Don’t Buy an Expensive DLP Projector. This Cheap, Portable Model Is So Good

You would think that major TV manufacturers would have a lot of engineering knowledge to make a good projector. However, in my experience, this is not always the case. The Hisense M2 Pro, however, exceeded my expectations and did many things well. It’s decently bright, has good color accuracy, good contrast ratio and visible zoom. Combine that with a price tag of around $1,300 and it’s a very easy projector to recommend.

The downside of the M2 Pro is not so much related to performance, but to the price. You can spend less and get a better, brighter projectoror you can spend less and get the same performance. In addition, the VIDAA OS inside it has all the major applications, but perhaps not many small ones compared to Google TV. So, basically, the M2 Pro is great for the money, but at a lower price it will be amazing.

Details and more

• Resolution: 4K
• Capacity: 1,300 (requested)
• Zoom: 1-1.3:1
• Lens replacement: No
• Light source type: RGB laser

The compact M2 Pro uses RGB lasers for its light source — a rarity these days — and pairs them with a zoom lens, which is rare at this price. Combine these features with the built-in gimbal stand and you can place the M2 Pro almost anywhere without taking it out. And the resolution is 4K, while most models at the same price are 1080p.

Hisense claims 1,300 lumens. In its most accurate mode, I measured 803. With the Contrast Enhancement feature set to Ultra, the image is noticeably greener, but I measured 1,183 lumens. Given the variation from unit to unit, not to mention the different measurements, I’d say this is pretty close to its claimed specs. Each of the other two Brightness Enhancer modes gradually got closer to the projector’s most accurate image but with less enhanced brightness. High mode produced 1,006 lumens but was skewed toward blue, while normal mode delivered 957 lumens and was just barely. cool there is a more accurate picture mode.

Communication

• HDMI input: 1
• USB port: 1
• Audio: eARC, 2x10W speakers
• Internet: Wi-FI
• Streaming interface: VIDAA OS
• Remote: Back light

Like most small projectors, there is only one HDMI input on the Hisense. Since the stream is built in, this is fine. If you want to connect a streaming dongle, there is a USB output to power it. Also, unlike most projectors in this price range, Hisense uses its own OS called VIDAA. It’s easy to use and comes with a range of apps to choose from. All the major options are there, but if you have an obscure favorite stream, you might want to check that it’s available first. This is the second projector I’ve reviewed with VIDAA on board. Fortunately, I reviewed another one quickly before – a very expensive one Leica Cine Play 1.

The two 10-watt speakers don’t have much bass — or treble, for that matter — but they get plenty of highs. The sound quality deteriorates noticeably at higher volumes, with a fair amount of distortion, but if you need more volume, it’s there. As with all projectors, it is best to connect a sound bar or to receiver and speakers.

Image quality comparison

JMGO N1S 4K

The JMGO N1S 4K is identical in size, identical in original MSRP and, broadly speaking, identical in performance. It is compact, on a pivot gimbal and uses lasers for its light source. When I reviewed the JMGO, the price was the same as the M2 Pro now, but dropped to under $800. I connected both projectors to a distribution amplifier and viewed them side by side on a 102-inch, 1.0-gain screen.

After being set up in the same way as possible, many things became immediately apparent. The first is related to color temperature. Both are very close in accuracy, but not perfect in different ways: the M2 Pro looks a bit blue/green (lacking in red), while the N1S 4K looks a bit red. Honestly, the N1S 4K looks a little more natural, as the slight green push on the M2 Pro gives skin tones a softer hue. However, by itself, the slight color of the M2 is not noticeable and there are many ways to adjust it in the settings, even if you don’t have a projector. professionally limited. And it doesn’t have the clear color of something like BenQ HT2060but they are close enough.

The M2 Pro is extremely bright, producing 803 lumens compared to Hisense’s 575. Light output is very important with projectors because it also determines how large an image you can create while keeping it bright enough to view. Viewed side by side, the M2 Pro is noticeably brighter, although separately the difference doesn’t seem as dramatic as the 33% gap in measured contrast shows. It’s more of a “Hisense looks a little brighter” issue than a “why is the JMGO so dim?”

The comparison, too, is very close, with the M2 Pro measuring a very respectable 1,482:1 compared to the N1S’s ~1,196:1 (which is a lot because of how that projector handles black levels). The difference is big enough that, combined with the large light output, the M2 Pro’s image has a bit of a punch. It’s not big, but it’s noticeable. Both the projectors’ brightness and contrast are better than average projectors I’ve reviewed for CNET, while the M2 Pro is close to the best-performing DLP projectors, all of which are more expensive.

A quick word of caution about RGB lasers, though. As with all RGB laser projectors, the M2 Pro can present a problem for some people who wear glasses. Depending on the prescription and lens material, you may see chromatic aberration, or color shift, around bright objects. This is especially noticeable when objects are on a dark background, such as white credits on a black screen or street lights at night. It will look like the image is “split” with a single color “ghost” on both sides and different from the rainbow that some people see with DLP projectors. Fair enough, I realize it and find it annoying enough that I personally wouldn’t buy an RGB laser projector. If you think this might be a problem for you, take a look TK705STi instead, since it uses LEDs and does not have this issue.

Speaking of the TK705STi and its standard-throwing sibling, the TK705i, I had no direct comparison. Both, however, have the same price as the M2 Pro. The Sti is noticeably brighter than the M2 Pro, although in my tests, its color accuracy was a little low and its contrast ratio was low. It’s also a short-throw projector, which can make it better suited for smaller rooms but an unusable choice for larger ones.

I haven’t reviewed the TK705i, and because it uses a different lens, I can’t say how its performance compares to any other projector. It’s probably closer to the TK705STi than the M2 Pro in terms of brightness, though. Both BenQ models use LED light sources, so they avoid the aforementioned RGB laser problems.

There is also HT2060my other choice the best projector. While it’s bright and, as mentioned before, very accurate, it’s unfocused and “only” 1080p. It’s not really a direct competitor, but if you want permanent placement for your projector, check that one out as well.

TV 2 PJ

I’m worried that I might be dropping the M2 Pro with less praise. Not much to complain about, but it’s also not the most amazing PJ I’ve seen. It is strong. It’s an A-. It is one of the best options for the price. My only real issue is that it’s in this weird place where spending more can get you more performance, and spending less gets you less. While technically you could say it’s a bit overpriced, it performs better than other projectors around the same price, which means “high price” is also inaccurate.

I’ve been reviewing devices for a long time, and products like this are among the hardest to write about. Bad products are a challenge to review because you end up double and triple checking your results, but they are easy to explain. Big brands are easy for obvious reasons. They are good-but-good products with a trick. The M2 Pro falls into that category. It’s a solid projector with a few major flaws, but it doesn’t stand out in any area. That makes it easy to review and surprisingly difficult to write about — hence this section.

I think the spoiler in the M2 Pro discussion is that JMGO N1S 4Kthat’s why I mentioned above. It will currently cost less than $800. Is the M2 Pro better? Yes, but not ~65% better as the prices suggest. Hisense has optical zoom and, for better or worse, Google TV doesn’t. Basically, if you don’t mind that price difference, or see it on sale, get the M2 Pro. If you want to save some money and not worry about not having a zoom, get the N1S 4K.