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Comparison

AK700ST vs ZK521ST-B

BenQ AK700STBenQAK700ST
$2,899
Buy at Amazon · $2,860, AK700STCompare 6 retailers
vs
Optoma ZK521ST-BOptomaZK521ST-B
$2,699
Buy at Indoor Golf Outlet · $2,699, ZK521ST-BCompare 2 retailers

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A side-by-side look at how the BenQ AK700ST and Optoma ZK521ST-B compare on specs, accuracy, room requirements, and price. No hype — just the parts of the decision a buyer actually weighs.

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More comparisons with the AK700ST and ZK521ST-B

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Full specificationsEvery spec for both, line by line

Specifications

The numbers, lined up.

Image

  • Resolution
    AK700ST4K UHD (3840×2160), pixel-shifted from a 0.65-in DMD (BenQ calls it True 4K)
    ZK521ST-B4K UHD (3840×2160); Optoma's page says native 4K UHD but names no chip
  • Lumens
    AK700ST4,000 ANSI
    ZK521ST-B5,000 (ISO 21118; Optoma's spec page now says 5,100, its datasheet and golf brochure 5,000; the lower figure is used)
  • HDR
    AK700STHDR10, HLG
    ZK521ST-B—
  • Color
    AK700ST95% Rec. 709, Golf Mode preset
    ZK521ST-B—
  • Picture Mode
    AK700ST—
    ZK521ST-BGolf Sim colour mode (preset)

Hardware

  • Light Source
    AK700STLaser, IP5X sealed (20,000 hours)
    ZK521ST-BDuraCore laser (30,000 hours, eco)
  • Throw Ratio
    AK700ST0.69–0.83 (1.2× motorized zoom)
    ZK521ST-B0.79:1 (short throw)
  • Fan Noise
    AK700ST29–32 dB
    ZK521ST-B—
  • Motorized Zoom/Focus
    AK700STYes
    ZK521ST-B—
  • Lens Shift
    AK700ST—
    ZK521ST-BVertical, 106–125% offset (Optoma's page says 104–125%, its calculator 106–127%; the overlap is used)
  • Lens
    AK700ST—
    ZK521ST-BGolf Sim Short Throw Lens (Optoma's name), fixed 0.79:1

Performance

  • Input Lag
    AK700ST33.4 ms at 4K/60Hz and 1080p/60Hz; 16.7 ms at 1080p/120Hz; 8.4 ms at 1080p/240Hz
    ZK521ST-B16.8 ms at 4K/60Hz with Enhanced Gaming on (manual; the page says 16.7), 33.5 ms with it off; 8.6 ms at 1080p/120Hz (the datasheet says 8.4; the higher is used)

Software

  • Auto Screen Fit
    AK700STYes (front camera)
    ZK521ST-B—

Requirements

  • Throw Distance
    AK700ST—
    ZK521ST-B100 in at about 5.7 ft, 150 in at about 8.6 ft (Optoma's manual; its datasheet says about 5.5 ft for 100 in)

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.

See the AK700ST in your sim room →See the ZK521ST-B in your sim room →
Persona fitWho each one is better for

Who each one is better for

Both fit the same buyers.

Neither one wins a persona the other doesn’t. The choice comes down to specs, price, and room fit rather than buyer profile.

Both fit

  • Performance Seeker
  • Showroom
  • Family Setup

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