In July 2025, Dangbei introduced the mid-focal Dangbei DBOX02 Pro with a Laser Phosphor (LaPh) light engine. Essentially, it became a cheaper version of last year’s Dangbei DBOX02 (Mars Pro 2). Of course, the model numbers (Mars Pro 2 / 2024 and Pro / 2025) are a bit confusing, but the consumer market has already become accustomed to the confusing name-formation. New Dangbei DBOX02 Pro is cheaper ($ 1,100 vs $ 1,300), less bright (2,000 vs 2,450 ISO lumens), has built-in а rotating stand (360° horizontally and tilts 10° vertically) and auto keystone correction. Otherwise, they are identical.
In addition, the company introduced the MP1 Max with an innovative hybrid triple-laser/LED light engine, which covers 110% of the BT.2020 color space and provides δE<1 accuracy 'out of the box'.
MP1 Max has a gimbal stand capable of rotating 360° horizontally and tilting 135° vertically, radically simplifying projector installation.
Moreover, the projector uses InstaPro AI system, which provides auto-focus, auto-keystone, screen fit, obstacle avoidance, real-time adjustments, eye protection, and adaptive brightness.
Of course, the dimensions and weight (25 x 30 x 23 cm/9.71 x 11.65 x 9.05 inches)@5.6 kg/12.34 lb) hardly qualify as ‘ultra-compact.’ But its positioning as portable is quite correct.
The projector is compatible with HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats.
The MSRP of $ 1,999 seems high, but the street price has already dropped to $ 1,600. Furthermore, Dangbei frequently runs promotions on its website, during which the discount typically reaches 20%.
Main specs
The model offers superb light output of up to 3,100 ISO lumens (ISO 21118 standard). Of course, it doesn’t compensate for direct sunlight, but it easily provides sufficiently saturated image colors even in diffused daylight.
The projector joins the list of models with an innovative hybrid Laser/LED light engine, which today includes, for example, NexiGo TriVision Ultra and XGIMI Horizon S Max. New light sourse has allowed companies to reduce the price, expand the color gamut, and significantly improve color accuracy.
MP1 Max’s light sourse uses LEDs and three Nichia’s QuaLas lasers. For reference, the Japanese Nichia Corporation is one of the industry leaders and specializes in the production of phosphors, LEDs, and laser diodes. In addition to high brightness, it delivers wide color gamut up to 110% BT.2020 and δE<1 color accuracy 'out of the box'.
Traditionally for modern 4K DLP projectors, MP1 Max uses a 0.47-inch DMD DLP chip with XPR technology from Texas Instruments. It plays 4K content using a relatively inexpensive 1080p chipset and pixel shifting. Essentially, the projector divides the 8 million pixel of 4K image into four parts of 2 million each. It then uses the chipset’s 2 million micromirrors to display four Full HD images in sequence, shifting them diagonally by half a pixel relative to each other. Of course, the projector displays only one Full HD image at a time. But due to the high frequency, the eyes and brain perceive them as a single, higher-resolution image. Pixel shifting is achieved by tilting the lens using four electromagnets in the XPR module.
The focusing range varies for images from 40 to 300 inches diagonally. According to Dangbei, an 80-150″ screen is optimal for the best image quality. At 1.20:1 throw ratio it provides 100″@2.7m.
Color modes
The MP1 Max has Standard, Natural, Vivid, Movie, Game, and Custom modes. Brightness can be adjusted using Standard, ECO, Custom, or High Performance settings. For calibration, the perfectionists get an advanced color management system with adjustable hue, saturation, brightness, offset, and gain, as well as 11-point white balance correction for enhancing red, green, and blue.
In High Performance, the MP1 Max’s brightness reaches almost 3,100 lumens in SDR’s Game mode and 3,050 lumens in HDR’s Custom mode, which matches that specified in the specs.
Traditionally for the brightest modes, playback with High Performance is accompanied by a noticeable shift to green. Standard power mode provides a good balance of brightness and color and is more optimal. The brightness in this mode is ~2,000 lumens. The brightness of Natural mode is almost the same, but it reproduces forest greens and teals a little more accurately. Vivid mode is a little brighter. Its SDR/HDR brightness reaches ~2,100 lumens. It offers more saturated colors, but with a yellowish cast. However, greens, teals, light and dark blues, purples, and magentas retain a bluish bias. Movie mode with a warmer overall tone is closest to the standard and is the most accurate.
Its SDR/HDR brightness is ~1,700 lumens. Game mode offers SDR/HDR brightness of ~2,750/2,400 lumens with a blue bias typical for gaming presets.
Custom mode with ~2,000 lumens brightness by default is identical to Standard. It offers an extensive adjustments for brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, hue, color temperature, and gamma.
Audio and gaming
Dual 12W speakers in an acoustic chamber with a bass-reflex design (frequency up to 45 Hz) provide quite acceptable sound quality. The audio system reproduces surround and detailed sound without frequency distortion.
Moreover, Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X support enhance immersion. Projector has Standard, Movie, Music, Sports, and Custom sound modes. Each has an option for surround sound in the Sound menu. Its effect depends on the audio content. For example, this option distorts dialogue in films or TV shows in Movie mode. By default, it’s disabled in Sport mode. But Standard mode with surround enabled is superb. The most versatile Music mode provides a wide, immersive soundstage for any audio. The Custom mode offers adjustments to balance, treble, and bass.
In addition, the sound menu contains a dialogue enhancement setting. Expert settings menu also offers eARC and auto volume control.
The HDMI 2.1 port with eARC allows music lovers to connect an external soundbar. As known, Enhanced Audio Return Channelit (eARC) feature provides high-quality audio transmission in digital format without compression and loss. In addition, external speakers can be connected via 3.5mm audio jack or Bluetooth.
But in general, sound quality will allow most to save money by not purchasing an external soundbar.
MP1 Max’s input lag is hardly suitable for first-person shooters online, but is great for fans of casual games. It’s 35ms for 1080p/4K@60Hz, which is enough for single player RPGs, puzzle games or party-style games.
Of course, Google TV with official Netflix licensing is one of the main projector bonuses. It gives access to all popukar streaming apps, including Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Apple TV, Starz, YouTube, YouTube TV, Spotify, etc.
The Google Home app makes setup very easy and fast. The model supports casting via Google Cast and PC.
Conclusion
Pros
– innovative hybrid Laser/LED light engine (110% BT.2020 color gamut and δE<1 color accuracy 'out of the box');
– Google TV with native Netflix support, Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Disney+, etc;
– high brightness up to 3,100 ISO lumen;
– great 12W audio with Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X support;
– HDR10+ support (scene-by-scene picture optimization);
– gimbal stand (H/V – 360°/135°);
– InstaPro AI system (auto-focus/keystone, etc);
– many calibration tools;
– 3D compatible.
Cons
– MSRP – $ 1,999.
Dangbei MP1 Max became the third 4K projector this year with ALPD (Advanced Laser Phosphor Display) 5.0 – based hybrid Laser/LED light engine. Before it, the segment was presented only by NexiGo TriVision Ultra and XGIMI Horizon S Max. Theу price are ~ $ 1,500, and brightness reaches 3,000 lumens. By comparison, the price of sufficiently bright triple-laser mid-focal 4K projectors typically exceeds $2,000. Despite their modest product range, they have excellent prospects. Their bonuses include:
– price reduction due to cheaper Laser/LED light engine;
– extended color gamut (110% of the BT.2020 color space);
– δE<1 color accuracy 'out of the box'.
MP1 Max and XGIMI are a little brighter (3,100 vs 2,600 lumens), have Google TV and come with gimbal stand, but NexiGo offers great gaming with (4.2 ms~ 8 ms) input lag. XGIMI has superb 2x 12W Harman Kardon professional speakers. The MP1 Max offers many calibration tools. But in general, comparison of them with each other shows approximately the same price-quality ratio.
Video introduces the new Dangbei MP1 Max projector.