The perfect pico and handheld projectors

Housed in a sensible but trendy design, the XGIMI Horizon Extremely is packed stuffed with spectacular options. Working on Android TV 11, you may obtain apps for all of your common streaming providers together with Apple TV, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video immediately from the Google Play Retailer. 

Because of twin mild expertise, which mixes laser and LED, the Horizon Extremely delivers high-brightness photographs with a extra pure color palette, and it even has Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR assist which is uncommon to seek out on a projector.

Dolby Imaginative and prescient primarily permits brightness and distinction to be robotically adjusted scene-by-scene, so visuals are continuously optimised with the suitable settings. 

It’s not simply image high quality that’s spectacular although because the Horizon Extremely contains twin 12W audio system, tuned by Harmon/Kardon which give wonderful audio that simply fills a room. Though we discovered the audio system to be loud, heat and wealthy, they do lack the rumble {that a} subwoofer would add.

There’s additionally built-in Clever Display screen Adaption 3 (ISA3) expertise, which provides auto-focus and keystone correction plus impediment avoidance. ISA3 additionally adjusts display screen brightness to go well with ambient mild, which works by opening the iris to spice up brightness and shutting it to up the distinction.

The Horizon Extremely additionally contains optical zoom which implies it may well robotically scale to suit a detected display screen with out the necessity for digital correction. 

At its rear you’ll discover all of the ports you’ll must hook up extra units together with two HDMIs, a 3.5mm line out and two USBs. There’s additionally a helpful Ethernet port which provides extra flexibility when utilizing the projector in areas the place it’s possible you’ll not get a robust Wi-Fi sign.

There’s even a helpful motorised shutter on the entrance which slides up when the projector is turned off to guard its lens, plus a helpful tripod mount beneath.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Evaluation: XGIMI Horizon Extremely

The Freestyle’s cylindrical form and stand permit it to be simply carried from side to side, with the adjustable stand in a position to be angled from 90 to 180 levels, together with a picture measurement that may stretch from 30- to 100-inches. That helps to make the Freestyle a flexible, straightforward to set-up and accommodating projector.

Our reviewer discovered the chassis felt slightly strong, so it might survive just a few knocks, and controls are stored easy and accessible with contact delicate buttons for energy, casting and quantity, in addition to a change for activating the microphone.

Connectivity right here can also be stored good and easy with a Micro HDMI port that helps HDR alerts and eARC for connecting a Dolby Atmos soundbar. The USB-C port is just for connecting the Freestyle’s energy adaptor. For wi-fi connections there’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2 and Apple AirPlay 2 that provide a spread of how to attach cell units to the Freestyle. Wi-Fi assist additionally permits Samsung’s Tizen good interface with entry to apps resembling Netflix and Disney+, plus there’s Bixby and Amazon Alexa for voice assistants.

Throughout testing, we discovered the image to superb with a clear and detailed efficiency and punchy HDR colors when referred to as upon. The five hundred lumens of brightness it has at its disposal is okay, however not as vibrant as both XGIMI Elfin or Philips PicoPix MaxTV, each of which get near 1000 nits for a brighter image.

We measured enter lag for gaming at 44ms, and whereas that’s wonderful for a projector it wouldn’t attraction to these in want of a quicker efficiency. We additionally measured noise degree at 25dB at a distance of 2ft, making for a quiet sufficient expertise when in operation. The built-in audio system sound good for such a small projector, the dimensions of the sound is prolonged past the casing for a much bigger sound than was initially anticipated.

Samsung has introduced a follow-up with 2nd Gen Freestyle that features options resembling 21:9 display screen ratio and assist for Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which incorporates Xbox Sport Go. We’ll be seeking to assessment that mannequin very quickly.

Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full Evaluation: Samsung Freestyle

The JMGO N1S is a transportable projector that’s exhausting to beat. At simply 2.2kg, it’s sufficiently small to hold and transfer round with ease but picture high quality isn’t compromised.

In contrast to many different transportable projectors, the N1S runs on Google TV slightly than the extra restrictive Android TV. Google TV is a more sensible choice because it runs Netflix natively and contains all the main streaming providers together with Apple TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video and Now TV.

Establishing the projector is seamless due to the built-in good auto-setup and automated display screen alignment, nonetheless the latter requires an accompanying smartphone app which we discovered a bit fiddly to make use of.

Even so there’s additionally autofocus, auto keystone correction and even rotation management built-in which implies you may get a straight image even when the projector is positioned at an angle. 

At 900 ANSI lumens the N1S is brighter than most different transportable fashions and we discovered it may well deal with photographs throughout the day pretty comfortably, though a darkened room is extra excellent. 

The backlight of the N1S makes use of a triple-colour laser which is rated for as much as 30,000 hours. That’s an enormous 10 years of use, primarily based on utilizing the projector eight hours a day every year. 

Sound high quality is respectable too, due to twin 5W audio system licensed by DTS and Dolby Audio. Regardless of an absence of subwoofer, we discovered bass response to be spectacular and the projector loud sufficient to fill a room with out the necessity for exterior audio. In the event you did need full encompass sound then you should use the HDMI output to attach exterior audio system. 

The HDMI output can also be helpful if you wish to join different units like video games consoles, nonetheless it’s price noting that the N1S has a restricted refresh charge of 60Hz so it’s possible you’ll choose a projector with the next charge.

Total the JMGO N1S is a superb projector that hits the candy spot between portability and high-end picture high quality. 

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full assessment: JMGO N1S

Evaluate the XGIMI Halo+ to the unique Halo and the brightness has been upped to 900 lumens from 800, making it a brighter various to the Samsung Freestyle. Whereas the enhance in brightness shouldn’t be large, it does assist when utilizing it in darker rooms.

Picture measurement can go so far as 200-inches, although we discovered half that measurement to be greater than enough. The XGIMI helps resolutions as much as Full HD, and we discovered it produced vibrant photographs with vibrant and wealthy colors, particularly when coping with brighter content material. Distinction is usually good, though blacks do veer to gray and it may be troublesome to get a way of element in darker scenes – the addition of HDR10+ helps by revealing extra element.

Boasting twin 5W Harman Kardon audio system, we discovered the audio high quality was respectable with good quantity and readability. The dearth of bass places a spanner in providing a real cinematic expertise however for informal viewers it’s a stable efficiency. Battery life we discovered to be round two hours when unplugged from the mains, which implies common size movies ought to be wonderful however the Halo+ will doubtless wrestle with epic runtimes. The XGIMI’s LED lamp is claimed to last as long as 30,000 hours, which is round ten years of use if the XGIMI had been used for eight hours a day.

For a transportable projector, there’s comfort within the type of an automated process that optimises the image when the Halo+ is moved, which means you received’t have to fret about fidgeting with the picture every time. Android TV is supported with its handy and intuitive format, and though there’s entry to Google Play Retailer library we discovered that Netflix wasn’t supported for this projector an apps resembling NOW aren’t out there. take into account including a Fireplace TV Stick or take a look at Freestyle, which has extra supported apps.

When it comes to its measurement the Halo+ can match right into a bag or suitcase, however is pushing on the threshold of portability contemplating it lacks a deal with just like the Anker Nebula Capsule Max. There’s a room for positioning the projector, as it may be positioned on a flat floor, used with its built-in kickstand to angle the projector up, or propped on a tripod mount.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Evaluation: XGIMI Halo+

By the requirements of transportable projectors, the Anker Nebula Capsule Max is tiny. At 15cm tall, with a diameter of 80mm, it’s smaller than a great proportion of Bluetooth audio system. Its weight of 737g means it’s lighter than most transportable projectors, making it straightforward to hold round or stash in a bag.

Management are stored easy on the gadget itself with buttons for quantity, cursor keys, choose and again which might be helpful for shortly pausing or altering one thing however each the distant management and Nebula Join app supply extra in depth technique of operation. Across the again of the unit is a port for energy, 3.5mm audio output, a USB port for connecting exterior storage and an HDMI port. The Anker runs on Android 8.1 which permits entry to a great set of apps, with the likes of Netflix and Prime Video, though on the time of assessment there was no Disney+.

The Capsule Max can robotically modify its focus and keystone to make optimising the picture a lot easier and handy for individuals who a need a no-fuss expertise. Whereas we didn’t measure the fan noise, it was noticeable even once we weren’t watching something. There’s a built-in battery for transportable use, in a position to run for 90 minutes on full brightness or 4 hours when brightness is decreased.

Sticking with the theme of brightness, the quoted 200 lumens is okay for common viewing and we discovered we might solely go the 100-inch display screen measurement when it was darkish to get the most effective from its image efficiency. Distinction is okay, although just like the Halo+, blacks erred in the direction of gray. Colors proved to be fairly correct with respectable vibrancy, and sharpness and determination (720p) was a step up on the unique Nebula Capsule for a extra detailed picture.

With an 8W speaker, the Anker supplied good quantity and surprisingly meaty bass. Offered the room you’re watching is quiet, it’s a good efficiency, however the 3.5mm audio jack there’s the choice of including an exterior sound system for a greater, louder expertise.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Evaluation: Anker Nebula Capsule Max