The growing popularity of mini projectors (pico, pocket, portable, etc) was due to the replacement of lamps as a light source with LEDs and lasers. In fact, a laser LED is a diode with a resonator, which provides more powerful coherent radiation. Compared to lamps, they practically do not heat up. Accordingly, LED projectors do not require a powerful fan and a large internal volume to dissipate heat. As a result, the market was quickly filled with very compact, inexpensive, but, unfortunately, not very bright LED projectors.
UST projectors
The popularity of ultra short throw (UST) projectors as an alternative to TV in the living room is due to the possibility of placing them near the screen. UST models form an image by re-reflecting the light flux with aspherical mirrors from a very short distance.
Accordingly, they do not create the problem of wires on the floor, which occurs when placing a mid-focal projector in the room center and is solved only with a complex ceiling mount. But there were no hybrid mini UST models, which is quite logical. A UST projector as a TV hardly needs to be moved around the living room often. In turn, wires on the grass when watching baseball in the backyard with friends and beer are unlikely to create inconvenience.
Taking advantage of low competition, today several companies are experimenting in this segment.
In particular, this list includes Singapore INNOVATIVE ® company. It has been developing, manufacturing and selling UST models and portable (pocket and pico) projectors for 17 years. Today, the company offers mini UST DSX ($ 1,215, 1080p, 4.96 x 16.8 x 21.2cm & 600 g) and DSX II ($ 2,800, 4K).
MosicGO EliteProjector MGFU-L1-FBA (2020) costs $ 600 (plug-in-projector) or $ 660 (build-in battery) and provides up to 1,000 ANSI Lumens with 1080p resolution. But it’s larger and heavier (9 x 17 x 32 cm & 2.8 kg).
This year the list has expanded with the new Philips Screeneo UL5 Smart Home Projector (SCN355/INT), priced at ~ € 750 /$ 790 / £ 615. This Dutch multinational hardly needs an introduction, having successfully competed in the market since 1891. The Screeneo range has been around for over 10 years and includes eight UST projectors.
UL5
The new model is the first Philips portable UST projector with an RGB laser light engine.
Specs:
– DLP technology;
– triple laser RGB light engine (color gamut – 200% / Rec.709 standard, 108% / Rec.2020, 150% / DCI-P3);
– brightness – 550 ISO Lumens (ISO 21118 standard);
– Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution with 0.23-inches DMD chipset;
– 1,800:1 (FOFO – full on/off) contrast;
– Full HD 3D support;
– 2 x 3.0W internal speakers;
– 9 x 9 x 21cm & 1.0 kg / 2.3 lbs Size & Weight;
– auto / manual focus;
– dualband 2.4GHz / 5GHz WiFi & Bluetooth 4.2;
– HDMI / USB-C / WiFi content delivery options;
– LuminOS (alternative version of Android TV).
It creates a projection of up to 120″ diagonally from a distance of 0.2 m – 0.6 m with a Throw Ratio of 0.23:1 (100″@20″ / 51cm, 35″@18cm, 120″@61cm).
But according to the standard rules for calculating the optimal maximum image size, it reaches 86″ / 2.2m diagonally (1.92 x 1.08 m) for 550 ANSI Lumens. For reference, these ratios are valid for viewing in the dark. As known, ambient light makes image colors appear dull and faded. Of course, the projector can form a much larger image, but at the cost of the colorful image.
Unfortunately, the declared brightness rarely corresponds to the actual light output, and varies significantly in different color modes. In addition, max brightness reduces the accuracy of color rendering. As a result, image colors often shift towards green. UL5 provides fairly high color accuracy at brightness from 420 ANSI lumens and below (max screen size ~ 74″ in the dark).
Screen size is adjustable by projection distance or digital zoom of 50-100%.
Key Features
The specified native contrast is 1,800:1, but the measured values are significantly lower (with basic settings – 960:1 in Standard mode, 1,012:1 for Presentation, 894:1 – Film, 931:1 – Games and 918:1 – User). But this is slightly better than the average for compact projectors in the $ 500 to $ 1,000 price segment.
Unfortunately, the moldel does not support MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation – frame interpolation for smooth playback).
Autofocus works flawlessly, so manual mode is practically unnecessary.
Of course, upright installation (up to 92 cm picture size) is one of the UL5’s bonuses, radially increasing its portability.
M6 internal thread on the underside allows for ceiling mounting and adjustment.
The input lag up to 30ms in game mode is very good for compact model.
The Philips firmware update is downloaded and installed online via OTA (Over-the-Air). For reference, model uses the kernel version of 4.9.113 and build V0.39.00.
In addition to integrated LuminOS, Screeneo UL5 can be used via WLAN, for example, for Screencast or Apple AirPlay connection. The USB-C connector is designed for smartphone, tablet, PC, notebook or NAS.
Conclusion
Pros
– ultra-short throw design;
– triple – laser RGB light engine with ultra wide color gamut (108% for Rec.2020);
– auto focus;
– upright installation;
– 2.4 / 5 GHz WLAN and Bluetooth;
– HDMI 2.1 & USB-C input;
– Android-based operating system;
– only ~ 1kg and small dimensions.
Cons
– relatively low brightness of up to 550 lumens (acceptable quality up to ~ 75″ in the dark);
– pixelation (pixel visualization) when increasing projection size to 100″ due to too small 0.23″ DMD chipset;
– no MEMC;
– no 4K support.
Probably, upright installation can be positioned as the main bonus of compact UST projector today. However, a good imagination can help to expand the list of their potential bonuses.
In fact, the developers implemented the UST design in a compact case. But its weight and dimensions still exceed similar specs of ‘pocket’ projectors. For example, the rugged Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 Pro phone projectors weighs ‘only’ 700g and actually fits in a spacious jacket pocket. In fairness, the brightness of this hybrid is only 100 ANSI Lumens. UL5’s price/quality ratio is quite comparable with the best new mid-focal mini projectors:
– Samsung Freestyle 2nd gen – € 700, 1080p, 230 ANSI Lumens;
– Nebula Capsule 3 – € 500, 1080p, 200 ANSI Lumens;
– LG HU710PB CineBeam Q – € 980, 4K, 500 Lumens.
In addition, the list of its competitors is limited only to the INNOVATIVE DSX II and MosicGO EliteProjector MGFU-L1-FBA, which promises good marketing prospects for the projector.
This video shows Philips Screeneo UL5 Smart laser UST projector.
