TL;DR
Golfers building a simulator have a genuinely strong option in the BenQ AK700ST. This short throw laser projector packs true 4K UHD resolution, 4,000 ANSI lumens, and a setup process that leans on a built-in camera to line up the image for you. A golf-specific color preset, a 20,000-hour laser engine, and the freedom to mount off to the side instead of dead center round out the package. It runs pricier than BenQ's 1080p AH700ST, but the resolution bump makes a real difference for anyone who cares about picture sharpness.
What Is the BenQ AK700ST?
Think of the AK700ST as BenQ taking a proven formula and sharpening it, literally. The projector builds on the AH700ST, an earlier model that helped establish what a purpose-built golf sim projector should look like. Here, the core idea stays intact: fast setup, strong brightness for rooms that aren't fully dark, and a laser light engine built to last. What changes is the resolution, jumping from 1080p up to native 4K, which matters more than it might sound like on paper once you're staring at a life-sized fairway on your screen.
BenQ AK700ST Specs
A few numbers worth knowing before you buy:
- Resolution: Native 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160)
- Brightness: 4,000 ANSI lumens
- Light engine: Blue laser phosphor, roughly 20,000 hours of use
- Throw ratio: 0.69 to 0.83, classified as short throw
- Picture preset: Golf Mode, built for simulation software
- Setup tools: Auto Screen Fit, Quick Focus, Corner Fit
- Connections: Dual HDMI, USB-C, RS-232, Wi-Fi dongle support
- Build: Compact matte black casing, around 7.4 lbs
- Price: Roughly $2,499 MSRP
Since the AK700ST and AH700ST share a similar chassis and the same setup toolkit, switching to 4K doesn't mean giving up any of the convenience the earlier model was known for.
First Impressions
There's not much fuss in the box: the projector, a power cable, remote, and a quick start guide. What stands out right away is how small the unit feels for something running native 4K. The matte black shell isn't just cosmetic either, it's a practical choice for simulator rooms, since a lighter-colored housing tends to reflect stray light back onto the screen in a way black doesn't.
The remote is worth a closer look too. Rather than burying key functions in a menu, BenQ put the controls people actually reach for front and center: an AutoFit button, a one-touch Golf Mode toggle, Quick Focus, Corner Fit, and a switch for flipping between 4:3 and 16:9. It's a small thing, but if the projector ever pulls double duty for movie night, having those controls within easy reach saves a lot of digging through settings.
Is the BenQ AK700ST a Short Throw Projector?
It is. With a throw ratio of 0.69 to 0.83, the AK700ST can project a large image from a relatively short distance, which is exactly what a simulator bay needs. Standard throw projectors typically need more room to work with, something most home or garage setups simply don't have. What sets this model apart further is that it doesn't demand center-of-screen mounting the way a lot of projectors do. Because Auto Screen Fit and Corner Fit can correct for an off-angle position, owners have successfully shifted the unit several feet to one side, freeing up swing space and reducing the odds of an errant club catching the housing.
How Easy Is Installation?
This is where the AK700ST separates itself from older projector setups. Instead of guessing at a permanent mounting spot, the smarter approach is to test on the ground first:
- Rest the projector on the floor roughly where you expect to mount it.
- Trigger Auto Screen Fit from the remote.
- Allow the onboard camera to size and align the picture automatically.
- Adjust individual corners if anything looks slightly off.
- Sharpen the image with Quick Focus as a final step.
What might have taken an afternoon with a ladder and a tape measure on an older projector now takes a couple of minutes. And because the whole process can be rerun anytime, a bumped or shifted projector isn't a repair job, it's a thirty-second fix.
Picture Quality in Real Golf Sim Conditions
Simulator rooms rarely have ideal lighting, so how a projector handles a garage with fluorescent lights on says more than a spec sheet ever could. Here, the extra resolution earns its keep: tree lines, water hazards, sand texture, and on-screen scorecards all read more clearly than they would on a 1080p unit, and the brightness holds up fine with the lights left on. Turn the lights down and the picture takes on a noticeably richer, more film-like quality.
Much of that comes down to Golf Mode, a color profile shaped with input from GSPro's own design team. Rather than forcing new owners to spend an evening adjusting color temperature and saturation manually, this preset gets fairways, skies, and bunkers looking natural from the first power-on.
Laser Light Source and Long Term Durability
Traditional projector lamps lose brightness steadily over a few thousand hours and eventually need replacing altogether. The AK700ST sidesteps that entirely with a laser light source rated for around 20,000 hours, holding steady on both brightness and color for years rather than months. Add in a sealed, dust-resistant housing, and it's a projector built with garage and basement installs in mind, not just a living room.
BenQ AK700ST vs AH700ST: What's the Difference?
Shoppers torn between BenQ's two golf sim projectors are really weighing one trade-off: resolution against price.
- Resolution: the AH700ST tops out at 1080p, the AK700ST runs native 4K
- Light source: identical laser engines on both
- Brightness: both rated at 4,000 lumens
- Setup features: Auto Screen Fit and Golf Mode come standard on either model
- Price: the AH700ST costs less, the AK700ST costs more
For someone watching their budget, the AH700ST still holds up well. But for anyone who wants their simulator to look its best for years without needing an upgrade, the AK700ST is the safer long-term bet.
Buy the BenQ AH700ST Golf Simulator Projector <--Click here
How Much Does the BenQ AK700ST Projector Cost?
Price is $2,899. That's roughly $600 more than the AH700ST's $2,299 price tag, and the difference comes down almost entirely to the resolution jump from 1080p to true 4K. If sharpness matters more to you than saving money upfront, the AK700ST is the one to budget for.
Where to Buy the BenQ AK700ST
Our store Truegolfs, is a trusted and authorized dealers for BenQ Projectors
Shop the BenQ Ak700ST 4K Golf SImulator Projector <-- Click here
Is the BenQ AK700ST Good for Home Theaters?
It can pull double duty, though golf simulation is clearly what it was engineered for first. The 4K image and laser brightness translate well to movie nights, and the projector doesn't fall apart in a room with some ambient light, which is more than can be said for a lot of home theater projectors. Where it falls a bit short is black level performance, since BenQ leaned toward brightness and color accuracy rather than deep, inky shadows. Viewers chasing true cinema-grade contrast may want to look elsewhere, but for a simulator room that occasionally becomes a movie room, it's a perfectly reasonable dual-purpose pick, especially once paired with an external speaker or soundbar.
Is the BenQ AK700ST Good for Gaming?
Within golf simulation software specifically, yes, Golf Mode makes courses in GSPro, TGC 2019, and E6 Connect look convincingly close to real broadcast footage. Outside of golf, the projector's low-lag HDMI inputs and native 4K resolution still hold up reasonably well for general gaming, even though BenQ didn't design or market it as a gaming-first unit. Anyone using it primarily for a simulator but occasionally hooking up a console shouldn't run into any real limitations.
Final Verdict
Between its camera-guided setup, golf-tuned color science, flexible mounting, and a laser engine built to outlast a traditional lamp, the AK700ST checks nearly every box a simulator owner would care about. It costs more than its 1080p sibling, but for anyone who wants their setup to still look sharp several years down the road, that extra cost buys real staying power.
