Review: I watched Clarkson's Farm on the garden fence thanks to Dangbei's N2 Mini projector
Projectors have come a long way. Once big blocky objects with big spools, today's incarnation is a completely different affair.
These dazed they are compact, sophisticated and very much at home in the new world of hi-tech gadgets and gizmos. The Dangbei N2 Mini is a new lightweight, compact projector that runs effortlessly on the Linux operating system and offers access to hundreds of apps and possibilities.
With built in Netflix and access platforms like YouTube, Prime, and Disney+, this is a very easy to set up device, all you need is an account and a WIFI connection.
It's the easy set-up that makes gadgets such a breeze these days, but sometimes it can get over-complicated, I was really glad that wasn't the case.
Want to hook your laptop up? Two minute job. Want to stream from your smart phone? A doddle. That's what you want and need.
Onto the performance of the projector, because let's face it, it could be the smartest thing in the world, but if the picture is rubbish - I'm out.
No such disaster here. I was really pleased with the picture quality which boasts 1080 resolution. The darker it is, the better the picture, but I also found it surprisingly good in a lighter room. The projector has a built in Gimble stand which means you can angle it however you want, we lay on the floor and watched film trailers on YouTube on the ceiling. I'm not sure why we did that, I think it was just because we could.
When we were feeling a bit more sensible, we closed the curtains, turned the lights down and enjoyed Clarkson's Farm on the living room wall, and on the fence in the garden, a lot bigger than the TV, and a lot more sensible than the ceiling.
We have a wonky old house due to subsidence back in the late 1800s, so finding a flat service is always a challenge, a quick slide of a piece of card under the one side though, and we were away.
I am of a generation that has seen technology evolve so significantly over the decades, I probably shouldn't be impressed by that much these days.
I just never tire of good, simple tech - for me it was a real joy just watching this small box project a massive Bruce Springsteen gig onto the garden fence!
You have the option to pair with external speakers, which works well outside, but in truth the projector has pretty decent sound anyway.
The projection size is suggested as between 40" and 120" - I didn't measure it at any point, but my guess is I was at the top end of that a few times, without any issues at all.
The projector's auto focus is another feature that adds to the simplicity and immediate accessibility., doing all the work for you to make sure the picture is sharp.
In short it really does the job you want, and does it well, without fuss. It's versatile, portable, stylish, and yet it manages to be pretty robust.
I know for a fact that you can get better projectors with crisper, enviable high end visuals and sound. You can always get a better car, too. The point is that this is a really high quality product that is really impressive at the price. It is more than adequate for most people's needs.
The Dangbei N2 mini is now available on Amazon for £169.15 (15% off).
What users say
Amazon user: I have had this projector for some time now and it has not stopped impressing me. It's genuinely portable, light in weight but a quality feels about it, I have had it in the bedroom most of the time but with the occasional use in the garden in the last couple of weeks. In terms of picture quality I really can't fault it, it's bright and very clear and really good to enjoy watching a movie on it.
Amazon user: The Dangbei N2 Mini is a compact, entry-level projector offering 1080p resolution and native apps for Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. Weighing less than 2kg, it's highly portable and features a built-in gimbal for flexible positioning on walls, ceilings, or floors. Setup is straightforward thanks to automatic image adjustment features, though its 200 ISO Lumens brightness makes it best suited for dark environments.
Alternatives
iWIMIUS S29 Netflix Projector
NEBULA Capsule 3 1080p Mini Projector
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