Comparison of BenQ, Anker and ViewSonic projectors for the home

Projectors have many advantages over televisions, starting with their price, going through the fact that they can be placed where we want and how we want, and ending because they offer us the possibility of “having” a screen almost as big as we want. The three projectors that we are going to talk about today can be included in the mid-high range for the domestic environment, but there is no doubt that they offer an excellent performance / price ratio. However, which of the three will be the best option? Let’s see it.

Compared technical characteristics

We start by seeing the general technical characteristics of the three models in a table where we can see them side by side. Undoubtedly, the fundamental characteristic of any projector is its native resolution, and here the BenQ GV30 already takes a notable advantage since it is the one with the highest native resolution (720p), although it is true that the three models are capable of broadcast at Full HD resolution.

All three models have a DLP projection system with LED lighting, which is why all three have a fairly similar useful life (about 20,000 hours in normal operation and up to 30,000 hours in ECO mode, although it is true that the Anker model is affected here by lacking this mode). To highlight the fact that the Anker and BenQ models offer automatic focus, while in the ViewSonic we will be forced to focus manually using an analog wheel located on the projector itself.

Another important feature is the maximum brightness they are capable of emitting, since the further the projector is from the screen and the more ambient light there is, the less the projected image will be seen. Here, the BenQ GV30 and the ViewSonic M1+ take advantage of the Nebula Capsule, as these two offer up to 300 lumens of brightness compared to just 100 for the Anker model. As for the contrast ratio (difference between the whitest white and the blackest black), again BenQ and ViewSonic projectors take advantage, with Anker being the one that, on paper, offers worse characteristics.

We turn to audio, a feature that is also quite important since it is about being able to have all the multimedia entertainment integrated into one device. Anker’s small projector offers a single 5-watt RMS speaker but, according to the manufacturer, with 360-degree sound. The ViewSonic M1+ has two 3 watt RMS speakers with Harman Kardon sound, which looks great, but again the BenQ GV30 stands out with its two 4W RMS stereo speakers plus integrated subwoofer, being the only one that provides 2.1 sound .

In terms of size, it is obvious that the Anker projector is the smallest and lightest, easiest to carry, followed by the ViewSonic and leaving the BenQ as the largest and heaviest. All in all, a projector that weighs just over a kilo and a half and that also has a practical carrying handle is not exactly big, especially if we take into account the size that projectors usually have.

Special features

Each of these projectors has a series of special characteristics that differentiate them from the others, so let’s take a look at them in order to have a global vision of what we have in hand.

BenQ GV30

• Bluetooth speaker with bass enhancer 2.1.
• 135 degree projection angle.
• Automatic focus and base that allows you to put it in any position with 360 degree rotation.
• HDMI and USB-C connectivity.
• Android TV and wireless playback.

ViesSonic M1+

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
• 360 degree installation support.
• Integrated Harman/Kardon speakers.
• Up to 6 hours of autonomy.

Anker Nebula Capsule

• 360 degree sound.
• Compact size and light.
• 4 hour autonomy.
• Integrated AndroidTV.

An assessment of the features can be quite subjective, but essentially we consider that again the BenQ GV30 projector is noticeably superior to its other two competitors, at least on paper .

So are the BenQ GV30, Anker Nebula Capsule and ViewSonic M1+ projectors

We are now going to show you what these three projectors are like, and we start with the smallest of them, the Anker Nebula Capsule. It has a cylindrical shape reminiscent of a 500ml soda can, with a sleek black color that is easy to hold in your hands. Its lens is in the upper area but in the front part, which we already consider to be a drawback because we will not have a way to adjust the height of the projection… in other words, the image will always come out straight ahead and we will have to look for life if we want it to project upwards, for example.

As you may have already noticed, this projector has a metal mesh around its entire circumference, since behind this is its “360-degree speaker”. On the back we have the power and focus buttons, while in the lower area are the connections.

In the lower area there is only a rubber base, while in the upper area we have touch control buttons.

As accessories, this projector does not include anything except the remote control and power cord, neither more nor less.

We are going to continue with the ViewSonic M1+, which has a rectangular shape and a rather elegant gray color. The biggest curiosity of this projector is its “cover” for the lens, which in turn serves as a base to be able to place, now, the projector in any position.

On the back we have a ventilation grille and some control buttons.

You may have noticed that red “strip” on one side, and it is with this that we open a lid to access the connections. We have to say that it is quite uncomfortable to use, since the connectors fit very tight and the cables are left in the middle… we would have preferred the connections to be behind.

As for accessories, ViewSonic includes a carrying case, power connector, external power supply, remote control, and a USB-C cable.

We turn to the BenQ GV30 projector, which has a rounded shape because it is designed to be placed on its base, a base that is magnetized so that it does not fall if we lift the projector, but curiously enough, it allows us to rotate it to put it in the position we want. We find this way that BenQ has had to allow us to project wherever we want, including the ceiling, to be marvelous.

In the previous image you have already been able to see that the lens is on the front, just below four control buttons and a leather strap that will facilitate its transport. For its part, the speakers are combined with the ventilation grille on the sides, where we also have the connection ports.

Let’s see the accessories that this BenQ GV30 brings, which really stand out well above the other two projectors. A hard carry bag is included so you can carry the projector, stand and EVERYTHING else comfortably. It includes a remote control, two power cables, a power supply, a USB-C cable and an additional accessory that we will see in detail below.

This accessory included with the projector is a BenQ QS01, an Android TV via HDMI ideal for streaming from any device, including the PC, to the projector wirelessly. Quite a detail and that also denotes that the manufacturer has been very concerned about offering a complete experience for the user.

The remote: BenQ GV30 vs Anker Nebula Capsule vs ViewSonic M1+

All three projectors include a remote control among their accessories, so let’s see them compared too.

All three are quite similar in size, very comfortable to use in the hands and with plenty of controls to be able to handle, essentially, what we need, from the projector options to the Android TV controls. Of course, a negative point for the ViewSonic controller because the rubber that covers the area of the crosshead makes things stick (notice that it is slightly dirty, even though we have cleaned it, simply because of the “dust” of the cardboard of the product packaging).

Special mention to the command of the BenQ GV30, both for incorporating Amazon Prime Video shortcuts, for example, and for having voice control, something that the other two lack.

The projectors in operation

The time has come to put the projectors into operation to see how they work, and here we are going to have to give you our subjective opinion. For this we are not going to complicate our lives and what we have done has been to connect a laptop via HDMI and play various content, such as YouTube videos with music, Netflix and even a game, so that we will be able to appreciate its sound quality, the quality of the image and its delay.

Image quality, color and definition

We start with the Anker Nebula Capsule, the smallest of the three competitors in this comparison. Its implementation is very simple, you just have to plug in the power cable and the HDMI, turn on the device and select the source.

The autofocus of this projector works quite well, as well as its trapezoidal compensation so that we see the rectangular image even if the projector is not completely straight (the only drawback is that it may take a long time to leave the image well). The projector does not make too much noise, although we have to say that it does from the moment you turn it on, something that for many users can be a problem.

The image looks quite clear, although poor in colors and intensity… with the room in complete darkness it looks quite good, but at the moment when it is in dim light it is already difficult to distinguish the details of the image. With the light on, you can hardly see anything.

We continue with the ViewSonic model, whose start-up is just as simple… plug and play. Keep in mind one thing with this projector, and that is that the “cover” of the lens has to be completely removed (or acting as the base), because if it detects that it is raised, the projector turns off. Leaving this aside, the operation is equally simple and there is no more than plug and play.

The image looks equally sharp and the trapezoidal compensation works well… what doesn’t work too well is the focus, which isn’t automatic and you have to do it manually with the thumbwheel on the body of the device. It must be said that it is noticeable that this model has much more maximum brightness because the image is much better in dim light, and the colors are better defined than with the Anker projector.

The ViewSonic M1+ is slightly noisy, a little more than Anker’s, but its sound is much better, it shows that the speakers are more powerful and of higher quality.

We continue with the BenQ GV30, which is just as easy to configure as the previous ones with the addition that the input source is automatically selected (so it’s even easier). In other words, if the only image source it has is HDMI, we won’t have to worry about selecting it because it will do so automatically.

Not only does this projector have autofocus and auto keystone compensation, it works much better than Anker’s and is almost instantaneous, instantly giving us the best possible image. The maximum brightness is good and allows us to see clearly in dim light, although not enough to enjoy its use in bright conditions. Now, the color range is much better than that of the ViewSonic and that translates into a better color spectrum, with more vivid and intense colors.

But the biggest difference we have found is in the resolution; Anker and ViewSonic projectors carry native WVGA (854 x 480) resolution, and since we’re scaling up from the laptop’s Full HD resolution the image isn’t as sharp as we’d like. However, as the resolution of the BenQ GV30 is HD (1280 x 720) not much definition is lost when upscaling to 1080p, and therefore the result is much more defined images, which together with better color definition and a better focus process and keystone compensation, the result is a much better user experience for the user.

At this point, we have to say that the BenQ GV30 is clearly superior technically speaking to the ViewSonic M1+ and the Anker Nebula Capsule, offering sharper, brighter images with better definition.

Sound and playback delay

Below you can see an audio test (with a YouTube video without copyright), but this depends a lot on the microphone used to pick up the sound and, surely, it will not tell you much if you are watching it on a PC or in mobile, so in the end we have to give you our subjective opinion of the result again.

The sound that the Anker Nebula Capsule is capable of emitting is… correct. Neither good nor bad, the sound is fine but without standing out for anything, neither for nuances nor for intensity, so we can consider that it is enough to have a good experience watching a movie or listening to music, without more.

For its part, the sound of the ViewSonic M1+ has pleasantly surprised us, with a good balance of medium and high tones and a very good maximum volume without distortion, denoting that the manufacturer has used very good quality speakers. Of course, we have to say that the internal fan of the projector spoils the user experience a bit when you have the sound volume low.

Finally, the BenQ GV30 wins again in the sound section, and not only because it is the only one capable of providing 2.1 sound in which amazing bass stands out for the size of the device, but also because having larger integrated speakers size is able to offer a larger frequency spectrum without distortion, making the experience of use especially in movies and games much better.

Finally, it remains to talk about the behavior of the projectors when playing, where we can see the delay. The performance in all three has been optimal, since we have used a direct connection via HDMI, and we have been able to play practically without any appreciable delay.

BenQ’s projector has other options, such as using the included accessory for wireless streaming, but it wouldn’t have been fair to compare it to the other two as they lack this option.

Conclusion: the BenQ GV30 wins by a landslide

In this comparison we have put three home projectors head to head designed to offer a high level of entertainment with great ease of configuration and start-up, and at relatively affordable prices. And what we can tell you from the outset is that, although it is true that of the three the BenQ GV30 is significantly more expensive, the investment is worth it because it has surpassed the other two contenders in each and every one of the areas in which we have tested them.

Resolution, sharpness, clarity and image quality is much better on the BenQ GV30 than on ViewSonic and Anker contenders, plus its autofocus and keystone compensation work like a charm, making it usable when and wherever we want without having to complicate our lives in configuring the image so that it looks good: the projector takes care of doing everything for us.

In addition to this, it is the projector that provides us with the best quality and audio experience thanks to its 2.1 speakers, which, in addition to being the most powerful, are the only ones with a dedicated woofer for low tones, something essential to enjoy in conditions of movies and games, which in the end is the purpose sought by those who buy a projector of this type.

Finally, the list of included accessories and extra features also puts the BenQ GV30 above the Anker Nebula Capsule and the ViewSonic M1+ , which without detracting from their features and performance (which are quite good), fall behind the alternative offered by BenQ. .

Therefore, the BenQ GV30 is the clear winner of this comparison, and if you were thinking of buying a comfortable, easy-to-use projector that gives you everything for your home, of course it is the option that we recommend.