Mobile navigationYou can pull up web content from Hulu, Netflix, YouTube and other popular video sites on your smartphone or tablet. But those tiny images are woefully harsh on the eyes. Wouldn’t it be nice if a projector offered the ability to watch web content like your tablet or smartphone?
You’re talking about the SPro2 from ZTE. The company recently released the SPro2, which they’ve dubbed a “smart” projector. The portable, palm-top device connects to WiFi and is capable of projecting an HD image, making it easier than ever to access and project content from the web. The projector made its first appearance at the CES conference earlier this year, but it is now available exclusively at an AT&T store near you.
The Next Generation in Pico Projectors
We’ve written about pico projectors from LG and Lenovo in the past, but the SPro 2 offers something a little different. Although it’s similar in size, weighing about a pound and measuring about 5 inches by 5 inches, the SPro 2 has an easy-to-use LCD touchscreen interface similar to a smartphone, enabling users to quickly pull up videos on the screen. The device also has an LTE radio and it’s WiFi ready, so your favorite streaming video services are just a click away.
Plus, just like other pico devices, the SPro2 also has USB, HDMI and audio ports, as well as an SD card slot. That means you have a full set of capabilities in an extremely portable package. It’s really the next generation of the pico projector and highlights where the industry is headed: Smaller devices with more features that are increasingly web-connected.
SPro2 Specs: Image Quality, Battery Life, Brightness
Of course, as a pico projector, you can’t expect the image quality to match a home theater projector. But for such a small device, the SPro2 delivers a fairly resolute image. The SPro2 features a brightness rating, when it’s plugged in, of 200 lumens. That’s better than most mini projectors. For instance, Lenovo’s recently introduced Pocket Projector is equipped with just a 50-lumen LED bulb. When the SPro2 isn’t plugged in, it’s only capable of projecting a 100-lumen image or less.
At 200 lumens, the SPro2 performs reasonably well for a mini projector, albeit it’s probably not bright enough for rooms with ambient light. Yet, in dark rooms, the SPro2 performs great. As for image specs: The SPro2 has a native resolution of 720p, and it’s capable of projecting an image as large as 120 inches.
Additional features include a built-in speaker, auto focus and auto keystone correction functions and Bluetooth connectivity. Battery life is reasonable for a pico projector too. When streaming videos, the SPro2 can last about 2 hours on a single charge.
Is the SPro2 Worth It?
The SPro2 will be available through AT&T, and if you purchase a contract, you can get the device for $399. It’s similar to a tablet contract. With the AT&T service you can connect without a WiFi connection. Without the contract, the SPro2 will be $499. In other words, the Spro2 isn’t exactly affordable, and the price may be its biggest drawback.
It’s not powerful enough to replace your home theater projector, and yet, there are budget cinema projectors available at a similar price. Plus, there are pico projectors available that are more affordable.
The SPro2 is a handy and useful device, and the touchscreen display makes it one of the better pico projectors available. So, if you’re on the go quite a bit, and you’d like a device at your fingertips that’s capable of projecting a 100-inch image, the SPro2 might be right for you. What’s even more exciting: The release of this projector signals where the technology is heading – projectors that are easier to use and more Web-connected than ever.
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