The Quick Verdict
Get the Optoma GT2400HDR. It lists at $1,599, which is $600 under the BenQ at list, and its 0.496:1 throw ratio puts a wider image on the screen from the same spot. Image width is throw distance divided by throw ratio, so from 10 ft back the Optoma gives you an image 20.2 ft wide and the BenQ gives you 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft wide. Input lag is identical. The BenQ TK710STi 4K HDR Laser Short Throw Projector earns its $2,199 MSRP only if you want 3840x2160 resolution, a zoom range for mounting slack, and a published warranty term. Check price at The Indoor Golf Shop →
What They Have in Common
Both are laser projectors with a 16:9 native shape and a stated 4:3 mode. Both list 16.7 ms of input lag at 1080p 60Hz. Neither lists a square 1:1 mode among its stated modes, and neither maker says whether there's a golf picture mode. Weight is close: 6.8 lbs for the BenQ and 6.61 lbs for the Optoma.
Where They Differ
Throw and image size
This is the spec that decides where the projector hangs. Image width equals throw distance divided by throw ratio.
The Optoma has a fixed lens at 0.496:1, so it gets one figure:
- From 10 ft back: an image 20.2 ft wide.
- For a 10 ft wide image: the lens sits 5.0 ft from the screen.
The BenQ zooms from 0.69:1 to 0.83:1, so it gets a range:
- From 10 ft back: an image 12.0 ft to 14.5 ft wide.
- For a 10 ft wide image: the lens sits 6.9 ft to 8.3 ft from the screen.
A 0.496 ratio is the difference between mounting the projector up over the hitting area and mounting it further back toward where you stand. Before you buy either one, measure from where the lens would actually go to the screen surface, then check that distance against these figures.
Mounting slack and keystone
The BenQ has a 1.2 optical zoom. That gives you a window for a given image size instead of a single exact spot, which matters if a joist or a garage-door track is in the way.
The Optoma's lens is fixed, with no lens shift and a native offset of 116% +/-5%. You get one distance per image size. BenQ lists its lens shift as "N/A."
Keystone ranges are listed differently:
- BenQ: 3D keystone at ±30 degrees vertical, horizontal and rotation.
- Optoma: ±15° horizontal and vertical.
Resolution and brightness
The BenQ lists 3840x2160. BenQ doesn't say how that 4K is produced. The Optoma lists 1920x1080.
On brightness:
- BenQ: 3,200 lumens, with no measurement standard stated.
- Optoma: 4,200 lumens to ISO 21118.
Those two numbers aren't measured to the same yardstick, so I'm not calling either one brighter.
Ownership details
The BenQ's laser is rated for 20,000 hours. It carries a 3-year warranty and has a 2024 release year.
The Optoma, a 2026 release, has no published rated light-source life. Optoma also publishes no warranty term for this model. If I had to bet, the missing warranty line is the thing buyers will ask about most, but that's a gap in what's published, not a verdict on the projector.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Optoma GT2400HDR if:
- You need a wide image with the lens close to the screen. It's 5.0 ft from the screen for 10 ft wide, or 20.2 ft wide from 10 ft back.
- You'd rather keep $600 at list for the rest of the bay.
- You want 16:10 among the stated modes as well as 4:3 and 16:9.
- You can commit to one mounting distance, since the lens is fixed.
Get the BenQ TK710STi 4K HDR Laser Short Throw Projector if:
- You want 3840x2160 resolution over 1920x1080.
- Your mounting spot is constrained. The 0.69–0.83:1 zoom gives a 6.9 ft to 8.3 ft window for a 10 ft wide image.
- You want a rated light-source life (20,000 hours) and a warranty term (3 years) in writing.
- You expect to lean on keystone. It lists ±30 degrees on three axes against the Optoma's ±15°.
The Bottom Line
For a sim bay, the Optoma GT2400HDR does the job that matters most: it gets a wide image from a short distance. It also lists $600 lower and matches the BenQ's 16.7 ms input lag. The BenQ TK710STi 4K HDR Laser Short Throw Projector is the pick if you need a zoom window to work around your mount point, or if you want 3840x2160 and a published warranty. I'd guess most bays are built around one fixed mount spot, and the Optoma's fixed 0.496 lens suits that.