Optoma Pico Pocket Projector PK201 review
The PK201 is the latest in Optoma’s line of Pico projectors. The pocket-sized device, measuring roughly the same size as a mobile phone, can be connected to an external device to in order to project images, movies or presentations onto the nearest wall, wherever you are. Read on for our full review.
The PK201 comes with several input methods, including Composite, VGA and Mini HDMI, enabling you to use content from products ranging from an iPhone (with a non-supplied adapter) to a TV or games system. In addition you can simply pop in an microSD card and use it as a standalone device.
Being able to use the system free from any external device is perhaps the most welcome new feature on this version of the product.
The number of file formats supported is vast. You can show full PowerPoint presentations, watch videos in 14 formats including AVI and MP4, and view 10 different types of image file. The device is controlled via a series of buttons on the top of the unit that navigate you through the UI projected onto a wall.
It’s fairly easy to find your way around, although we did find that reading larger microSD cards packed with content was on the slow side. There is a connector for a tripod on the bottom of the device, and for best results you’ll need to use on, or at least mount the projector somewhere where it is fully adjacent to the wall you are projecting onto.
The display stretches to a massive 70”, with WVGA resolution, theoretically enabling the device to be used as a portable cinema system. However in practice we found the image is not bright enough to work at that size.
Even at half the size you’ll ideally need to be in an almost completely dark room in order to get a truly satisfactory image for movie viewing. Presentations are more forgiving of a dimmer image and were much more usable.
The device has a built-in speaker which goes loud enough to be heard in a typical boardroom but, again, doesn’t provide the full audio experience you would be looking for with a film. The internal rechargeable battery runs to about 90 minutes of life, and we noted that the device does get very hot in use.
The technology in the PK201 is undeniably impressive, although it does inevitably come at quite a price. While the addition of a memory card slot is welcome the drive to make a Pico projector a portable system has not quite come off. Movies will be a secondary feature on this device, whose primary place will still be in the office.
Web: www.optoma.com
Price: £299
Verdict: 7
Popularity: 1% [?]
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