The Quick Verdict
Get the BenQ AH30ST 1080P Short Throw LED Golf Simulator Projector. It lists at $1,499, which is $800 under the AH700ST at list. It has the identical lens and throw range, and BenQ quotes it at 16.7 ms of input lag against the AH700ST's 33.4 ms. The AH700ST earns its $2,299 MSRP on one figure: 4,000 lumens to the AH30ST's 3,000, from a laser light source instead of LED. If that extra 1,000 lumens is the spec your build turns on, it's the one to buy. For everything else, I'd keep the $800. Check price at Amazon →
What They Have in Common
They share the same 0.69–0.83:1 throw ratio, 1.2x optical zoom and no lens shift. Each runs native 1920x1080 at a native 16:9, and BenQ lists 16:9, 16:10, 4:3 and 1:1 modes for both, so square and 4:3 impact screens are on the stated list. Each has a golf mode, 2D keystone at ±30° each way, a 20,000-hour rated light source, and the same 3-year US parts-and-labor warranty.
Where They Differ
Throw and image size: a dead heat
Image width is throw distance divided by throw ratio. BenQ gave these two the same zoom lens, so the numbers come out identical. From 10 ft back, either one puts up an image 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft wide. For a 10 ft wide image, either one sits 6.9 ft to 8.3 ft from the screen. Both are short throw by the numbers. A ratio under 1 means the lens sits closer to the screen than the image is wide. That's the difference between hanging the projector near the hitting area and hanging it behind you.
Neither has lens shift, so the 1.2x zoom and the keystone are all the mounting slack you get. Measure the distance from where the lens will hang to the screen, then check it against those figures.
Input lag: where the cheaper one pulls ahead
BenQ quotes 16.7 ms at 1080p 60Hz for the AH30ST and 33.4 ms for the AH700ST. That's a 16.7 ms gap in the AH30ST's favor. On a sim, the image is reacting to a shot you just hit, so lower is the number you want, and here the cheaper projector has it. My read is this is the spec I'd weigh hardest in this pair, and it points the opposite way from the price.
Brightness and light source: what the $800 buys
The AH700ST lists 4,000 lumens to the AH30ST's 3,000, a 1,000-lumen gap. BenQ doesn't state the measurement standard for either figure, so I'm quoting both as given. The AH700ST uses a laser light source and the AH30ST uses LED. BenQ rates both at 20,000 hours. I haven't seen either one running, so I won't tell you what that extra 1,000 lumens looks like in your space. It's the main thing the higher list price gets you.
Size, keystone and the rest
The AH30ST weighs 5.84 lbs to the AH700ST's 7.28, which makes it 1.44 lbs lighter. It measures 11.95 x 4.23 x 8.69 in against the AH700ST's 11.95 x 4.43 x 9.23 in. Keystone is 2D at ±30° vertical and horizontal on both. BenQ lists the AH30ST's vertical keystone as auto, and the AH700ST's listing doesn't mention auto. The AH30ST is a 2025 model and the AH700ST is a 2024 model.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the BenQ AH30ST if...
- You care most about input lag. It's the lower of the two by 16.7 ms: 16.7 ms against 33.4 ms at 1080p 60Hz.
- You want the same throw range, the same zoom and the same 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft image from 10 ft back for $1,499 at list instead of $2,299.
- Your screen is square or 4:3. BenQ states both shapes for each projector, so paying more doesn't add a mode.
- It's going on a ceiling mount and you'd rather hang 5.84 lbs than 7.28 lbs.
Get the BenQ AH700ST if...
- The 4,000-lumen figure is the spec you're buying on, and the extra 1,000 lumens over the AH30ST is worth $800 at list to you.
- You specifically want a laser light source rather than LED.
- The 33.4 ms lag figure works for your setup and brightness ranks above it.
The Bottom Line
These two share the same lens, throw math, screen modes, resolution, golf mode, rated light-source life and warranty. The real differences come down to three numbers. The AH700ST has 1,000 more lumens. The AH30ST has 16.7 ms less input lag and lists for $800 less. If I had to bet on which trade most sim builds should take, it's lag and price over lumens. The AH700ST makes sense only when that brightness figure is the deciding spec.