ViewSonic PA503HD vs BenQ TH685P
The Two Cheapest Serious Gaming Projectors
ViewSonic PA503HD
BenQ TH685P
Quick Verdict
Jump to Final VerdictChoose the ViewSonic PA503HD:
- • Brighter image for a lower price
- • Huge 22,000:1 contrast ratio for a DLP projector this cheap
Choose the BenQ TH685P:
- • Meaningfully lower input lag for gaming
- • Accepts 4K input and downscales to 1080p
- • Backed by BenQ’s 3-year warranty
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Specification | ViewSonic PA503HD | BenQ TH685P |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $640 | $1,020 |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Brightness | 4,000 lumens | 3,500 lumens |
| Input Lag | 16ms | 8.3ms |
| Max Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Contrast Ratio | 22,000:1 | 10,000:1 |
| Technology | DLP | DLP |
| Throw Type | Standard | Standard |
| Light Source Life | 4,000 hrs | 4,000 hrs |
| Weight | 6 lbs | 6.2 lbs |
| Owner Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.1/5 |
Bold marks the better value per row. Prices and ratings update from Amazon automatically; blank cells mean the spec isn't verified for that model.
Final Verdict
The PA503HD is the price hero — brighter and noticeably cheaper, with a huge contrast-ratio spec for the money. The TH685P justifies its premium with meaningfully lower input lag and 4K input support, making it the sharper pick for consoles. ViewSonic advertises 16ms and 120Hz for the PA503HD, but its datasheet gives no resolution for either figure and its spec tables for the sister PA503S/PA503W list 37ms, so treat the ViewSonic’s gaming numbers as unverified. Tight budget or office pull-double-duty: ViewSonic. Want the lowest lag for gaming: BenQ.
Get the ViewSonic PA503HD — $640
Get the BenQ TH685P — $1,020
Popular Projector Comparisons
View all 69 comparisons →BenQ TK700 vs BenQ TH685P
4K gaming flagship vs budget 1080p — is the upgrade worth it?
ViewSonic PX701-4K vs BenQ TK700
The two most popular budget 4K gaming projectors, head to head
Epson vs BenQ
Which brand should you buy? 3LCD vs DLP explained
ViewSonic PX701-4K vs Optoma UHD38x
Budget 4K duel: ViewSonic’s value pick vs Optoma’s brightness
Epson Home Cinema 2350 vs BenQ TK700
Epson’s smart 3LCD vs BenQ’s sharper DLP for gaming around $1,000
Optoma HD146X vs Optoma HD28HDR
HD146X vs HD28HDR — is the HDR step-up worth it?