I am really impressed by this $ 400 portable projector | Techcrunch

I recently moved to a new apartment, and unfortunately the television did not cut during the amicable roommate. Although my studio is not as tight as my earlier living situations, it still felt impractical on a large TV in the living room.

In my search for a suitable alternative, a startup called Lumi Labs awarded about testing the new portable projector, the Lumi Max. From the moment I unpacked it, I was impressed by how far projectors have come since my student days, when I struggled with a dingy passed by a friend who projected a grainy video on my sleeping wall.

One of the things I appreciate on the Lumi Max is the compact design. It is vertical, making it perfect for small spaces; It can easily rest on a shelf or be tucked away when it is not used. With a weight of just over 4 pounds, it is noticeably lighter than many other projectors on the market. The founders are avid camping enthusiasts, so it is designed to fit closely into backpacks, making it useful to travel and use in outdoor environments. Moreover, it comes with a carrier bag.

The striking function of the Lumi Max, which became available earlier this month, is the partnership with Google. The projector works as standard on Google TV and offers access to more than 10,000 apps, more than 700,000 films and TV programs and more than 800 free live TV channels from the box. Setting is easy if you already have a Google account and it contains a remote control for simple navigation.

In addition to the built -in Google TV, other functions attracted my attention, such as the Autofocus and Obstacle Dreatance functions. The Lumi Max can recognize objects on the wall – such as photo frames, plants or shelves – and automatically adjust the placement of the image. Because I have not yet placed art on my walls, I had an empty canvas to work with. However, it warned me when my chair stood in the way, so I could easily move it for the best viewing experience.

The display size is also impressive: 40 to 120 inches, and it is in combination with 1080p Full HD resolution and 4K UHD compatibility.

Another pleasant surprise was the sound quality. The Lumi Max has two 5W speakers (which deliver a total audio output of 10 W), and there is also Dolby Audio support, so that you can connect to an external sound system for improved audio performance.

The price tag comes around $ 400, which is reasonable, given the series of functions it offers, especially in comparison with what I would normally spend on a television of decent quality.

Lumi Labs also sells adjustable project orientation stand for $ 30 and 100-inch projector screens for $ 20 on its website. The company is also set to launch an “Lumi IQ” mobile app with an AI assistant, so that users can control the projector with their voice.