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Pico projectors are getting ever trendier. There’s a host out there already, with new models promised from WowWee later this year and the arrival of the first camera with built-in projector – the Coolpix S1000pj from Nikon – set for September.
BenQ is veteran of the projector business and has used that heritage to do slightly different. Its Joybee GP1 mini projector isn’t mobile phone shaped or sized like the majority of available Picos, but instead looks far more like a full sized projector, just smaller.
In fact, at 136mm x 54mm x 120mm and weighing only 0.64kg, it will easily slip into your man bag, although the bulky power unit doesn’t fit into the case provided. And because the GP1 is mains powered so you can’t leave it behind.
The GP1 is incredibly easy to set up with three slots – an audio output, USB reader and multi-input socket. For around £30 extra, you can also buy a dedicated iPod dock. If you don’t want to fork out for this, loading content onto a USB stick is the easiest way to carry your movies, but there is a certain degree of fiddling as you have to convert files into MPEG-1 or MJPEG format. BenQ has included software though for doing this though, so no need to go rummaging round the web here.
BenQ has obviously had to cut down on the features we know it can pull off, largely so it can keep the size akin to a micro machine. The GP1 delivers a native resolution of 858 x 600 pixels in 4:3 aspect ratio along with a brightness rating of just 100 ANSI lumens. Fine, but not for fussy home cinema types that’s for sure.
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If you’re used to a standard £500 HD projector – the GP1 is going to seem pretty dull. However, compare it to comparative dinky models (for example the Optoma Pico pocket projector at 20 lumens), and you realise what an achievement this mini machine is. The picture was fine even in daylight although obviously a darkened room is preferable. You can boost the image to up to 80 inches across but this definitely affected the brightness.
One thing though – make sure you have the credit card sized remote in your hands before you turn off the lights as you’re sure to lose it otherwise.
Where the GP1 really shines, however, is with its features set. OK so you have to physically move the unit to change the image size but there is auto focus, dynamic keystone correction, wall colour correction and high altitude and ceiling-mounted modes. All of this in a machine that’s small enough to stick in your bag and take to a friend’s. Though at £500, you’d be pretty devastated if you left it on the seat of the number 24 bus.
[...] Read our BenQ Joybee GP1 review now That’s not to say that the Wowwee Cinemin Swivel isn’t a capable pico projector. It’s got Made for iPod and Works with iPhone badges, which means an adapter for both Apple’s jukebox and blower comes bundled in the box. Just shove it in and you’re away in less than ten seconds. It certainly beats using the myriad connectors that some models come with. [...]