BenQ’s GV1 transportable projector seems like a robotic you’d see within the background of a Pixar film. Or in the actual world, like a Bluetooth speaker. It’s cheap, however its decision is barely normal definition and its picture brightness is, properly, not so vibrant. There is not even an actual HDMI enter, although it does include a dongle so you may join HDMI sources. In quick, this pipsqueak’s design is just about the one purpose to adore it. It’s so cute I could not assist however introduce it to my Dōmo-kun — they’re roughly the identical measurement at simply 6 inches tall, and through my assessment interval the 2 turned quick pals.
LikeAdorableIncostly and compactDid I point out cute?
Don’t LikeLow decisionNot very brightWeak built-in app retailer
I did not have the guts to inform Dōmo how I actually felt concerning the GV1. BenQ principally stuffed a bunch of getting older tech right into a tiny, cute field. I like that there is a built-in battery, however the general bundle is much outmatched by different transportable projectors that value only a bit extra.That disappointing image high quality, together with quite a few usability points I discovered throughout testing, made me need an up to date model with upgraded internals and the identical cute case design. As it stands now, the GV1 is difficult to suggest even at its low value — it is higher to avoid wasting up for one thing just like the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro.
Basic specsNative decision: 854×480 pixelsHDR-compatible: No4K-compatible: No3D-compatible: NoLumens spec: 200Zoom: NoneLens shift: Tilt onlyLamp life (Normal mode): 20,000 hoursOnly the least costly projectors available on the market at the moment nonetheless have standard-definition resolutions. That 480p picture manifests itself as huge pixels you may clearly see, even when creating smallish projected photographs. From all however the farthest viewing distances, the GV1 has the “screen door” impact that I have not seen in the actual projector world for not less than a decade. If you are used to 1080p projectors or 4K TVs, the picture from the GV1 goes to appear like it is created from Lego. The 200 claimed lumens is fairly low, although different battery-powered projectors just like the Anker which have round 500 lumens are additionally dearer. As lengthy as you retain the picture pretty small, it is effective.Read extra: From lumens to lens shift: 6 issues to know before you purchase a projector
The inside 3,000-mAh battery has a claimed 3-hour run time, however battery mode drops the lumens by about half. There’s no lens shift, however you may tilt the “head” backward to purpose the picture upward. This is definitely fairly a sublime resolution and lets the GV1 match higher in tight areas than many different projectors I’ve reviewed. That tilt additionally reveals the yellow highlights on the case, which look nice.The focus wheel, on the aspect of the top, is small, plastic and feels very low-cost. Its tiny diameter makes it tough to get exact focus.
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Connectivity and convenienceHDMI inputs: 1 (through included USB-C dongle)PC enter: NoUSB port: 1 (the one enter)Audio enter and output: NoneDigital audio output: NoneWi-Fi: a/b/g/n 2.4/5GhzRemote: Not backlitThe largest connectivity challenge with the GV1 is the shortage of an actual HDMI enter. Instead, it is obtained USB-C and features a USB-C-to-HDMI dongle. This maxes out at 1080p30, doubtlessly a difficulty since on many sources the default is 1080p60. Yes, in principle the supply and projector ought to handshake and determine that 1080p30 works for everybody, however this reliance on HDMI handshakes to, properly, work, is precarious. There’s a 5-watt speaker contained in the small case, although it’s kind of tinny and never significantly loud. The small distant is ok, although it is typically not sufficient to adequately navigate sure apps. Thankfully, the BenQ app (iOS and Android) works with the GV1 and has a keyboard.The GV1’s different legal responsibility is the Aptoide retailer, a “curated” subset of the Google Play retailer. Every time I’ve reviewed a projector with Aptoide I’ve been aggravated by it. It’s not properly laid out, many apparent apps are lacking, and people yow will discover typically do not work. Spoiler alert! That was a giant downside on this assessment, as you may see.While you may, in principle, mirror your cellphone’s display screen to the GV1, you may’t watch copyrighted content material on this approach. So no Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and so forth out of your cellphone. You’ll must get these apps, if yow will discover them. You may also join a streaming stick, which we’ll discuss within the subsequent part.
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The best-laid comparability plans
Now’s the time in my opinions the place I sometimes examine projectors. The Anker and LG are the 2 most evident comparisons to the GV1. Both are small, transportable, and have inside batteries. Their costs are in the identical ballpark, as is their gentle output. I related all three through a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier, and seen all of them side-by-side-by-side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display screen.At least, that was the plan. The GV1 would not settle for a 1080p sign. Well, it does, however solely 1080p30. And it doesn’t matter what I attempted, it simply wasn’t capable of talk that by the distribution amp to any supply. I’m unsure if this is a matter you may ever come throughout, since more often than not the supply and show will agree on the perfect decision and body price they’re each capable of produce. But it was an odd quirk I wished to say. So I ran the GV1 on its inside apps whereas the Anker and LG ran collectively from the D/A.At least, that was the plan. I had the concept to start out my testing with one thing on Disney Plus, since that was accessible on the BenQ, whereas the opposite two performed the identical film on Vudu. On the BenQ the Disney Plus app hundreds, however whenever you attempt to log in, no keyboard reveals up, nor does it present up within the smartphone Disney Plus app so Disney can “take it from there” because it says to do on the login display screen. Not an issue. I downloaded the BenQ app, which conveniently has a keyboard to log in that approach.
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At least, that was the plan. Once coming into my login information, there was an error message that mentioned I wanted to replace my system’s firmware. That’s my first step in any assessment however I test once more. Nope, I’m on the newest firmware. Not an issue. I switched it round to make use of the Vudu app on the BenQ and Disney Plus on the others.At least, that was the plan. The Vudu app opens sideways, then crashes. Even higher, it rotated all the things else 90 levels counterclockwise together with the principle homepage and different apps. Fortunately opening the settings flipped it again horizontal. So as an alternative I used a distinct streaming stick, related on to the BenQ, to look at content material that approach. At least, that was the plan. The Vudu app nuked the GV1. Every few seconds the app would attempt to reopen, flipping the display screen sideways, crashing, after which dropping again to the now-sideways predominant homepage. This loop continued even after restarting the GV1. I contemplate drop testing the GV1 from progressively higher heights beginning with Jupiter. I reach deleting the cancerous app. I reach switching to the exterior streaming stick. The different projectors have gone to sleep. The world is asleep. The universe has cooled into entropic nothingness. But I’ve a picture! On all three projectors! Let’s get this get together began. This factor is gonna be nice!Picture high quality comparisons (lastly!)The GV1 shouldn’t be nice. It can finest be described as “fine.” Resolution is an effective place to start out, which, satirically, shouldn’t be effective. I can not bear in mind the final show I reviewed that wasn’t HD. For the BenQ’s value and measurement, I do not assume 480p is a deal breaker, however in case you’re used to watching HD or 4K, the picture from the GV1 goes to look gentle. You needn’t sit very shut, or make the picture very giant, to see large honking pixels both. Side by aspect with the LG, with the identical measurement picture and sitting simply far sufficient that pixels aren’t seen, the LG seems noticeably extra detailed.Despite having very comparable gentle output and distinction ratio numbers, the BenQ seems flatter and extra washed out than the LG. Knowing that they measure so equally, I’m wondering how a lot nearer I’d have been capable of dial within the BenQ had there been any image controls in any respect. Just some generic image modes, however no adjustment for distinction, brightness, or colour/tint.
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Colors nevertheless, are surprisingly correct. At least, extra correct than most different price range projectors. That appears to be BenQ’s factor.Occasionally, the GV1 would begin dropping frames, inflicting the picture to look juddery. I’m not fairly certain what brought on this, however unplugging the supply and plugging it again in appeared to repair it.Across all content material, the LG simply regarded just a little higher, and whereas it’s kind of extra money, the brighter Anker blows it away.There is one different projector I wish to point out. If you are searching for one thing for infrequent film nights, however do not want a battery, you may get so much higher efficiency in a extra conventional house projector, even for comparable cash. The Optoma HD146X, for instance, is greater than twice as vibrant because the Anker, for a similar value. If you employ a brighter mode you get barely worse colour accuracy, however a good brighter picture. Check out some extra choices in our Best Projectors for 2020 information.ConclusionI wished to like the GV1. It seems like one thing out of a Pixar film. Its efficiency is not nice, nevertheless it’s additionally not very costly. However, there are too many oddities to offset its seems. For a bit extra money the Anker Mars II Pro is simply a neater to make use of transportable projector and has the additional advantage of being brighter, greater decision and with higher audio system. As properly as overlaying TV and different show tech, Geoff does picture excursions of cool museums and areas around the globe, together with nuclear submarines, huge plane carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards and extra. You can comply with his exploits on Instagram and YouTube, and on his journey weblog, BaldNomad. He additionally wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-sized submarines, together with a sequel.