AK800ST vs AK900ST
Two 4K laser golf projectors with the same camera setup and the same input lag. The biggest differences are brightness, throw, lens shift and price.
The BenQ AK800ST and BenQ AK900ST are 4K laser golf simulator projectors from BenQ. Both have a built-in camera for Auto Golf Screen Fit 2.0, Golf Mode 2.0 and a sealed laser.
The biggest differences are brightness, how far back they sit, lens shift and price. Zoom range, weight and size differ too.
AK800ST or AK900ST: which should you buy?
Buy the AK800ST for most home bays: it sits closer to the screen, weighs 13 lb and costs $2,000 less. Buy the AK900ST when you need 6,000 lumens for a bright room or lens shift to mount it off center.
AK800ST
Shorter 0.69-0.83:1 throw. Mount it centered on the screen.
AK900ST
0.81-0.89:1 throw with vertical and horizontal lens shift.
Same on both: 4K, camera fit, 97% Rec. 709, Golf Mode 2.0, 4.8 ms lag at 1080p 240Hz, laser rated 20,000 hours.
Fastest check: the throw distance table below shows how far back each one mounts for 10, 12 and 13.3 ft pictures.
How do the AK800ST and AK900ST specs compare?
BenQ lists the same resolution, color, input lag and laser life for both. Brightness, throw, zoom, lens shift, size and price are where they differ.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 5,000 ANSI lumens | 6,000 ANSI lumens |
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Throw ratio | 0.69-0.83:1 | 0.81-0.89:1 |
| Zoom | 1.2x, motorized | 1.1x, motorized |
| Lens shift | None (fixed 102.5% offset) | Vertical ±60%, horizontal ±23% |
| Auto Golf Screen Fit 2.0 camera | Yes | Yes |
| Input lag | 18.1 ms at 4K 60Hz, 4.8 ms at 1080p 240Hz | 18.1 ms at 4K 60Hz, 4.8 ms at 1080p 240Hz |
| Rec. 709 coverage | 97% | 97% |
| Laser life | 20,000 hrs Normal, 30,000 hrs Eco | 20,000 hrs Normal, 30,000 hrs Eco |
| Weight | 13.0 lb (5.9 kg) | 22.5 lb (10.2 kg) |
| Size (W x H x D) | 15.3 x 5.5 x 11.9 in | 20.5 x 6.5 x 13.8 in |
| Price | $3,999 | $5,999 |
Specs from BenQ's US AK800ST and AK900ST spec pages; prices from our catalog.
Is the AK900ST brighter than the AK800ST?
Yes. The AK900ST is rated at 6,000 ANSI lumens, 20% more than the AK800ST's 5,000.
- Garage with windows: daylight washes out a dimmer picture.
- Lights on while you play: a bar, lounge or family room.
- Wide screen: the same light spread over more square feet.
BenQ rates both lasers at 20,000 hours in Normal mode and 30,000 in Eco, with a sealed IP5X engine and no filters or bulbs to replace. Our lumens guide covers how much light each room needs.
AK800ST: 5,000 lumens
AK900ST: 6,000 lumens
How far from the screen does each one mount?
The AK800ST sits closer. Its 0.69-0.83:1 throw ratio means a 10 ft wide picture needs 6.9 to 8.3 ft from lens to screen. The AK900ST's 0.81-0.89:1 needs 8.1 to 8.9 ft for the same picture.
| Picture width (16:9) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 6.9 to 8.3 ft | 8.1 to 8.9 ft |
| 12 ft | 8.3 to 10.0 ft | 9.7 to 10.7 ft |
| 13.3 ft (fills a 10 x 7.5 ft 4:3 screen) | 9.2 to 11.1 ft | 10.8 to 11.9 ft |
Distances run from the lens to the screen across each zoom range. On a 4:3 screen the 16:9 picture is sized to the screen's height, so a 10 x 7.5 ft screen takes a 13.3 ft wide picture.
For the camera to fit the picture, BenQ asks for less than 13.1 ft (4 m) from the lens to the screen center. The projector also has to clear your swing: see the projector placement guide.
Do you need lens shift?
Only if the projector can't sit centered on the screen. The AK900ST shifts the picture optically up or down by 60% of its height and sideways by 23% of its width: about 3 ft either way on a 13.3 ft wide picture.
The AK800ST has no lens shift, so it mounts on the screen's centerline, with digital keystone for small corrections.
AK800ST: 13.0 lb, center mount
AK900ST: 22.5 lb, lens shift
Our BenQ setup guide walks through mounting and Auto Screen Fit.
What do the AK800ST and AK900ST share?
BenQ lists the same Golf Mode 2.0 picture, 97% Rec. 709 color and input lag for the two models.
- Auto Golf Screen Fit 2.0: a built-in camera finds the screen's edges and fits the picture, curved screens included.
- Input lag: 18.1 ms at 4K 60Hz and 4.8 ms at 1080p 240Hz.
- Golf Scene Memory: up to five saved profiles, so golf, movies and games each keep their own settings.
- Motorized zoom: set the picture size from the remote after the projector is mounted.
How do they compare with the AK700ST and LK936ST?
The AK700ST shares the AK800ST's throw, so it fits the same rooms with less light. The LK936ST shares the AK900ST's throw and lens shift and adds HDBaseT for long cable runs, but has no Auto Screen Fit.
| Projector | Lumens | Throw ratio | Lens shift | Auto Screen Fit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,000 | 0.69-0.83:1 | No | Yes | $2,899 | |
| 5,000 | 0.69-0.83:1 | No | Yes, 2.0 with camera | $3,999 | |
| 5,100 | 0.81-0.89:1 | Yes | No | $4,899 | |
| 6,000 | 0.81-0.89:1 | Yes | Yes, 2.0 with camera | $5,999 |
If you are replacing an LK936ST, the AK900ST mounts at the same distance for the same picture. See every BenQ model side by side in the BenQ golf projector collection.
Who should buy each one?
BenQ AK800ST
- Room: basement or garage with light under control
- Mount: centered, 6.9 to 8.3 ft back for a 10 ft picture
- Pick it when: you want 4K and camera fit for less
BenQ AK900ST
- Room: bright garage, wide screen or commercial bay
- Mount: off center if needed, with lens shift
- Pick it when: light or mount position rules out the AK800ST
Still deciding between 4K and 1080p, or short throw and ultra short throw? Read the 4K golf projector comparison or the BenQ buying guide.
Prices checked October 28, 2026.
