As known, traditional projectors use powerful lamps as a source of light. The list of their shortcomings includes a limited resource, high cost and high heat dissipation. As a result, such models require a large internal volume for heat dissipation and a powerful cooling system with high noise levels.
But the rapid development of semiconductors radically changed the situation. Their specs have become sufficient to use LEDs as a light source in projectors. As known, LEDs and laser LEDs practically do not heat up, and their service life reaches 30,000 hours, which corresponds to more than 10 years of active use.
Of course, companies began to develop such models. Compact light sources have led to the emergence of a whole segment of LED projectors. Of course, compactness has become one of the main directions of their improvement.
Today such models are often called pico projectors. But many companies use the terms mini, pocket or portable.
Of course, consumers have responded enthusiastically on a new offer. As a result, many companies have focused their efforts on a this direction. As a consequence, today many companies, including Sony, Miroir USA, LLC, Optoma, Rif6, LLC, Anker, Apeman International Co, etc offer pico models.
AAXA Technologies Inc is one of them. It was founded in 2008 as a developer and manufacturer of a micro and pico projectors. Company uses LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) and DLP (Digital Light Processing) technologies, as well as LED (light emitting diode) and Laser light-sources. In 2010 AAXA launched the world’s first laser pico projector. Today, the company belongs to the leaders in this segment.
In addition, the modern market offers smartphones with projector functions.
AAXA P300
In November 2012, the company introduced the model of its first popular portable AAXA P300 projector.
This projector provides 300 ANSI lm, up to 550 peak lm and 160 ANSI lm with battery at native 1280 x 800 HD resolution with contrast of 2,000:1 (full on/off).
The dimensions (4 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm (H x W x D)) and a weight of 1.3 lbs are consistent even with the modern classification of a mini projector. The projection calculator from the authoritative https://www.projectorcentral.com shows Throw Ratio (1.40:1 (D:W)) of 60″@71 inch for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light).
In addition, the model has two 1 W speakers, a Memory Card Reader and a tripod.
Today, this model costs about $ 330.
AAXA LED Pico Projector
Already in August 2013, the company introduced the AAXA LED Pico Projector.
This significantly more compact model (2 cm x 11 cm x 6 cm, 0.22 lbs) provides Lumen Output of 25 ANSI lm at 960 x 540 resolution with contrast of 1,000:1 (full on/off). Lamp Life of this model reaches 15,000 hours, which was an unprecedented for 2013 compared to lamps.
Unfortunately, its Throw Ratio of 1.70:1 (D:W) provides only 17″@26 inch for optimal 120 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light).
As known, the image quality, including clarity and color saturation, directly depends on the ambient light level and is inversely proportional to the screen size. In turn, the requirements for the ambient light level directly depends on the brightness. Therefore, projectors with low Lumen Output or brightness (several tens of ANSI lm) cannot provide high projection quality for a sufficiently large screen size (for example, 50” and above). In addition, they require complete dimming. Otherwise, image will be too dim. Of course, light-absorbing panels on the walls and a special screen with a high Screen Gain partially solve this problem. But companies often do not specify this aspect, indicating the maximum possible screen size.
Of course, projector has Memory Card Reader and tripod.
Unfortunately, model does not have a built-in speaker and does not support of Digital Keystone. The level of its noise reaches 30.0 dB. But the price of this model today does not exceed $ 126.
AAXA P5 and M5 HD LED Pico Projectors
In 2016, the company introduced the P5 and M5 HD LED Pico Projectors. AAXA P5 provides 300 ANSI lm at native 1280 x 720 resolution with contrast of 1,000:1 (full on/off). Dimensions 5 cm x 11 cm x 10 cm and weight 0,88 lbs is consistent with the mini form factor.
Throw Ratio of 1.47:1 (D:W) provides 61″@78 inch for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light).
The model uses the gorgeous high-density lithium ion battery, which provides 135 minute. In addition, the projector has a 1.0 W mono speaker and tripod.
Unfortunately, model does not support of Digital Keystone.
Today, the model costs $ 452.
AAXA M5 is one of the brightest portable projectors. Its brightness reaches 900 Lm (or 500 Lm with battery) at 1280 x 800 resolution with contrast of 2,000: 1 (full on / off).
Unfortunately, its dimensions are 5 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm and its weight is 1.98 lbs a bit large for a pico projector.
But unprecedented brightness compensates for this aspect.
Throw Ratio of 1.20 (D: W) provides 103″@ 105 inch for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light). Of course, this is an excellent result for mini models.
In addition, the projector supports Digital Keystone, has a tripod and a built-in 2.0 W mono speaker.
Today it costs $ 499.
AAXA P2-A and M6 HD pico projectors
Already in 2017, the company introduced five new models. This list includes AAXA P2-A, AAXA M6, AAXA P300 Neo, AAXA P300 Neo Smart and AAXA P2-B.
AAXA P2-A is a Smart wireless video streaming pico projector.
It uses a powerful quad-core 1.3 GHz processor powering its Android 5.1 OS. Projector provides 130 Ansi Lm at 854 x 480 resolution with contrast of 1,000:1 (full on/off). The cubic form factor with dimensions of 6 cm x 7 cm x 7 cm and a weight of 0.6 lbs is fully consistent with the Pico classification. Throw Ratio of 1.20:1 (D:W) provides 40″@42 inch for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light). The model traditionally has a tripod and uses a 1.5 W mono speaker.
The projector costs $ 199, which, of course, is a bit for the Smart model.
Of course, the AAXA M6 HD Pico Projector belongs to a higher class. It provides 1,200 Ansi Lm at native 1920×1080 (1080p) with contrast of 2,000: 1 (full on / off).
Unfortunately, its dimensions 5 cm x 18 cm x 18 cm and a weight of 2.4 lbs are too large for the pico model and more correspond to a mini projector.
Throw Ratio of 1.10:1 (D:W) provides 93″@89 inch for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light). Of course, this is a great result.
This projector does not support Digital Keystone, but has 2.0 W × 2 speakers, Memory Card Reader and built-in premium 90 minute Lithium Ion battery.
Unfortunately, its price reaches $ 599.
AAXA P300 Neo Projector
As the name implies, the AAXA P300 Neo Projector is an improved version of the popular AAXA P300.
The new model provides slightly increased brightness (430 vs 300 ANSI lm), supports the same 720p HD (1280 x 720) resolution, but with contrast only 1,000: 1 vs 2,000: 1 (full on / off) in P300.
Of course, significantly reduced size and weight (3 cm x 14 cm x 9 cm vs 4 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm and 0.8 lbs vs 1.3 lbs) while maintaining the basic specs became its main advantage.
Model supports vertical digital keystone and uses 1.0 W mono speaker.
In addition, the Lamp Life of the projector doubled (30,000 vs 15,000 hours). Moreover, Throw Ratio of 1.20:1 (D:W) provides 72″@76 inch vs 60″@71 inch for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light). Finally, a premium lithium ion battery delivers 1.5 hours of media playback in eco mode.
At the same time, the company reduced the price of the model to $ 279 vs $ 330 (street price of AAXA P300).
AAXA P300 Neo Smart and P2-B projectors
As the name implies, AAXA P300 Neo Smart has become the Smart version. Just like the AAXA P2-A, it uses a powerful 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and Android 5.1 OS.
The projector brightness reaches 400 ANSI lm at 1280 x 720 resolution with contrast 1,000: 1 (full on / off).
Its dimensions, weight, design, Lamp Life, 1.0 W mono speaker and support vertical digital keystone completely coincide with the P300 Neo.
But Throw Ratio of 1.50:1 (D:W) vs 1.20:1 provides only 72″@94 inch vs 72″@76 inch in P300 Neo for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light).
In addition, the projector has a powerful built-in media player for playing 4K content, megapixel slide shows and music.
Of course, P300 Neo Smart costs more ($ 319 vs $ 279).
AAXA P2-B projector became the lower cost variant of the popular Smart P2-A pico projector.
Their specs, including design, are fully consistent with each other, of course, with the exception of Smart features.
At the same time, the P2-B has a 150 minute lithium ion battery and is cheaper by $ 40 ($ 159 vs $ 199).
AAXA P6 and P7 pico projectors
In April 2018, the company introduced the P6 Pico Projector with a bright 600 LED light engine capable of delivering 140″ diagonal size (for dark area).
Of course, the brightness of 600 ANSI Lm at 1280 x 800 resolution with contrast 2,000: 1 (full on / off) corresponds to a fairly high level for a mini projector. In addition, Throw Ratio of 1.23: 1 (D: W) provides 84″@ 88 inch for optimal 111 nits at Screen Gain of 1.2 (low ambient light).
Moreover, the model provides Digital Zoom and vertical digital keystone, has a 2.0 W mono speaker, and its Lamp Life reaches 30,000 hours.
Its dimensions 4 cm x 13 cm x 12 cm and weight 1.2 lbs can be considered average for this class.
A projector costs $ 334.
In February 2019, the company introduced the AAXA P7 Projector. List of its pros includes brightness of 600 ANSI Lm at native 1080p (1920 x 1080) Full HD resolution with contrast 2,000: 1 and multiple connectivity options.
In addition, its Throw Ratio of 1.20: 1 (D: W) provides 98″@ 102 inch for optimal 58 nits at Screen Gain of 1,2 (low ambient light).
Moreover, the projector supports vertical digital keystone, has 2.0 W × 2 speakers, Memory Card Reader and tripod, and its Lamp Life reaches 30,000 hours. Additionally, the model can use the powerful 38 Watt Lithium-Ion Battery, which is sold separately.
At the same time, the size and weight of the model does not exceed 7 cm x 12 cm x 11 cm and 1.4 lbs, which is excellent results for such specs.
Today, this model costs $ 399.
Conclusion
Of course, the review format does not allow to include all models under this popular brand. For example, it does not include ST200 Short Throw (0.8: 1), AAXA S1 Mini Nintendo, AAXA P4-X Android, etc, as well as AAXA 4K1 LED (spring 2019). Of course, this magnificent model does not belong to the mini class (3.27 x 2.83 x 0.94 in and 3.8 lbs). But its specs are impressive. At a cost of $ 1,000, this projector provides a brightness of 1,500 ANSI lm at native 4K UHD resolution, forming a projection of up to 200″ on a diagonal with great quality.
In general, a wide range of AAXA pico projectors allows any consumer to easily choose the optimal model.
This video illustrates the capabilities of the AAXA P7 Projector.
