The Quick Verdict
Get the BenQ AH500ST 1080P Short Throw Laser Golf Simulator Projector. It lists at $1,999, which is $900 less at list than the AK700ST. It matches the AK700ST on the specs a sim bay depends on: 4,000 lumens, 33.4 ms of input lag, a golf mode, and stated 4:3 and 1:1 modes. It also has the shorter throw ratio, so it needs less distance for a given image width. The BenQ AK700ST 4K Short Throw Laser Golf Simulator Projector is worth the extra money only if you're set on 4K or need a zoom lens for mounting slack. Check price at The Indoor Golf Shop →
What They Have in Common
These two share a lot:
- Same brand and same native 16:9 shape.
- Same laser light source, rated at 20,000 hours.
- Same 4,000-lumen figure.
- Same 33.4 ms input lag at 1080p 60Hz.
- A golf mode on each.
- The same stated aspect modes: 16:9, 16:10, 4:3 and 1:1.
Neither has lens shift. The warranty reads identically: 3 years parts and labor from purchase date (original retail purchaser), US.
Where They Differ
Throw ratio and image size
Image width = throw distance ÷ throw ratio. That one line is most of this comparison.
The AH500ST has a fixed 0.499:1 lens. From 10 ft back it puts up an image 20.0 ft wide (10 ft ÷ 0.499).
The AK700ST's lens zooms across 0.69–0.83:1. From the same 10 ft that gives 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft wide (10 ft ÷ 0.83 to 10 ft ÷ 0.69).
It's easier to see the other way around. For a 10 ft wide image, the AH500ST sits 5.0 ft from the screen (10 ft × 0.499). The AK700ST sits 6.9 ft–8.3 ft from it (10 ft × 0.69 to 10 ft × 0.83). Both are short-throw by the numbers, but they don't hang in the same spot. The AH500ST gets the same width from noticeably closer in, and that changes where the mount goes relative to where you stand to hit. Measure the distance from where the lens will sit to the screen, then check it against those figures.
Mounting slack
The AH500ST's lens is fixed, with an optical zoom of 1, and it has no lens shift. That means the mounting distance alone sets the image size. Get the distance right or the image won't match the screen.
The AK700ST's 1.2 optical zoom gives you a range of image widths from any one mounting point. Neither model has lens shift, so the zoom is the only optical slack either one offers. My read is that this zoom range is the AK700ST's most practical advantage for a sim build. Resolution comes second.
Resolution
The AH500ST is native 1920x1080. The AK700ST is listed at 3840x2160, and BenQ states its 4K UHD is pixel-shift. I haven't seen either one running, so I won't tell you what that difference looks like on an impact screen. It's a published resolution gap, and it's a big part of the $900 at list.
Keystone, size and weight
The AH500ST has 2D keystone, ±30 degrees vertical and horizontal. The AK700ST has 3D keystone, which adds ±30 degrees of rotation to the same vertical and horizontal ranges.
The AK700ST is also the lighter unit:
- AK700ST: 7.48 lbs, 11.94 x 4.43 x 9.23 in.
- AH500ST: 11.2 lbs, 12.60 x 5.14 x 10.04 in.
That's a 3.72 lb gap if you're lifting it onto a ceiling mount. The AH500ST is a 2024 release and the AK700ST is a 2025 release.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the BenQ AH500ST 1080P Short Throw Laser Golf Simulator Projector if:
- You want the shortest mounting distance for your image width: 5.0 ft back for a 10 ft wide image.
- You'd rather keep the $900 at list. It has the same lumen figure, the same lag, a golf mode, and stated 1:1 and 4:3 modes.
- You can measure your lens-to-screen distance precisely and mount to it, since the fixed lens gives no zoom range to correct with.
- 1080p native is fine for your setup.
Get the BenQ AK700ST 4K Short Throw Laser Golf Simulator Projector if:
- You're set on a 4K UHD (pixel-shift) image.
- Your mounting position can only go where it can go, and you want a 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft range of widths from 10 ft back instead of one fixed size.
- You want rotation correction in the keystone on top of vertical and horizontal.
- A lighter unit matters for the install: 7.48 lbs against 11.2 lbs.
The Bottom Line
These two list the same 4,000 lumens and the same 33.4 ms of lag. Each has a golf mode, and each states 4:3 and 1:1 modes. The AH500ST costs $900 less at list and gets a 10 ft wide image from 5.0 ft back. The AK700ST's case rests on 4K pixel-shift and a 1.2 zoom. If I had to bet, the zoom will matter more than the pixels for most mounting setups. Neither one justifies the price gap over the shorter-throw, cheaper option for a default build.