AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs BenQ X3100i: Which to Buy

The BenQ X3100i rates 4.7 among 4K projectors; the AWOL Vision Aetherion Max rates 4.4 among ultra short throw ones. The BenQ X3100i costs $1,700 less ($1,799 vs $3,499).

AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs BenQ X3100i

BenQ X3100i

#1 in 4K4.7Full review

A bright LED 4K gaming projector with streaming in the box, for gamers who want low lag and no lamp to replace.

Amazon $1,799

$1,799

AWOL Vision Aetherion Max

#3 in Ultra short throw4.4Full review

A bright triple laser ultra short throw TV replacement for a living room, and one of the best big screen projectors for gaming.

Amazon $3,499

$3,499

Prices were last checked October 29, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.

Scores side by side

These two sit in different type classes (4K and ultra short throw), and each is scored against the reference points for its own class, so a rating says how well each does among its own type peers. How we rank explains each factor.

Factor weight	BenQ X3100i	AWOL Vision Aetherion Max
Overall rating	4.7/5	4.4/5
Brightness 25%	91 3,300 ANSI lumens	86 3,300 ISO 21118 lumens
Value 15%	86 $0.55 per lumen	63 $1.06 per lumen
Resolution 10%	100 4K (pixel shift)	100 4K (pixel shift)
Streaming 15%	100 Android TV with licensed Netflix	100 Google TV with licensed Netflix
Setup 10%	70 Auto keystone, 1.3x zoom, lens shift	50 Auto keystone
Light life 10%	100 30,000 hour LED	100 25,000 hour RGB laser
Gaming 10%	100 4.2 ms input lag	100 1 ms input lag
Warranty 5%	100 3-year warranty	50 2-year warranty

Independent measurements

BenQ X3100i

Tested by	Brightness	Input lag	Contrast	Conditions
ProjectorCentral	2,949 lm	5 ms	-	2,949 ANSI lumens in Bright mode with video-level white (3,361 with full-white signal); 1,199 in calibrated User mode, Eco. Lag 5 ms at 1080p/240, 9 ms at 1080p/120, 17 ms at 4K/60 in FPS mode.