The Quick Verdict
Get the BenQ AH30ST 1080P Short Throw LED Golf Simulator Projector. It lists at $1,499, which is $500 less than the AH500ST. BenQ rates its input lag at 16.7 ms at 1080p 60Hz, half the AH500ST's published figure. It weighs 5.36 lbs less. It also has a 1.2x zoom, which the AH500ST doesn't. The AH500ST earns its higher list price in one specific case: you want a wide image with the projector hung very close to the screen. Its 0.499 throw ratio is the shortest here, and it carries the higher lumen rating. Check price at Amazon →
What They Have in Common
These two share a lot. Both are native 1920x1080 and 16:9. Both list 16:9, 16:10, 4:3 and 1:1 modes, so square and 4:3 impact screens are covered on paper. Both have a golf mode and no lens shift. Both offer ±30° keystone, vertical and horizontal. The light source is rated at 20,000 hours on each. The warranty is identical: "3 years parts and labor from purchase date (original retail purchaser), US."
Where They Differ
Throw and image size
The math that matters: image width = throw distance divided by throw ratio. The AH30ST has a 0.69–0.83:1 zoom lens. From 10 ft back, it throws an image 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft wide. The AH500ST has a fixed 0.499:1 lens, and from the same 10 ft it throws an image 20.0 ft wide.
Flip it around for a 10 ft wide image. The AH30ST sits 6.9 ft–8.3 ft from the screen. The AH500ST sits 5.0 ft from the screen.
That's the real split between these two. Both are short-throw by the numbers. But a 0.499 ratio puts the projector much closer in, which can mean hanging it over the hitting area rather than behind you. Measure the distance from where the lens would mount to the screen, then check it against those figures.
Mounting slack
The AH30ST's 1.2x optical zoom gives you a range of positions for the same image size. The AH500ST's lens is fixed, so its mounting distance for a given image width is one number. Neither has lens shift. BenQ lists the AH30ST's keystone as auto vertical. The AH500ST's listing gives the same ±30° range without mentioning auto.
Brightness and lag
BenQ rates the AH500ST at 4,000 lumens and the AH30ST at 3,000. That's a 1,000-lumen gap on the brand's own figures, though BenQ doesn't state which standard it measured either to. Input lag goes the other way. The AH30ST is rated at 16.7 ms, the AH500ST at 33.4 ms, a 16.7 ms gap in the AH30ST's favor.
Light source, size and age
The AH30ST is LED and the AH500ST is laser. Each is rated at 20,000 hours. The AH30ST weighs 5.84 lbs and measures 11.95 x 4.23 x 8.69 in. The AH500ST weighs 11.2 lbs and measures 12.60 x 5.14 x 10.04 in. The AH30ST is the 2025 model and the AH500ST is from 2024.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the BenQ AH30ST if:
- The lens position you've measured lands somewhere in the 6.9 ft–8.3 ft range for a 10 ft wide image. The zoom lets you set the size without moving the mount.
- You want the lower published input lag of the two, at 16.7 ms.
- Your screen is square or 4:3. BenQ lists both modes, so you aren't paying $500 more for shape support.
- You're mounting on a ceiling bracket and would rather lift a 5.84 lb projector than an 11.2 lb one.
Get the BenQ AH500ST if:
- The projector has to sit very close to the screen. It needs 5.0 ft for a 10 ft wide image and gives 20.0 ft wide from 10 ft back.
- You'd rather work from BenQ's 4,000-lumen rating than the 3,000-lumen one, knowing the standard isn't stated for either.
- You specifically want a laser light source over LED.
The Bottom Line
The AH30ST lists for $500 less, posts half the input lag on paper, weighs less, and its zoom gives you room to adjust where it hangs. It covers the same screen shapes, has the same golf mode and carries the same warranty. If I had to bet, most bays don't need the AH500ST's extra-short 0.499 throw. Measure your lens-to-screen distance first. If that number is short, the AH500ST is the one to look at. For everyone else, the cheaper projector is the pick.