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Start with the display, not the controller: turn on the TV or projector’s Game, Fast, or other low-latency mode, then enable Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) when both devices support it. Confirm the console is plugged into the correct HDMI input, the cable and any receiver or switch can carry the desired signal, and that a projector’s gaming mode has not disabled a required image correction. These changes address the two main causes of delay: display processing and an incompatible signal path.
There is no universal input-lag reduction number for every console, game, TV, and projector. Menu names, supported refresh rates, and the effect of image-processing features vary by model, so make one change at a time and verify the result in the same game and display mode.
What input lag is and where it comes from
Input lag is the time between an action on a controller and the corresponding image appearing on screen. A console first reads the controller, renders a frame, and sends that frame over HDMI. The display then receives, processes, and refreshes the image. Any buffering, scaling, motion enhancement, noise reduction, frame interpolation, or geometry correction added by the display can increase the interval before you see the result.
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First, enable the display’s low-latency mode
TVs: Game Mode or its equivalent
Open the TV’s picture or picture-mode menu and choose Game, Game Mode, Low Latency, or a similarly named option. Manufacturers place this setting in different menus, and some apply it per HDMI input. Set it on the input used by the console rather than assuming one global switch controls every source.
After changing the mode, check whether motion smoothing, film processing, dynamic contrast, super-resolution, or other enhancements have been disabled. If a particular feature remains enabled and the TV lets you control it independently, test responsiveness with that feature off. Keep notes of the original settings so you can restore a movie or sports preset later.
Projectors: Game, Fast, or Gaming Boost
Projectors often expose more than one speed-related setting. BenQ’s GP500 FAQ, for example, says both Game Mode and Fast Mode should be enabled for that model’s best input lag. Other projectors may call the equivalent Gaming Boost, Fast Mode, or Low Latency. Select the mode intended for gameplay and then verify the resulting resolution and refresh rate in the projector’s information panel.
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A projector’s fast mode can conflict with digital geometry correction. The BenQ TK705i manual states that Gaming Boost resets keystone correction to zero. BenQ also says keystone correction on the V5010i can add up to one frame, specified as 4–16 ms. Those behaviors are model-specific. If your projector requires a square, centered image for its fastest mode, physically reposition it instead of assuming keystone can remain enabled without a trade-off.
Use ALLM when the console and display support it
Auto Low Latency Mode lets a compatible console signal the display to switch into its low-latency picture mode during gameplay. Sony describes ALLM as automatic switching on compatible displays, but it works only when the console, display firmware, HDMI input, and current activity all support the feature. An HDMI 2.1 label by itself does not prove that a television has ALLM.
PS5 setting path
On a PS5 running current system software, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > ALLM and enable it. Consult the display manual to confirm ALLM support and identify the HDMI input that accepts the feature. The PS5 does not send an ALLM signal while a media app is running, so the display may leave Game Mode when you switch from a game to video playback.
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When ALLM does not appear to work
- Update the console and display firmware, then restart both devices.
- Use the HDMI input identified by the display manual as suitable for the console’s gaming features; ports on the same TV can have different capabilities.
- Check that the display is not locked to a picture mode that prevents automatic switching.
- Test from an actual game rather than a streaming or media application.
- If the display has no ALLM support, select its Game or Fast mode manually.
Check the entire HDMI signal path
A console can only use a format supported by every active component between it and the screen. The chain may include the console, HDMI cable, AV receiver, soundbar, HDMI switch, capture device, and the display. A component that cannot pass 4K at 120 Hz, HDR, or ALLM can force a lower format or prevent the intended mode from engaging. This is a compatibility problem; replacing a cable does not remove delay created by the display’s own processing.
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For 4K at 120 Hz and other high-bandwidth formats
- Connect the console directly to the display’s compatible HDMI input as a test. Bypassing a receiver or switch identifies whether an intermediary is limiting the signal.
- Install the latest display firmware. Sony’s 4K 120 Hz troubleshooting guidance lists firmware as an early check.
- Use the cable supplied with the console where applicable. If a replacement is needed, choose an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for the target format.
- Review the console’s video-output settings and select a resolution and refresh rate the display supports.
- Inspect the display’s information screen to confirm the actual incoming resolution, refresh rate, HDR state, and color format.
- Reconnect any receiver or switch only after the direct connection works, and verify that each intermediary is rated for the same signal.
If 4K at 120 Hz falls back to 4K at 60 Hz or another lower format, solve that signal-path issue before judging input lag. A lower refresh rate changes motion and frame timing, so comparisons made across different output formats are not meaningful.
Projector geometry and placement decisions
Digital keystone correction reshapes an image after projection. Because it adds processing, a projector’s fastest gaming mode may disable it or incur extra delay. On the TK705i, BenQ’s manual says Gaming Boost resets keystone to zero. On the V5010i, BenQ publishes up to one additional frame from keystone correction, described as 4–16 ms. Do not apply either figure to a different model without documentation.
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How to keep a fast mode usable
- Place the projector on the centerline of the screen and keep the lens as perpendicular to the screen surface as practical.
- Use physical lens shift or mounting adjustments when the projector provides them, rather than relying on digital keystone.
- Enable the projector’s dedicated gaming mode and inspect the picture for a square image and correct aspect ratio.
- If the mode disables keystone and the image is unusable, reposition the projector or choose a slower picture mode with the correction enabled.
- Retest in the same resolution and refresh rate after every placement or mode change.
Projector specifications should always be read as a set of conditions. Resolution, refresh rate, and picture mode can change the published number, and manufacturer figures are not independent laboratory comparisons.
Published projector figures: compare like with like
The following numbers are manufacturer-published specifications, not independent measurements. Each value is tied to a particular signal format or setting.
| Projector | Signal and mode | Published input lag | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ V5010i | 4K at 60 Hz | 17.9 ms | Manufacturer product-page specification, accessed 2026 |
| BenQ V5010i | 1080p at 60 Hz | 17.9 ms | Manufacturer product-page specification, accessed 2026 |
| BenQ V5010i | 1080p at 120 Hz | 12.6 ms | Manufacturer product-page specification, accessed 2026 |
| BenQ V5010i | 1080p at 240 Hz | 5.1 ms | Manufacturer product-page specification, accessed 2026 |
| BenQ GP500 | 4K at 60 Hz | 25 ms | BenQ FAQ, 2022; Game Mode and Fast Mode must both be enabled |
| BenQ GP500 | 1080p at 60 Hz | 25 ms | BenQ FAQ, 2022; Game Mode and Fast Mode must both be enabled |
| BenQ GP500 | 1080p at 120 Hz | 28 ms | BenQ FAQ, 2022; Game Mode and Fast Mode must both be enabled |
These entries cannot be used to rank the two projectors: they were not independently tested side by side, and the formats and modes are not identical. A 5.1 ms figure at 1080p/240 Hz is not a 4K/60 Hz result, and a projector’s published latency does not describe the delay of a different picture preset.
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A repeatable setup procedure
- Record the baseline. Note the console’s current resolution and refresh rate, the display input, picture mode, and any receiver or switch in the chain. Use the same game and scene for every comparison.
- Choose the correct input. Read the display manual and connect the console to the HDMI port that supports the required resolution, refresh rate, HDR, and gaming features.
- Enable the fastest supported picture mode. Select Game, Fast, Gaming Boost, or the model’s low-latency equivalent. On a GP500, enable both Game Mode and Fast Mode.
- Enable ALLM where available. On PS5, use Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > ALLM. Confirm the display supports ALLM and test while a game is running.
- Verify the incoming signal. Open the display’s signal-information panel and confirm that the intended resolution and refresh rate are actually arriving.
- Remove unnecessary intermediaries. Temporarily connect the console directly to the TV or projector. Add a receiver or switch back only after the direct path is confirmed.
- Handle projector geometry. Disable keystone if the gaming mode requires it, then square the projector physically or use lens shift. If that is impossible, compare the corrected slower mode with the fast mode and choose the usable compromise.
- Retest consistently. Keep the same game, controller, display input, resolution, refresh rate, and viewing position. Change only one setting between tests.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The picture looks the same, but controls still feel delayed
- Confirm that Game or Fast mode is active on the exact HDMI input in use; some displays save modes per input.
- Check whether an AV receiver, switch, soundbar, or capture device remains in the chain.
- Verify that the console is outputting the expected refresh rate rather than silently falling back to a lower one.
- On a projector, check whether keystone or another image correction is still enabled.
- Test a different game or a local offline scene to rule out network latency, which is separate from display latency.
ALLM never switches the display automatically
- Confirm current console software and display firmware.
- Read the display manual instead of inferring ALLM support from “HDMI 2.1.”
- Use the compatible HDMI input and a cable that supports the console’s signal.
- Exit media playback and launch a game; PS5 does not send ALLM while a media app runs.
- Set Game Mode manually if the display does not implement ALLM.
4K/120 Hz is unavailable or unstable
- Try the console’s supplied cable first, then a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable if replacement is necessary.
- Connect directly to the display and test each HDMI input identified for high-bandwidth use.
- Update firmware on the display and intermediary equipment.
- Lower the output temporarily to a known-supported format, then add features one at a time to identify the limiting component.
The projector image becomes distorted in gaming mode
Check whether Gaming Boost or Fast Mode has reset keystone to zero. Reposition or remount the projector so the lens is square to the screen, or decide whether the corrected image is worth the additional processing delay documented for that model.
Choosing between a TV and a projector for responsive gaming
Do not assume that one display category is inherently faster. Compare the specific model at the resolution and refresh rate you intend to use. For a TV or projector under consideration, verify:
- Published input lag for your exact signal format, and whether the number is a manufacturer specification or an independent measurement.
- Availability of Game, Fast, or equivalent low-latency modes.
- ALLM support on both the console and the display.
- The capabilities of the relevant HDMI input, cable, receiver, and switch.
- Whether keystone, motion processing, scaling, or other corrections are disabled or slowed in the gaming mode.
- Whether the display can maintain the desired mode at the refresh rate you actually plan to use.
A low-input-lag gaming projector can be a sensible replacement category when a large image is more important than compact size, but published figures must be read with their mode, resolution, and refresh rate. A cable upgrade is worthwhile when it fixes an unsupported signal or enables a compatible ALLM setup; it is not a standalone cure for processing delay.
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What to expect after the changes
You should judge success by consistent responsiveness in the same game and display mode, not by a promise of a universal millisecond reduction. Manufacturer documentation confirms that low-latency modes can change processing behavior and that particular projector corrections can add delay, but no single setting guarantees the same result across all consoles, games, TVs, and projectors. Keep the fastest mode that produces a stable signal and a correctly shaped image, then restore individual picture enhancements only if their visual benefit is worth the added processing.
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