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BenQ GS2

By BenQ · Smart Projectors · Audio & Electronics

  • 500 ANSI lumens
  • 1280x720 native resolution
  • 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
  • 20,000 hours LED life (30,000 Eco)
  • IPX2 splash-proof rating

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Summary

Check the streaming software before buying: the Aptoide TV store is its only app source and independent tests call it broken, so plan on phone mirroring or an external stick.

Strengths

  • Measured color accuracy is a real surprise for the class: every color point sits inside DeltaE 4.0 in Cinema mode.
  • Auto focus and auto keystone work on nearby surfaces, so setup is quick.
  • A USB-C input with DisplayPort alt mode is rare in this class.
  • Input lag of 34-39 ms across three sources is fine for casual gaming.
  • The battery runs about three hours in its dimmest mode, and an owner in r/projectors reported more than three hours.

Weaknesses

  • The Aptoide TV store is the only app source and it is broken: no downloads, a 480p Netflix app, an unplayable Disney+ and a non-working Peacock.
  • On battery the picture drops 44%, and PCMag had to shrink from a 70-inch to a 47-inch image to keep it watchable.
  • The 2 x 2 W speakers are clean but too quiet for a small room, and there is no Bluetooth audio sync adjustment.
  • IPX2 only holds with the rubber port cover closed; plug in an HDMI stick and water protection is effectively lost.
  • The tripod socket is too shallow for standard mount plates, and the port cover is held by a single strap that is easy to lose.
  • The LED engine is not user-serviceable, so when the light source dies the projector is effectively done.

Verified specifications

Display engine0.3-inch DLP, native 1280x720 (720p), accepts signals up to 1080p.
Rated brightness500 ANSI lumens.
Contrast ratio100,000:1 (full on/full off).
Light sourceLED (Osram Q8A), rated 20,000 hours Normal and 30,000 hours Eco; replacement is not user-serviceable.
Picture modesseven on the US review unit (Bright, Vivid TV, Cinema, Sport, Camp Fire, Bed Time, User); BenQ Europe lists four.
Throwfixed zoom, ratio 1.3; maximum image 100 inches at 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in).
Keystone and focus1D auto vertical +/-40 degrees; auto focus on power-up or from the remote; both degrade as distance increases.
Input lagBenQ lists 33.4 ms (1080p60); ProjectorCentral measured 37.7 ms; PCMag measured 38.7 ms.
Batteryinternal, rated up to 3 hours; no battery wattage is published.
Audio2 x 2 W chamber speakers, 3.5 mm audio out, Bluetooth 4.0 speaker mode; no Bluetooth audio sync adjustment.
I/OHDMI 1.4a (HDCP 1.4), USB-C (DisplayPort alt mode/reader), USB 2.0 Type-A (reader and power out), 3.5 mm audio out; all behind a rubber port cover; dedicated bay for the bundled wireless dongle.
Wirelessbundled dual-band 802.11ac dongle (BenQ part WDR02U) required for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth; AirPlay, Miracast and Google Cast mirroring; BenQ Launcher OS on Android 6.0 with the Aptoide TV store.
DurabilityIPX2 splash resistance, effective only with the port cover closed; 0.5 m (1.6 ft) drop resistance.
ExtrasLumiExpert ambient-light sensor, eye-protection sensor, parental timer, magnetic power connector, built-in tilt stand up to 15 degrees, camera-tripod screw hole.
Dimensions5.7 x 5.5 x 5.5 in (139 x 144 x 139 mm); 1.6 kg (3.6 lb).
In the boxwireless USB dongle WDR02U, carry bag, remote RCI014 with battery, 1.8 m power cord, quick start guide and warranty card.
Warrantyone year (PCMag and BenQ Australia listings; no GS2-specific US warranty page verified).
Noise31 dBA typical, 29 dBA Eco.
PowerAC 100-240 V external PSU, 42 W typical at 110 V, under 0.5 W standby.
Full research notes and sources

Brightness and picture

ProjectorCentral measured 404 ANSI lumens in the Bright preset, 81% of the rated 500, with Eco just over 21% lower and battery mode 44% lower. The all-mode table reads 404/319/227 for Bright, 339/267/190 for Vivid TV, and 341/269/191 for Cinema, in Normal, Eco and Battery order. Color brightness measured 99.4% of white and uniformity just under 87%. PCMag’s dark-room test found a 70-inch 16:9 image comfortable, but judged the brightness closer to 350 than 500 lumens, and on battery it had to drop to 47 inches.

Color accuracy was the pleasant surprise. ProjectorCentral found every color point inside DeltaE 4.0 in Cinema mode, with grayscale DeltaE averaging 6.0 and improving to 4.2 in Eco. TechRadar judged the image unusable in daylight and found about 60 inches the practical ceiling even in complete darkness.

Streaming and software

The single biggest weakness is the software layer. 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 input, but they mean the smart-projector pitch is optional. Screen mirroring is inconsistent across devices: What Hi-Fi’s Huawei P30 Pro and two Windows PCs could not see the projector, while a Samsung tablet and a Google Pixel 2 worked. Top-panel buttons sit under thick rubber and sometimes fail to register, so keep the remote.

Battery life and running costs

On battery the picture drops 44%, so the projector is really a dimmed image on a smaller screen. There is no published battery wattage and no user-replacement path. The LED engine is not user-serviceable either, and BenQ directs light-source replacement to a service center. There are no consumables to budget for, but a used purchase carries real risk: the battery, LED engine and mainboard are not user-serviceable, and no GS2 spare-parts channel was found. Practical care is simple: keep the port cover closed to preserve IPX2, and charge the battery to at least 60% before any over-the-air update.

Is it worth it?

ProjectorCentral lists the GS2 as discontinued with a $699 MSRP, and it retailed around $599 in 2020-2021. A December 2024/January 2025 r/projectors thread discusses a GS2 sold for less than $300 as the buy trigger, and that is the realistic recent deal level for a model now trading used and on clearance. At under $300 the hardware is interesting: measured color accuracy, splash and drop proofing, a battery that works and a USB-C input. Between $300 and $500 it is defensible only for a specific outdoor or night use case with external audio. At the original $599-699 it was hard to defend against Google TV portables with better audio and working app stores. PCMag gave it an Average verdict and TechRadar concluded the concept had potential that was not realised.

Which model this is

This page covers the BenQ GS2, the 720p portable that BenQ positions as the successor to the GS1 and below the GS50 and GV50. It uses a 0.3-inch DLP chip, an Osram Q8A LED, a 3-hour battery and the bundled WDR02U wireless dongle.

The US Amazon listing carries ASIN B08576KMGN.

Do not confuse it with the GS1 (300 ANSI lumens), GV30, GV32, GS50 or GV50.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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