Replacing traditional lamps with LEDs and laser LEDs has allowed developers to radically reduce the projector sizes. This is due to the significantly lower operating temperature of light engines based on solid state light sources (SSL). In turn, this factor reduces the power and size requirements for the cooling fan and the volume of internal space for heat dissipation. For reference, a laser LED is a LED with an optical resonator, which provides more powerful coherent radiation.
As a result, the market quickly filled with mini-, pico-, pocket models. The rapid growth of their popularity became a good incentive for companies, and soon the consumer market expanded due to hybrid smartphones-projectors (smartphones with a built-in projector). Their popularity peaked in 2020, when this list included Blackview MAX 1, Moviphone, Qantum V, Movi, etc.
Unfortunately, the relatively high price and modest specs significantly worsen their value for money. Indeed, the built-in projector increased the cost by $ 300-400. As a result, buying a phone and a pico projector with similar specifications separately costs 20-30% less. Having lost the competitive battle, the superb idea began to fade away. To be fair, two years ago Samsung and Nokia announced Galaxy Beam 3 (2021) and Nokia Projector Phone 5G. Unfortunately, there was no follow-up.
But Unihertz 8849 Tank 2 (2023) and new improved Tank 3 Pro (2024) phone-projectors can revive this idea.
The implementation of a built-in projector in the rugged smartphons is very logical. As known, these models are usually equipped with batteries of huge capacity. For example, Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 uses a 23800mAh battery. Accordingly, this aspect completely eliminates the problem of increased energy consumption when using a projector.
Built-in projector price
The price of this option can be estimated as the difference in prices of smartphones with/without a built-in projector. In particular, the premium Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 Pro costs ~ $ 660. It offers 8200 Octa-Core processor with 4nm process/3.1GHz, 16GB RAM+16GB adjustable RAM, 512GB ROM and 2TB expandable storage, 200MP main camera, 50MP front camera 64MP night vision camera and 50MP wide-angle lens.
The rugged smartphone segment ranges from the budget AGM H6 for $ 200 to premium Blackview BL9000 Pro for $ 800. Phones with specs close to the Tank 3 Pro cost ~ $ 500.
Tank 3 (2023) with similar specs but without projector costs ~$ 550. Considering these factors, the cost of the built-in projector in Tank 3 can be estimated at ~ $ 100 – $ 150.
List of current pico projectors includes:
– Wemax Go (2022) – $ 200, Laser Phosphor, 300 ANSI Lumens, (960 x 640) resolution, 500:1 native contrast, 0.8W speaker, 0.3 kg / 2 x 8 x 15 cm.
– Yaber Pico T1 (2022) – $ 400, LED, 110 ANSI Lumens, qHD (960 x 540) resolution, 350:1 (full on/off) native contrast, 1.5W speaker, 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs, 1 x 7 x 15 cm.
– AAXA LED Pico+ Max (2024) – $ 160 – $ 190, LED, 100 LED lumens, Full HD (1,920 x 1080), 1,000:1 (full on/off), 1.0W speaker, 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs, 2 x 8 x 16 cm.
But Wemax Go with Laser Phosphor light engine is significantly brighter, ultra-compact Yaber Pico T1 weighing 100g is more expensive. Therefore, the newest AAXA LED Pico+ Max seems to be the most suitable for comparison.
AAXA Pico Max vs Tank 3 Pro built-in projector
The brightness of both models is ~100 LED Lumens. Both projectors have manual focus. Tank 3 supports 120Hz refresh rate and has auto correction.
Specs (Pico+ Max vs Tank 3 Pro):
– сontrast (FOFO) – 1,000:1 vs 460:1;
– resolution – Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) vs FWVGA (640 x 480);
– image size (max) – 120″ vs 150″.
In fact, this value characterizes only the focusing range. Unfortunately, low brightness significantly limits the image size. Even in complete darkness, 100 Lumens is unlikely to provide acceptable color saturation for a picture larger than 50″ – 60″ diagonally;
– throw ratio – 1.9:1 vs 1.2:1 (40″@1m);
– battery life – 2.7H vs for a very long time with a monstrous 23800mAh battery.
It also supports the Outdoor Camping Light mode.
– dimensions & weight – (6.49″ x 3.07″ x 0.86″)@0.71lbs / 300g vs (7″ x 3,38″ x 1,2″)@1,53lbs / 700g.
At about the same price, AAXA offers higher image quality due to better contrast (1,000:1 vs 460:1) and higher resolution (1,920 x 1,080 vs 640 x 480). But the built-in projector of Tank 3 Pro is practically unlimited in battery life, supports 120Hz refresh rate, has auto correction and direct access to unlimited content via smartphone. In addition, it’s perfectly protected (durable case, protection class – IP68 or military MIL-STD-810H standard). Finally, like any combo, Tank is more versatile due to its expanded functionality.
Conclusion
The price-performance comparisons of the built-in projector in the Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 Pro with the new AAXA LED Pico+ Max are quite optimistic for a hybrid phone-projector:
– the projector increases the price of phone by only ~ $ 100 – $ 150 vs $ 160 – $ 190 cost of the LED Pico+;
– viewing time with the huge battery capacity of 23800mAh in the Tank 3 Pro is radically superior to several hours for projectors with a traditional battery.
To be fair, many rugged smartphones also have very capacious batteries, including, for example, 15080mAh in Blackview BV9300 or 10800mAh for Doogee V30T. But they do not have projector and Outdoor Camping Light functions;
– direct access via smartphone radically simplifies the task of searching and feeding content to the projector;
– Tank 3 Pro is perfectly protected due to durable case with IP68 protection class (military MIL-STD-810H standard);
– traditional for any hybrid increase in versatility due to extended functionality.
In fairness, AAXA LED Pico+ Max wins in image quality due to higher resolution and contrast. But this aspect is less important for ultra portable models.
In fact, the Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 Pro convincingly proves the competitiveness of phone-projectors vs the traditional purchase of a smartphone and a pico-projector separately. In case of marketing success, consumers will definitely benefit from the formation of a new segment of pocket media devices.
The video shows the Tank3 Pro projector in action outdoors.
