The Quick Verdict
Get the BenQ AH30ST 1080P Short Throw LED Golf Simulator Projector. It lists at $1,499, which is $700 under the TK710STi. It has the same throw ratio and the same 16.7 ms input lag. BenQ names a golf picture mode on it, and it's the only one of the two where BenQ states a 1:1 mode for square impact screens. The BenQ TK710STi 4K HDR Laser Short Throw Projector earns its price only if 3840x2160 resolution and a laser light source matter more to you than the $700. Check price at Amazon →
What They Have in Common
They share a 0.69–0.83:1 throw ratio with a 1.2x optical zoom. Both list 16.7 ms input lag at 1080p 60Hz. Each has a 16:9 native shape and a 20,000-hour rated light source life, and BenQ states a 4:3 mode on both. They're close in size too: 11.95 x 4.23 x 8.69 in against 12.0 x 4.4 x 10.0 in.
Where They Differ
Throw and image size: a dead tie
Image width is throw distance divided by throw ratio. With identical lens specs, the math comes out identical. From 10 ft back, each projects an image 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft wide across the zoom range. Turned around, each needs to sit 6.9 ft to 8.3 ft from the screen for a 10 ft wide image.
With a ratio under 1, the image is always wider than the projector is far from the screen, which is why these can hang close to the hitting area. That 6.9 to 8.3 ft window is your mounting slack. Measure from where the lens will actually sit to the screen, not from the back wall. BenQ lists lens shift as "none" on the AH30ST and "N/A" on the TK710STi, so plan the mount around the zoom window.
Screen shape and golf mode
BenQ states 16:9, 16:10, 4:3 and 1:1 modes for the AH30ST, and 16:9 and 4:3 for the TK710STi. For a 4:3 impact screen, both are covered. For a square screen, 1:1 is a stated mode on the AH30ST and isn't among the stated modes on the TK710STi. That doesn't mean it can't, only that BenQ doesn't list it.
Golf mode follows the same pattern. The AH30ST has a named golf picture mode, and BenQ doesn't say either way for the TK710STi. My read is that if your screen is square, this paragraph settles it by itself.
Brightness, resolution, light source
The TK710STi lists 3,200 lumens to the AH30ST's 3,000, a 200-lumen gap. BenQ doesn't state a measurement standard for either, but both are BenQ's own figures, so I'm quoting them as given. The resolution gap is bigger: 1920x1080 on the AH30ST, 3840x2160 on the TK710STi. BenQ doesn't say how that 4K is produced. The light source is LED versus laser, with the same 20,000-hour rating. Input lag doesn't separate them at all.
Keystone, weight, warranty, price
The AH30ST lists 2D keystone with auto vertical, ±30° each way. The TK710STi lists 3D keystone, adding ±30° rotation to the same vertical and horizontal range. The AH30ST weighs 5.84 lbs, 0.96 lbs lighter than the TK710STi's 6.8 lbs.
Warranty reads "3 years parts and labor from purchase date (original retail purchaser), US" on the AH30ST and "3 years" on the TK710STi. The AH30ST is a 2025 release and the TK710STi is from 2024. At list it's $1,499 against $2,199.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the BenQ AH30ST if:
- Your impact screen is square. It's the one with a stated 1:1 mode.
- You want a named golf picture mode on the spec sheet rather than a question mark.
- Price matters. It lists at $1,499, $700 under the TK710STi.
- Weight matters for your mounting plan. It's 0.96 lbs lighter.
Get the BenQ TK710STi if:
- You want 3840x2160 resolution over 1920x1080.
- You specifically want a laser light source instead of LED.
- Your screen is 4:3 or 16:9, both stated modes, so the AH30ST's 1:1 mode gives you nothing.
- You'd use 3D keystone with rotation correction.
- The extra 200 lumens on BenQ's own numbers is worth $700 at list to you.
The Bottom Line
These two share the same lens math, the same lag and the same rated light life. The differences that matter for a hitting bay all lean one way. The AH30ST lists for $700 less, BenQ names a golf mode on it, and it states a 1:1 mode for square screens. The TK710STi's case rests on resolution, laser and 200 more lumens. Call it a hunch, but $700 is a lot to pay for specs that don't change throw, lag or screen shape.