The AAXA P8 is cheap and little even compared to other portable projectors Ive examined. The Nebula Capsule is almost as small but its a whopping 20% more costly. Impressively, the P8 has a full-size HDMI input, Bluetooth and an earphone jack. Disappointingly, its not powered by USB, so you need to use the consisted of power adapter, which adds bulk to an otherwise small package. It likewise does not have a battery. The image quality is fine, offered its cost and size, however like its larger bro, the P6X, light output is its primary strength.
LikeLiterally fits in the palm of your handBright for its size and priceSome integrated streaming
Do not LikeNot powered by means of USB540p resolutionA couple of bugs in the menus
The P8 is a lot brighter than it has any right to be. Overall, for the cost, you get a huge image from a tiny, small projector.
Smallest Light Thrower: Behold the Handheld AAXA P8 Pico Projector
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Pico picoNative resolution: 960×540 pixelsHDR-compatible: No4K-compatible: No3D-compatible: NoLumens spec: 430Zoom: NoLens shift: NoLamp life (Normal mode): ~ 30,000 hoursThe P8 is not an HD resolution projector. Youre far more most likely to lose the P8 in between the sofa cushions before the LEDs die out.Ins and outsThe AAXA P8s back panel, with an HDMI input and earphone output. HDMI inputs: 1USB ports: 2 (A and C) Audio output: Headphone output/BluetoothInternet: 2.4 GHz/5GHzRemote: Not backlitTheres a full-size HDMI input, which simply makes the P8 easier to live with compared to some projectors that use micro- or mini-HDMI and need an adapter. That, combined with the added brightness, does push the P8 in front in terms of overall image quality.Do these videophile details matter for sub-$ 300 projectors? The P8 is actually a pocket projector.
Pico picoNative resolution: 960×540 pixelsHDR-compatible: No4K-compatible: No3D-compatible: NoLumens spec: 430Zoom: NoLens shift: NoLamp life (Normal mode): ~ 30,000 hoursThe P8 is not an HD resolution projector. The P8 is even brighter than the more expensive Samsung Freestyle, which puts out 197 lumens despite its $800 price tag. Youre far more most likely to lose the P8 between the sofa cushions before the LEDs pass away out.Ins and outsThe AAXA P8s back panel, with an HDMI input and earphone output.
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HDMI inputs: 1USB ports: 2 (A and C) Audio output: Headphone output/BluetoothInternet: 2.4 GHz/5GHzRemote: Not backlitTheres a full-size HDMI input, which just makes the P8 easier to cope with compared to some projectors that use micro- or mini-HDMI and require an adapter. Remarkably, for the size and rate, there are a handful of integrated streaming apps. Netflix and YouTube are the headliners, joined by Twitch, Vimeo, Haystack News and Tubi. , if you dig into the P8s menus you can discover the much-dreaded Aptoide store.. This is a semi-offshoot of the Google Play Store: There are some apps youll recognize and a lot that you wont. Worse, most of them dont work as you d anticipate. Aptoide is typical among lower-priced projectors.Like all low-cost projectors it utilizes a mobile variation of Netflix, more like what you d find on your phone. This suggests the interface is less easy to use using a remote, which you have to utilize considering that theres no AAXA app. It also implies you cant cast to the projector from your phone considering that Netflix thinks the projector itself is a source. Unusually, you could theoretically cast FROM the projector TO another screen. I didnt test this, but thats what it states on screen. It says a lot of things on screen, like other error messages, pop-ups that are difficult to get rid of, and more. I did, eventually, get it running, so its in there. Just dont anticipate the smooth experience like you get on many other devices.YouTube works as you d hope, though, letting you choose what you want on your phone and cast it over to the projector (strangely, identified “ATV_229” not P8 or AAXA). Action shot of me moving projectors around my lab. Which is yellow.
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Another disappointment is the inability to power the projector utilizing USB. A projector this little, powered off a USB battery pack, would be incredible. Im sure well get something like that ultimately but in the meantime youll need to lug the adapter around to use the P8.
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The Capsule is a likely rival for the P8, at approximately the exact same rate and more or less a comparable size. Which is to say, its not great, however offered the price and size, not unacceptable.Focusing, pun planned, on the P8 and Capsule, the comparison is more detailed … eventually. The P8s image quality out of the box is abysmal.
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Does the addition of image settings indicate the P8 can look much better than the Capsule? That, integrated with the included brightness, does press the P8 in front in terms of total image quality.Do these videophile particulars matter for sub-$ 300 projectors? I d say other elements are more essential, which brings us to what I think are the two most essential differences in between the Capsule and the P8: brightness and batteries.
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The P8s brightness is borderline impressive for its size and rate. The P8 does not. The P8 simply cant do that– not without a very long extension cable.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET
The P8 is literally a pocket projector. You can fit it in your pocket. But its far brighter than other projectors this size. It even has built-in Netflix and YouTube as an added perk. I wish it recharged by means of USB-C, making it truly off-the-grid portable. But if off-the-grid portable is what you want, the P6X is just a bit more expensive (and bigger), or the Capsule is simply as small however far dimmer than both.Its a quite specific niche the P8 suits: small size, small price, big brightness and no battery. An anomalous amalgam of qualities that in some way works. Its hard not to like 230 lumens for less than $250.