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Earlier this year, I had a lot of fun testing a fairly high-end 4K projector with a $1500 price to match. So when an updated model of a mini projector priced below $300 arrived for testing, I expected it to basically be a toy in comparison. And while there is a big delta in capabilities, I’m very impressed with what something cheaper by more than $1200 can deliver. BOOM for your buck The latest projector I’ve been testing is the Aurzen BOOM Air. It retails for $299.99, but you can find it for $199.99 before a 10% discount as of this writing. My high-level takeaway is that this is absolutely something I could spend a couple hundred bucks on and feel good about the purchase. You can project the equivalent of a very large TV screen with rich colors and crisp resolution onto a blank wall — no actual TV required. The downside? Like other projectors, the biggest drawback is that you’ll want a reasonably dark environment for the best viewing experience with the Aurzen BOOM Air. My understanding is that using a projector in brighter environments works best with at least 4000 ANSI lumens, and these can cost $2500 or more. The $1500 projector I tested before was no match for the sun, and it advertises 2600 ANSI lumens. So what’s a sub-$300 projector output? Just 300 ANSI lumens. That’s not enough to deliver HDR content, but it gets the job done in a dark environment. Benefits of a portable projector For me, the appeal of these projectors is being able to have a highly portable large screen TV that just appears out of thin air. The Aurzen BOOM Air checks that box for me at a price I’d actually consider. Key product highlights that I’ve appreciated include: built-in Google TV for access to all the streaming video apps including Apple TV HDMI input for connecting an Apple TV 4K box USB-C input for power, including via portable battery packs for use away from wall outlets auto-focus and auto-sizing that responds to even subtle repositioning The design of the Aurzen BOOM Air is also clever. It features a base that can sit on a table or attach to a standard mounting thread. The projector itself can rotate to project downward, straight ahead, upward, or even directly above it on a ceiling. While I haven’t invested in a portable projector screen, the Aurzen BOOM Air would be ideal for an off-the-grid movie night. I used it with my iPhone hotspot for the first few days, and being able to power it off a portable battery over USB-C would be great for camping or backyard movie night. A few things to know There are some drawbacks to the super portable form factor and budget-friendly price. For instance, Aurzen BOOM Air has three brightness modes that are essentially low, medium, and high. Medium is the standard mode while the low mode drains less power. The picture is best in high mode, but it requires running the built-in fan at a high speed that isn’t exactly quiet. Aurzen BOOM Air also has a built-in 10W speaker with a cool design that you can see as part of the projector. It gets the job done if you just need audio output, but pairing a Bluetooth speaker or using the 3.5mm port for connecting a speaker over a cable greatly improves the experience. For my use with Apple TV 4K, I just have audio output assigned to a HomePod mini.
