Projector manufacturer BenQ announced the availability of the new W1500 wireless HD home theater projector which supports the Wireless Home Digital Interface™ (WHDI™). The company touts this new model as the world’s first wireless projector with built-in 5-GHz WHDI technology. It is designed to handle full-HD 1080p content from sources such as Blu-ray™ and DVD players, AV-R players, set-top boxes, and gaming consoles without the need for HDMI^® cables. The projector also supports wireless connectivity with any mobile device such as an iPad^® or Apple^® TV.

The W1500 features 2200 ANSI lumens, Rec. 709 color gamut, and DarkChip3™ DLP technology. Featuring a six-segment color wheel and frame interpolation, the W1500 uses motion estimation/motion compensation (MEMC) technology for smooth picture quality. In addition, the projector is ISFccc-certified by the Imaging Science Foundation^® (ISF^®), for professionally calibrated picture with two optimized modes — ISF Day and ISF Night.

Using the 5-GHz radio transmission band, the W1500 projector handles both 2D and 3D HD video and audio over distances of up to 65 feet with no cables required. The projector supports HDMI, full 3D timing, NVDIA^® 3DTV Play™, and 2D to 3D conversion. For portable applications, the W1500 features 2x 10-W speakers, audio inputs and outputs, as well as SRS Wow audio sound, vertical lens shift, and 1.6x  zoom capabilities. The W1500 also has a short-throw ratio of 84 inches at 6 feet from the screen. Newly designed 3D glasses are also available as an option.

BenQ’s W1500 HD wireless projector is now shipping at an MSRP of $2,299.

End-user survey’s conducted by PMA Research have found that wireless connectivity is an attractive feature for home-theater enthusiasts. Compatibility with mobile device sources is also important as phones and tablets become entertainment content hubs for cord cutters.