoma UHZ66 ships with a 12-month warranty; the BenQ W2720i ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
BenQ W2720i — $1966.00
Premium Option
Optoma UHZ66 — $2999.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.