Review: BenQ GS2 LED Digital Projector – Theatre Anywhere

In-home screen projection has for decades been an expensive and lacklustre exercise for those brave enough to eschew a large-format LED screen.

The most common issue was the size of the room required to properly house a projector and a multi-channel surround sound system that balanced the size of the images with equally big sound.

BenQ has quite the selection of small, portable LED projectors and the GS2 is the impressive “daddy” of the range.

Measuring ~14cm³ and weighing only 1.6kg, the GS2 is a truly portable LED digital projector thanks to a 3-hour battery, autofocus, Wireless cast, HDMI, and USB-C connectivity. So, as long as you have a blank wall inside or out, and at least 2.3m space, you’re in for a treat.

From a design perspective, the GS2 has nailed the build quality and presentation of what a portable projector should be. Not too heavy, with a simple user interface and unlike the projectors of old, you can be watching your favourite movie or reliving today’s awesome GoPro footage in a matter of minutes.

So what’s it like in the real world? Well, it’s brilliant!

All the controls are ‘one-touch’ on the top of the GS2, and with the multi-function remote, setting up is super easy. We found the fastest way to get watching was to connect to the local WiFi and then using Screen Mirroring from an iPhone we opened the Plex app, picked our content and away we went.

The twin 2W speakers in the GS2 aren’t going to give you cinema-quality surround sound, but if you connect the GS2 to a portable speaker like the JBL Xtreme 3 using a cable with a 3.5mm male audio plug at each end then you are going to easily have sound to match the digital picture quality – indoors or in your backyard.

The GS2 comes with a padded and zipped carry bag, so just like a trusty esky, it’s easy to carry. Being splash-proof and resistant to the odd knock here and there, it’s going to find friends with the adults as well as kids in the family. Speaking of the kids, we know what it’s like when you go on holiday – the normal rules go out the window a bit. Thankfully, the built-in Parental Timer means the kids don’t spend too much time watching their favourite episodes of Modern Family.

Even greater control of the BenQ GS2 LED Digital Projector is available via the BenQ Smart Control app which is available for iPhone and Android.

So, with Summer just around the corner and many hours to be spent camping or by the ocean or anywhere but home, the GS2 provides every member of the family with large format, daytime or nighttime viewing of their favourite sport, movies, or gaming entertainment.

Available now from the BenQ Shop with an RRP of $1,299.