UO Smart Beam Laser Projector Review- Worth Buying?

The UO Smart Beam Laser, Focus Free, No Need for Focus Adjustment, 150″, 120 Min is one of only three Laser Projectors currently on the market. It’s also the only one to get Class 1 FDA Registration for eye safety. I was intrigued, not only by this but also by the promise that buyers will be able to throw up images anywhere and on any surface. If I had a dollar for every time a projection company promised me that I’d be in a mansion somewhere, instead of being a reviewer of technological devices. In this review, I’ll be checking out that claim, and all the claims made by UO, so that you can decide for yourself if it’s a worthwhile purchase. Was it great? Was it even good? Did it hit a bulls-eye? or Did the Arrow fall short of the mark? You can find out here.

PROS

• Next Generation Portability
• Great Connections
• No Set-Up Time
• 720p
• Compact
• Wireless

CONS

• Low Contrast Ratio
• 100 Lumens

UO Smart Beam Impression

Here is an overall UO Smart Beam laser impression that will give you an idea of how the smart beam laser projector works and whether or not it fits your needs. This beam laser projector review covers everything you need to know about the projector so that you know all about it before you finalize your purchase.

Features and Specifications

• CES awarded the world’s 1st FDA accessed
• Andriod and iOS compatible
• HDMI receiver designed for your specific device
• Cables are not included
• Built-in speaker
• Laser light source
• Micro USB port
• Micro HDMI port
• Focus-free projector
• Wireless
• Built-in USB cable port
• Class 1 Laser (safe for human eyes)
• Wi-Fi mirroring (connect with your smartphone)

Size and Design

The major selling point of the Smart Beam is its size. It’s a 2 inch by 2-inch brown Cube with a small Vent and an equally small Lens. The Keyword here is ‘small’ because that is what people who buy devices like these look for. The Smart Beam is one of a group of Projectors that you can slip into your pocket, take over to a friend’s house, or work and then flip it back on immediately throwing up images. It’s simple, convenient, and it looks ok too. I wouldn’t say it’s the most stylish device on the market so if you’re looking for a major style then perhaps you’d want to consider a different model, but the Smart Beam is highly functional.

Performance

This projector model has a lamp life of over 30,000 hours and a battery life of four hours when fully charged. This is better than most portable wireless projectors on the market, which makes it perfect for watching films and videos without a low battery life interrupting your enjoyment.

The projector has a 720p HD resolution and a brightness level of 60 lumens which is also better than the industry standard. It probably goes without saying that the image quality is phenomenal and thoroughly enjoyable.

When it comes to installation, all you need to do is connect to your device wirelessly and stream the content that you want to watch. Its easy installation makes it perfect for taking from place to place.

Connectivity

Super-Portables like the Smart Beam have to be functional because they’re not as powerful as larger models. They make up for that with portability and simplicity of use. I’m happy to inform you that as far as transporting it to another location and throwing up images, the Smart Beam is amazing because it has no set-up. By no set-up I mean you literally have to do nothing to get images. It even has auto-focus so you don’t need to shift the Lens. It’s a case of just turning it on and you have images.

More good news comes with the connections. It does some things that other Super-Portables don’t do, like connecting wirelessly to ios Devices. So you could project whatever you’re doing on your iPhone onto a 150 inch maximum screen size. They also have wireless connection to all other mobile devices with Bluetooth. The Bluetooth here is version 3.0 so you should get a 200 foot range. Place your mobile device up to 200 feet away from the Projector and display images on the wall or ceiling. Great for online gaming and for streaming movies from the internet. There’s even MHL for faster connection to Phones and Tablets via cable. Plus there’s an HDMI connection for your games consoles and DVD Players.

Sounds great right? Well, you have to weigh these points up with the fact that the Speaker is only 1 Watt, so you’ll need to invest in External Speakers. Also the Contrast Ratio is only 400-1 so blacks and whites can be slightly muffled. While the resolution is 720p which is outrageously good for a Super-Portable, the low Contrast Ratio is still noticeable. The picture is fair, not great but you should never expect anything like 1080p from these small Projectors

So, Can you throw up images anywhere and on any surface? This was the manufacturer’s promise, and in the complex world of projection, the answer isn’t simple. Yes, with the lack of set-up and the easy operation you can throw up an image on any surface within seconds of turning it on. However, you can’t really do that anywhere because has to be somewhere dark. With only 100 Lumens you can’t afford much light in the room or you won’t be able to see the images you’re throwing up. So, if you don’t like darkness you’ll most likely prefer Super-Portables within the 400-600 Lumen range, although they probably won’t have the connection options you get here.

Review Conclusion

The cost here is around $350 so they had to offer something special and I believe they did. Although the Contrast Ratio is low meaning it’s nowhere near 1080p, the connection options are endless. It’s for people who have iPhones, Tablets, and any other Smartphone. It’s for people who play console games and online games. These buyers will be thrilled with the fact that you can flip a switch and immediately play games on the ceiling or wall. They’ll be able to use their phone wirelessly on a 150-inch screen in the living room without going up to the bedroom to get it. You can even leave your phone at home and go next door to a friend’s house and still wirelessly surf the internet on your Tablet. It’s the ultimate accessory for your phone, tablet, or games console, but if to want the cinema experience of watching movies then it’s not for you. So ask yourself what you’re buying it for and then you’ll know if it’s right for you. Thank you for reading.

You May Also Like: DBPOWER T20 Mini Projector Review

Smart Beam Laser Projector Worthy alternatives

If you don’t think that this projector is appropriate for you then the following alternatives might catch your eye:

1. Anker Nebula Capsule
2. 2. LG PH550
3. Philips PPX4010 Portable LED Projector
4. Miroir M45 Micro Projector
5. Magnasonic LED
6. LG PH300
7. RIF6 CUBE
8. Sony MP-CD1
9. AAXA Technologies P300

Click here for a full review of the projectors listed above.