Tag: projectors

Budget Roku Project Review: Aurzen D1R

I recently spent some time with what is now the second Roku-integrated projector to hit the market, a lower-cost model from the same company that produced the first. This one does much of what the earlier one did, it comes in at a lower price (compensated affiliate link) and with a few compromises.

You can check it out in my latest review!

The most noticeable difference is brightness. At around 280 ANSI lumens, it’s dimmer than the already-modest output of the more expensive version, which means it really needs a completely dark room to look its best. In a typical office environment with lights on, the image was barely visible, so blinds and darkness are key to making this unit workable. Once the room is dark enough, the image looks similar to the brighter model, suggesting the optics are largely the same.

Aside from brightness, the cuts are mostly in audio. The built-in speakers are small and thin-sounding, especially compared with the fuller audio on the company’s higher-end projector. For a movie night, plugging in external speakers through the headphone jack would be a better approach. The projector does at least preserve the connectivity of the earlier version: a USB port for media files, HDMI for external devices, and full access to the Roku TV environment, which includes Netflix and other mainstream apps with no restrictions.

Gaming wasn’t a strong point on the previous model and it isn’t here either. Input lag measured is among the worst projectors I’ve tested and is too slow for twitchy games and noticeable even in “game mode.” For slideshows or basic non-interactive content, that lag doesn’t matter much, but anyone considering it as a budget gaming display should temper expectations.

The experience of its built-in interface feels familiar if you’ve spent time with any Roku TV. It’s responsive enough, similar to Roku’s lower-end streamers, and apps like Netflix and YouTube performed normally delivering 1080p visuals and decent performance at 60 fps on YouTube.

The projector also carries over some conveniences from the earlier model, including autofocus and auto-keystone each time it’s moved or powered on, with manual adjustments available in the settings. There are no physical adjustments, however, it’s all done via software. Casting support is broad—YouTube casting works as expected, AirPlay functions nicely with iPhone and Mac, and I was even able to run a Keynote presentation using dual-display mode, with presenter notes on the phone and slides on the wall. Miracast works too, giving Android and Windows users options. The Roku mobile app adds private listening, a better on-screen keyboard, and shortcuts into apps or titles.

All of Roku’s usual privacy toggles are here as well, and by default they’re switched on. Automatic content recognition, in particular, is worth disabling if you prefer not to have HDMI input fingerprinted for advertising data. A few settings pages take care of that, and it’s something worth doing on any Roku TV device.

As a budget projector with Roku built in, this model delivers what it promises. It runs mainstream apps reliably, produces a watchable image in the right environment, and includes the Roku conveniences people are used to. It’s not bright enough for daytime use without dark room conditions, and it’s not a gaming display by any stretch. But with expectations set accordingly, it fits the niche it aims for.

See more projector reviews here!

Aurzen Roku D1R Cube Smart Projector Review

In my latest video review, I take a look at a new projector from a company called Aurzen that comes with Roku built right in. When you power it on, you’re greeted with the Roku interface, and it even ships with a Roku remote. It’s not a stick or an add-on—it’s fully integrated.

The projector is on the lower tier price-wise – this is one of those devices that sees frequent price fluctuations and sales so take a look over at Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

At 330 ANSI lumens, it isn’t very bright, so in a well-lit room the image can be hard to see. It performs better in a darkened room with blinds drawn. Resolution is capped at 1080p, though it will accept 4K input and downscale. There’s no HDR support, but the major streaming services negotiate resolution correctly, and Netflix plays back at full 1080p, which is notable since many budget projectors don’t have a Netflix certification.

The hardware is compact, with a built-in power supply and stereo speakers that sound decent. There are options for connecting external audio via Bluetooth or the analog output. On the back you’ll find a USB port for loading in media files, an HDMI input, and minimal physical controls. The included remote works reliably, and because it’s a Roku device, the Roku mobile app is also supported. For positioning, there’s a small kickstand and a standard tripod mount. An 85-inch screen requires about 8 feet of throw distance, and that’s close to the maximum usable size in my testing.

In practice, the image looks sharp enough and color reproduction is consistent with expectations for the price. Brightness, however, remains a limitation, especially with darker content. There’s no manual brightness control, though autofocus and auto-keystone work well. These adjustments, along with orientation settings, are accessed through the Roku menu rather than physical dials. You can manually adjust the focus and keystone through the interface.

Streaming performance feels similar to a Roku stick. Apps like Disney+ and YouTube run at 1080p, and casting via Apple AirPlay or Miracast works smoothly. I tested AirPlay with a Keynote presentation with my iPhone, and the projector was able to carry the presentation while my iPhone displayed the next slide and presenter notes.

Gaming was a different story. While HDMI inputs displayed a sharp, fluid 60 fps image, input lag was severe—around a quarter second. For casual presentations or watching content, it’s fine, but fast-paced gaming is not something I can recommend with this one.

For someone who already likes Roku’s ecosystem and needs a simple, low-cost projector, this fits the bill. It’s best suited for smaller screen sizes in dark rooms. The biggest drawback is brightness and input lag, but for straightforward streaming use, it works as advertised.

Disclosure: Aurzen provided the projector to the channel free of charge. However no other compensation was received, they did not review or approve this content before it was uploaded and all opinions are my own.

The BenQ LH730 is the Brightest LED Projector I’ve ever Reviewed

My latest review is of the BenQ LH730 Projector. While primarily marketed for its capabilities in office and education environments, I wanted to see if the LH730 could also serve as a viable option for consumers.

First, some background: the BenQ LH730 is an LED projector, touting 4,000 lumens of brightness and removing the need for frequent bulb changes. BenQ says the LED lamp can run for approximately 20,000 hours at full brightness and 30,000 in its dimmer “eco mode.”

Priced at around $1300, it supports a 1080p maximum resolution with a refresh rate of up to 60hz, using DLP for its projection system. While it supports HDR10 and HLG, you won’t find Dolby Vision compatibility here. Also, there aren’t any built-in apps; you’ll be relying on streaming devices or an attached computer for content.

It has two HDMI inputs (both HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 support) along with a 3.5mm audio output jack. There is a built in speaker but it’s passable at best. As visible in the review all of the ports appear to be upside down – that’s because the projector is designed to be hung from the ceiling vs. placed on a table. It will work fine on a table (and its automatic keystoning feature produces proper ratio images) but you will need to dig through the settings to flip the output around.

For my testing, I placed the projector approximately 10 feet from the wall, getting a screen size comfortably within the 75 – 80-inch range. Even when downscaling 4K content to the native 1080p, the image quality remained quite good. Images were clear, with the projector handling some ambient room light without the picture washing out.

I also connected an Xbox Series S and was pleased with its gaming performance and image quality, although it does introduce some input lag that might limit its utility with some games. In fairness the lag here is on par with consumer oriented projectors I’ve reviewed recently.

There is a manual zoom and focus control attached to the lens for fine tuning the image. Its zoom ratio is limited at 1.2, and sadly, there’s no autofocus feature. You do get manual controls on the projector along with a remote for adjustments.

Despite having an LED lamp on board, the projector consistently averaged around 300 watts of power consumption. But it generates far less heat vs. the traditional halogen bulb projectors I’ve reviewed in the past.

Overall the BenQ LH730 could be compelling for institutions. Its brightness, low maintenance needs, and solid image quality make it a sensible choice.

Disclosure: BenQ sent the projector to the channel on loan. They did not review or approve this post or my video before it was uploaded and all opinions are my own.