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Pico Projector Roundup

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RoundupPico projectors have grown immensely since we started this blog, and now there are several newer models which feature brighter pictures in smaller packages.

When considering a few projectors, you have to take into consideration a number of factors depending on how you would use the projector.  Some of these might include portability, brightness, inputs, and price.  All pico projectors have improved on all of those categories over time and are now a great option for projecting on the go.

 

When you think of Pico Projectors, a few big names come to mind, Acer has their C120, 3M has their MP220, Optoma has the PK320, and AAXA has the P4-X.  All of these models are great at what they do, but which one is the best?  To do that, we got all four models in-house and put them side by side to compare and contrast the differences that make some better than others.

C120

Arguably the biggest name brand within these four models is Acer, who make the C120.  This projector is a pretty barebones projector, it is meant to do one thing, but does it do it well?  The C120 has only one input port on the back of it, a USB port.  This USB port can be used with a Windows PC to display images on it’s 1280×800 projection screen.  The drawback to this is that if you have a Mac, you are out of luck.  If you want to display anything via VGA, HDMI, or MicroSD, you are also out of luck.  This makes the C120 lack versatility, which in turn makes it less useful.  It is the cheapest of the bunch, but we can’t recommend it as an everyday machine.  The C120 MSRPs for $229.

MP22-

 

The 3M MP220 is our next contender, weighing in at 15 ounces, it is the heaviest pico projector on our chopping block.  The MP220 is a good competitor to other pico projectors in all categories, the brightness is on par (although it falls a bit short compared to some higher end ones), it has a decent resolution of 1024×600, and is portable enough to put into a bag.  The MP220 has a few inputs for most of your needs, such as VGA and a universal plug for RCA, Apple devices, and more.  The lack of a HDMI port leaves us feeling like it could have been better, as this limits the number of devices you can use with it dramatically.  The MP220 MSRPs for $336.

P4X

 

AAXA is known for it’s high quality and high value projectors, and the P4-X is their latest attempt at bringing another one to the market.  The P4-X is the most versatile projector we’ve seen in this roundup, supporting everything from HDMI to VGA to AV inputs, giving you a wide range in choices for connecting devices.  The P4-X also stacks up in brightness very well, providing a 95 lumen rating while on AC power, and a 55 lumen rating if operating off of a battery.  Overall for the price, we think the P4-X is a solid purchase for anyone needing a portable projector.  The P4-X MSRPs for $299.

Pk320

 

The Optoma PK320 is the last projector in our group, and is also one of the smaller projectors we reviewed.  The PK320 has a wealth of inputs including the usual HDMI, AV, VGA and Mini USB, giving you many options for connecting devices to the projector.  The brightness was on-par with the P4-X, giving you 100 lumens of power, however, that dips down to 25 lumens if you are running on battery power, which can be a stark difference if you are not in a dark environment.  The main difference in the PK320 is it’s price, coming in at $399 retail, it is the most expensive of the group.  We think it’s a solid option but might be a bit pricey for some people.

All of these projectors have their own pros and cons, but we think the best overall, and the best for the money is AAXA’s P4-X.  It has enough inputs to satisfy almost any device, and is bright enough to give presentations with ease.  Check out the Amazon links to all of these products below and decide for yourself.

 

AAXA Pico Projectors now available to work with Samsung S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2

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AAXA Technologies released earlier this week that they are now compatible with the new Samsung phones, SIII and Galaxy Note 2. The cable allows Samsung users to plug in their phones to a TV or a projector via the AAXA MHL Cable. This cable allows users to stream their movie content, game content, and presentations directly onto their pico projector/ TV. Doing so, users can now enjoy their entertainment on a big screen display.

You can find the press release here: http://aaxatech.com/news/MHL_cable_news.html

Tustin, CA February 6, 2013

AAXA Technologies, the leading manufacturer of Pico projectors, is pleased to announce the release of our Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 cables. The new Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2 adapter connects directly into the Samsung 11 pin micro USB input allowing these devices to seamlessly connect to AAXA’s M2, P3, P4X, P300 and LED Showtime series pico and micro projectors

Perfect Compatibility with Samsung S3 / Note 2 and AAXA Picos

The AAXA MHL Cable for Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2 utilizes a high definition 1280×720 pixel resolution in order to deliver a crisp, vibrant image from your phone to your AAXA pico projector. Using this cable, AAXA pico projectors can now project a variety of HD content straight from your phone. The cable allows users to be truly mobile as the only accessories needed are your smartphone and pico projector.

MHL Capabilities
The AAXA MHL cable measures 6.5′ in length and connects to the full sized HDMI ports found on the M2, P3, P300 and Showtime, as well as the mini-HDMI port found on the P4X. The 11-pin MHL port of Samsung phones allows full mirroring capabilities to the projector, meaning anything you see on your phone, you’ll be able to enjoy on a big screen projection. All your favorite Android games can be enjoyed with a projector, including Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, and Temple Run. Business professionals will be able to stay effective on the road with the AAXA MHL cable. When paired with a smartphone and projector, the MHL cable allows users to use their Android productivity suite to its full potential.

About AAXA Technologies

AAXA Technologies Inc was founded in 2008 as a manufacturer of a new class of projector known as “micro” projectors and “pico” projectors. Our core technology is based on small LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) and DLP (Digital Light Processing) imagers mated to LED (light emitting diode) and Laser light-sources. This technology makes possible the manufacturing of micro projectors and pico sized projectors. In 2010 AAXA launched the world’s first laser pico projector and today remains a leader in mini-projector technology. AAXA manufacturers the majority of its products in China, with core technological development occurring both in the Silicon Valley, California and China.

Round 3: AAXA LED Showtime 3D Review

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In round 3, we will be reviewing the AAXA LED Showtime 3D. The Showtime 3D comes in at a street price of $499 (AAXA). This projector cost the same as the Vivitek Q2 that we had reviewed earlier. Both projectors are fairly the same in dimensions and weight. The LED Showtime 3D weighs in at 1.5lbs and measures at 5.9 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches. The drawback of the LED Showtime 3D is that there is no official lumen count. Since there was no specific lumens that we could measure it with, we looked at the image quality that it produced extensively.

After using the Showtime for a couple hours watching a movie, we found that the image quality was very rich in colors and produced a nice image at a good distance. We were able to get over a 100 inch screen in our living room without any distortion in image quality. The LED Showtime 3D was best used when the lights where dim. With all the lights on in our room, the image produced was fairly washed out as we saw in the Vivitek Q2. However, the Showtime was stronger than the Q2 but weaker than the ML500. To our estimates, we would say that its lumen count would be somewhere between 350-400 lumens since it was brighter than the Q2.

The LED Showtime 3D comes with two 2W speakers and really makes the use of an external speakers unnecessary.  The fan noise on the LED Showtime 3D is a little noisy if the speakers are not on but when you are watching a movie, you wouldn’t be able to notice the fan noise.

AAXA Technologies equipped the Showtime with a full HDMI, VGA, USB, and AV port to allow connectivity to any media devices. The menu screen was very easy to navigate as with the rest of the competitors.

Overall, the LED Showtime 3D lacked in brightness as the ML500 but it made up for it with its color quality. The Showtime would be great for home theater entertainment or for business travelers.

Look out for our upcoming reviews:

Round 2: Vivitek Qumi Q2 Review

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Round 2: Vivitek Qumi Q2

This is the second projector that we will be reviewing in our 4 way match up. The Vivitek Qumi Q2 is by far the best looking out of the bunch. It is designed with sleekness and style in mind. The Q2 is offered at two colors: black and white. To get this projector, it will cost you $499 (Amazon)

The Q2 comes in at a rated 300 lumens. This is not the brightest out of the four but it makes for it on the design and image quality that it produces. Vivitek made this projector to be one of the smalllest micro projector on the market with that high of a lumen count. The Q2 weighs in at 1.1lbs and is measured at 6.3 x 4.0 x 1.3 inches. It is built with an internal 1W speaker and has all the connection that you will need to plug in your multimedia devices.

After using the Vivitek Q2, we found that the image quality great at a close up distance. If the projector was producing an image at roughly 60inches to 80 inches, the Q2 showed a crisp image contrast. However when we placed the projector further away from our screen, the image quality would be reduced drastically. As for the speakers, the 1W solo speaker did not do it justice as the fan noise would out play the sound emitted from the projector. We had to use external speakers to hear what we were watching.

Overall the Vivitek Q2 lacks in brightness power yet it makes up for it in its image quality, depending on where you place the projector. It offers a high contrast ratio of 2500: 1 which gives you amazing image contrast and colors. Fan noise was a big issue even when in Eco mode. However that could be solved by using an external speaker. The Vivitek Q2 is great for on-the-go usage since it is very light and won’t take up much room at all in your suitcase or luggage.

Look out for our upcoming reviews:

 

Round 1: Optoma ML500 Review

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In the next following week, we will be rounding off four new pico/micro projectors that have hit the market recently. We will be taking a look at the Optoma ML500, Vivitek Q2, AAXA LED Showtime 3D, and the 3M MP410. All these come in at similar sizes, cost, and performance. So, let’s see which one actually does best when we test them side by side.

For our first review, we will be looking at the Optoma ML500. This projector comes in at a street price of above $500 depending where you look. It is a bit pricey for a so called pico projector since it does cost almost the same as a traditional projector. The difference between the ML500 and a traditional projector is that it uses LED light bulbs instead of a regular optical lamp which in return saves you money and time on not having to get your lamp replaced. The ML 500 can be used up to 20,000+ hours and has a lumen count of 500.

The Optoma ML500 has a resolution of 1280 x 800 WXGA using DLP’s latest engine. It weighs in at 2.5 pounds and measures to be 8.7 x 6.7 x 1.7 inches. Optoma offers all type of media connectivity to the ML500. It supports VGA, HDMI, USB, S-video, and even a SD card slot. This allows you to plug in any media device that you want to use and have it projected on a big screen.

As for brightness, the ML500 is rated at 500 lumens therefore it is one of the highest rated pico projectors. Most pico projectors come in at 300 lumens or below. The ML500 image quality was very easy to see in a dim light room. However, color contrast took a hit with its brightness. When playing a video, the ML500 really lacked in its image quality. At times, there would be a rainbow of some sort that would tinker through the projected image. Besides the rainbow effect, the ML500 produced a decent image size and quality that shouldn’t disrupt any viewers while watching a movie or presentation.

In conclusion, the ML500 looked great at first. It was easy to use, light weight, and has many great connectivity. For a business traveler the ML500 is a great product to bring along side to travel with.

Look out for our upcoming reviews:

You’ll Want to Keep This Kids’ Pico Projector to Yourself

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 Jamie Condliffe

This cute and colorful little pico projector is designed for kids. But don’t bother giving it to them—because it’s good enough you’ll want to keep it for yourself.

This Innocube DLP pico projector is designed, apparently, to help children chill out as they watch TV shows on their ceiling. But forget that. It’ll just get ’em overexcited. Instead, take advantage of its Wi-Fi streaming and Android-compatible MHL port to watch your own video instead. It’s tough rubber outer casing means it can take knocks—perfect for travelling with, then—and when it hits US shores early 2013 it’ll only cost $300. [Verge]

Image from Verge

CES 2013: Pico Projector questions answered

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Your CES 2013 questions answered: 3D TV, pico projectors and fitness forks

by Lauren O’Neil Posted: January 7, 2013 7:55 PM Last Updated: January 8, 2013 8:57 AM Read 1comments1

CES is a press and industry only conference, but we’re giving you a chance to learn exactly what you want to know from the heart of the action this week. (Reuters)Peter Nowak is at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week to give you a sneak peak into the future of home entertainment, communication technology, and gadgets designed to change the world as we know it.

Only industry professionals and accredited media are admitted into the trade show itself, but we’re giving CBC community members a chance to go beyond the mainstream coverage and ask a few questions of their own.

DLP unveils new Projector Phone

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Article found here: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/dlp-pico-architecture/

Pico projectors are slowly getting better and better as the years go by, and DLP’slatest chip architecture announced at CES aims to raise the bar once more. The platform, which the company is dubbing Tilt & Roll Pixel, is the same size as the current generation, but it promises that products will be able to offer twice the resolution, 30 percent higher brightness and 50 percent increase in energy efficiency. Given our fondness for products like the Samsung Galaxy Beam, we’re pretty excited to see how good movies look on our living room wall. Don’t get too anxious, however — the new platform is currently sampling to manufacturers and products are expected to arrive “as early as the end of the year.” We have the press release for your viewing pleasure past the break.

Update: DLP emailed us with an updated press release to confirm the name of the new architecture. We were also informed that chips using WVGA resolution will be slightly smaller, shrinking from 0.3 inches to 0.2.

Texas Instruments Announces All-New DLP® Pico™ Chip Architecture

An expanding family of DLP Pico display solutions gives developers the flexibility to create brighter, smaller, lower power products

LAS VEGAS – January 7, 2013: Today at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) DLP® Products (suite N115) has announced a new groundbreaking, smaller pixel architecture, called Tilt & Roll Pixel (TRP), for its market-leading DLP Pico™ technology. This advancement gives developers the ability to bring unique, robust big picture display capabilities to more devices and product categories than ever before.

Some of the key advantages for products built on the new TRP architecture will include:

– As much as 30% higher brightness, with increased efficiency
– Up to 50% less power consumption
– 2x the resolution in the same sized chip

As a result of these advancements, products integrating this capability – such as smartphones, tablets, cameras/camcorders, notebooks, eyewear, and standalone devices – will see significant performance benefits.

“The power of digital content is that it’s available anytime, anywhere” said Frank Moizio, Business Unit Manager DLP Pico. “DLP Pico technology creates the largest images from the smallest devices, thus enabling users to unleash the power of their digital content, and share it in collaborative, real-world settings. Our new pixel architecture enables manufacturers to extend the reach of pico technology to new, smaller devices and new applications, with brighter images and higher efficiency.”

Pacific Media Associates (PMA) has predicted a worldwide pico projector market forecast of 12 million units by 2016, pointing to the category’s growing popularity. TI DLP is working with manufacturers now on integrating the new TRP architecture into products.

New LED 3D projector from AAXA

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Tustin, CA December 15, 2012

AAXA Technologies is pleased to release the AAXA LED Showtime 3D Projector. The AAXA LED Showtime Micro Projector employs next generation Light-Emitting-Diodes (LEDs) projection technology coupled with a high resolution 1280×800 DLP imager.  LEDs are superior to lamp based projectors by directly injecting red, green, and blue light into the projection engine instead of relying on filtered white light. The result is more vivid, colorful image and a 20,000 hour life-span – tens times longer than a traditional lamp projector.    

AAXA today unveiled the new LED Showtime 3D projector. It is packed with a HD display imager and is 3D ready. The Showtime 3D is versatile, sleek, and packs a powerful punch. It has a viewing range of up to 160″ which is great for watching entertainment or playing games. With its 1280×800 resolution, the projector will not slack off on its image quality.

 

For more information on the new AAXA Technologies LED Showtime 3D. Check out www.aaxatech.com

AAXA Technologies launches the new P300, “the world’s brightest battery powered HD projector”

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AAXA Technologies, a leader in Pico and Micro projectors, announces the release of the P300 Pico Projector, the world’s brightest battery-powered pico projector. The new P300 features a revolutionary new pico optical engine capable of delivering 300 peak lumens at a high-definition (HD) resolution of 1280×800. Powered by Texas Instruments’ DLP Technology the AAXA P300 employs Vibrant Color LED technology to deliver dazzling color quality with an operating life of more than 15,000 hours and is capable of generating a viewing experience of up to 120”.

The P300 is designed as an all-in-one mobile presentation platform. At its core is a robust ARM processor capable of internal high resolution 720p video, picture, and picture slide-show play-back. Coupled with the P300’s dual 1-watt speakers and internal 75 minute lithium ion battery* the P300 can serve double-duty as both a powerful projector and as a standalone multimedia system enabling the user to project digital content directly from the projector or from a mobile phone. Connectivity is further enhanced with a VGA adapter, Composite video input, and a high-resolution digital HDMI connection that can accept resolutions up to 1080P.  For more info, or purchasing information please visit AAXA P300 Pico Projector!