BenQ makes great short-throw projectors. Two of them share the exact same throw geometry — 0.69 to 0.83 — which means they sit the same distance from your screen, mount the same way, and fill the same image size from the same spots.
One costs $2,899. The other costs $1,999.
These two projectors share the same mount, the same ceiling hole pattern, and the same throw range. One costs $2,899. The other costs $1,999. That $900 difference has to come from somewhere.
This isn’t one being “better.” This is two very different products for two very different buyers who happen to share the same ceiling mount. The $900 difference comes down to four specific features.
The Quick Version
| Feature | AK700ST ($2,899) | TK710STi ($1,999) |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Lumens | 4,000 | 3,200 |
| Throw ratio | 0.69-0.83 | 0.69-0.83 |
| Auto Screen Fit | Yes Built-in camera, 10 seconds | No Manual setup |
| Golf Mode | Yes Green-grass color profile | No No golf-specific preset |
| IP dust rating | IP5X (dustproof) | None |
| Curved screen warping | Yes 4 matrix options | No Not supported |
| Lens shift | Manual | Manual |
| Zoom | Motorized | Manual |
| Input lag | 8.4ms (1080p/240Hz) | ~16ms (4K/60Hz) |
| Smart TV | No None | Yes Android TV built-in |
| eARC | No No | Yes Yes |
| Speaker | 5W mono | 10W mono |
| Price | $2,899 | $1,999 |
All the things that matter for sim use (4K, laser, short throw, reliability) are here on both units. The differences are where the AK700ST pulls away on convenience and durability.
Auto Screen Fit: The $500 Feature
The AK700ST has a camera built into the front of the projector. You mount the projector roughly where it should go, press “Auto Screen Fit” on the remote, and the camera finds your screen edges, detects your aspect ratio, and aligns the image perfectly in about ten seconds.
The TK710STi does not have this. You mount it. You aim it. You climb down. You check. You climb back up. You move it an inch. You climb down. You check again. You go into the keystone menu. You adjust. You climb down. You check again. You give up and live with an almost-square trapezoid for the next three years.
That’s the difference. One ten-second button press versus forty-five minutes of ladder time and a permanent mild irritation every time you look at the left edge of your screen.
Is that worth $500? Frankly? Yeah. Especially if you’re mounting the projector yourself on a 12-foot ceiling in a garage with insulation falling on your head.
But if you’ve got a buddy who does AV installs? If you’re mounting it on an 8-foot basement ceiling where you can stand flat-footed and adjust it? The TK710STi’s manual setup goes from “infuriating” to “annoying” real fast.
Brightness: 4,000 vs 3,200 Lumens
800 lumens doesn’t sound like a lot until you’re in a garage with the overhead lights on and the AK700ST’s image is clearly punchier.
In a dark room — basement, dedicated sim space, garage at night — both look excellent. 3,200 lumens is plenty for a 120-inch screen in a pitch-black room. You will not notice the difference.
In a room with any ambient light — garage with the door partially open, living room with windows, space where the wife wants lights on — the extra 800 lumens from the AK700ST makes the image noticeably more visible. It’s the difference between “I can see it” and “I’m immersed.”
The honest take: If you have a dedicated dark room, the TK710STi is bright enough. If your sim shares space with real life where people turn lights on, spend the extra.
Golf Mode: Real or Marketing?
BenQ put a specific color profile on the AK700ST called Golf Mode. It’s calibrated for grass greens, blue skies, and sand that looks like sand. You toggle it on once and forget about it.
Is it a gimmick? A little bit. You can get close to the same result with 30 seconds of picture tuning on the TK710STi. But you have to know how to tune it, and you have to actually do it, and then it might not save as a permanent preset depending on your signal source.
Golf Mode is the difference between “out of the box it looks right” and “you’ll get it dialed in eventually.” For the guy who wants to hit balls tonight, not read the manual tonight, it matters.
IP5X: Dust Is The Hidden Killer
The AK700ST has an IP5X dust protection rating. That means the laser module and optics are sealed against dust ingress. In a garage — where you’re swinging a club, kicking up dust from the mat, and the garage door brings in whatever the driveway has collected — this matters.
The TK710STi has no IP rating for dust. It’s a living-room projector that happens to be short-throw. Put it in a climate-controlled home theater and it’ll run for 15 years. Put it in an uninsulated garage where you drag in leaf dust every time the door opens, and you’re rolling the dice on how soon dust spots appear on the lens or inside the optics.
The honest math: The AK700ST is built for a garage. The TK710STi is built for a house with a garage. If your projector lives in the same space where you swing a golf club, get the one with dust protection.
Curved Screen Warping
This is niche but worth mentioning. If you’re building a curved impact screen (more people are), the AK700ST supports image warping with four matrix options from 5x3 up to 24x15. The TK710STi doesn’t support it at all.
Most people have flat screens. If you’re one of them, this doesn’t matter. If you’re building a curved setup for that theater-immersive feel, the AK700ST is the only choice between these two.
Android TV and eARC: The TK710STi’s Hidden Weapons
Here’s where the TK710STi fights back.
The TK710STi has Android TV built in. That means Netflix, YouTube, HBO Max, and every streaming app run directly on the projector. No external streaming stick. No HDMI cable from a laptop. The projector IS the smart TV.
It also has eARC, which means you can connect a soundbar or A/V receiver through the projector and get lossless audio. AK700ST doesn’t have eARC.
For a dual-use setup — sim during the day, movie night on the same screen at night — the TK710STi is genuinely better. The Android TV means your wife can pick a show without you setting up a laptop. The eARC means the audio actually sounds good.
The AK700ST is a pure sim projector. The TK710STi is a home theater projector that works great for sims.
Who Should Buy the AK700ST
You should buy the BenQ AK700ST if:
- Your sim is in a garage with dust, temperature swings, and ambient light
- You’re mounting the projector yourself and hate ladder work
- You want a crisp image out of the box without tuning
- You have a curved impact screen
- You plan to use the space exclusively for golf (or golf + gaming)
- You have the budget and value convenience over saving $900
The AK700ST is the best dedicated golf simulator projector you can buy. It does everything a sim projector should do and removes the single worst part of installation. There’s nothing else like it at this price.
Who Should Buy the TK710STi
You should buy the BenQ TK710STi if:
- Your sim doubles as a home theater and you want built-in streaming
- Your room is dark and ambient light isn’t an issue
- You’re budget-conscious and the $900 matters for your overall build
- Someone else is doing the installation (or you have the patience for manual alignment)
- You want eARC for a sound system connected to the projector
- You’re building in a basement or climate-controlled room
The TK710STi is a fantastic 4K laser projector at $1,999. It’s just not purpose-built for a garage. If your environment is clean and climate-controlled, you get 90% of the AK700ST’s experience for $900 less.
The Verdict
The AK700ST wins for most home sim builders. The $900 premium buys convenience (Auto Screen Fit), durability (IP5X), brightness (4,000 lumens), and purpose-built features (Golf Mode, curved warping) that make it the right tool for the job.
But the TK710STi wins if your sim space is also your home theater. Android TV and eARC are genuine advantages for dual-use rooms, and the manual adjustments are a one-time pain rather than a recurring one.
Same mount. Same throw. Same 4K laser foundation. Different priorities.
The AK700ST is a dedicated golf sim projector that happens to play movies. The TK710STi is a home theater projector that happens to work great for golf sims. Pick the one that matches how you’ll actually use the space.
Buy the BenQ AK700ST on Top Shelf Golf → Buy the BenQ TK710STi on Top Shelf Golf →
Need the full picture? Read the best projector for golf simulator guide for the complete 2026 lineup. Not sure you even need a projector? Start with Do You Need a Projector? — spoiler: you don’t, but you’ll want one.
Or read the full standalone reviews:
- BenQ AK700ST Full Review → — 9.0/10 with pros, cons, and hands-on verdict
- BenQ Projector Guide → — full BenQ lineup including TK710STi
- Best Projector for Golf Simulator (2026) →
Browse all our projector guides → Projector Hub — the complete collection covering 4K, laser, short-throw, and installation for every build.
Need the full picture on costs? 5-Year Total Cost of Ownership → with software subscriptions, mats that wear out, and the hidden expenses nobody talks about.