BenQ HT3560 review
A true 4K projector that gets colour right out of the box, if your room suits its narrow placement.
Quick answer
The BenQ HT3560 is a true 4K UHD home cinema projector rated at roughly 2,200 lumens, with factory calibrated Rec.709 colour and a lamp light source. Its limiting specification is vertical lens shift, which is limited, so it suits a dedicated room where the projector can sit where the lens wants it.
A true 4K UHD projector rated around 2,200 lumens with HDR support and factory colour calibration.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Resolution | True 4K UHD |
| Brightness | Approximately 2,200 lumens |
| HDR | HDR support with BenQ's tone mapping |
| Colour | Factory calibrated, Rec.709 coverage |
| Light source | Lamp |
| Placement | Limited vertical lens shift |
The table above lists the HT3560's core specifications, and the defining one is true 4K UHD resolution at roughly 2,200 lumens from a lamp light source, held back by limited vertical lens shift.
Specifications above come from BenQ's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Colour accuracy out of the box is genuinely good, which matters more to how a picture looks than most specifications people shop on.
- True 4K resolution rather than pixel shifting from 1080p panels.
- Considerably less money than the enthusiast alternatives while giving up less than the price gap suggests.
- Bright enough for a 100 inch screen in a room with reasonable light control.
Where it falls short
- Limited lens shift. This is the real constraint: the projector must sit within a fairly narrow window of positions relative to the screen, and if your ceiling or seating does not allow that, no amount of picture quality helps.
- Lamp-based, so the same gradual dimming and eventual replacement as any lamp projector, and our lamp versus laser running cost calculator puts a figure on that over five years.
- Black levels are good rather than exceptional. In a blacked-out room the Epson 5050UB pulls ahead noticeably.
- No lens memory, so a scope screen means manually rezooming every time you change aspect ratio.
What owners report
Owner reports settle on the same summary: excellent picture, fussy placement. People whose rooms suited it describe it as far better value than anything near the price. People who bought it without checking throw distance and mounting height report frustration that is entirely about geometry. Lens shift is the projector's ability to move the image up, down or sideways optically without moving the projector itself, and the HT3560's is limited, which is why placement rather than picture is what owners argue about.
Colour accuracy is the most consistently praised characteristic, often from people upgrading from a cheaper projector who describe the difference as larger than they expected. Fan noise in bright modes is the most common minor complaint. The HT3560 also appears in our best home theater projector guide and our best projector under $2,000 roundup. For a like-for-like matchup lower down the range, the Epson Home Cinema 2350 vs BenQ HT3560 comparison covers the trade.
Who it suits
- Anyone with a dedicated room where the projector can sit in the position the lens wants.
- Viewers who value accurate colour over the last measure of black level.
- Buyers who want true 4K without paying enthusiast prices.
Who should skip it
- People with awkward rooms, where wide lens shift is worth paying for.
- Scope screen owners, since there is no lens memory.
- Anyone in a bright living room, which calls for an ultra short throw laser instead.
Alternatives worth considering
More money, but wide lens shift and lens memory make it fit rooms the BenQ cannot, and black levels are a clear step up. Choose it when the room dictates rather than the picture.
Check price on AmazonConsiderably cheaper and built around low input lag rather than cinematic colour. If most of your screen time is a console rather than film, the trade is worth making.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Is the BenQ HT3560 true 4K?
Yes. It uses a native 4K UHD imaging path rather than pixel shifting from 1080p panels, which is unusual at this price. In practice, at normal seating distances, resolution is rarely the thing that separates projectors, but it is a genuine specification advantage.
Will the HT3560 fit my room?
That depends entirely on your throw distance and mounting height, because lens shift is limited. Measure before you buy rather than after. Our room planner and screen size calculator will tell you whether the geometry works.
How does it compare to the Epson 5050UB?
The Epson has deeper blacks, far more placement flexibility and lens memory. The BenQ has true 4K resolution, very accurate colour and costs less. In a dedicated room where either fits, this is a genuine choice rather than a clear win.
Is it bright enough for a living room?
For a room with some light control, yes, at around 2,200 lumens on a 100 inch screen. For a bright room with windows and no blinds, no projector in this category is the right answer; an ultra short throw laser on an ambient light rejecting screen is.
Keep reading
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.