Your golf simulator projector plays a pivotal role in your simulator experience. It’s the lens through which every swing and shot comes to life. You need crisp resolution, accurate color, and reliable brightness. 

That’s why we put together this BenQ AK700ST review. We’re going to spotlight the projector that’s become a go-to choice for golfers who want to build a sim that looks and feels like the real thing.

The BenQ AK700ST 4000-Lumen 4K Short Throw Laser Golf Simulator Projector is one of our best-selling units for a reason. It’s built from the ground up for immersive, responsive play with true 4K clarity, 4,000 lumens of brightness, and a short-throw lens specifically designed for golf simulator setups.

Read through our BenQ AK700ST projector review below to learn more. Indoor Golf Outlet backs BenQ projectors with world-class customer service and the lowest prices, guaranteed!

What is the BenQ AK700ST Projector?

This 4K short-throw projector for golf simulator is specifically engineered for golf simulation - but it works just as well in media rooms and multi-use indoor setups. 

You can expect vivid, true-to-life detail while the projector is installed at the perfect distance from your impact screen. That’s what makes it so great for golf simulators. Space is often a premium in these environments, but visual quality can’t be compromised.

The AK700ST is designed with a versatile, 0.69-0.83 throw ratio that helps avoid casting shadows from clubs or players, and its low input lag keeps response time snappy when paired with simulator software.

Specifications

Features

It’s tough to beat the AK700ST if you want a projector that’s truly plug-and-play for your golf simulator. It’s powerful, compact, and optimized for the exact use case you’re solving for. Here are some of our favorite features:

• True 4K Resolution: No upscaling or pixel shifting. Just razor-sharp clarity that captures the fine details of the fairway, your data, and course visuals. You’ll notice it the moment you load up your simulator software.
• Laser Light Source with 20,000+ Hour Lifespan: No bulb replacements or dimming over time. This projector is made for serious, long-term use with minimal maintenance.
• 4,000 ANSI Lumens of Brightness: Whether you’re hitting into an impact screen with ambient lighting or a well-lit teaching space, the AK700ST holds its own. Colors stay vibrant, and the image never washes out.
• Ultra-Low Input Lag (16.7ms): One of the lowest input delays in the golf simulation projector category. Translation - better realism when hitting shots in real time, especially with fast-paced sim software.
• Short Throw Ratio of 0.69-0.83: The AK700ST’s throw ratio is designed to accommodate most standard-sized impact screens and mounting requirements where the projector is positioned 1’-3’ behind the hitting area assuming the golfer is hitting 10’-13’ from the impact screen, which is our recommendation.
• Golf-Specific Image Optimization: BenQ’s exclusive Golf Mode enhances colors to match real-world golf course environments, ensuring an immersive and realistic simulation experience.
• Flexible Mounting and Setup Tools: With 3D vertical and horizontal keystone correction and BenQ’s Auto Screen Fit you can optimize the image to fit your space - even if your mounting position isn’t perfectly centered.

Let’s take a deeper dive into our BenQ AK700ST review and highlight a few of the things we love most about it if you’re still on the fence as to whether or not this is the right projector for your space. 

Picture Quality in a Golf Simulator Setup

The BenQ AK700ST is one of the few projectors purpose-built to deliver 4K visual clarity on golf simulator impact screens without the usual compromises. 

Its native 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160) displays crisp, high-detail visuals, whether you’re tracking club path on a slow-motion replay or reading subtle slopes on a virtual green. While many 4K projectors rely on pixel shifting, this one offers true 8.3 million distinct pixels. That matters when your image is blown up to 100+ inches across a screen while the projector is mounted 10’+ away.

Color performance is strong out of the box with BenQ’s proprietary Golf Mode, which adjusts contrast, color temperature, and brightness to better suit real golf course visuals - especially when coupled with software like E6 Connect, GSPro, or TGC 2019.

You’ll get natural greens, clear skies, and lifelike textures without the oversaturation or muddiness that generic business projectors are notorious for. The 4,000 ANSI lumen brightness keeps the image punchy even in moderately lit rooms. No need to blackout your space!

Throw Distance and Room Flexibility

The BenQ AK700ST’s short throw ratio of 0.69-0.83 is perhaps its biggest selling point, and a key focus in this BenQ AK700ST projector review. This is what allows you to fill a 10’-15’ foot wide screen with the projector mounted just 10’-13’ away.

That means you have tons of flexibility in where you build your simulator setup - be it a garage or spare room where depth is limited. No need to mount the projector 15+ feet back or sacrifice usable hitting space.

Short throw also means fewer shadows from your body or club while swinging, which is another common complaint our customers have about normal throw projectors. Whether ceiling mounted or placed on a projector shelf, you can put this issue in the past for good.

Another overlooked benefit: you can effortlessly center the image without needing perfect alignment. The lens offers enough range to accommodate off-center or offset mounting while still keeping the image square and sharp.

Ease of Setup and Adjustability

The BenQ AK700ST is designed to work with indoor golf environments out of the box, especially impact screens and simulator bays. The projector includes 3D keystone correction, corner fit adjustments, and a digital image shrink feature. 

You also get flexibility as far as the golf simulator computers, gaming consoles, and media devices you pair it with, since the projector has dual HDMI 2.0 ports, USB input, and RS232 options. You won’t encounter those frustrating handshake issues or resolution drops when switching between software platforms.

The on-screen menu is straightforward, with dedicated picture modes like “Golf,” “Cinema,” and “Presentation.” But what stands out most is how easy it is to dial in the image without relying on a calibration tool. You don’t need an AV expert to get an excellent picture.

Noise, Heat, and Durability

Projector noise can kill immersion during quiet moments throughout the course of a simulated round of golf. Fortunately, you won’t have to deal with that. The AK700ST runs whisper-quiet, hovering just above 32 dB in normal mode and dipping to 29 dB in eco mode. 

It also stays relatively cool thanks to its sealed laser light engine, so you won’t have to set up a bunch of fans or hammer the AC to keep your space comfortable. This feature also helps reduce internal dust buildup. Overheating is incredibly rare with the BenQ AK700ST.

We know you’re probably interested in the durability side of our BenQ AK700ST review, too. The projector’s laser light source is rated for 20,000+ hours, meaning you'll likely never need a replacement. Lamp-based models demand costly bulb changes every 2,000-5,000 hours!

Don’t stress about long-term reliability, either. BenQ has earned a strong reputation in the golf simulation space for projectors that perform consistently under heavy use. This is an investment you can count on to work around the clock. 

How It Compares to Other Golf Simulator Projectors

We’re often asked how the BenQ AK700ST stacks up to the competition - or compares to other models under the BenQ lineup. So, we want to finish our BenQ AK700ST review by helping you weigh your options. 

Comparison With the BenQ AH700ST

At a lower price we often see the BenQ AH700ST mentioned as an alternative to the AK700ST. The only difference, really, is resolution. The AH700ST tops out at 1080P, while the AK700ST delivers true 4K resolution (3840 x 2160). The untrained eye may not notice a difference, but serious enthusiasts will.

That said, both share the same compact chassis, identical short throw ratios (0.69-0.83), and a 4,000-lumen laser engine. So, the AH700ST is still a solid performer if you want to save ~$600. However, you may regret it if you’re also investing in high-end software like GSPro or TGC 2019. The AK700ST provides a noticeable jump in pixel clarity and realism.

Comparison With the BenQ LK936ST

These are the two flagship 4K projectors for golf simulation that BenQ offers, but they’re built for very different use cases. The LK936ST is an ultra-high grade projector with a larger footprint, fewer installation features, and higher 5,100-lumen brightness. 

It’s ideal for large venues with ambient light and commercial golf simulator studios with bigger impact screens. It’s not to say it would be overkill in a residential garage sim or spare room, however, 5,100 lumens is generally more than needed and the LK936ST is priced $2,000 higher than the AK700ST.

The AK700ST is more compact, quieter, easier to install, and still puts out an impressive 4,000 lumens. Both have true 4K resolution, laser light sources, and 20,000-hour lifespans.

Comparison With the Optoma ZH450ST

The Optoma ZH450ST looks like a good competitor at a glance. Same 4,000+ lumen brightness, same laser engine, and similar throw ratio. But the key difference? The ZH450ST is limited to 1080P like the BenQ AH700ST.

Unlike the BenQ models, the Optoma ZH450ST lacks a golf-specific display mode like BenQ’s built-in Golf Mode, which optimizes color and contrast for simulator software.

The ZH450ST is slightly lighter and smaller, which can be helpful if you’re navigating a higher ceiling height for golf simulator, as it will reduce the total weight of your projector application. Nevertheless, the ZH450ST doesn’t have the same built-in customization features, color accuracy, or long-term image tuning controls that BenQ offers.

So, is the BenQ AK700ST Projector Worth it?

Just because you can use any projector for a golf simulator doesn’t mean you should cut corners here. You get what you pay for, and after reading through our BenQ AK700ST review, it’s clear this unit is worth it. 

Now, it’s not cheap at nearly $3,000 - but you get what you pay for! That’s the key takeaway from our BenQ AK700ST projector review. Those who are on a tight budget may be better off with one of the other models from BenQ in our collection, or even the Optoma ZH450ST, which we would consider a competitor to the AH700ST.

However, those who refuse to settle for anything less than the best in their golf simulator setup - be it the best portable launch monitor or the best projector - are willing to pay a bit more. And for what it’s worth, you can get this projector at the lowest price online at Indoor Golf Outlet. 

Why Buy the BenQ AK700ST From Indoor Golf Outlet?

We build full simulator setups every day, so we know what actually works in real-world spaces - and we are here to help you figure out if this is the right projector for your space. Connect with our experts for one-on-one support today.

We ship fast, support you long after the sale, and back every product with personalized service and detailed knowledge. Our team has tested the AK700ST in hundreds of golf simulator builds, so rest assured your simulator setup is in good hands!

Bringing Our BenQ AK700ST Review to a Close

We hope this BenQ AK700ST review has answered your questions and left you with clarity on what makes it the #1 choice for a lot of simulator spaces. You get true 4K resolution, 4,000 lumens of laser brightness, low input lag, and a short throw ratio that accommodates most home simulator requirements.

Our blog has reviews on other topics such as Foresight vs Trackman or the Uneekor EYE MINI vs SkyTrak+. But at this point, it’s time for you to see for yourself what a difference the BenQ AK700ST can make in your space. Start building your dream golf simulator today at Indoor Golf Outlet!