Laser Portable Gaming Projector reviewed: not ideal
Quick review
Laser Portable Gaming Projector - $299
The good
The underlying Android OS makes this projector more than just a ‘gaming’ device. It includes an easily hung projection screen and 80 built-in games. However, the included controllers are cheap and awful, and the integrated speakers are quite painful. Many of the included games are poor at best, and there's a legal grey area surrounding emulation in Australia.
The not-so-good
The Laser Portable Gaming Projector is a basic projector with a resolution of just 1280x720, which means it's an effective 720p projector. At 300 lumens, it's not ideal for movie, TV, or sports viewing, and the integrated speakers are woeful. The included controllers are lightweight and feel cheap, and the onboard emulation is slow and laggy, making it difficult to recommend for gamers.
In-Use
The projector doesn't just run games; it uses an Android 13 operating system with a custom front-end. While it supports Wi-Fi 6 and major streaming services, the audio quality is poor, and there's a risk that future updates may limit its utility as a general-purpose projector.
Retro gaming
The projector handles gaming through a “Game Box” app, which is simple and functional but slow in response. The included games are mostly mediocre, and there's a lot of dross among the gems. The projector supports homebrew titles, but the emulation is not particularly good, with noticeable input lag.
Performance
The projector struggles with fast-paced games like Xenocrisis, and the included games are not particularly impressive. The value equation is tricky, as the price is high for a basic 720p projector, and the included games are not the true classics.
What needs work?
The projector needs better hardware, particularly in terms of processing power and emulation. While the idea of an all-in-one retro gaming projector is great, this projector falls short in many areas.
Value
At $299, the Laser Portable Gaming Projector is expensive for a basic 720p projector, and the included games are not the true classics. It's not ideal for gamers and is difficult to recommend.
Final thoughts (TLDR)
The Laser Portable Gaming Projector is an interesting device, but it's not ideal for gamers. The included controllers are cheap and awful, the integrated speakers are poor, and the onboard emulation is slow and laggy. While it might be worth it for some, it's not a great recommendation for gamers.
