This $400 Portable Projector Has Completely Impressed Me!

I recently moved into a new apartment, and unfortunately, my television didn’t make the cut during the friendly division of belongings with my roommate. While my studio is roomier than previous places, adding a large TV to the living area felt impractical.

In my search for a viable alternative, a startup called Lumi Labs reached out to me about their groundbreaking portable projector, the Lumi Max. I was truly impressed by the advancements in projector technology since my college days, when I used a mediocre model loaned by a friend that displayed blurry images on my dorm wall.

What I find most appealing about the Lumi Max is its sleek design. Its vertical form makes it perfect for limited spaces; it can easily be placed on a shelf or stored away when not in use. Weighing just over 4 pounds, it’s much lighter than many other projectors on the market. Crafted by camping enthusiasts, it’s designed to fit snugly into backpacks, making it ideal for outdoor use. Plus, it comes with a convenient carrying case.

The highlight of the Lumi Max, which debuted earlier this month, is its collaboration with Google. The projector comes equipped with Google TV by default, giving you access to over 10,000 apps, more than 700,000 movies and TV shows, and over 800 free live TV channels right from the start. If you have a Google account, setting it up is a breeze, and it includes a remote for easy navigation.

In addition to built-in Google TV, I was fascinated by features such as autofocus and obstacle avoidance. The Lumi Max can identify objects on the wall—like picture frames, plants, or shelves—and automatically adjust the projection accordingly. With my walls still bare, I had plenty of room to experiment. However, it did alert me when my chair obstructed the view, prompting me to move it for optimal viewing.

The display size is impressive, ranging from 40 to 120 inches, with 1080p full HD resolution and 4K UHD compatibility.

Another delightful surprise was the audio quality. The Lumi Max boasts dual 5W speakers (providing a total output of 10W) and supports Dolby Audio, which allows for connection to an external sound system for enhanced sound quality.

The price is around $400, which is quite reasonable for the range of features it includes, especially compared to what I would usually pay for a quality television.

Lumi Labs also offers adjustable projector stands for $30 and 100-inch projector screens for $20 on their website. Furthermore, the company plans to launch a “Lumi IQ” mobile app featuring an AI assistant, enabling users to control the projector using voice commands.