Tech Review – XGIMI Halo+ portable projector

I have reviewed many projectors and several this year have been 1080p projectors which whilst OK for someone not expecting fantastic viewing do a great job and keep the kids entertained the overall picture is underwhelming when you are into your tech and already own large screen tvs and have other projectors in your home, with this projector however it changes the game completely and not only does it offer a great picture it has great audio and of course access to the play store.

Most projectors today use other methods of installing apps from other third party stores and while it works people prefer the seamless Google option which of course makes it easier to sign in and sync devices and link to your home set up and this is what we get here.

The projector itself is also well built and not a cheap lightweight plastic yet still portable and easy to use with your voice assistant built in which is excellent. The Harmon Kardon built in speakers gives you a real movie experience here and you can also add speakers if you wish to enhance the experience and for me this is what everyone should do.

The question remains though is a projector better than a TV and for me it is a simple yes having several in my house now and one good reason is not having a big lump of a TV hung on a wall or taking up space on a press etc and again most would have their TV in the living room and this is always a centre piece and the highlight of most folks living rooms today and with these getting bigger for me they are an eyesore and I can easily do without and having a little box on a table beside me with everything built in it just makes things cleaner.

The picture quality here is also top notch and it has that LIVE effect, there is other picture settings to pick from and audio settings and of course gaming options at hand so in short anyone can use it in the home, the bedroom or even travelling to a hotel for instance. There is also an option to view 3D content if you have any.

Our 3D feature provides profound depth perception and image fusion thanks to DLP cinema-grade tech used in most cinemas worldwide. With Halo+, you can easily set up a 200” display and enjoy the excitement of your 3D content anywhere, anytime

You can also use it as a speaker and yes it sounds good the video review below demos this and of course the picture quality and not only that you can use it as a music player too so it has more than one function but the image it throws out is what people want projectors for and this will not disappoint you at all, in fact I am super impressed by the picture quality here and the sound and it laughs at the past few projectors I have reviewed.

 

Above you will see the features and one thing I point out to people is the Lumen count this might seem low in comparison and some had a higher count than this but the brightness was horrific overall..

It has at 1-2-1 throw ratio with HDR 10 that gives out a really bright picture you will notice this immediate and the blacks do not look pixelated like they do in most projectors under a certain price point. Even watching 4K content was immersive and sharp and worked really well with no lag noted either. It has a fast start up, a current one I use takes double the time here and once set up you have auto focus and auto keystone correction, another great feature here is Intelligent Obstacle correction which means if something is in the picture the it will move the entire screen out of the way and readjust itself and this works really well and is a great feature.

The integrated 60Hz motion compensation technology (MEMC) utilizes a specialized algorithm to deliver super-low image blur and latency rates. Even in the heat of any sporting action, your image stays incredibly sharp and clear.

For gamers it has a game mode boost so as mentioned no lag latency or sound delay either, with most cheap projectors you will notice the lag but not the case here this just simply works well no matter what you watch.

You could watch it with sunlight in the room however it is best to watch in a darker environment in fact there is no really need to even pull the blinds down as it is still viewable but again depends on HOW much sunlight is coming in the window. Once dark though you will enjoy a super experience if gaming watching movies or Youtube and also enjoy the sound quality to go with it giving you an experience that will make you not want a TV anymore. You also get around 2.5 hours of battery life without being plugged in here it must be noted.

You also have the benefit of Bluetooth connectivity, USB port and HDMI port so anything can more or less plug into it and of course it has chromecast built in making things even easier. And to top things off we have very little fan speed which is also a notable thing on cheaper projectors this one is basically silent.

Features

Standard Resolution 1920 × 1080 pixels

Display Technique – DLP

Lamp Life – 25000 Hours

Display Chip – 0.33” DMD

Brightness – 900 ANSI Lumens

Supported Formats – HDR10, HLG

Lens – High Light Transmission Coated Lens 3D

MEMC

Throw Ratio – 1.2:1 – Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance

Auto Focus – Image Size 40” – 200”

Auto Keystone Correction

Projection Method –  Front, Rear, Front Ceiling, Rear Ceiling

Intelligent Screen Alignment
Audio – DTS-HD –  DTS-Studio Sound – 2 × 5W Harman/Kardon

Dolby Audio Dolby Digital (DD) Dolby Digital Plus (DD+)

GET A 15% discount below using the code – XGIMITBI15

Video review

 

 

 

Tech Review – Toperson WiFi and Bluetooth 5G HD Home Portable Projector (YG421)

Projectors are popular and the market now caters for it rather well when it comes to choice and price however in the projector market it is really a get what you pay for sceen for the most and this is down to several things like Screen size, lumens and features, most projectors have got a built in store to download apps whereas this one does not but on another note it has features that others don’t so it is really down to the consumer and what they want to get from a projector.

OK so you might panic and wonder how this works with no store on board, most projectors have a store such as the Google store and the majority with have the Aptoide store which has the same and probably more in offerings for apps as I have found many apps will not work with Google on Projectors but the aforementioned store does all third party apps to work and they work well, I have both these instances at home on my projectors so I can see it from both sides here.

How does it work then

If you have a phone or tablet you can simply cast your device, ok so you may have to give up a phone to cast so if you had a spare phone about here is where to use it, it also has ports on the rear to support just about anything so PC or games consoles work with no problem at all it is a simple plug and play and that is it, you select what source from the home screen menu just like you would a standard tv these days and job done.

The Size

This is a big projector but not huge like some can it is portable and works with bluetooth and WiFi so it can be used anywhere and once you have a connection you simply connect and again plug in any console or connect any phone, it is that simple, this is on the larger size though but not that big it can’t be managed it is in the middle you could say when it comes to projector size, My main 4K projector would be considered small.

The picture

Ok so what you need to look out for in projectors is lumens, in tech speak that is the light emitted from the projector and how bright it is this is a key factor you may often also see ANSI lumens or Lux brightness, all this may confuse people and these terms can be used to fool people so do your homework, in this instance the terms used are in a good manner and it is a brighter screened experience than most at this price point which is good to say.

There is no auto focus or keystone here but you have two controls on the lens to do that and is a small price to pay for such caveats in fairness, the picture quality is rather good and again better than most of the chinese imports you tend to find or even some known brands you may find locally here in Ireland for up to 500 euro or so. You can get up to a 200 inch screen but 100-120 is for the best result.

Is it worth the money

Well to be fair and honest this one is. You can see the set up and samples below in the review so you do not have to struggle on setting up if you do decide to pick one up, there is screen brightness settings on board this which is omitted from many others at a higher price and certainly lower which gives it the advantage and given there is no store on board it works well with either your phone or consoles connected regardless and it is simple to use.

The sound

The sound is decent enough though this depends on the source and there may be some distortion at maxed out volume, you can listen to music too which is good. You can attach external speakers to really change the game which I would suggest anyway.

Features

  • ❤【Wireless & Bluetooth & Dolby Pro Support】Via 2.4G/5G WiFi connection, the Bluetooth projector can mirror movies/videos/photos/games from your iOS or Android device to big screen( No extra adapter needed). Based on Bluetooth CSR5.1 connection, the portable projector can wirelessly connect to external speakers or Bluetooth earphones/earbuds. Also the Dolby pro audio improves the acoustic fidelity of the movie projector for indoor or outdoor use.
  • ❤【Native 1080P FULL HD& 8500 Lux Brightness】Adopt the upgraded LCD 180 ANSI lumens or 8500 lux technology, Toperson YG421 native 1920 x 1080P HD projector with the true 1000:1 high contrast provides 90% higher brightness than other 1080P projectors. The outdoor projector particularly adopts multi-layer optical films and high-quality glass to reduce reflections and increase light transmission, thus allowing this portable HD projector to display sharper images without blurring.
  • ❤【Keystone & Zoom & Cooling System】 Via the zoom 75%-100%, Keystone ±15%, and 44”-140” inch display size(1.5-4.5m distance)(The best view screen size is 80-100″) makes the projector easier to adjust the screen get the best viewing angle and viewing size with correcting the keystone and adjusting the focus from this marvelous portable projector. Adopt the newest cooling system, the phone projector has a fast heat dissipation, making it cool down quickly even after a long-time use and less noise.
  • ❤【Multiple Devices Connection & Hi-fi Stereo Speaker】Equipped with 1*HDMI, 2* USB, AV, AUX, VGA ports, Toperson YG421 home theater video projector can properly compatible with Laptop, TV Box, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, PC,Tablets, external speakers,USB Flash Drive, Xbox, PS3, PS4, PS5, Media players, Smartphones, IPad, iPhone, Android smartphones, etc. With 3W stereo speakers, even without external speakers, the led projector is able to enjoy the music smoothly.

BUY 

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Heyup Tech Community Launches Contest For Cannes Film Festival, Boxe Projectors Up For Grabs And More

Heyup, a new tech community that is dedicated to becoming the new hybrid online place in which contributions lead to actions, in which you can share thoughts and constructive suggestions about tech products you use or not, things you would like to buy or just get your hands on, has just launched a fun contest for the Cannes Film Festival.
They will  pick three winners to give each of them one free Boxe, a native 1080P mini portable projector for entertainment on the go.
For the Palme D’Or award such a prestigious award, what movie do you think will win this year? If you don’t know which movies are in the running for it, follow this link to go to the official Cannes Film Festival website to see all of the competing films in the “In Competition” list.
The rules for this contest are very simple:
  1. First, you will need to share with your guess for which movie will win the Palme D’Or award. *Note* The movie you pick does not have to be the actual Palme D’Or winner.
  2. (This part is important) You will need to explain in as much detail and convincingly as you can why you think your movie will win.
  3. The more likes your comment has, the better. To make it easier you can click the “Share” button on the right-hand side to share it on Facebook so your friends can see it and like your post or take part themselves.

This event from May 17-28 and when we have the prizes selected, they will email the winners at the address tied to their Heyup Community accounts on May 31.

What prizes are up for grabs?

  • We are giving away a free Heyup Boxe, a native 1080P mini portable projector for entertainment on the go, to three lucky winners.
  • We are also giving away $30 off discount codes to the first 200 comments to this thread. The codes will be emailed to you and will be valid until June 17th.
Come join this fun contest at Heyup Community and win a free Boxe!

First look at the Heyup Boxe projector

With lots of tech in house to get through the next item up on the review table is the Heyup Boxe projector in the funky colour you see in the header image and it is a pretty cool shape too it is compact, portable and packed with I/Os so connectivity is not an issue here and we even have a headphone jack. Today we take a quick tour of the device and show you around it and in the interim we will be checking in out and have a full real hands on review with a video on how it works and how it looks, those stock image reviews offer no context at all and we do not do those here as they often give misleading examples of what to expect. Any questions as always feel free to ask below or on our social or YouTube and we answer all questions.

 

The key features of Boxe are:
 
  • Native 1080p resolution and supports 4K 
  • Lightweight and portable for entertainment on the go
  • Easy Wireless Bluetooth iOS & Android Phones casting(in-app cast as well)
  • Flexible picture size of 40” – 120” with a 1.34:1 throw ratio 
  • Built-in 7800 mAh battery for up to 90 mins playtime without external power 
  • Keystone correction options for quick screen adjustments, fine-tuning, and reset
  • FengOS – Intuitive and smart OS design
  • Light diffusion for better eye protection
  • Quiet whispering for immersive TV& movie experience

BUY

Video Link

BenQ Unlocks the World’s First 4LED 4K HDR Gaming Projector for Console Gaming

BenQ, the global leading brand for projectors, launched the X3000i, bringing the finest ever audiovisual performance to a grand projected scale. Gaming scenes are delivered with 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage powered by BenQ’s exclusive CinematicColor technology. This is paired with the enveloping treVolo sound system and input lag as low as 4ms, allowing gamers to traverse to open-world games imbued with live realism.

For a truly immersive gaming experience, the X3000i draws gamers deeply into the plot of the game with authentic colors balanced with true 4K UHD, high 3000 ANSI Lumens visual brightness, crisp 500,000:1 super high contrast with Dynamic Black algorithms, 3D readiness, and projector-optimized HDR with HDR10 / HLG support ensuring futureproof visual performance, while the 4LED light source with auto color calibration guarantees years of gaming enjoyment. Furthermore, all of this is combined with the lag-free control that comes from the 4ms response time at 240Hz frame rate.

Adding to the visuals with audio enhancement, the X3000i fully envelopes players in two powerful 5W stereo speakers that are tuned by BenQ’s treVolo audio team and enhanced by Bongiovi DSP (Digital Signal Processor) with Dynamic Stereo Enhancement, offering aural details with more surrounded, three-dimensional game sounds. Audio can be output to an external sound system via HDMI eARC for the ultimate cinematic experience.

The realness of all interactions can be further discovered through role playing, first-person shooter, and sports games as the X3000i is equipped with specially-designed preset game modes. The depth, clarity, definition, and presence of the surrounding deep bass background music, approaching footsteps and clear vocals are emphasized respectively, revealing the true colors the games originally intended to display. These carefully calibrated settings are also applicable in projector models such as the TK700STi and TK700, complementing a full projector lineup that’s dedicated to gaming.

Styled in dynamic design to complement any game room and setup flexibility of 1.3x zoom, 2D keystone, and advanced AV connectivity, the X3000i’s 4LED light source provides over 30,000 hours or 10+ years of vibrant colors and gorgeous gaming quality without the need for lamp replacement. Console gamers who play for hours on end can carefully explore their adventures and show the world who they aspire to be with ease.

The X3000i is available in March. For more information, please visit the X3000i product page or the BenQ Gaming Projector website.

Epson brings the big screen experience to the home with two new 4K Laser projectors

Epson has introduced two new high-end home cinema projectors, ideal for film enthusiasts and gamers looking for an immersive big screen experience. Featuring Epson’s laser light source, and a new 4K image processing chip delivering 4K resolution, these projectors offer high brightness, high image quality and flexibility. The new projectors deliver the ultimate home cinema experience and come with a range of features making them perfect for film nights, streaming, sporting events and gaming.

Fans of the big screen will revel in these powerful projectors’ impressive displays. A combination of high-end technologies come together to deliver exceptional image quality with a high 2,500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 4K resolution (8.3mil pixels), HDR10+ support, 3LCD and a laser light-source. With powered lens shift and zoom lens it’s easy to achieve an accurate display.

With Epson’s 3LCD technology the ‘rainbow effect’ is avoided and users can enjoy vivid colours thanks to an equally high White and Colour Light Output of 2,700 lumens on the EH-LS12000B and 2,500 lumens with the EH-LS11000W. HDR10+ support reveals extra detail and depth for natural yet richer colours. Detail in the shadows is well defined with a high contrast ratio of 2,5000,000:1 delivering deep blacks. With 4K Frame interpolation, 4K Super Resolution and scene adaptive gamma correction/auto contrast enhancement, the ultimate home-cinema experience is simple to achieve.

Gaming up to 4K at 120 frames per second, along with input lag times below 20ms, allows for serious gamers to take full advantage of the latest generation of gaming consoles and even higher-end gaming PC’s.

EPSON EH-LS11000W

The long-lasting laser light source in the EH-LS12000B and EH-LS11000W not only provides lower energy consumption but delivers home entertainment for up to 10 years¹.

Both projectors are easy to set up and install thanks to motorised optics including a powered 2.1x optical zoom, powered focus and powered lens shift of ±96.3% vertical and ±47.1% horizontal. Watching content in the right aspect ratio is made simple by being able to store your ten favourite formats. The projectors are also compatible with Calman colour calibration software.

Paul White, manager product management for Epson Europe’s video projection unit said: “With more and more people spending time at home enjoying movies together, or even gaming as a family, these projectors are ideal for anyone looking to take their viewing experiences to the next level. More households now have dedicated home cinema rooms, or spaces large enough to enjoy the big screen cinema experience that these projectors can deliver.”

Epson EH-LS12000B

The EH-LS11000W (white chassis) and EH-LS12000B (black chassis) are available from October/November 2021 with an RRP of £4,099.99 inc. VAT and £4,399.99 inc. VAT respectively.

New Key Features:

  • 4K resolution (8.3mil pixels)
  • Over 2,5000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
  • Colour space DCI>85%
  • 4K Super resolution
  • 4K Frame interpolation
  • Scene adaptive gamma correction
  • Instant off
  • Laser Light Source
  • HDMI 2.1 (4K/120Hz)

PHILIPS Projection updates the NeoPix Collection with 3 new LCD projectors

Philips Projection is launching 3 new NeoPix home projectors. After the success of the NeoPix Collection last year, Philips Projection is upgrading the NeoPix Easy, Prime and Ultra with the Easy 2+, Prime 2 and Ultra 2.

“This year, we have decided to push the limits even further by bringing the PicoPix Collection’s premium features to our NeoPix collection. Our customers can now enjoy our smart Philips OS with pre-loaded apps, Wi-Fi Dual Band for maximum speed, Bluetooth, a new light engine delivering better color and contrast, upgraded resolution up to True Full HD and a brand-new AirMote control for a super easy navigation.”

The NeoPix Prime 2 and Ultra 2 get smart image correction, including a 4-corner correction to place it wherever you want in the room, digital zoom, and projector settings appearing on the top of every content. The Philips OS will constantly evolve, adding brand new features and extra apps via Wi-Fi.

The Prime 2 gets the Philips OS with built-in apps, new speakers and fan, and an updated AirMote for the same price as the 2019 Prime. The Ultra 2 gets smaller, smarter and projects True Full HD 1080p images for only 329USD/EUROS.

The Easy 2+ stays our most affordable projector and gets double brightness with 720p resolution compared to the first iteration.

NeoPix Easy2+

Enjoy a comfortable True HD 720p image and project all your content up to 65” thanks to the wide range of connectivity (HDMI, USB, MicroSD). Just connect your USB stick or hard drive to play movies, images, and even music with the built-in multimedia player. The NeoPix Easy 2+ uses advanced electronic keystone correction technology resulting in a 16:9 image, even at an angle or in variable environments. The stereo speakers will ensure you have sound wherever you are, and with the 3.5mm audio jack you can plug in your external speakers for louder sound.

 

The NeoPix Easy2+ will be priced at 149USD/EUROS and is available this month.

NeoPix Prime 2 and Ultra 2

Comfy movie nights or gaming in your bedroom in 720p HD (Prime 2) and True Full HD with the Ultra 2! These projectors deliver convenient entertainment in nearly any room, with a lamp free light engine optimized to last more than 30,000 hours. The built-in smart Philips OS and Dual Band Wi-Fi connectivity lets you stream and binge from your favorite content providers like YouTube (more apps will be pushed via FOTA) or play videos, pictures and music directly from USB Sticks. You can also stream multimedia content from your mobile devices via Wi-Fi screen mirroring. The keystone, 4 corner correction and digital zoom corrections help eliminate crooked and distorted images for a perfectly proportioned picture even when the device is not straight in front of the wall, so place it wherever you wish!

The NeoPix Prime 2 will be priced at 199USD/EUROS and the NeoPix Ultra 2 at 329USD/EUROS. Both projectors are available this month.