PROJECTORS AREN’T THE most famous
products in Asus’s lineup, but the H1’s
lack of lineage has proven not to be a
barrier to excellence. And with projectors
becoming a more accessible display
option for many homes, where they are
now actually replacing more traditional
flatscreen displays, there’s never been
a better time to consider the upgrade. If
this is you, then the H1 definitely deserves
a space on your shortlist.
Being almost plug-and-play, setting
up the H1 is straightforward. For a more
permanent solution, you would require a
decent wall- or ceiling-mounting, but the
H1 will fit most rooms thanks to its all-
black modern design which will match
with most other home theater kit from
amps to speakers and streaming devices.
For the best image, you’ll also want
to install a projector screen, however,
the H1 works well enough on a plain
wall. There’s also an option to optimize
the color profile for your setup using the
H1’s setting menu. Once the process of
altering the color options and changing
the device driving the projector from
60Hz to 120Hz, setup is complete but for
the power and a connection via an HDMI
cable. The most difficult part of the setup
was getting the projector balanced and in
the right position.
Of course, when setting up a projector,
you should take into account where
ambient light enters the room, avoiding
strong direct lighting. Preferably, the
room should have blackout blinds or
curtains and, though no one wants to
live in a cave, a dark room is the best
way to get the maximum brightness and
contrast from these devices. With 3,000
lumens of brightness, the H1 stands up
well in lighter conditions though.
On top of the projector, there are some
physical sliders and media controls, the
latter of which is also available on the
remote. What the remote doesn’t offer is
the zoom and focus functionality, which
is controlled by two sliders near the
lens that offer precise tuning to get the
picture size and quality looking as good
as possible.
Once up and running, there is
something about a projector that hits
the nostalgic senses. From the film-like
grain that offers a more authentic feel
than you get from your TV when watching
a movie, to the fact that you can scale theBringing the big screen home
Asus H1 Projector
8
VERDICT Asus H1 ProjectorSHINING BRIGHT Strong 3000
lumens lens; 120Hz refresh
rate; up to 200 inches projection size.
DARK AND DINGY Bulky product; no native
4K; poor built-in speaker; pricey.
$1,099, http://www.asus.comSPECIFICATIONSProjector type DLP
Light Source LED
Contrast Ratio 800:1
Native Resolution Full HD 1920x1080
Refresh rate 60Hz, 120Hz
LED Lifespan 30,000 hours
Brightness 3,000 lumens
Projection Size 40-200 inches
Ports
HDMI x2, VGA, USB Type-A,
RJ45, RS23, Audio In
& Audio Out
Weight 12.56lbs
Size 15.9 x 3.9 x 11.1 inchesimage all the way up to 200 inches, it’s a
very cinematic experience. You won’t get
OLED-quality performance, but watching
Netflix on the Asus H1 is a joy. With
plenty of color adjustments and pre-set
scenarios, it is easy to get a bright, bold,
and clear Full HD image.
Playing games through the projector
is enjoyable too, with the 120Hz refresh
rate providing a smooth experience. It’s
also compatible with the PS5 and Xbox
Series X or S and, though we wouldn’t
recommend the H1 for competitive
gaming, for casual open-world games it
offers a truly atmospheric experience.
For those looking to shift away from
a TV, this projector would make an ideal
addition to your living room, spare room,
or the tech bunker in the basement. For
around $1,000, though, it’s pricey and
something that requires a decent amount
of consideration and planning.
The Asus H1 is a solid projector with
a crisp and bold Full HD display and a
120Hz refresh rate that works very well
for gaming. One disappointment is the
built-in 10W speaker, meaning you’ll want
to hook the H1 up to a surround-sound
system if possible. –SAM LEWISin the lab
82 MAXIMU MPC MAR 2022