| LG BF50RG Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | $2,399 MSRP |
| Technology | DLP |
| Displayed Resolution | WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) |
| Brightness (Manufacturer Claim | 5000 ANSI Lumens |
| Light Source | Blue Laser Phosphor |
| Contrast | 3,000,000:1 (Dynamic) |
| Zoom Lens Ratio | 1.6X |
| Sound System | 10 watt x2 |
| Dimensions | 14.6 x 11.4 x 6.1 inches (370 x 290 x 156 mm) |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs. |
Overview
The LG BF50RG uses a blue laser diode light source that produces a bright 5000 ANSI lumens.
This ProBeam projector is made for business and education users, helping them create large, impressive projections. Even though LG is known for flat panel displays, they know many people want a more immersive experience that big TVs can’t offer.
The BF50RG’s light engine combines a Texas Instruments DLP chip with a high-quality LG laser. Its sealed design keeps dust out of the laser light path, making sure the image stays clear and bright.
The Hisense PL1 uses a 0.47-inch Texas Instruments DMD chip to show a sharp 4K UHD image (3840 x 2160 pixels).
The LG BF50RG has a blue laser diode light source that shines bright with 5000 ANSI lumens. This makes it great for professional spaces like large halls, museums, and places with lots of ambient light. The laser diode lasts up to 20,000 hours without much maintenance — that’s like playing videos 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 7 years! This means no regular lamp changes or upkeep, making the BF50RG perfect for hard-to-reach spots like museum displays or high ceilings.
If you use the projector 8 hours a day, the laser light source can last up to 7 years.
The ProBeam BF50RG is very flexible and has advanced features. It has a 1.6x optical zoom lens and can shift the lens horizontally by ±20% and vertically by ±50%. This helps in tricky setups because you can adjust the image without losing quality, unlike digital adjustments. It can fit perfectly even on existing mounts.
The BF50RG has fully automatic electronic focus that you can control with a remote or from a PC, phone, or tablet. It also offers 4, 9, 15, and 25-point warping to fix image distortion and make sure the picture lines up perfectly, which is great for projecting on unusual surfaces.
The projector lets you rotate the image, so you can show content horizontally or vertically without moving the projector. You can install it at any angle, vertically or horizontally, with no limits.
It has built-in preset modes—seven for video and six for audio—to give the best performance in different settings. There are two built-in speakers, and HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) lets you connect to soundbars. It supports Dolby Digital passthrough and Dolby Atmos for home theater use. Plus, Bluetooth makes it easy to connect to external Bluetooth speakers or sound systems.
The ProBeam BF50RG doesn’t have all the smart features of LG’s CineBeam products, but it runs on the LG webOS 6.0 Signage Platform, which boosts connectivity and productivity for business and education.
It can connect with LG ConnectedCare, a cloud-based device management system, and supports custom software through webOS 6.0. This lets partners add projection features and manage different content and apps.
The BF50RG also supports network monitoring and control, working with third-party systems like Crestron, Control4, Savant, and RS232C. Plus, it has dynamic HDR tone mapping for HDR10 content, automatically adjusting the image for the best HDR quality.
The ProBeam BF50RG projector works with LG’s optional One: Quick Share USB transmitter and software, making wireless screen sharing easy and convenient for professional use.
With 5000 ANSI lumens brightness and low maintenance, the BF50RG is a strong choice for many settings. It can work alone or as part of a network with up to nine projectors, perfect for places like retail stores, museums, and medium to large event halls. Its advanced features make content distribution and streaming over a network simple.
LG offers three BF series WUXGA laser projectors, which are similar except for brightness and lens type:
| Model | BF60RG | BF50RG | BF53RG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2999 | $2399 | TBD |
| Brightness | 6000 Lumens | 5000 Lumens | 5000 Lumens |
| Light Source | Blue Laser Phosphor | Blue Laser Phosphor | Blue Laser Phosphor |
| OS | webOS 6.0 | webOS 6.0 | webOS 6.0 |
| Contrast | 3,000,000:1 Dynamic | 3,000,000:1 Dynamic | 3,000,000:1 Dynamic |
| Lens | 1.6x Standard Throw | 1.6x Standard Throw | Short Throw |
| Sound | 10 watt x 2 | 10 watt x 2 | 10 watt x 2 |
Key Features:
WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution
DLP (0.47-inch DMD) with XPR imaging
5000 ANSI lumens brightness
Laser light engine lasting up to 20,000 hours (NORMAL mode)
3,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
1.6x optical zoom
Lens shift: Horizontal ±20%, Vertical ±50%
HDR10 with dynamic tone mapping
Built-in Wi-Fi and RJ45 network connection
webOS Smart Signage 6.0
Supports LG QuickShare USB devices
HDBaseT compatible
Works with Crestron control software
Wireless screen share via Miracast
Wireless content sharing with TV Plus app or DLNA devices
Dual 10-watt speakers with Bluetooth connectivity
HARDWARE
CHASSIS
The LG ProBeam BF50RG is fairly compact compared to many other professional projectors. It measures 14.6 x 11.4 x 6.1 inches (370 x 290 x 156 mm) and weighs 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg). Because of its size and weight, it’s a good idea to get help when lifting or moving it, especially if you’re not used to handling bigger projectors.
When the projector sits on a table, the lens is on the front right side, while the air intakes and IR receiver are on the front left. The manual focus and zoom controls are wheels located at the front of the lens. Looking from the front, the horizontal and vertical lens shift controls and another air intake vent are on the projector’s right side.
All the inputs and connections are on the back of the projector. The cooling exhaust, power button/joystick, and control panel are also at the back, letting you control the menu from there. The stereo speakers are built into the back and point backward.
The ProBeam BF50RG comes with a traditional remote that gives you full control over all projector settings. You can easily adjust the picture for different content and lighting with just a few clicks. Switching from a bright presentation to watching sports or TV in the dark is quick and simple.
Most controls can also be managed using LG’s software like LG Control Manager. Keep in mind, the remote is made for many projector models, so some buttons—like lens focus and shift—don’t work on this one. Also, the remote and control panel can feel a bit slow to respond.
THE LENS
The ProBeam BF50RG offers a 1.6x zoom, which means you can place it at throw distances between 1.30 and 2.08 times the screen width. To find the throw distance, use this formula: Throw Ratio = Throw Distance ÷ Image Width.
The projector has manual lens shift controls on its right side (when facing the front). You can adjust the image up, down, left, or right by turning the control wheels. Keep in mind, shifting the image one way reduces the shift available in the opposite direction. The lens shift range is ±20% horizontally and ±50% vertically.
LG also provides a free online Projection Calculator. Just enter the projector model, screen size, and aspect ratio, and it will help you find the best throw distance and setup info for your space.
MENUS
The LG ProBeam BF50RG has an easy-to-use menu system, which is great for a professional display with many features. The clear on-screen guides make adjusting settings simple.
As part of LG’s digital signage line, the BF50RG has a built-in webOS System on Chip (SoC). This lets it connect to external servers and play media without needing extra players or control devices.
LG webOS is a web-focused platform with powerful tools for creating web apps. Its user-friendly menus make it easy to explore and use the projector’s many features, like playing content and accessing various solutions and services.
PERFORMANCE
COLOR REPRODUCTION
The LG BF50RG shows excellent and consistent color performance, similar to other LG professional projectors I’ve tested. While many professional projectors have a blue or greenish tint, the BF50RG’s colors are closer to those of color-tuned home blue laser phosphor projectors. Since it’s a DLP projector, colors can range from neutral to slightly oversaturated depending on the preset mode. The brighter modes tend to look more blueish, which helps when used in places with lots of ambient light, like trade shows or business events.
This projector is mainly designed for digital signage and presentations, so colors often pop with good saturation, making content stand out even from different distances and angles.
LG offers many manual controls to adjust the picture, but there’s still a slight red tint visible. Here’s a quick look at the preset picture modes:
MALL/QSR: The brightest but least color-accurate mode, good for making presentation content visible in large venues.
TRANSPORTATION: Best for very bright spaces with lots of ambient light, keeping colors decent even at high brightness.
EDUCATION: Ideal for movies in dark rooms, with good contrast and color accuracy; great for presentations and classrooms with controlled lighting.
SCREEN/GAME: Made for gaming, offering a smooth experience for fast-moving content.
GOV/CORP: Realistic colors with good gradation, suitable for videos or movies in rooms with some ambient light.
GENERAL: Balances brightness and accuracy, providing a clear, dynamic image.
EXPERT: Like a cinema mode for rooms with ambient light, giving neutral colors and good detail in dark and light areas.
CALIBRATION: For experts or those who want to fine-tune settings for the best picture quality.
HOSPITAL: Similar to DICOM-SIM mode, designed to show medical images like X-rays or MRIs clearly.
BRIGHTNESS
Even though the ProBeam BF50RG is rated at 5000 ANSI lumens, it’s actually the lowest brightness model in LG’s ProBeam line. The brightest out-of-the-box setting is the MALL/QSR mode.
I measured the brightness at different spots around the lens, about 15-20% off-center. The highest reading was 5264 ANSI lumens, which is 264 lumens brighter than LG’s official rating. To make sure my measurements were accurate, I checked my equipment carefully, changed the meter batteries, and repeated the tests twice, getting very similar results each time. I also tested the other preset modes.
Here’s a summary of the brightness measurements for each preset mode:
| Picture Mode | Brightness (ANSI Lumens) |
|---|---|
| MALL/QSR | 5264 |
| GENERAL | 5172 |
| TRANSPORTATION | 3465 |
| SCREEN/GAME | 3150 |
| GOV/CORP | 3070 |
| EXPERT | 2120 |
| CALIBRATION | 3368 |
| HOSPITAL | 516 |
BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL
Like most bright professional projectors, the BF50RG struggles with black levels. Even with Dynamic Contrast on, its blacks look more like dark gray. But this isn’t a big problem since the projector is made for places like digital signage, trade shows, and meeting rooms where bright images and good color are more important than deep blacks.
You can still see details in both dark and bright parts of the picture, even when the room lights are on. This makes the BF50RG great for rooms with lots of ambient light.
LG keeps adding support for HDR formats like HDR10 and HLG in their projectors, and the BF50RG can do dynamic tone mapping to keep highlight details in HDR10 content. I liked how this made HDR movies look, though tone mapping doesn’t help much with presentations or ads.
Even though it’s bright at 5000 lumens, tone mapping lowers the brightness a bit, so it’s best to use it only when needed. Features like HDR, dynamic tone mapping, and dynamic contrast are useful and might become more common for this type of projector content in the future.
TEXT AND PRESENTATION
The LG ProBeam BF50RG shows clear and detailed images without being too sharp. This is great for reading text, even small fonts. Its WUXGA resolution works well for text on a 100-inch screen from 15 feet away — even 8-point fonts are clear and don’t look blurry. This is true for PowerPoint slides and most websites, though very small text-heavy sites might be harder to read.
Presentation colors look good too, especially high-contrast ones.
Sound Quality
The BF50RG has two 5-watt speakers at the back. The volume is above average, and I could easily hear voices at the back of the room. It works well for classrooms, meeting rooms, or small to medium events. But in bigger rooms with lots of noise, it might not be loud enough.
The speakers don’t distort even at high volumes, which is good for videos with sound. Event pros should be happy with the speaker quality for most small to medium spaces where noise isn’t a big problem.
The fan noise is rated between 29 and 33 dB, quieter than I expected for a bright professional projector. It’s a bit louder than a large home projector but should be fine for its typical use in offices or stores. Usually, the fan noise won’t be noticeable in retail or meeting rooms.
SUMMARY
The LG ProBeam BF50RG is a powerful and flexible WUXGA projector made for businesses, schools, stores, and event planners. It expands LG’s digital signage options by offering an exciting alternative to regular flat screens, helping to grab attention in many different places.
The BF50RG uses the smart webOS 6.0 platform, which lets you show content without needing extra media devices. This makes setup easier, cuts costs, and lowers the chance of technical problems. When used with systems like Woven Media, it also improves communication and control. Plus, webOS 6.0 gives LG partners more customization and detailed control over each device, going beyond what typical third-party systems can do.
The projector’s picture quality is impressive. It has sharp WUXGA resolution and a strong blue laser phosphor light that lasts up to 20,000 hours without needing maintenance. Its edge blending feature lets you create large, creative displays with unique shapes, perfect for big venues and special setups.
It’s not made for home theaters that need total darkness, but it works great in bright rooms. The blacks are more gray than deep black, but that doesn’t stop the projector from showing fine details clearly, even in well-lit spaces.
Setting up the BF50RG is easy thanks to its 1.6x optical zoom, manual lens shift, and precise focus controls. It also supports both wired and wireless network connections, letting users access content directly—something rare in professional projectors.
Colors look vibrant and accurate right out of the box. For those who want even better color, the BF50RG includes professional calibration tools to fine-tune the image to their liking.
LG BF50RG – SPECIFICATIONS
| LG BF50RG Full Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Projector Model | BF50RG |
| Price | $2,399 MSRP |
| Imager Type | DLP (0.47″ DMD) |
| Displayed Resolution | WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) |
| Native Resolution | 1,920 x 1,200 |
| Brightness | 5000 ANSI Lumens |
| Light Source Type | Blue Laser Phosphor |
| Light Source Life | 20,000+ hours (Normal) |
| Contrast Ratio | 2,000,000:1 (Dynamic) |
| Zoom Lens Ratio | 1.6x |
| Power Zoom/Focus | No |
| Lens Shift | Yes |
| Interchangeable Lens | No |
| Ultra-Short Throw | No |
| Native Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| Built-in Rechargeable Battery | No |
| DVI or HDMI | HDMI |
| 3D | No |
| Blu-Ray 3D | No |
| Sound System | 10 watt x2 |
| Noise Level (-dB) | |
| Low Lag Gaming | No |
| Smart Functionality | Yes, for Digital Signage |
| Business | Yes |
| Classroom | Yes |
| Portable | Yes |
| Special Features | 5000 ANSI lumens, Web OS 6.0 |
| Networking | Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 14.6 x 11.4 x 6.1 inches |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs. |
| Warranty | 3-year parts and labor warranty. |