Optoma ZK521ST-B 4K Laser Projector vs BenQ AK800ST

Both are 5,000-lumen native 4K laser DLP short-throw projectors aimed at golf simulators, so the split comes down to throw distance and lag. The Optoma ZK521ST-B throws shorter (about 0.5:1), so it fills a big screen from very little depth and suits tight rooms and commercial always-on installs. The BenQ AK800ST has a longer 0.69–0.83 throw with motorized zoom, plus HDMI 2.1 and input lag as low as 4.8 ms, which matters if the screen doubles as a gaming display. Owners of both report the laser source runs cool and needs no lamp swaps; the BenQ's camera-based auto fit and screen memory are the friendlier setup, while the Optoma's tighter throw is the harder constraint to work around.

• Choose the Optoma ZK521ST-B if your room is shallow and you need the shortest possible throw to fill a large screen, or you want a dedicated golf-sim and business projector with 360° orientation and portrait mode.
• Choose the BenQ AK800ST if you want a simulator that doubles as a gaming and movie screen, with HDMI 2.1, very low input lag, motorized zoom and camera-based auto screen fit.