Micro Mart - 10 March 2016_

50 Issue 1404

DETAILS

• Price: £279


• Manufacturer:
  Philips


• Website:
  goo.gl/XRXFtc


• Requirements:
  Mini-HDMI to full-
  sized HDMI cable for
  tablets, USB devices,
  SD card

M

easuring just 105 x 31

x 105 mm, this wee

projector has a host

of features that you

wouldn't normally expect to see

on something of this size. An

internal battery that can last for

up to two hours on ECO mode,

an 80 lumen (when running on

AC power), LED light source,

connectivity for SD/MMC cards

and USB, 2GB internal memory,

a HDMI port and a built-in 1W

soundbar all speak of a much

bigger unit. But somehow Philips

has managed to cram all this into

a small package.

Hooking up the projector toa

laptop is an easy three-step

process: simply connect the

included HDMI cable to the

projector and laptop, provide

power to both and sort out your

screen from within the laptop's

operating system. Of course, with

the projector having an internal

battery, you could easily cut this

down to just two steps, or you

could just insert an SD card

containing images, movies or

music, power up the projector

and point it at a convenient wall.

There is, of course, the

problem with heat and

consequently fan noise, as with

most projectors. The PicoPix isn’t

immune to this, and aftera

minute of use it will start to heat

up and power up the noisy

internal fan, which can otherwise

ruin the viewing pleasure ofa

home entertainment setup.

Ideally, you wouldn't be using

You're provided with enough

cables to establish a connection

to a VGA and composite output,

along with two USB cables,a

female to mini-male USB anda

standard mini-USB.

The projector worked well

enough, though. The menu

system was easy to navigate, and

the built-in media player ran

through a selection of different

video formats without any

problems, with the brightness

dropping to 55 lumens when

used via the battery, which was

still enough to enjoy a movie.

Connection to a laptop was

straightforward, and we didn't

experience any terrible trapezoidal

keystoning, as with other

projectors in the past.

On the whole, a good enough

pocket-sized projector. Ideal for

presentations on the go and

sharing moments of family

entertainment.

this projector in a eight-by-eight

livingroom, and inreality you

wouldrequire areasonably dark

environment to get the full

benefit of the 120" projected

screen. But while the PicoPix may

not be a contender for the full-

time post of large projected

screen entertainment, it does an

admirable job for polished

presentations and brief moments

of picture and movie enjoyment.

The build quality of the

projector is very good, with a

sturdy piano-black casing, easily

accessible ports along therear,

a tripod attachment on the base

and power slide-button on the

side. There are menu controls

on the top of the unit, to

navigate the internal operating

system and a focus thumb

wheel. The menu navigation

buttons have a rubberised cover

over them but feel a little too

flimsy, compared to therest of

the unit. However, the included

remote control is solid enough

and can operate the projector

from an angle of 60 degrees

and within 3m.

§

GROUP

TEST

Projectors havecome a

long way inrecent

years. Gone are the

huge devices that

sounded like

lawnmowers when

powered up and which

needed theirown trolley

to move around.

Instead, these dayswe

have small, portable

projectors. Most can be

chucked into a handy

bag, while others canfi t

in your pocket.

We have six to test, to

see which willwork

bestfor you.

Portable Projectors

Portable

Projectors

PhilipsPPX2480PicoPixPocket Projec

tor

8

8

Quality

Value

88

Overall

iThe Philips PicoPix is a great little pocket projector

iImage quality is good, despite the

size of the projector