The LG PH30N is a tiny, considerably bizarre, moveable projector. You may maintain it in your hand and practically put it in your pocket. That tiny measurement helps you to create photos in locations the place different projectors do not match — a second “screen” in your desk, a TV present on the ceiling, YouTube recipe movies within the kitchen. There’s even an inner battery. What it does not have, in contrast to some moveable PJ opponents, is inner apps. Instead, it’s essential to join a streaming stick or run HDMI from someplace.
LikeAbsolutely tiny720p resolutionBuilt-in battery
Don’t LikeNot very brightPower brick is almost half the dimensions of the projector.
The PH30N finally ends up being a relatively odd product that is powerful for me to wholeheartedly suggest. It does not carry out properly sufficient to outshine the higher moveable projectors just like the Anker Nebular Mars II Pro or ViewSonic M2, neither is it as simple to make use of. Overall it isn’t dangerous and I appreciated it higher total than the (barely cheaper, waaaay cuter) BenQ GV1, however in each instances my recommendation is to spend a little bit extra for a significantly better projector. If your funds has a tough cap otherwise you simply need one thing actually small, nonetheless, you could possibly positively do worse than the PH30N.
Basic specs Native decision: 1,280×720 pixelsHDR-compatible: No4K-compatible: No3D-compatible: NoLumens spec: 250 ANSIZoom: NoneLens shift: NoneLamp life (Normal mode): Up to 30,000 hrsThe PH30N is HD, at 1,280×720, so it will probably create a reasonably large picture earlier than you begin seeing pixels. Not practically as huge as a 1080p or 4K projector, after all, however given its measurement and value, 720p is fairly good. The BenQ GV1, for instance, is shut in value and really bigger, however solely 480p.
There’s not quite a lot of gentle right here, although. Rated at 250 lumens, I measured 143 as soon as it was set to provide an inexpensive coloration temperature. That’s fairly dim, and in its most excessive battery-saving mode, it is lower than half that brilliant. Even an inexpensive conventional projector would have the ability to put out 10 instances that quantity of sunshine. There’s no lens shift or zoom. A handbook focus lever works properly sufficient.
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Connectivity and comfort HDMI inputs: 1PC enter: NoneUSB port: 1 (0.5A energy)Audio enter and output: 3.5mm output (headphones)Digital audio output: NoneWi-Fi: NoneMiracast: YesRemote: Not backlitThe lack of inner apps is shocking. You’d assume LG would have a billion leftover “smart TV” chips sitting in a container someplace they may have used. Instead, you have received a form of “BYOStreaming” resolution that finally ends up being oddly irritating for one thing that is designed to be so moveable.
The various is to attach a streaming stick, which works with some caveats. There’s a built-in USB port so you may energy the stick utilizing the LG’s inner battery and stay wi-fi, however it’s solely rated at 0.5-amp — lower than most streaming sticks ask for. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus I plugged in warned of low energy however loaded finally and labored effective. You ought to have the ability to mirror your laptop computer or smartphone display through the projector, however this too proved tough. I used to be capable of get my laptop computer’s display mirrored, however not my Pixel 4. LG’s assist web page says LG telephones are supported, and different telephones through an app — however the hyperlink now not works. Searching by way of LG’s Android apps, the LG TV app appears to assist display sharing, however wasn’t capable of finding the projector. The inner speaker is not very loud, which is smart because it’s solely rated for 1 watt. There is a headphone output, so you may join a small speaker or, after all, headphones. There’s additionally Bluetooth, and conveniently there’s an AV Sync adjustment to assist with lip-sync points. The inner battery is rated by LG for two hours, although that is in its dimmest mode. Increase the brightness and join a streaming stick operating off the USB and also you’re unlikely to get a full film out of it. The energy provide is almost half the dimensions of the projector itself, and comes with a thick cable, so collectively they find yourself being surprisingly cumbersome for one thing that is presupposed to be moveable.
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Picture high quality comparisons
I related the Anker and the LG to a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier and considered all on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display. I attempted the identical setup with the GV1 however, as detailed in that assessment, I bumped into some issues. Despite measuring the identical, visually the LG appears brighter than the GV1. I think about this has to do with higher pixel density for a similar measurement picture. There’s simply extra “black” within the GV1’s picture because of the higher distance between its pixels. This is not to say the PH30N is brilliant — removed from it. It’s purposeful, let’s name it that. The Anker, however, is far brighter. Technically it is a little bit greater than twice as brilliant, however that is sufficient to subjectively appear rather a lot brighter. Contrast ratio measures roughly the identical throughout all three, however once more, as a result of the Anker is a lot brighter, it is extra watchable. After I adjusted the PH30N’s distinction and brightness nonetheless, it ended up trying prefer it had a greater distinction ratio than the Anker or GV1, which lack even these primary controls. That’s a degree within the LG’s favor for individuals who need to take the time to regulate it (here is how). Color and coloration temperature aren’t dangerous, for the worth. The picture is pretty cool (blue), even within the Warm setting. Colors are all a little bit off from correct, however they’re nonetheless nearer than many more-expensive projectors I’ve examined. They’re not fairly as “off” because the Anker, however not as shut because the BenQ’s. What this implies in observe is that the complete picture seems a contact synthetic, however not egregiously. Reds, particularly, look relatively electrical crimson. Though once more, for the worth and measurement, it isn’t horrible.
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What is an in any other case watchable picture, for the worth, is letdown in a single notable means: movement smoothing. A light cleaning soap opera impact is current, and so far as I can inform, you may’t flip it off. So all the pieces seems a bit too easy; motion pictures look a bit an excessive amount of like video. Some individuals do not thoughts this processing, some even prefer it, however for those who’re like me and hate it, that is practically a deal-breaker. I say practically as a result of, properly, it is a projector for underneath $400, and I doubt most individuals might be doing important crucial viewing with it. So until SOE drives you bonkers, it is most likely effective. A case might be made for a gaming setup with the PH30N and any random wall. The enter lag is 47.1ms, which is not nice however most likely effective for many nonhardcore avid gamers. There is one different comparability price mentioning: the Optoma HD146X. It wasn’t included on this direct comparability as it isn’t as “portable” as these, however at $550 it is within the ballpark price-wise. It’s greater than twice as brilliant because the Anker, can simply fill a 100-inch display, and for those who do not thoughts barely worse coloration accuracy, might be exceptionally brilliant. I point out this for anybody searching for a projector for infrequent film nights that does not want one thing battery powered. There are better-looking choices for comparable cash for those who ditch the battery. Check out another choices in our Best Projectors for 2020 information. Conclusion: Tiny area of interest While writing up this assessment, I did discover an odd use for which the LG labored completely. I had it set on the sting of my desk, shining on the wall beside and behind my monitor. The picture was in regards to the measurement of my monitor, and pretty brilliant. Running Netflix proved to be a terrific distraction and slowed down the assessment course of significantly, however I may think about a scenario the place a setup like this, the place the PH30N’s tiny measurement lets it slot in someplace a bigger projector could not, to create a small however watchable picture, maybe even functioning as a secondary pc display. But past that, the LG PH30N struggles to discover a appropriate area of interest. It’s a extremely moveable projector, however you’d must be very cautious to have the ability to get a full film out of the battery. It’s exhausting to get content material on it, and connecting a streaming stick drains the battery even sooner. If you do plug it in, you have type of eradicated the entire level of a battery-powered projector. Spending a bit extra, on the Mars II Pro for instance, will get you a a lot brighter picture, with built-in apps and far louder audio system.