BenQ GS2: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-17
Summary
The recurring problems are software: the Aptoide TV store is the only app source and three of four independent reviewers could not download or play anything from it, and screen mirroring works with only some phones and PCs. The hardware holds up better — measured color accuracy, a conditional 3-hour battery, splash and drop proofing — but the LED engine is not user-serviceable, so a used purchase carries real risk. There are no consumables and electricity is the only running cost; with the model listed as discontinued, under $300 used is the realistic buy zone.
Common problems and fixes
- The Aptoide TV store does not work — the projector’s only app source. TechRadar could not download anything from it, ProjectorCentral could not sign in to Netflix without cursor workarounds and saw the Netflix app capped at 480p with Disney+ unplayable, and PCMag could not get Peacock to run; TechRadar also points to the 2020 Aptoide account-data breach as a reason to skip the store. The workarounds all function — phone mirroring, or a Chromecast or Fire Stick on the USB-C or HDMI input — so the smart features are effectively optional. [7][2][3]
- Screen mirroring sees only some devices — a Huawei P30 Pro and two Windows PCs could not even see the projector, while a Samsung tablet and a Google Pixel 2 worked. No fix; test with your own device before relying on it. [4]
- The 2 x 2 W speakers are too quiet — clean sound, but suitable only for a small quiet room, and there is no Bluetooth audio sync adjustment. Use an external speaker over Bluetooth 4.0 or the 3.5 mm audio out. [3][4]
- Top-panel buttons sometimes fail to register — they sit under thick rubberized covering; keep the remote. [2][7]
Parts and consumables
- There are no consumables to budget for: the LED engine means no lamp to replace, and no GS2 spare-parts channel was found. [2][7]
Yearly running cost
No consumables — the LED engine has no lamp to replace. Electricity is the only running cost: 42 W typical at 110 V, under 0.5 W standby. A yearly dollar figure needs your local kWh rate, which the sources do not provide. Optional add-ons the reviews effectively recommend are an external speaker or soundbar, a short HDMI extension for bulky streaming sticks, and a tripod plate that fits the shallow socket — no prices were reported for any of them. [1][2][3]
When it is a good buy
- Under $300 (used) — the realistic recent deal level discussed in a late-2024 r/projectors thread; at that price the measured color accuracy, splash and drop proofing, working battery and USB-C input are interesting, provided streaming comes from mirroring or an external stick. [9]
- $300-500 (used or clearance) — defensible only for outdoor or night use with external audio; PCMag’s comparison set — Anker Nebula Mars II Pro, Capsule II and Apollo — remains the default alternative with far more robust audio. [3][7]
- $599-699 (original street and MSRP) — hard to defend against Google TV portables with better audio and working app stores. [3][7]
- If you want a current BenQ instead, the GV50 is the newer model in the same 500-ANSI-lumen class discussed in the deal thread; the GS50 refurbished program covers a different model, not the GS2. [9][8]