The iCODIS CB100W is part of this manufacturers range of pocket-sized projectors that has been successful because of some excellent portability and ease of operation combined with some quality features, buyers might not have expected on such low priced models. It is considerably different to a very similarly named model, the iCODIS CB-100. I wanted to check to see if the quality was still there, and if they continued to max-out portability and connection options, so I took one home and put it too the test. These have been highly popular for people with multiple devices like phones and tablets, but can you hook these up as easily as on other models? How does the Android system perform? And how big is the screen size? You’ll find out all of this and more in my iCODIS CB100W review.
PROS
- Very Portable
- Easy Set-up
- Android OS4
- New Fan System
- 20,000 hours of LED life
- 854×480 Native Resolution
CONS
- 45 Lumens
Overall Impression
Size and Design
The weight was 0.59 pounds so this puts it into the super-portable category and measuring 2 inches in length by 2 inches in width with a 2-inch depth what you have is a really small square unit you can fit into your hand. It’s in the top 5% of all projectors in terms of size and weight so full marks for ease of transportation and portability in general. There are also USB Ports and a Slot for an SD Card which I’ll discuss in the performance section. It looks reasonably good but it’s so small that aesthetics won’t be a major factor in buyers’ minds when they decide on a purchase.
Performance
The first piece of good news is that it comes with everything you need to get started and more. You get a Tripod, an International Travel Adapter, an 8GB SD Card, and an SD Standard Adapter. Also included is a charging cable for the battery and many projectors don’t have these little extras so iCODIS should be applauded. I mentioned the SD Card Slot in the Size/Design section and it’s worth noting because they haven’t included an A/V port so you’re not going to be connecting your DVD Players up to this. Instead, buyers will be downloading movies from the internet and using their SD Card to load them straight onto the iCODIS CB100W.
If you have a DVD Player and you do want to hook it up then this isn’t the projector for you, but buyers of the CB range tend to have multiple devices like Laptops, Tablets, and Phones, and they enjoy the ease of hooking each one of these up to a small projector they can transport to another place, throwing up images right away. It’s built for those who want to surf the internet on a 60-inch screen, download movies and music, and use Microsoft Office. You can connect through Airplay to mirror your iPhone so you can show your friends all your pics on a large screen. Using the Wi-Fi you can connect straight to the internet without hooking up any other device because you already have inside an Android computer system. So download Apps, go on Facebook or look at Videos on YouTube; it’s an online multimedia device just like a Laptop is, but with a much bigger screen.
When I tested the battery there was enough power for viewing a movie lasting 90 minutes and I’d have liked to see more, but if buyers take their charger with them when they go out they’ll be no problem. The screen goes up to 120 inches but you’ll get 60 inches in darkness max. Any more than this and you’ll be experiencing problems like distortions and noise. With only 45 Lumens this is not a Projector to be used in anything other than darkness, so there are limitations on portability. And, as far as picture quality goes, remember this is not an HD projector so with a native resolution of 854×480 don’t expect visual splendor. The pixels do however perform well and again this will not prove a major deterrent to purchase because the CB range is for buyers who want to replace their Laptop screen with something larger and the iCODIS CB100W allows them to do this albeit with a drop in image quality.
Final Verdict
If you currently have a Laptop or a phone and you want to see a bigger screen then this is the Projector for you. If you like something you can fit in your hand, pick up easily, and transport with no problems to a friend’s house or work; then this is the Projector for you. It’s cheap, has decent images, good color calibrations, and allows you to download movies to SD Card for 60-inch viewing. If you use Apps on your phone you’ll be able to use all of them on the iCODIS CB100W and using the Wi-Fi you can play online games. If however, you like movies in cinematic quality with HD images then you won’t be happy and you should look for something else. The Verdict: Perfect for some, but not for others.
