This is a very capable entry-level projector, perfect for backyard movies with your kids and family members without breaking the bank. Many other projectors on the market are much more expensive, and most likely will beat the overall performance of this projector, but they will not beat the cost/benefit ratio this unit provides.
For less than $100, you receive a projector with many inputs (HDMI, USB, SD, and AV). First impressions of this projector is that it is much smaller than anticipated. It has a really small footprint, and is only about 2 pounds. You don't need to worry about it taking up much room in a closet when not in use.
I noticed that the picture quality of this projector is slightly more clear than a few others in the same class that I have tested. All of the models in this range exhibit at least some issue with focus uniformity across the entire picture, but of the models I've tested I had the best experience with this one in this regard. When you get the focus dialed in on the center of the picture, as you look out toward the edges of the picture, it gets a little more fuzzy and out of focus. If you dial the focus in along the edges, then the center of the picture is softer and a little more fuzzy. For watching movies, this is not noticeable at all. This projector is not recommended for use in a conference room for presentations involving text, you will not be pleased with its performance, the 800x480 resolution is simply too low for this application.
For my most recent outdoor movie night, we used this projector on a 110" screen, to watch The Force Awakens, and it looked fantastic. Everyone was very pleased with the picture quality, and I had several of my friends asking me where I got the projector. They were shocked when I told them how much it cost.
The 1500 lux output of the projector is nice in a very dimly lit/dark room, or outdoors once the sun has gone down. This is not bright enough to use with the lights on, or outside during the day. I was looking for a projector that I could use outdoors on a spring/summer night to watch movies with my family, so this is perfect for me.
There are many settings in the menus including a sound EQ, adjustments to color temperature, white balance, etc...but I found the out-of-box settings to be adequate, and reasonably calibrated already. Nothing worse than taking something like this out of the box and needing to endlessly adjust it until you feel comfortable using it.
Having a 5v USB power output port is fantastic because it makes it dead simple to use a FireTV Stick with this projector, as it can power the Fire Stick without needing an extra 110v AC plug for your video streaming device. The HDMI port did work with several other input devices I used with it, all set to 1080p output with no issues.
The OS also includes built-in audio and video playback controls for playing movies directly from USB or SD card, and they are intuitive and easy to use. Compatibility is pretty high as well, it played a wide variety of files, I had the best, most consistent luck with mp4 for video.
The built-in speaker is pretty weak, but they do include a 3.5mm Aux (Headphone style connector) output. I was able to connect an external speaker to the projector with a long cord and it made it feel like we were at the movies. Make sure you get some sort of external speaker and you'll be fine. With the external speaker at the front underneath the screen, and the projector at the rear, the sound coming from both the speaker and projector actually made it have a simulated surround sound, which was unexpected and nice.
The projector doesn't have any built-in mounting options, so you'll need some platform to place it on, or some way to suspend it from the ceiling. I used a tri-pod with a flat surface on top, and it worked well, I was able to position the projector at the correct height so that the keystone adjustment on the projector was not needed.
The projector also comes with a remote control that can be used from behind (IR sensor is on the rear of the projector) to control all aspects of the device. pretty nice touch.
The projector does have a fan that can be a bit distracting in an indoor setting, but was barely perceptible when used outdoors.
The projector does give off a bit of heat, but not nearly as much as older non-LED projectors did. Again, this would probably be more noticeable in an indoor setting, but not an issue at all outdoors.
My overall impression of the projector is that it's worth the cost, and is perfect for family gatherings. Sure, curling up on the couch with your kids is easy to do these days with our huge HDTV's and home theater audio systems, but there's something to be said about the bonding experience of spending time outdoors with your kids and family. It feels more intimate, and leaves a more lasting impression I think. Whether you are watching a movie in your backyard, front yard, or if you take it camping with you, you'll have a great time.
| Manufacturer | TENKER |
|---|---|
| Brand | TENKER |
| Item Weight | 1.98 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 7.68 x 2.76 x 5.91 inches |
| Item model number | Q5 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Brightness Rating | 9500 Lumen |
| Manufacturer Part Number | Q5 |
