One of the all-time tech debates during the holidays is getting a television or a projector. With the introduction of portable projectors, there’s a new, affordable gift idea everyone can enjoy. That’s why for the 12 Days of Christmas gift idea, Day Six is BenQ portable projectors. This past summer, I had the opportunity to try two portable projectors at the same time: the BenQ GV30 and the BenQ GS50. I couldn’t choose between the two so that’s why both make the list for our gift idea.
Check out all 12 Days of Christmas gifts
Why BenQ portable projectors?
These two projectors are the proverbial party-in-a-box. All you need is a dark room, Wi-Fi, and a wall and you’ve got yourself an HD projector screen. The GV30 provides a 720p HD resolution while the GS50 produces 1080p HD. My neighbour has a large DIY-built projector screen in his backyard. I set both projectors side-by-side and played the same content from Netflix at the same time. Surprisingly, I couldn’t tell which was 720p and which is 1080p. It reminded me that specs don’t always tell the true story—seeing is believing.
BenQ offers more than just a projector
A large projector screen is just half of the entertainment experience. Both projectors have a built-in Bluetooth speaker. The sound fills any room and it’s even loud outside. When you’re not using the projector, it also acts as a standalone Bluetooth speaker. This is perfect for parties. Use it as a speaker and then later, turn the projector on to play music videos on the wall. The great thing about these projectors is that you can use them virtually anywhere you have Wi-Fi. They come with a carrying case so you can take it to parties too.
They also have HDMI ports to connect gaming consoles or streaming sticks. In the summer, the kids can game outside using the garage door as a screen for neighbourhood gaming nights. In the winter, use it in a dark basement for gaming during the holidays.
BenQ projectors come with a Android TV dongle
One thing I noticed about BenQ projectors is that they come with an Android TV dongle. The user has to manually open the projector up and insert the dongle into a hidden HDMI slot. For a long time, I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t pre-built into the projector, but then it occurred to me that this makes it easy to upgrade the Android TV dongle in the future. This was a common issue with the first generation of Smart TVs. After a couple years, the software got old and outdated.
Both projectors come with a controller to operate Android TV. It’s also super easy to cast content from your phone to the projector. It’s a great way to share videos with friends and family. There’s no need to search with the controller. Just find content on your phone, and cast it away.
Why choose a TV when you can have a BenQ projector?
Projectors used to be dedicated gear that would be permanently mounted in an entertainment room. Today, they’re portable, battery-powered, and come with a built-in Bluetooth speaker. The BenQ portable projectors, the GV30, and the GS50 can replace a TV, provided you watch at night or have a dark room. They don’t work well in bright rooms—that’s the only tradeoff. Nevertheless, they are super simple to use. Turn it on, point it to a wall, and it will automatically auto-focus and keystone the image. Plus, it comes with a carrying case for easy travel.
If you’re looking for a large screen you can take anywhere, BenQ portable projectors are sure to impress. That’s why they made our Day 6 gift suggestion for the 12 Days of Christmas.
You can buy the BenQ GV30 and BenQ GS50 portable projectors at Best Buy.
Take a look at our 12 days of Christmas posts
- Day 1 – KitchenAid mixer
- Day 2 – Epson EcoTank printer
- Day 3 – Everything Fitbit
- Day 4 – Samsung Neo QLED TV
- Day 5 – Lego
- Day 6 – BenQ projector
- Day 7 – KitchenAid coffee maker
- Day 8 – Arlo cameras
- Day 9 – New smartphone
- Day 10 – Ebikes
- Day 11 – Sennheiser headphones
- Day 12 – Video games
