The latest pico projector from Samsung is the SP-H03. It’s a small and functional device, which screens ANSI 30 lumens, making it the brightest projector in its category. The SP-H03 is lightweight at only 210 grams, and cubed shaped, which makes fitting it into a bag a bit clumsy. The Samsung projector has an LED lamp for optimum detail and clarity, and can display a maximum screen size of 80 inches diagonally. The SP-H03 is perfect for business meetings and has two hours of battery life for lengthy presentations or watching a movie.

Picture features

The Samsung SP-H03 produces sharp pictures with loads of colour depth thanks to a resolution of WVGA 854 x 480. The LED technology helps in providing a more balanced and natural picture quality, and the 1000:1 contrast ratio adds some darkness to displays. The SP-H03 can open a variety of different formats which make it more ideal for business use. It has an internal file viewer, so data can be searched through the memory, and formats like TXT, PDF, HTML, JPEG and MPEG are all supported, as well as MS Office files and movie formats.

Other features

Apart from visual displays, the Samsung SP-H03 also produces quality audio from its 1 watt speaker system. The fan noise is set at 23dB, which isn’t the lowest possible in a pico projector, so it could have been quieter. It has vents on the side to keep it from overheating, especially during long passages of use. The pico projector has a D-Sub input for PC connection, along with a component and composite video input, an audio input and a USB port. There is 1GB of internal memory on the SP-H03, but up to 16GB can be added with a microSD card.

Ease of use

The Samsung SP-H03 fits in the palm of a hand, and it’s extremely portable in the right carrier bag. There’s no remote control so it works via connections to a PC or iPhone/iPod touch, where it can be controlled and data can be projected. The LED-based projector displays high quality pictures and sound, and it supports movie and text-involved formats, making it suitable for business and leisure. The lengthy battery life ensures reliability and the lamp will keep on projecting for roughly 30,000 hours.

The Samsung SP-H03 isn’t the cheapest pico projector around, but it provides the brightest pictures, ease of use and portability.

The DLA-HD990 is part of JVC’s range of THX-certified projectors. It offers Full HD 1080p resolution for enhanced picture quality, and has a high contrast ratio and a fast refresh rate of 120Hz for detailed pictures with no noise distortion or motion lag. It’s not the most attractive of projectors, with a standard boxed design and large lens, but the basic look keeps the distraction levels down, especially if the JVC DLA-HD990 placed on a table in front of you.

Getting to know the HD990

The JVC projector offers brightness levels of 900 lumens, which isn’t that impressive in comparison with other projectors. But the DLA-HD990 produces extreme black levels with a contrast ratio of 70,000:1, which is amazingly high for a projector and provides less grey and more detail in dark scenes. This enhances the overall brightness by bringing out the lighter colours more – thanks to D-ILA technology – and creates an effective contrast between light and dark hues. The HD990 has preset original movie modes which can be adjusted with the on-screen gamma control, which lets you change settings for a more natural and realistic result.

Other features

The JVC DLA-HD990 has a 2x motorised lens with automatic focus for added sharpness when zooming in. It also has electronic lens shift which perfectly fits the display onto the screen without the hassle of manual adjustment. The lens has a cover as well that closes when the projector is switched off to protect it from dust and scratches. The HD990 has a HQV Reon-VX video processor which provides you with colour management options, a faster and clearer display and an overall more powerful and effective projector. It’s also extremely quiet, with a noise level of only 19dB.

Connection and lamp life

The JVC DLA-HD990 doesn’t have many connections, but it has the most important ones, including two HDMI inputs for connecting to a Blu-ray player or gaming console, an RS232 port, component video inputs and a computer port. It projects images with an aspect ratio of 16:9, and can display a picture up to the size of 200 inches with a throw distance between 12-19.9 feet. The HD990 comes with a three year warranty and an average lamp life of 3,000 hours. The THX certification equips the JVC projector with compatibility with a variety of formats and high quality signal processing.

The latest small and lightweight DLP pico projector from Optoma is the PK102. It’s roughly the size of a deck of cards at 51×105x17mm, and only weighs 118g. The PK102 is extremely portable and can fit into your pocket for quick use, and is also durable enough to be carried in a bag or briefcase for business meetings and conferences. It displays images at a maximum resolution of 800×600 using the VGA adapter, so unfortunately doesn’t support high definition content.

Portable features

The Optoma PK102 pico projector provides 20,000 hours of LED light from its lamp, and is equipped with a pretty high contrast ratio of 2000:1. It produces clear images with vibrant colours – which can be a tad oversaturated at times, though – and detailed shadowy areas for sharp and focused pictures. The PK102 is ideal for business use, but can also be used at home in a small room where it can portray a maximum screen size of 60 inches. It has 4GB of internal memory for storing presentations, pictures, movies and clips, and converts file formats like DivX, MPEG4 and WMV using the Optoma Pico Video Encoder.

Pico connections

The Optoma PK102 doesn’t have many inputs and outputs, but there is a VGA input, USB port for transporting data and a composite video input with AV cables for connecting to a device with digital inputs. The Optoma pico projector doesn’t produce the best sound, and it can be pretty soft at only 0.5 watts, so headphones or a connection to stereo loudspeakers is recommended. The PK102 is easy to use as well, there is a focus dial for setting clearer images, and a menu button for volume adjustments and on-screen navigation.

What to expect

The Optoma PL102 is a smart and sleek rectangular shaped pico projector. The device comes with ArcSoft Media Converter 3 software, which is needed for converting media files into formats the PK102 will support. The Optoma pico projector can be configured with your iPod or iPhone, but the required cables for this aren’t supplied. One of the main flaws of the PK102 is its short battery life of only one and a half hours, barely long enough to get through a movie. But it produces clear visual quality, and although it lacks some punch on the audio side, that can be remedied with connected speakers.

Introducing the latest DLP projector from Samsung – the SP-A600B. The oddly designed product has an oval shape, is black and glossy, plus it has a large lens and little feet for stability, and it also has the trademark electric blue light that we’ve come to expect from Samsung. It’s a pretty big home cinema projector and has some original features like its Full HD 1080p resolution quality, preset modes for easy and quick settings that produce perfect viewing, and a variety of connection ports for external devices.

Quality of viewing

The Samsung SP-A600B doesn’t have the greatest brightness and contrast specs, with only 1000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 3000:1. But the projector manages to display rich black colours that work well in shadowy scenes, and produces vibrant colourful images which are natural and crisp. One of the main features of the SP-A600B is its ability to withstand Blu-ray quality at 24 frames per second for a higher viewing standard and better quality all round. Some judder may be experienced, though, and the dreaded rainbow effect is noticeable at times, but these flaws are minimal and scarce. The projector has a 1.3x zoom but unfortunately lacks a lens shift, so getting the screen just right might take some adjusting and patience.

Using the machine

Changing settings is easy and basic thanks to the easy to use remote control and on-screen menus. There isn’t any film mode, a feature that has become pretty popular on other projectors, but there are some preset video modes that can be tweaked to your liking and saved for future reference. The Samsung SP-A600B can be placed up to 7 feet away thanks to the lens zoom, where it can screen an image 56 inches in size. The projector’s remote control is small and extremely easy to use, with functions inscribed above the buttons, but it would have been improved with a backlight for simpler use in dark conditions.

Connecting it up

At the back of the Samsung SP-A600B is a receded area where the connection inputs are placed. This is a bit of an awkward position because of the roundness of the projector, but it’s easily accessible enough. There are two HDMI inputs for external connections and upscaling DVD quality to Full HD standard, component and composite video inputs, an RS232 port, S-Video input and an analogue input. Unfortunately you’re not going to find any stereo jacks for improved sound or a USB port for viewing external data.

Besides its odd shape and a few quality flaws, the SP-A600B offers Blu-ray standard viewing for high definition displays.

With all the new and extremely expensive 3D televisions coming out, it’s nice to know that there are some devices that allow you to enjoy 3D technology affordably. The Optoma HD66 DLP projector is lightweight and a bit bulky, but still manages to have an attractive design. It’s HD ready with a 720p resolution, and it can only support 1080p in a compressed form, but still produces sharp images with vibrant colours. The Optoma HD66 doesn’t have a very far throw distance, so it should be mounted on the ceiling or placed on a low table for optimum results.

General features

The Optoma HD66 3D projector offers a maximum of 2,500 lumens, but be aware that this fades when in 3D mode to a measly 600 lumens. It has a contrast ratio of 4000:1 which is pretty high for a DLP, and produces pure black colour after a little tweaking of the settings. The projector works very well in ambient light thanks to the pre-calibrated modes, and is ideal for watching sports, playing games and enjoying day to day television. The Optoma HD66 has a 1.1x manual zoom lens, but no lens shift so positioning the projector correctly is vital otherwise some parts of the screen may be cut off.

What to expect

Photo: Optoma

The 3D projector unfortunately has some issues. When watching movies you’ll need to make adjustments to settings to get the picture right. Noise distortion is also a problem and is most obvious in solid colours, plus you’ll need a computer with a powerful 3D signal to get those exciting images. The DLP projector has some connection ports like S-Video, VGA, RS232 and HDMI, but, unfortunately, the signal may be lost with longer cables, so shorter ones should be used for best results.

Affordable for what you get

The Optoma HD66 DLP projector has that all important feature – 3D graphics. It has a nice look, is easily placed and offers high definition quality for any kind of viewing. The Optoma HD66 is perfect for those who want the 3D visuals but can’t afford a big and fancy TV, and you can enjoy these graphics at a price of £269.

Introducing Sony’s latest projector to hit the market, using their unique SXRD chip the Bravia VPL-VW85 displays extremely fast pictures with stunning quality. The projector offers Full HD value and brings some style to your home entertainment setup with a modern yet big black casing design. It uses dark frame insertion technology that doubles the amount of frames broadcast, this produces sharp pictures that is the basis behind the Sony Bravia VPL-VW85’s success. The unique framing technology also uses double speed processing which reduces blur for smooth shots.

Simplistic features

The SXRD projector uses a Bravia Engine 2 which is the processor behind the devices production of vibrant colours and sharp images. It boasts a contrast ratio of 120,000:1, plus uses advanced Iris 3 technology that accentuates the detail in dark scenes, bringing more realistic viewing to your home. The Sony Bravia VPL-VW85 brings a rich cinematic experience with 24p True Cinema, a 2.35:1 CinemaScope which reproduces movies in same aspect ratio that they were made. The projector also features three cinema modes: Film picture quality for a natural view, Digital cinema quality and BVM picture quality. The VPL-VW85 is also perfect for gaming and has a quick response time of 2.5ms thanks to its Motionflow technology.

Lens and settings

The lens of the Sony Bravia VPL-VW85 has a 1.6x motorised zoom which increases the projectors throw distance. It also has All Range Crisp Focus that will ensure crisp pictures in any environment, plus the lens will also be clear of dust thanks to the motorised lens cover that opens when powered on and closes when switched off. The machine supports x.v. Colour, Deep Colour, Real Colour Processing for exceptional hues, saturation and gamma levels, all these can also be adjusted on your PC using Image Director 3 via the RS232 port. The SXRD projector also has a HDMI input, two 12V trigger outputs, a D-Sub PC port and composite and S-video inputs.

Silent yet expensive

The Sony Bravia VPL-VW85 is extremely quiet with its fan noise only reaching 20dB, so it won’t distract you while watching movies and shows. It’s an easy to use projector that’s simple to setup and navigate through thanks to Bravia Sync, which works via HDMI and connects all your home entertainment products to be controlled with just the one remote. This reduces the amount of clutter in your living room and makes controlling your system basic. The Sony SXRD projector has loads to offer, and provides exceptional quality, but that high quality comes at a price, and a high one, the machine is priced at £5000.00.

With a thin and sleek look, Casio have released the first environmentally friendly projector that uses no mercury. The laser/LED light source gives high quality images that are pretty reasonable compared to DLP projectors. The XJ-A130 is super slim at only 43mm thick and has a unique design that’s covered with a white finish, producing a classy and professional look. It’s also very lightweight at only 2.3kg, making it extremely portable, and the fact that it’s no bigger than a piece of paper means you can take to meetings easily, or position it neatly for your home entertainment setup.

Upgrading features

The Casio XJ-A130 projector has a 2x optical zoom wide angle lens which makes it ideal for use in large business meetings, and gives a longer throw distance for a better setup. It works very fast and is able to power up and get working within eight seconds of pushing the power button. The new laser/LED lamp is capable of providing 20,000 hours of light depending on the hours of usage, but no matter how long you watch TV, the XJ-A130 will stay cool thanks to its built-in fan. It has upgraded colour purity for rich colours that are vibrant and natural, and adjustments can be made to suit your needs. It reveals bright images with 2,000 lumens that are full of detail thanks to the 1,800:1 contrast ratio.

Connection features

The slimness of the Casio XJ-A130 makes the number of connection ports limited, but it does have the all important HDMI input for connections to AV receivers and speaker systems. It has a component video input as well as a RS232 port for external usage, but it seems to be lacking a slot for SD cards. It does however have a USB port which is useful as it can be used without the need of a PC. The laser/LED projector supports PDF documents and JPEG images. It’s also able to connect wirelessly to up to four Windows-enabled PC computers, providing more versatility and less sophisticated functions.

Set up and price

The Casio XJ-A130 is easy to set up and can be fixed to the ceiling with brackets that are unfortunately sold separately. It can also be positioned on a stand behind you thanks to its zoom lens. The laser/LED projector is HD ready and has WXGA Real display resolution for crisper images. One of the drawbacks of the device is the noise level – the fan that keeps the engine cool is reasonably loud, and so if you feel like this will annoy you then this one probably isn’t for you. With a sleek and savvy look the Casio projector can easily fit into a bag for simple transportation, and the eco-friendliness may appeal to some people. But the XJ-A130 doesn’t come cheap, having a starting price of £719.00.

More and more devices are focusing on the use of LED lighting instead of regular bulbs. Televisions, e-Books, and other simple household accessories are using the technology, and projectors are next. LED lighting uses considerably less power, which brings down the monthly cost of electricity, and with LED bulbs you get longer usage and better quality with richer colours and sharper high definition pictures. LED projectors are smaller, lighter and more transportable than other bulb projectors, which makes them great for taking to business meetings or to a friend’s house to watch movies. Here are some of the latest LED projectors on the market.

The small LG HX300G

Weighing only 1kg, the LG HX300G LED projector is light and easy to setup. It does have a rather plain boxed design with rounded edges, but offers high quality viewing that’s fast and smooth. The HX300G gives an incredible 30,000 hours of lamp-life without fading or any loss of colour. The HD ready projector features countless options for connecting other devices and expanding your home cinema system, with one HDMI input, one RGB input, a USB port and component/composite video inputs. There’s also an audio jack for connecting any AV receiver for improved sound. With a contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a low 25.0dB of noise, the LG HX300G is a smart LED projector that produces excellent displays. It has a starting price of £552.00.

The Samsung SP-F10M

With a more stylish design and a maximum lamp life of 50,000 hours, the Samsung SP-F10M is an eco-friendly LED projector with some versatile features. It has 1000ANSI lumens to produce head-turning brightness and its XGA resolution of 1024×768 keeps pictures crisp and free of noise. It consists of all the regular connections with the addition of D-Sub and S-Video inputs, but it offers a PC-free File Viewer which works through the USB port and supports Microsoft Office and Adobe PDF files. This function is ideal for business presentations. The Samsung SP-F10M has a 7-watt speaker built in to provide sharp and thumping audio for movies and shows. The SP-F10M is more expensive than the LG HX300G and has a starting price of £913.00.

Other LED projectors

LED projectors are the new kids on the block, and not too many are available yet. But some others worth mentioning including the Aiptek Pocket Cinema T10and T15, which are small, thin projectors that offer boundless portability and quality. The 3M MPro150 has an integrated loudspeaker and a nifty stand which raises the projector for better positioning. The lamps stay cool all the time, and don’t have any mercury in them which makes all these machines eco-friendly. LED projectors are more expensive than regular projectors, but they last longer and offer outstanding quality that’s just going to get better.

If you’re looking for cinematic quality then the Vivitek DLP projector is for you. The H5080 offers 3,000 hours of lamp life, which will give you plenty of time to watch loads of movies and shows. The Vivitek H5080 has a rather large and bulky build but has an appealing wave-like design that will add some spark to your home cinema system. It shows images with Full HD 1080p resolution for sharp, crisp and detailed pictures that can be adjusted easily to enhance your viewing pleasure.

Vivitek’s features

The H5080 brings 1,700 lumens of brightness to your screen for some vibrant colouring, and with a 25,000:1 contrast ratio you’ll get rich black colour with less grey and better shadows. It shows images in the general 16:9 aspect ratio, but it also capable of slimming it down and giving 4:3 ratio if you prefer this screen size. You can place the DLP projector anywhere you like thanks to the far throw distance, and it’s super quiet at only 28dB, so it won’t distract you when watching TV. The H5080 has a range of inputs and outputs at the back including three HDMI, two 12V trigger outputs, a USB port, RS 232, component video and a D-Sub PC port (it’s compatible with both PC and Mac).

Adjusting settings

You can change the horizontal and vertical framing, along with the zoom by turning the lens on the projector. This adjustment is completely manual, and the lens itself is quite tight which lets you be more accurate in your alignment. The Vivitek H5080 comes with three preset settings including Movie, Natural and Bright, but you can adjust these in the menu and change the gamma, hue and saturation quality. It’s also able to adjust the flesh tone of actors for a more natural look.

What to expect and price

The DLP projector is a stylish device that offers Full HD quality and excellent audio for a great cinematic experience. A remote is supplied to easily control it and scroll through the on screen menu effectively. It produces good black levels and thankfully doesn’t give the dreaded rainbow effect that many DLP projectors do. It does however give quite a bit of noise in some pictures especially if the brightness and contrast is too high, and shadows aren’t terrific. But the H5080 is available and gives you worthy quality for quite a high price of £2,250.00.

With humankind’s technological obsession with making everything smaller, we have we redefined mobility of devices. Laptops and mobile phones were some of the earliest examples of how our behaviour changes when we can take our devices a long with us. The pocket projector could be the next big thing in projection technology.

What is a pocket projector

A pocket projector serves mostly the same purpose as a regular projector, with the massive advantage of being very portable. As the name hints – pocket projector – these projection devices are small enough to be carried in a backpack or bag, measuring in at around 5×5 inches.

This projection technology comes in various forms, with several manufacturers now making them. In addition to the dedicated pico projector, some mobile phones are shipping with limited projection capabilities for displaying photographs, for example, built in, too.

Buying considerations

When purchasing any mini projector, one needs to consider a few factors outside of size. The first is the display quality, with most of these projectors displaying in either a low resolution – 640×480 – or an unusual resolution – often 858×600 – meaning even a regular VGA resolution of 800×600 would be upscaled, leading to dreadful image quality. For this reason, you must test potential pocket projectors with your appropriate output device.
Contrast, colour, brightness, picture quality, the classic rainbow effect and so on can only be seen by testing, so insist on being allowed to.

The next consideration is obviously price. And with most everything in technology, you pay for you get. No one manufacturer has streaked head and shoulders above the competition so far, so it is still mostly hit and miss, but there are a few pocket projectors that have impressed.

Photo: Aiptek

final consideration is sound, with options running the gamut from non-existent to awful to quite descent. It’s likely you could run sound from your laptop, so this may not be too big of a deal, but if it is, it may be well worth putting up the extra bucks for the right incorporated audio tech.

Final thoughts

It’s slow build, at this point, unfortunately. Look around, compare models, capabilities and price and definitely try it out. Aiptek’s range is reputable with the relatively expensive Aiptek MobileCinema D25 being quite a big seller. Even big player Samsung is soon to join the marketplace, proving its viability as a legitimate product set within projection technology. Who will emerge victorious is still anybody’s guess.