It’s summertime and what might be higher than having fun with some films on the large display with family and friends. Whereas heading to the movie show is one choice, one other is creating your personal theater expertise at residence.
ViewSonic, who provides a spread of projectors good for watching indoors in addition to outside, was sort sufficient to ship out its newest M2e Portable Projector for overview.
Design
So far as transportable projectors go, the ViewSonic M2e isn’t as compact as one thing just like the Anker Nebula II. Regardless, for being a real 1080p projector with a wide array of ports, the M2e is kind of small.
On the entrance of the M2e is the lens with an LED lamp that options 30,000 hours of life. You’ll additionally discover the sensors for auto-focusing and keystone correction. Nonetheless, bear in mind that whereas the M2e is unbelievable at vertical keystone correction, it doesn’t do a lot at horizontal angles. That means, you’re going to want to position this straight in entrance of the place you’re projecting as an alternative of off at an angle.
Flip it round to the again and also you’ll discover all kinds of ports, together with an HDMI 1.4 port, USB kind A, USB-C, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card slot. Mainly, the whole lot you’ll want to increase the capabilities of this little projector.
On the underside of the M2e, there are three adjustable ft that will help you get it completely leveled, in addition to a kickstand to alter the vertical angle of the projector. In my expertise, the M2e handles vertical keystone correction very properly, so tilting it up or down gained’t be a difficulty in any respect. Moreover, there’s a screw mount on the underside that lets you connect the M2e to a tripod for simple placement.
Contained in the field, the M2e comes with an influence cable, distant management, USB-C cable, and carrying case for taking the whole lot on the go.
Person expertise
In brief, relating to utilizing the included software program on the ViewSonic M2e, my suggestion could be, don’t do it. The M2e runs a customized model of Android with out Google Providers and consists of the Aptoide Android market to put in apps.
The app choice is extraordinarily restricted–out of all of the streaming apps that I looked for–I may solely discover Netflix, Prime Video, and Plex. Nonetheless, even after putting in these apps, the expertise wasn’t that nice.
Navigating and looking within the Netflix app was irritating as a result of the app put in isn’t constructed for getting used with a distant. Then, I couldn’t even get signed into my Amazon account as a result of I exploit 2FA and the keyboard wouldn’t load for me to enter the code.
Plex is the app I had probably the most success with, however that’s solely helpful in case you have a big library of native content material. In the event you’re fascinated with aspect loading extra streaming apps resembling Disney+ or Hulu, assume once more. These apps refuse to launch as a result of lack of Google Providers.
Display screen Mirroring
The ViewSonic M2e helps display mirroring and exhibits up within the solid menu whenever you faucet the solid icon in apps. Sadly, I used to be left with a neverending loading display at any time when I tried to make use of it. If solely this labored it might have made up for the disappointing app choice, nevertheless it proved to be unreliable. Most certainly, that is as a result of M2e not working with casting of copyrighted content material which ViewSonic overtly states within the description of the product.
There may be additionally the choice of mirroring your display over USB-C. I used to be capable of efficiently join my telephone utilizing a USB-C to USB-C cable to the M2e and stream movies. The issue with this technique is you’re going to have to depart the telephone’s show on the whole time you’re taking part in the video.
USB playback
The ViewSonic M2e helps taking part in again information off of a USB drive, however as soon as once more, there are some points. Whereas all of the video codecs I examined labored advantageous, the M2e can’t decode AC3 audio. I used to be capable of treatment this by aspect loading VLC, however ultimately, I got here to the conclusion that you just’d be higher off utilizing a distinct resolution to playback media.
Add a streaming stick
Mainly, you’re going to want so as to add a streaming follow the ViewSonic M2e if you would like a very good consumer expertise. After digging my outdated Chromecast Extremely out of the closet and connecting it to the M2e, it vastly improved the consumer expertise. I used to be even capable of energy it off the USB port on the again of the projector.
Hastily, I may entry each streaming app accessible and solid copyright-protected movies to the projector. Moreover, whereas the distant for the M2e works advantageous, it wasn’t simple to make use of given you’re not normally capable of level it straight on the M2e from the place you’re sitting. Utilizing the Chromecast Extremely dongle made it a lot simpler to navigate and begin movies.
Video high quality
The M2e gained’t rival a 4K or 1080p TV by way of image high quality, however total I used to be very impressed. Contemplating you’re blowing up an image to between 80 and 100 inches from a projector this tiny, I used to be actually stunned it regarded pretty much as good because it did.
Indoors I used to be bouncing the image off a plain white wall for an 80-inch image and sitting about 8 ft away. The picture was sharp, colours have been vibrant, and distinction was spot on after a number of changes.
On the subject of brightness, the M2e carried out properly. I used to be capable of see the image in a reasonably lit room through the daytime with the blinds drawn. Nonetheless, the M2e appears its finest at evening or in a very darkish room.
Open air was a distinct story although. I purchased this 120-inch projector screen off of Amazon and located the image was too washed out to see even within the early night. I needed to look forward to it to get utterly darkish out earlier than it was price watching.
Moreover, one thing to pay attention to is the M2e struggled to autofocus when adjusting the gap and angle utilizing the projector display outside. I needed to energy it on and off to get it to focus correctly, whereas indoors it was capable of give attention to the wall completely every time I moved it.
Audio high quality
The M2e contains a speaker from Harmon/Kardon that can get the job achieved however don’t count on large film sound from this tiny speaker. In order for you large audio to match the large image from the M2e, you then’re going to want so as to add an exterior speaker. Plus, the fan can get fairly noisy whereas watching movies, and utilizing a louder Bluetooth speaker helps drown it out.
I used a few completely different Bluetooth audio system throughout my time with the M2e and paired with the Chromecast Extremely that is the final word expertise.
The graceful consumer expertise of the Chromecast Extremely, unbelievable image high quality of the M2e, and large sound of a Bluetooth speaker all mix for the final word yard or residence theater expertise.
I additionally examined out the three.5mm jack on the M2e, and despite the fact that I attempted two completely different cables and two completely different audio system, the audio would reduce out. Thankfully, the Bluetooth audio labored completely, however I wouldn’t rely on utilizing the three.5mm port.
Closing ideas
For $600 the ViewSonic M2e provides nice image high quality with auto-focus in a compact bundle together with all of the inputs you should take it to the following degree. Whereas I bumped into some points with the app choice and the three.5mm jack was wonky for me, each can simply be sidestepped should you use a streaming dongle and Bluetooth speaker.
With all of that mixed, you may have the whole lot you should replicate the big-screen expertise of a movie show in your house, yard, or each.
