Comparison
AH500ST vs AH700ST
Short answer
The same 1080p, 4,000-lumen sealed laser engine and Golf Mode in both; the $300 decides on throw — the AH500ST's fixed 0.499 fills a 10-ft screen from 5 ft, the AH700ST's motorized 0.69–0.83 zoom needs 7 ft or more.
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By buyer
Which one for you
- Low ceiling or shallow room
- BenQ AH500ST. Its 0.499 throw fills a 10-ft screen from 5 ft, where the AH700ST needs 7 ft or more.
- Normal-depth room, want adjustment without a ladder
- BenQ AH700ST. Motorized zoom and Auto Screen Fit for $300 more.
- Want 4K
- Neither. Look at the BenQ AK700ST or TK710STi.
Also worth a look
More comparisons with the AH500ST and AH700ST
Bottom line
The longer answer
These are siblings. Both are built on the chassis and IP5X-sealed laser engine of BenQ's AK700ST, both are 1080p at 4,000 ANSI lumens with HDR10 and 95% Rec. 709 color, both carry the Golf Mode preset, and both list 33.4 ms input lag at 1080p/60Hz and 16.7 ms at 120Hz. The image you get is the same.
The difference is geometry. The AH500ST's lens is fixed at 0.499, which puts a full 10-ft-wide image on the screen from about 5 ft — tight enough for low ceilings and short garage stalls. The AH700ST throws at 0.69–0.83 with a motorized 1.2x zoom, so it needs 7 ft or more, and in exchange you can adjust the image size from the remote. It also lists Auto Screen Fit, which uses a front camera to square the image to the screen.
So the $300 ($1,999 against $2,299) buys flexibility you can only use in a room deep enough for it. In a tight room the AH500ST is not the compromise pick; it is the only one of the two that works. If you need 4K, neither is the answer — that is the AK700ST at $2,899 or the TK710STi.
Buy AH500ST
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Prices confirmed Nov 10, 2026 · we check every retailer daily
Buy AH700ST
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Prices confirmed Nov 10, 2026 · we check every retailer daily
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Full specificationsEvery spec for both, line by line
Specifications
The numbers, lined up.
Image
| Spec | AH500ST | AH700ST |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p Full HD | 1080p Full HD |
| Lumens | 4,000 ANSI | 4,000 ANSI |
| HDR | HDR10, HLG | HDR10, HLG |
| Color | 83% Rec. 709; Golf picture mode | 95% Rec. 709, Golf Mode |
- ResolutionAH500ST1080p Full HDAH700ST1080p Full HD
- LumensAH500ST4,000 ANSIAH700ST4,000 ANSI
- HDRAH500STHDR10, HLGAH700STHDR10, HLG
- ColorAH500ST83% Rec. 709; Golf picture modeAH700ST95% Rec. 709, Golf Mode
Hardware
| Spec | AH500ST | AH700ST |
|---|---|---|
| Light Source | Laser, IP5X sealed (20,000 hours normal, 38,000 eco) | Laser, IP5X sealed (20,000 hours) |
| Throw Ratio | 0.499 (fixed, very short) | 0.69–0.83 (1.2× motorized zoom) |
- Light SourceAH500STLaser, IP5X sealed (20,000 hours normal, 38,000 eco)AH700STLaser, IP5X sealed (20,000 hours)
- Throw RatioAH500ST0.499 (fixed, very short)AH700ST0.69–0.83 (1.2× motorized zoom)
Performance
| Spec | AH500ST | AH700ST |
|---|---|---|
| Input Lag | 33.4 ms (1080p/60Hz); 16.7 ms (1080p/120Hz) | 33.4 ms (1080p/60Hz); 16.7 ms (1080p/120Hz) |
- Input LagAH500ST33.4 ms (1080p/60Hz); 16.7 ms (1080p/120Hz)AH700ST33.4 ms (1080p/60Hz); 16.7 ms (1080p/120Hz)
Software
| Spec | AH500ST | AH700ST |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Screen Fit | — | Yes (front camera) |
- Auto Screen FitAH500ST—AH700STYes (front camera)
Room planner
See each one in your sim room.
The planner draws each unit to scale with your room and your swing: where it mounts, the throw it needs, and whether your shadow crosses the light. Put in your room once, then switch units in the planner to compare.
Persona fitWho each one is better for
Who each one is better for
Honest persona fit, side by side.
Better for AH500ST
- Space-Constrained
0.499 throw, among the tightest in BenQ's golf line (the LK830ST is 0.496): a 10-ft-wide image from about 5 ft, which suits a low or shallow room.
Better for AH700ST
- Recreational Player
Set-and-forget polish (Auto Screen Fit, motorized zoom, Golf Mode) without needing a GPU that can drive 4K.
- Family Setup
Decent multi-use 1080p with Auto Screen Fit; bridges golf and casual movie use.
Both fit
- Cost-Effective Buyer
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