The Spro 2, joins a crowded market of Android based projection devices, that have been released in the past 3 years. It used to be that projectors would simply allow users to watch movies, play games, and give presentations on a big screen. These days customers want more; they want to browse the internet, stream movies, download music, etc. The traditional market didn’t cater to these, hence the influx of new smart projectors, which provide an all-around online and offline experience. I wrote this ZTE Spro 2 (Wifi Only) Android Projector with 5″ LCD Touch Display Review, with the aim of advising buyers, as to whether this is one among the many, that they should buy.
PROS
- 1280x720p HD viewing
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
- Charges your mobile phone
- 5000-1 contrast ratio
- LED, so will have a long lifespan
- Easy set-up
- Bluetooth
- Large screen size of up to 300 inches
CONS
- Speakers are not so good
- 200 lumens
Overall Impression
Size and Design
The Spro 2 actually looks really good, with its 5-inch touchscreen positioned on the top, its curved sides, and its thin shape. The measurements are 5 inches in length, by 5 inches of width, and there’s a depth of 1.1 inches, so super portability is a given. In fact, the Spro 2, will slot into a suitcase, or inside pocket very easily. The weight is not prohibitive 14.4 ounces, so buyers will certainly not feel any strain or unnecessary burden while carrying the Spro 2. It’s made well, but the problem I have with thin projectors is they are very easily damaged when knocked or dropped, so be aware of this.
Performance
You’ll be immediately relieved when you open the box to find that an HDMI lead is supplied with the product, as so many companies make you buy one separately, which can be quite annoying. The second thing you’ll like is the easy set-up, which can be completed in under 10 minutes by following the instructions.
The Spro 2 is an HD projector, with a native resolution of 1280x720p, and while this is certainly not 1080p, you’ll be getting a great HD picture. The picture is further enhanced by the 5000-1 contrast ratio, so all in all, I can’t fault the overall image clarity, especially as many super-portables don’t have HD to begin with. The Spro 2 only has 200 lumens so you’re not going to be viewing in a sunlit room, but provided buyers close blinds this won’t be a problem. The screen size is a massive 300 inches, but before you leap out and buy the Spro 2 you should be aware that post 150 inches, distortions will be present, though this is normal in projection. Certainly, the 300-inch screen size is much larger than most super-portables and represents a real achievement here.
The built-in speakers are average, so if you want the sound to match the HD pictures, then you’ll need to purchase external speakers. Unfortunately, sub-par speakers are a frequent issue in the projector market, and with this release, they seem to be no nearer to producing great sound.
Next, I want to talk about what’s inside Spro 2. You’re getting a really fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processer, which has a speed of 2.1GHz. This is the speed at which it processes information, and gamers will notice improved performance with the Snapdragon. Encouragingly the Spro 2 supports an SD card of up to 64GB, and I would hope more projectors have this capability in the future, because right now 16GB to 32GB is the standard, and that’s simply not enough in the modern world. The Spro 2 has Bluetooth and will allow you to connect to any tablet, phone, or laptop for surfing the internet. Another very good inclusion is that it charges phones, and this is something all projectors should do.
Final Verdict
The two major problems on this projector are familiar ones within the super-portable market: low lumen count and sub-standard speakers. Meanwhile, the Spro 2 excels in many other area’s including Image clarity, screen size, connectivity, and memory. Weighing up the pros and cons, my position is that the achievements more than compensate for the problems, so I’d thus recommend a purchase.
