How to Choose the Right Pico Projector
It’s been a few years since pico projectors first hit the market, but many people still don’t know much about these tiny, pocket-size projectors. Pico projectors allow you to project presentations, video, electronic documents, and photos on any surface, making them ideal for business travelers who need a convenient way to give presentations on the go. You can find them as stand-alone projectors or integrated into cell phones and tablet computers.
Pico projectors range in price from roughly $150 to $800, and they come in a variety of sizes, performance qualities, and other specs. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
Size
Most pico projectors are about the size of a cell phone, making them ultraportable. As more capabilities are added, however, the projector’s size and weight increases. Some may find larger models cumbersome, but most won’t mind the extra inch or two.
Sound
If you want to project presentations with sound, you have some options. Audio is usually supported by the ability to plug in speakers, but some of the newer-generation pico projectors have integrated small speakers into the device. Built-in speakers make the projectors more portable, but you sacrifice size, battery life, and performance.
Noise
Most pico projectors are silent, but some require fans to support a large lumen output. If you don’t want to speak over a humming fan, pay attention to the noise specs when choosing a pico projector.
Light Source, Brightness, and Contrast Ratio
Most pico projects use LEDs, which provide a long lamp-life and use minimal battery power. Recently, however, laser pico projectors have made their way onto the market. Laser projectors create sharper and clearer images that always remain in focus, no matter how far away you stand from the projection surface. Microvision’s ShowWX was the first laser pico projector available in the United States, but other manufacturers, such as Adapt and AAXA, have since introduced their own versions.
The downside of laser projectors is that the images aren’t as bright as with LED projectors. Most laser projectors are only as bright as 10 to 15 lumens. The brighter the image, the easier it is to see. Higher lumens also mean you can project a larger image and still retain quality.
Contrast ratio will also determine image quality. Pico projectors typically provide a contrast ratio of 1000:1. Microvision’s ShowWX provides the highest contrast ratio at 5000:1.
Resolution
Pico projectors come in a variety of resolutions, but typically fall within the 640 by 480 or 800 by 600 range. The lowest-resolution pico projectors on the market are WowWee’s Cinemin Swivel, LG’s eXpo smartphone, and Samsung’s Show at 480 by 320. Some of the highest-resolution pico projectors are ShowWX at 848 by 480 and Samsung’s i8520 Beam phone and Optoma’s PK301 at 854 by 480.
Battery Life
Aside from resolution and brightness, battery life is probably the most important spec you should look in to. Some pico projectors, like the AAXA P2, only come standard with a 30-minute battery life, which can leave you standing in the dark halfway through your presentation. If you don’t want to purchase an additional upgraded battery or lug around power cables, look for pico projectors like Optoma’s PK301 and 3M’s MP180, which have battery lives of one and two hours, respectively.
Storage
Most pico projectors come with at least 1gigabyte of standard storage. For large or multiple presentations, check out Adapt’s ADPP-305, which comes with a standard 4GB storage. If extra storage is a necessity and you don’t like the ADPP-305, choose a pico projector that comes with an SD card slot so you can upgrade your memory as needed.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled pico projectors are the ultimate presentation tools for any business traveler. Projectors like 3M’s MP180 let you browse the Internet and easily transfer files from your computer or smartphone. These projectors are typically a little larger than others, however.
