Projector Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector - advantages and disadvantages

Over the years, Xiaomi has significantly increased its own range of devices and, not intending to be limited, the famous brand from China recently released the Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector, the advantages and disadvantages of which are discussed in this article.

What is a laser projector?

The concept of "laser-type projector" means that in the gadget ordinary lamps were changed to a laser unit. With this technology, heat generation is significantly reduced, and durability is also increased up to 25,000 hours.

Review

Anyone who has ever thought of equipping their own room with a home theater understands that for this it is necessary to take care of two key components:

1. Image;
2. Sound.

Most often, acoustics and projectors are bought separately, because these are two different devices. Even though the novelty has an integrated audio system, it will not be enough for absolute immersion. But in this review, we are talking about the projector, which means that the most important thing is the image.

Design and equipment

The first thing to note is the dimensions of the device. They are slightly larger when compared with official videos and photos from the network, and are 41x29x8 cm. The weight of the product is 7 kg, which is why the device cannot be classified as practical and easily portable. The novelty, most likely, is aimed at installation in one place, rather than transportability with you to make a presentation.

The entire front side is occupied by a grid, under which there are integrated speakers. It is worth noting that the speakers in the projector are 4: 2 HF and 2 LF, respectively. The top side is completely empty, except for the recess for the laser itself. On the right is a mesh that covers the air intake opening for the device's cooling system.

All slots for connection are displayed on the left side, including:

• 2 x HDMI 2.0;
• USB 3.0 slot;
• USB 2.0 connector;
• ARC;
• Audio out;
• 2 SPDIF slots;
• Ethernet connector.

Due to the wide choice of slots, almost anything is connected to the device. It is worth noting that it is very convenient when all the connectors are located in one place, and not scattered around the shell. In general, the appearance of the gadget can be called practical.In addition, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 stand out among wireless communication.

The package comes with a remote control and a user manual in Chinese. The latter is made with illustrations, due to which it is understandable without a translator. On the reverse side, the device is immediately ready for operation without additional configurations.

Energy consumption

The maximum power consumption during use is 250 W, which is significantly more when compared with TV. Even massive panels with a diagonal of 60 inches most often consume about 100-200 watts. Anyone who wants to use the novelty as a complete replacement for TV needs to prepare for the fact that they will have to pay much more for electricity.

If the gadget is used exclusively for watching videos in the evening, then in the final result you will not have to pay large sums for electricity.

Speed ​​and easy control

The filling of the projector is as follows: a 4-core chip with a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz, 2 GB of DDR3 RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. Such indicators are enough for stable operation: navigation through the menu is carried out without “brakes”, programs start up quickly. The device needs approximately 20 seconds. to start, after which it is absolutely ready to work.

Remote control

The novelty can be easily controlled through the remote control. To do this, you will need to additionally purchase AAA batteries, which are not included in the package. The device of the remote control is clear, as well as the entire projector as a whole. The number of keys is limited to only the most necessary. The control is instinctive: the user navigates through the menu thanks to the arrows, and the OK button is located in the center and is responsible for the selection.There are buttons "Home", "Back", "Menu", and volume control - everything is clear enough.

In the role of an analogue, a keyboard and mouse can be connected. For some users, this navigation is easier, because the keyboard makes it easier to type large text. By the way, in some programs, the remote control does not function, which is why experts advise you to always have a backup mouse in stock.

MIUI TV OS

Like TV or smart TV, the novelty has its own user interface. MIUI TV is developed on the basis of the sixth android and operates in Chinese. The whole system and many "factory" applications are aimed at the Chinese market, which makes it difficult to change the language even to ENG.

To set "English", you need to upload a specialized APK file in the menu using a third-party device, for example, a USB drive. It is also necessary to install third-party programs, because the gadget does not have an integrated software store. By default, there are no YouTube and Netflix services.

Video quality

Formally, the laser unit can emit 5 thousand ANSI Lumen. It uses a technology called ALPD 3.0, which is abbreviated as Advanced Laser Phosphor Display, which was created by developers from China - Appotronics. If this information does not mean anything to the user, then it is worth knowing that even in the daytime the image is juicy and only dims a little.

In a darkened room, the effect of a full-fledged cinema is formed. The powerful light of the sun, of course, has an unfavorable effect: in a bright room, the quality decreases, and it is unrealistic to hold movie shows in the sun, for example, in the yard.

Image examples:

Daytime picture:

Picture at night:

Contrast

The specified contrast is 3000:1, which is practically no different from other devices that have higher rates, for example, 1,000,000:1. This value often does little to explain the true quality of the picture, in particular when it comes to a projector, since even a small glare from the outside affects the reflection of the projection. In a darkened room, the image is in no way inferior to a high-quality LED TV.

Image quality and resolution

The maximum resolution is 1080p. In other words, FHD. Anyway, 4K videos are played, but scaled up to 1080p. Due to the much higher bitrate, videos in 4K format still look better when compared with the usual FHD standard. It will not be superfluous to highlight that when opening in 4K format, the maximum FPS is 30, and in FHD - 60.

With the maximum projection size, the picture is clear, you can easily read even content written in small print. The device is well calibrated by default, but if necessary, it can be reconfigured. You can pick up something from the templates or save your personal configuration.

Display

Even the best projector will not help if the user does not have a display to project the picture. Few people have the opportunity to put a projection with a diagonal of 150 inches in a room, most likely, 120 will be an acceptable solution at the most.

If we talk about coverage, then buying a projection display is a very important factor, in particular, from the side of color reproduction. If the user wants to get an almost perfect image, then an additional purchase of a specialized display cannot be avoided. Depending on the dimensions, their average price fluctuates within 8,000 rubles.

An ordinary white wall will also work, but the color reproduction will be imperfect. In fact, the color quality can differ in the eyes of most users. If the user has a polished white wall, then this is quite enough. If there is no such surface, then it would be advisable to think about buying a display.

Sound

The novelty is equipped with 4 speakers: 2 cover a wide range of frequencies, 2 - only high. This is comparable to a real speaker system, but for a projector the sound is good, there is even rich bass. If the user desires more, it is possible to connect a separate speaker system using the Out audio connector.

Since the device will stand directly in front of the wall, the sound is accordingly directed towards it. There is a cooler inside the device, the operation of which can be heard in absolute silence, but while watching movies, extraneous noise does not disturb.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

• Excellent resolution even at a diagonal of 150 inches;
• Supports 4K format, but with scaling;
• Clear system, short focus;
• Juicy projection with excellent contrast in dark rooms and at night;
• High-quality integrated speaker;
• High build reliability.

• The quality is reduced in the shining light of the sun;
• The menu is only in Chinese, only partially translated into "English".

What is the price?

The average price is 133,500 rubles.

Where is it profitable to buy?

Of course, this is not budget equipment, but it is much more affordable than direct competitors from well-known brands. You can find a gadget cheaper in online stores with delivery from China.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is worth noting that Mi Ultra Short 5000 from Xiaomi is aimed primarily at professional use. If the user is looking for a device for home use, then it would be logical to find much more affordable and practical solutions that also provide good picture quality and acceptable sound quality.

Exceptional moments that should be attributed to negative during the operation of the house are the dimensions and noise level. It is not always realistic to hide them in a small room, which can make other residents tired of it. On the other hand, the noise level can be reduced by configuring the menu settings, but it cannot be completely eliminated.

In general, in the reviews, buyers speak well of the projector and definitely recommend it for purchase.