BenQ TH575i
A bright, gaming friendly 1080p projector for living rooms, with Google TV in the box. A good pick if you can live with replacing a lamp.
Amazon $649$649
The BenQ TH575i is the better projector overall, rated 4.6 to 3.8. The BenQ TH575i leads on streaming, warranty and light life. The BenQ TH575i costs $150.99 less ($649 vs $799.99).
Epson Home Cinema 980
A bright 1080p projector for living rooms and backyard movie nights where room light is hard to control. Add a streaming stick, since it has no apps of its own.
Amazon $799.99$799.99
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.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the BenQ TH575i for streaming (Google TV with licensed Netflix vs no built-in apps; needs a streaming stick), warranty (3-year warranty vs 2-year warranty) and light life (15,000 hour lamp vs 12,000 hour lamp).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every 1080p and under projector; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | BenQ TH575i | Epson Home Cinema 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.6/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Brightness 25% | 100 3,800 ANSI lumens | 100 4,000 ISO 21118 lumens |
| Value 15% | 98 $0.17 per lumen | 94 $0.20 per lumen |
| Resolution 10% | 100 1920 x 1080 native | 100 1920 x 1080 native |
| Streaming 15% | 100 Google TV with licensed Netflix | 0 no built-in apps; needs a streaming stick |
| Setup 10% | 50 Auto keystone, 1.1x zoom | 50 Auto keystone, 1.2x zoom |
| Light life 10% | 69 15,000 hour lamp | 50 12,000 hour lamp |
| Gaming 10% | 79 16.7 ms input lag | 50 input lag not published (neutral score used) |
| Warranty 5% | 100 3-year warranty | 50 2-year warranty |
Specifications
| BenQ TH575i | Epson Home Cinema 980 | |
|---|---|---|
| Picture | ||
| Brightness | 3,800 ANSI | 4,000 ISO 21118 |
| Native resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Picture resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Display | DLP | 3LCD |
| Light source | lamp | lamp |
| Light source life | 15,000 hours | 12,000 hours |
| Color gamut | 88% Rec.709 | - |
| Native contrast | 15,000:1 | - |
| Dynamic contrast | - | 16,000:1 |
| Placement | ||
| Throw | Standard throw (1.5:1) | Standard throw (1.2:1) |
| Largest image | 300 in | 300 in |
| Autofocus | No | No |
| Auto keystone | Yes | Yes |
| Obstacle avoidance | No | No |
| Auto screen fit | No | No |
| Optical zoom | 1.1x | 1.2x |
| Streaming and gaming | ||
| Built-in apps | Google TV, licensed Netflix | None |
| Input lag | 16.7 ms | - |
| Top refresh rate | 120 Hz | - |
| HDMI ports | 1 | 2 |
| eARC | No | - |
| Speakers | 10 W | 2 W |
| Build | ||
| Battery | None | None |
| Fan noise | 34 dB | 37 dB |
| Power | 295 W | 349 W |
| Dimensions | 11.7 x 9.3 x 4.7 in | 12.2 x 11.1 x 4.2 in |
| Weight | 5.1 lb | 6.8 lb |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
| Released | 2026-07 | 2025-08 |