ViewSonic X2-4K Gaming Projector Review

The ViewSonic X2-4K the industries first certified designed for Xbox projector.

The ViewSonic X2-4K is a 4K (native 1440p) HDR-capable, LED DLP gaming projector that retails for $1,599.99 MSRP. The X2-4K's state-of-the-art RGB LED light source produces 2,000 ANSI lumens of manufacturer-rated brightness and comes with an integrated Harman Kardon sound system designed to elevate the projector's sound performance.

After a highly rigorous testing process, the X2-4K was designated by Microsoft as the world's first "Designed for Xbox" projector. This projector can easily display games on screen sizes up to 120" with a native 240 Hz refresh rate. The ViewSonic X2-4K is the largest Microsoft-certified Xbox gaming display available today.

I will start with a brief overview of the X2-4K, followed by some of the projector's notable features. I will then take you through the projector's hardware and discuss performance. From there, I will sum it all up for you on the last page. Hopefully, by the end of this review, I will have given you the information needed to decide if the ViewSonic X2-4K is the right projector for your console gaming, home theater, and streaming needs.

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ViewSonic X2-4K Specs
Price	$1,599.99 MSRP
Technology	DLP (0.65" DMD)
Displayed Resolution	3840 x 2160
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	2,000 ANSI Lumens
Light Source	RGB LED
Contrast	3,000,000:1 dynamic contrast
Zoom Lens Ratio	1.2x
Lens Shift	Fixed
Sound System	2 x 6-watt Harmon Kardon
Dimensions	(WxDxH) 13.9” x 9.9” x 4.8”
Weight	12.1 lbs

Overview

The ViewSonic X2-4K 4K capable gaming-focused DLP projector with an MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) of $1,599.99. When you consider the extensive list of features and the projector's rated performance, you can't help but marvel at what value this projector represents.

The X2-4K is one of two X series gaming projectors recently announced by ViewSonic. The models are nearly identical except for the lens assemblies. The X2-4K is equipped with a short throw lens, while the X1-4K is a long throw projector. While the brightness of the two projectors is about the same, ViewSonic lists the brightness differently. The X1-4K brightness is listed at 2,900 LED lumens while ViewSonic says the X2-4K delivers 2,000 ANSI lumens of brightness.

ViewSonic X-Series Gaming Projector Model Comparison
Model	X1-4k	X2-4K
Price	US Pricing Available	$1599.99
Brightness	2900 LED Lumens	2,000 ANSI Lumens
Throw Ratio	Standard Throw: 1.15 to 1.5	Short Throw: 0.69 to 0.83
Zoom	1.3:1	1.2:1
Lens Shift	Vertical	No

Cinema SuperColor+ technology allows the X2-4K to display 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut

This incredibly full-featured gaming-centric entertainment projector features an LED light source capable of producing 2,000 ASNI lumens of brightness. ViewSonic's proprietary Cinema SuperColor+ technology allows the X2-4K to display 125% of the Rec.709 color gamut. ViewSonic claims that the LED light source should last up to 60,000 hours, three times the average estimated light source life in most LED and even laser projectors.

One of the ways that projectors designed for gaming separate themselves from the competition is by offering low input lag. Typically, an input lag rating of 0-20 ms is considered high speed, 20-40 ms is fast, 40-62 ms is slow, and anything higher than 63 ms is barely acceptable for most serious action or sports games.

The ViewSonic X2-4K can display 4K content at 60 Hz with an input lag of 33.4 milliseconds. Drop the resolution down to 1080p 120 Hz, and the projector can speed as fast as 8.4 milliseconds and at 240 Hz as low as 4.2 milliseconds. Gaming consoles don't offer 240 Hz games, but gaming PCs do.

ViewSonic X24K 1440P 120 Hz Gaming.

Another distinguishing feature is that the X2-4K will play select Xbox games at 1440p native resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate.
Xbox games look good on this projector, and I'm not just talking about high-speed driving games or first-person shooters. Casual games look fantastic, with amazing depth and color detail.

If the ViewSonic X2-4K were just a home theater projector, it would still be a compelling product. The X2-4K features a 4K displayed resolution provided by a 0.65-inch Texas Instruments DLP DMD. ViewSonic claims this large DLP sensor allows the projector to display hidden details with every dark and bright-colored scene unveiled with unparalleled clarity, ensuring no detail goes unnoticed.

This large 4K sensor also holds intriguing possibilities for this projector's HDR and overall dark and bright detail performance.

The projector features WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, but I’m not thrilled that ViewSonic did not upgrade the projector to WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 but instead is using the latest WiFi 5 and the older Bluetooth 4.2 standards.

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The X2-4K's Harmon Kardon sound system pulls you into the game!

Finally, ViewSonic uses a Harmon Kardon sound system to power the projector's audio. The X2-4K is not the first ViewSonic projector that uses Harmon Kardon sound, but it has significantly lower power than ViewSonic models like the X100-4K we recently reviewed. Check out my colleague Kam Valentine’s full review at the link. I'm concerned the X2-4K might be underpowered at 6W x2. To be fair, I've seen projector manufacturers do a lot with even less power.

Let's get into the details.

HIGHLIGHTS

$1,599.99 MSRP
Single Chip 0.65" DLP Texas Instruments DMD
World first "Certified for Xbox" gaming projector
4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) displayed resolution
LED light source with an estimated 60,000 hours of life
Short throw lens with 1.2x optical zoom via wheel
Vertical keystone correction
Image warping capability
3,000,000:1 dynamic contrast
HDR10 and HLG signal support
4-point keystone correction
Manual focus control
6W x 2 onboard Harmon Kardon sound
Bluetooth 4.2
Wi-Fi 5 wireless connectivity
2X HDMI (1/HDMI 2.0 and 1/HDMI 1.4)
ViewSonic smart OS has some Android app compatibility
On-device support for NetFlix and Hulu
vColortuner configuration software free with download
HD 3D compatible
Dimensions: (WxDxH) 13.9” x 9.9” x 4.8” (355 x 251 x 121 mm)
Weight: 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)
3-year labor and parts, 1-year lamp
1-year ViewSonic Express Exchange Service *Registration required

HARDWARE

The ViewSonic X2-4K is touted as featuring what the company calls a “compact” frame that they claim will fit easily into backpacks to enhance the entertainment experience for parties or on the go. This projector is almost the same size as most of ViewSonic’s short-throw and standard-throw projectors. Yes, it will fit into a backpack, but it needs to be a big backpack if you want to squeeze an Xbox S, controllers, games, and cables to go along with it.

A sealed optical engine protects the solid-state LED lighting and other light path components. Also, ViewSonic added a protective sliding panel that covers the focus, zoom, and control panel.

CHASSIS

Like many modern projectors, the X2-4K projector chassis is made from plastic and features a color scheme like X-Box game consoles. Besides its Xbox-inspired color scheme and a slight difference in the sharpness of the projector edges, the X2-4K is a ViewSonic projector that shares much of the company's design language.

This projector is meant for all types of gaming, including on-the-go gaming at LAN parties. The projector measures (WxDxH) 13.9" x 9" .9" x 4.8" (355 x 251 x 121 mm) and weighs only 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg). ViewSonic points out that the projector can be easily transported in a backpack.

The lens is located on the right side of the front panel. To the left of the lens is an IR sensor. The rest of the front panel is used for ventilation.

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ViewSonic X2-4K Top Protective Panel

The manual focus and zoom wheels right above the lens are on the top of the projector, underneath the sliding protective door.

The projector control panel is a standard ViewSonic design featuring dedicated buttons for MENU, screen BLANK, SOURCE, and COLOR modes to the left. There is also a traditional set of 4 navigation buttons.

The left and right sides of the projector are used for additional ventilation and stereo speakers.

ViewSonic strangely chose to use a kickstand that retracts and allows the projector to be tilted up instead of more useful adjustable feet. I used cardboard shims to adjust the projector position when squaring the image to the screen. Yes, this projector can be ceiling-mounted. But based on ViewSonic's marketing materials, the tabletop is the primary way this projector is expected to be used at home and on the go at LAN parties.

INPUTS AND CONNECTIONS

The ViewSonic X24K offers everything from an RS232 tp a USB Type-C port.

The projector's rear is where all the inputs and connections are located, as well as an additional IR sensor to go with the one on the front panel. Since the HDMI inputs of the X2-4K support CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), you can control thwprojector using your Xbox controller.

One great HDMI convenience feature included on thr projector is ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) which automatically switches the X2-4K into its Ultra-Fast Input setting when gaming conetnt is detected. It would have be nice if ViewSonic had included ARC or eARC, to simply contenting the projector to an external sound system,

USB 2.0 Type-A	1
USB Type C	1
3.5mm Audio Out	1
Control (RS232)	1
HDMI 1.4 In	1
HDMI 2.0 In	1

LENS

The X2-4K short throw lens reduces the chance of someone walking between the screen and projector.

The X2-4K has a 1.2x manually adjusted zoom lens with a manual focus. The short-throw lens has a throw distance of 0.69-0.83 and can project a screen size from 60 - 120 in. (1.5 - 3.0 m) from 3 to 7 ft (100" @ 5 ft).

The projector supports a nice range of aspect ratios from 4:3, 16:9 (Native), 16:10, and 2.35:1. It also allows for various digital adjustments, including vertical keystone but not horizontal, corner adjustment, warping, zoom, and five (5) overscan settings.

Focus uniformity on this projector is excellent, with only the extreme edges of the image displaying only a small amount of blur. I could not see any significant signs of chromatic aberration. ViewSonic’s lens did a very good job displaying the image.

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REMOTE CONTROL

A full-featured, well-organized backlit remote control.

The remote control has the typical buttons for Power On/Off, Source, Focus, Bluetooth, Settings, Return, Home, Volume, Forwards/Backwards, Mute, Play/Pause, and a D-pad with an "OK" button.

The remote control has a built-in sensor, which allows its backlit buttons to turn on automatically whenever you pick up the remote to use it. A backlit remote control is great to have with a projector.

The X2-4K is the world's first Microsoft-designated "Designed for Xbox" gaming projector. ViewSonic collaborated with Microsoft to optimize compatibility, allowing users to control the projector's power and volume with the Xbox remote using the HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) standard. CEC not only works with the Xbox X and S but all current gaming consoles as well.

MENUS

The ViewSonic X2-4K Home Screen menu is displayed every time the projector is started. Users can return to the main Home Screen menu anytime by pressing the HOME button on the remote control or control panel, regardless of what page they are on.

The first option for File Management is the largest selectable area to the left for managing your files via the onboard media player. This screen also features links to the ViewSonic Apps Center, Settings, Bluetooth, Screen Mirroring, and Source shortcuts.

Last, there are three assignable slots for users to show their most-used apps.

With the availability of 4K streaming media devices that start around $20, it's no surprise that the ViewSonic app store offers only a few of the most popular streaming media applications, including Netflix and Hulu. While disappointing, this projector is designed to be connected to a gaming console or PC, meaning that users will likely spend most of their time in their gaming consoles or PC's interface, where most of the major and minor streaming services can be accessed.

The X2-4K features a dedicated menu for adjusting the projector's features and audio-visual settings. Users can choose from various presets for video and audio settings or manually configure the perfect color mode from scratch.

There are also advanced menus for HDR, 3D, and much more.

PERFORMANCE

COLOR

The ViewSonic X2-4K has six picture modes to choose from: BRIGHTEST, TV, GAMING, MOVIE, USER, and LOW BLUE LIGHT modes. Of the six preset modes, I found myself using the TELEVISION and MOVIE modes for the most part. The MOVIE mode is the most accurate picture mode. While the TELEVISION mode was noticeably cooler, it looked good in a room with more ambient light,

All the projector's preset picture modes can be adjusted to fit the viewer's preference. ViewSonic has included several video adjustments, including 2-point RGB balance and an excellent color management system. Since the MOVIE preset picture mode was the most accurate, I used it as the baseline for measurement and calibration.

Since your room and screen material significantly impact the overall picture, we don't recommend using someone else's calibration adjustments. If your room is brighter/darker or your walls are a different color, your settings would probably be different. Also, the color characteristics of different individual projectors can vary. Therefore, copying someone else's results can be detrimental to the picture quality rather than improving it. However, I am including my specific room before and after calibration results.

If you want to make BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST, and SHARPNESS adjustments to optimize your projector for your room, several free test patterns are available on Murideo’s website and YouTube channel. Check out our YouTube video on utilizing several test patterns called Optimize The Image of a Projector or TV Using Free Murideo Test Patterns. Murideo also has written instructions located under the resource section of its website. We use Portrait Displays Calman color calibration software to test the projector's color accuracy.

Pre-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale

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The MOVIE mode’s white balance was very good, and its measured color temperature was around 6700K, which is very close to our target of 6500K.

One of the reasons why the MOVIE mode delivered the most accurate color reproduction is it is the only mode in which the default color temperature is set to 6500K. Since the average viewer prefers a cooler-looking image, the other modes' color temperatures are set to 7500K or 9300K. Switching the Color Temperature of the TV and USER modes to 6500K will produce warmer but more accurate colors.

In MOVIE mode, the projector’s projector gamma was around 2.0, which is brighter than my gamma target of 2.2. The X2-4K also did better than average job tracking colors in SDR, except for at higher IREs.

Picture Mode: MOVIE
Gamma: 1.94
Color Temperature: 6685K
Average Grayscale dE: 1.7
Average Color Tracking dE: 3.3

Post-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale

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We left the Color Temperature at its default of 6500K. The X2-4K offers RGB grayscale balance adjustments, however, the pre-calibrated grayscale was so good that adjusting delivered minimal improvement.

While the projector's color balance was better than average, the X2-4K also included CMS adjustments, which I used to improve the projector’s color tracking even further. The CMS adjustments were very precise, so the end result was outstanding.

I also left the Gamma Setting set to its default of 2.2 and just reduced the brightness slightly.

The projector offers several HDR picture preset modes, and like SDR the most accurate was the MOVIE mode. By making the same small adjustments to the HDR RGB balance I was able to achieve excellent white balance as well.

Picture Mode: MOVIE
Gamma: 2.16
Color Temperature: 6543K
Average Grayscale dE: 1.2
Average Color Tracking dE: 0.67

Delta E measurement of 3 or less is considered ‘Excellent’ and imperceptible by the human eye. Before calibration, the Viewsonic X2-4K measured an average grayscale dE of just 1.7, so there really isn't any need to utilize the projector's RGB Balance adjustments. The average pre-calibration Color Tracking dE was just 3.3, which is also very good. After CMS adjustment, the average Color Tracking dE dropped to just 0.67, which is outstanding.

We did find that the sharpness out-of-the-box on the X2-4K was too high for our tastes. I can only guess that the high sharpening profile, like the out-of-the-box color tuning, is for gaming, where that extra detail can be the difference between fragging and being fragged by an enemy. For entertainment content, I turned down the sharpness setting because I don't need to see Michael Rooker's or Scarlett Johansson's pores in such detail.

While you can adjust settings using the projector's onscreen menu, the X2-4K is compatible with ViewSonic's vColortuner software. This enabled users to make calibration adjustments to the projector using a Windows or MAC computer. The vColortuner software allows users to create custom calibration profiles and then save and share them in the cloud for other X2-4K owners.

Once adjusted, the X2-4K excels with the lights turned down. Even with open blinds, the projector can display a good image even with the impact of the ambient light on the color and black level.

BRIGHTNESS

The ViewSonic X2-4K has a manufacturer's rated brightness of 2,000 ANSI lumens. I was concerned that 2,000 ANSI lumens would not be bright enough, but the projector's RGB LED light source did the job. The projector's black levels and color saturation were very good, even with wide-open window blinds.

To measure the projector's maximum light output, I switched the projector to the BRIGHTEST picture mode and ensured the Light Source Mode was set to Normal.

The ViewSonic X2-4K measured 2,155 ANSI lumens, 155 more than ViewSonic's rating. The ViewSonic X2-4K is more than bright enough for viewing SDR and HDR content on a 120" screen in a room with some light, but as I said above, this projector is not going to be at its best in a brightly lit space, at least when watching movies. Games, which tend to have high-contrast content, hold up far better with some uncontrolled ambient light in the room.

The chart below shows my calculated brightness rating for each of the projector's out-of-the-box preset picture modes.

ViewSonic X2-4K Brightness Measurements
Picture Mode	Brightness Measured (ANSI Lumens)	Color Temperature
Brightest	2155	7296K
Television	1902	10040k
Gaming	1891	7964K
Movie	1210	6602K
User	1210	10032K
Low Blue Light	1894	5353K

BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL

ViewSonic is one of the projection industry's most experienced manufacturers. This company makes everything from entry-level, bare-bones projectors to amazing products, so I had high expectations for the X2-4K's black-level performance and detail. I'm glad to say that this projector exceeded my expectations.

One of the best things about the X2-4K's black-level performance is that ViewSonic does not make users choose between crushed blacks with no details or grays with image details. Due to its 0.65-inch DMD, the X2-4K produces excellent black levels for a DLP. Yes, there's that caveat. This projector is not going to outperform LCoS projectors when it comes to black levels and shadow detail. However, the X2-4K's black level and shadow detail performance is as good, if not better, than quite a few more expensive DLP projectors I have reviewed.

For a $1,599.99 MSRP projector, this ViewSonic does a great job and then some. Like the X2-4K's COLOR settings, manually adjusting the projector’s calibration settings like GAMMA can be used to improve the black level and shadow detail performance.

In addition to improving the projector's dynamic contrast ratio, the unit offers dynamic light source dimming modes (Dynamic Black 1 and Dynmic Black 2). This mode reduces light source output based on the content's brightness level. The projector's native black level and contrast were good enough that I didn't feel the need to utilize these modes.

HDR

The X2-4K supports HDR10 and HLG, two HDR (High Dynamic Range) formats. The projector offers several HDR preset picture modes, and like SDR, the most accurate HDR mode is MOVIE. The X2-4K offers independent single-point RGB adjustment for HDR but the average grayscale delta E was around 1 so fiddling with the setting offers little visual benefits.

HDR Grayscale Measurement Before and After Adjustment

When viewing HDR, the color did seem a little under-saturated, so I increased the color setting from 15 to 20. The X2-4K doesn't offer dynamic HDR tone mapping but includes an HDR EOTF adjustment. The setting has three options (Low, Mid, and High) that allow you to adjust the HDR contrast curve based on your preference.

The High setting increases overall screen brightness at the expense of highlight detail. The Low setting delivers improved black levels with more highlight detail but less overall screen brightness. I did most of my viewing using the default setting of Mid because it looks best on the majority of HDR content.

GAMING

The ViewSonic X2-4K is a gaming projector with really good input lag. As this is a projector designed for Xbox, the big story is users of the series X and S can play games in a native 1440p resolution at a 120 Hz refresh rate with virtually no lag. The X2-4K projector also supports native 4K Ultra HD resolution at a 60 Hz output. This projector also supports 1080p 240 Hz gaming on a PC. See my chart below for a breakdown of resolution and input lag speeds.

4K@60p	33 ms
1440p@ 120 Hz	16.8 ms
1080p@240 Hz	8.4 ms
1440p@120 Hz (Ultra-Fast Mode)	8.4 ms
1080p@240 Hz (Ultra-Fast Mode)	4.2 ms

You will notice the speed difference between 4K/60p vs. 1440p gaming at 16.8 ms when playing first-person shooters or high-speed driving games where input lag makes a difference. However, I didn't notice the difference between 1440p at 16.8 and the lower input lag.

I am not what I would call a heavy gamer, but when I talked to friends and colleagues who are gamers, almost all of them agreed that they could tell the difference when gaming on a display with low input lag ratings. One of my contacts was pretty excited at the possibility of playing Xbox games at 120 fps with a potential input lag of 8.4 ms on a 120-inch display instead of the much smaller LCD he is gaming on.

I very much noticed the differences when playing driving games. The cars seemed much more responsive, which gave me a much better experience than I typically have when I play these games on a slower display. When it comes to FPS games, I didn't notice a big difference. For example, I died just as gloriously fast and seemingly as much as I always do when playing Fortnite on Xbox.

Not all Xbox games run at 120 Hz. Others will require the game settings to turn on the FPS Boost feature. Some games can't run 120 Hz with HDR turned on, so you must decide which feature provides the best gaming experience. Also, when LOW LATENCY mode is enabled, the projector's KEYSTONE settings are disabled.

If you are unsure which Xbox games support 1440p at 120 fps, visit Window Central, Reddit, and XDA developers for regularly updated lists of supported Xbox games.

SOUND QUALITY

the onboad 12 watt Harmon Kardon sounds excellent with TV, moves and games.

ViewSonic has a history of using Harmon Kardon sound systems in various projectors. ViewSonic nailed it when it comes to this projector's sound performance. The projector presents a wide sound stage with a decent dynamic range. ViewSonic has done a great job ensuring that the projector's sound system offers outstanding stereo imaging and decent mid-bass.

I do think that the projector needs to produce more volume. It's just not loud enough. Besides the maximum volume setting being too low, the X2-4K beats the pants off most other gaming and home theater projectors in its class. This projector sounds better than many laser TV products I have reviewed.

The X2-4K offers users three preset sound modes: Music, Speech, and Movie. ViewSonic uses a 12-watt amplifier (6 watts x2) to power the projector's sound system. The Harman Kardon speakers are located on the left and right of the projector's chassis.

The volume level is conveniently displayed on-screen when the included remote control changes the volume. Unlike the X100-4K, which also uses a Harmon Kardon sound system, this projector does not offer any advanced audio settings nor a built-in user-adjustable EQ, which I think is a big miss for ViewSonic.

Of course, a high-end home audio system would sound better with the projector, and the X2-4K does have an analog audio out for connecting to a soundbar or receiver. The X2-4K supports Bluetooth 4.2 and can be used as a speaker for compatible devices.

The projector supports Bluetooth Out for connecting to an external Bluetooth speaker or headphones, but this only works for the projector's onboard applications. Devices connected to the projector's HDMI or USB Type-C inputs cannot have their audio routed to an external Bluetooth device.

Finally, ViewSonic does not include any support for ARC or eARC functionality.

AUDIBLE NOISE

We don't measure audible noise at Projector Reviews. However, when the projector gets going, it can create very noticeable fan noise. The X2-4K’s fan noise is directly related to the amount of heat this projector generates. Dropping the projector into ECO reduces fan noise.

The fan noise will not be an issue when gaming on the X2-4K but play a quiet movie or television show, and you will notice it.

SUMMARY

Big picture. Big sound and Microsoft certified world's first designed for Xbox gaming projector.

The ViewSonic X2-4K is a fantastic gaming projector and can be an excellent home theater projector as long as it's calibrated. If you want an amazing out-of-the-box home theater experience, the X2-4K may not be your projector.

For a gaming enthusiast, this projector offers so many compelling features. The X2-4K is the world's first projector designed for Xbox consoles. After a highly rigorous testing process, the X2-4K was designated by Microsoft as the world's first "Designed for Xbox" projector.

The X2-4K is a high-quality projector providing a genuinely immersive gaming experience using multiple technologies, including support for 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) gaming at a 60 Hz refresh rate and through the use of a native 1440p DLP imager providing Xbox users an optimal 4K (1440p) gaming experience with a refresh rate up to 120 Hz. PC gamers can also use the X2-4K's 1080p 240 Hz gaming support for hyper-smooth and realistic gameplay. Movies and games can be projected anywhere from 60 to 120 inches at a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The ViewSonic X2-4K is a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) LED projector that utilizes a 0.65" Texas Instruments DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). Its light source exceeds the manufacturer's rated 2,000 ANSI lumens for up to 65,000 hours. I measured a maximum brightness of 2,155 ANSI lumens.

While most of the picture modes were very cool, the unit's MOVIE mode did produce accurate colors. The projector's high-quality RGB LED light source can display excellent color reproduction especially after calibration. ViewSonic's vColortuner software is free to download, and with it, users can precisely adjust the projector's color settings and shared those adjustments with other X2-4K owners.

The X2-4K has Wi-Fi access to the ViewSonic app store and easy system updates. Users can side-load applications from alternate app markets like the Aptoide Store. While Aptoide provides access to many streaming services and apps, the apps offer questionable reliability and compatibility. APK files can be sideloaded onto the projector via USB or a PC.

The built-in Harmon Kardon sound system does an excellent job of making movie soundtracks and gameplay more immersive. It's one of the best standard/short-throw projector sound systems I've heard. Although not as loud as I would like, the X2-4K's sound is more like that of an ultra-short throw laser TV projector.

I strongly recommend getting a streaming device like an Amazon Fire Stick or Apple TV 4K to get this projector's best overall smart media experience and smart hardware experience.

COMPETITION

BenQ X3000i $1,999 MSRP

The X3000i is a Projector Reviews highly recommended console gaming projector offering gamers an immersive, open world, 4K gaming experience. The built-in 5-watt Bongiovi DPS 3D surround sound is excellent.

The X3000i's 4LED light source delivers 3,000 ANSI lumens, 1000 lumens brighter than the X2-4K. The projector can reproduce 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, which most projectors cannot do without a brightness-robbing color filter.

The X3000i, however, is not a one-trick pony. You could easily switch the X3000i to Cinema mode with HDR10 and enjoy watching your favorite movies and shows.
The Texas Instruments DLP DMD does an excellent job reproducing 4K content in HDR and SDR.

The BenQ does not support 1440p 120 FPS Xbox gaming, but it is brighter with more comprehensive smart media features built-in, including full support for the Google Play app store.

Optoma UHZ50 - $1,599 MSRP

The Optoma UHZ50 4K Laser DLP projector is a 3,000-lumen projector with high-speed GAMING mode. Compared to the ViewSonic X2-4K, this projector is brighter using Optoma's DuraCore Hybrid Laser Technology as its light source to generate the Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) needed to bounce off the DLP chip, then finally, through the lens and onto your screen.

Optoma says that the DuraCore laser used on the UHZ50 is engineered to deliver exceptional, lifelike images for up to 30,000 hours of operation in ECO mode or 20,000 hours in BRIGHT mode. It also provides stable color and brightness levels throughout the projector's life.

The Optoma UHZ50 offers an ENHANCED GAMING mode with very low Input Lag. The UHZ50 does not support 4K 120 Hz gaming like the ViewSonic, but it does allow gamers to enjoy fast-moving action with a 16.7 ms response time in 4K at 60 Hz and a 4 ms response time in 1080P at 240 Hz.

The Optoma UHZ50 is a dynamic 4K laser projector designed to elevate home theater experiences in any room. The projector is brighter than the X2-4K at 3,000 ANSI lumens of "Lights On" brightness and is priced to enable even more people to experience a stunning 4K picture for gaming and home entertainment.

BenQ X500i - $1,699 MSRP

The BenQ X500i is the most affordable 4K gaming projector in BenQ's highly successful 2024 X-Series projector line. For $1,699, you get a projector that offers many benefits but also has a few downsides.

BenQ's 4LED light source technology offers significant benefits, including enhanced brightness and color accuracy. The 4LED system provides a broader color gamut, producing more vibrant images than traditional lamp-based projectors. Additionally, the LED light source has a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements and color performance that ages more uniformly and less dramatically than lamp-based projectors. The 4LED light source improves energy efficiency, making it a more eco-friendly option while delivering superior image quality.

Most importantly, this 4LED-powered projector offers a 4K enhanced viewing experience. The X500i produces a higher perceived brightness thanks to the 4LED system's higher color saturation. This increased color saturation creates a fantastic picture for gaming and watching movies with no specular artifacts that can often be found in RGB or dual-blue laser light sources.

The X2-4K is an extremely easy-to-set-up, full-featured gaming projector. Out of the box, the X2-4K is not a perfect home theater projector, but it can be excellent with calibration. This projector gives users an incredibly sharp 4K image, low input lag gaming, immersive sound, 3D compatibility, and more. If you are looking for an all-around home entertainment projector that checks almost all the gaming and home theater boxes, then the ViewSonic X2-4K is an excellent choice.

PROS

World’s first “Designed for Xbox” home projector
Native 1440p DLP chip
Supports 1440p QHD 120 Hz compatible Xbox games
1080p 240 Hz PC gameplay with as low as 4.2 ms input lag
Out-of-the-box gameplay is excellent, with great color and contrast
Black levels and shadow detail are some of the best-in-class, and in some cases, above
Excellent CMS (Color Management System)
vColortuner is free for download and easy-to-use
Harmon Kardon sound system provides immersive sound for gaming and movies
LED light source provides excellent lights on viewing
Short throw lens reducing the chance of someone walking between the projector and screen and blocking the displayed image
The high-quality lens provides excellent focus uniformity with limited distortion
Very nice back-lit remote
60,000 light source life
3-year warranty

CONS

Out-of-the-box preset modes are not calibrated for Movies and TV
WiFi 6 is not supported only WiFi 5
Bluetooth 4.2 instead of Bluetooth 5.0
Max volume needs to be louder
No ARC or eARC support
Limited apps and Netflix and Hulu require a mouse to work
Uses a kickstand with a limited range compared to traditional adjustable feet

ViewSonic X2-4K - SPECIFICATIONS

Full Specifications
Projector Model	ViewSonic X2-4K
Price	$1599.99 MSRP
Imager Type	DLP (0.65 inch DMD)
Displayed Resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels (XPR)
Native Resolution	2716 x 1528 pixels
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	2000 ANSI lumens
Light Source Type	RGB LED
Light Source Life	60,000 hours (ECO)
Contrast Ratio	2,000,000:1 (Dynamic)
Zoom Lens Ratio	1.2x
Power Zoom/Focus	No
Lens Shift	No
Interchangeable Lens	No
Short Throw	Yes
Native Aspect Ratio	16 x 9
HDTV/4K	Yes
DVI or HDMI	Yes
3D	Yes
Blu-Ray 3D	Yes
Speakers	12 watts ( 6W x2)
Noise Level (-dB)	29 dB/33 dB (Eco/Normal)
Low Lag Gaming	Yes
Smart Functionality	Yes
Business	No
Classroom	No
Portable	No (Transportable)
Special Features	World's 1st Designed for Xbox Gaming Projector, Native 1140p imager
Networking	LAN and WiFi
Dimensions (HxWxD)	(WxDxH) 13.9” x 9.9” x 4.8” (355 x 251 x 121 mm)
Weight	12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)
Warranty	3-year labor and parts, 1-year lamp