The fact that a battery-powered, Google-certified, Netflix-streaming, Full HD LCD projector can cost less than $250 is remarkable. The fact that it's actually pretty good verges on preposterous. The XGIMI Vibe One manages both, which is great news if you're looking to project your next bingeable series just about anywhere.
This portable projector weighs only 3.1 pounds and measures 12.1 by 5.3 by 4.5 inches. It's the size and shape of one of those sadistic mini foam rollers you'd find at the gym, but with a useful handle. This handle rotates 160 degrees to serve as a stand, letting you tilt the image from wall to ceiling without needing a separate tripod. The Vibe One also doubles as a portable LED lamp and Bluetooth speaker.
This petite projector is obviously not in the same league as a hugely powerful (and much more expensive) all-in-one model like the enormous Nebula X1 Pro, but is it still worth buying?
WIRED's favorite projectors include the similarly cylindrical but wired XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro ($379), and the brand's fully portable XGIMI MoGo 4 ($399) that boasts a 2.5-hour battery life, 450 ISO lumens of brightness, and the cutest key fob-style remote control.
Of those three, the Vibe One is definitely the runt of the XGIMI litter, with its simple plastic casing and toned-down specifications, but it is one of the cheapest Full HD, battery-powered projectors on the market, undercutting the smaller but similarly powerful Nebula Capsule 3 ($530).
I'm a fan of XGIMI's industrial design, and the brand has worked wonders here given the obvious budget constraints. My review sample was a muted cream, but the brand also offers a more playful blue and yellow option, and both come with stickers for customization.
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