Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector - advantages and disadvantages

Over the years, Xiaomi has significantly increased its own range of devices and, not intending to be limited, the famous brand from China recently released the Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector, the advantages and disadvantages of which are discussed in this article.

What is a Laser Projector?

The term "laser type projector" means that ordinary lamps in the gadget have been replaced with a laser unit. With this technology, heat generation is significantly reduced, and the durability is further increased up to 25,000 hours.

Overview

Anyone who has ever faced the idea of ​​equipping their own auditorium with a home theater realizes that this requires taking care of two key components:

1. Picture;
2. Sound.

Most often, acoustics and projectors are bought separately, because they are two different devices. Even though the new product has an integrated audio system, it will not be enough for an absolute immersion. But this review is talking about the projector, which means that the image is the most important thing.

Design and equipment

The first thing worth noting is the dimensions of the device. They are slightly larger when compared with official videos and photos from the network, and are 41x29x8 cm.The weight of the product is 7 kg, which is why the device cannot be classified as practical and easily portable. The novelty is most likely aimed at installation in one place, rather than transportability with you to make a presentation.

The entire front side is occupied by a grid, under which there are integrated speakers. It should be noted that the speakers in the projector are 4: 2 HF and 2 LF, respectively. The top side is completely empty, except for the recess for the laser itself. On the right, there is a mesh covering the air intake opening for the cooling system of the device.

All slots for connection are displayed on the left side side, including:

• 2 x HDMI 2.0;
• USB 3.0 slot;
• USB 2.0 connector;
• ARC;
• Audio Out;
• 2 x SPDIF slots;
• Ethernet type connector.

Due to the wide selection of slots, almost anything can be connected to the device. It should be noted that it is very convenient when all the connectors are located in one place, and not scattered over the shell. In general, the appearance of the gadget can be called practical. In addition, among the wireless communication, it is worth highlighting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

The package includes a remote control and a user manual in Chinese. The latter is made with illustrations, due to which it is understandable without a translator. On the other hand, the device is immediately ready for use without additional configurations.

Energy consumption

The maximum power consumption during use is 250 W, which is significantly higher when compared with TV. Even massive panels with a diagonal of 60 inches often consume about 100-200 watts. Anyone who wants to use the novelty as a complete replacement for TV must be prepared for the fact that they will have to pay much more for light.

If you use the gadget exclusively for watching video in the evening, then in the final result you won't have to pay a lot for electricity.

Fast response and easy control

The filling of the projector is as follows: a 4-core chip with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz, 2 GB of DDR3 RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. Such indicators are enough for stable work: navigation through the menu is carried out without "brakes", programs are quickly launched. The device needs approximately 20 seconds. to start, after which it is absolutely ready to go.

Remote control

The novelty can be easily controlled via the remote control. To do this, you will need to purchase additional AAA batteries, which are not included in the package. The structure of the remote control is understandable, like the entire projector as a whole. The number of keys is limited only to the most needed. The control is instinctively clear: the user moves through the menu using the arrows, and the "OK" key is located in the center and is responsible for the selection. There are buttons "Home", "Back", "Menu", and volume control - everything is clear enough.

In the role of an analogue, it is allowed to connect a keyboard and a mouse. For some users, such navigation is easier, since the keyboard makes it easier to type voluminous text. By the way, in some remote control programs, the remote control does not function, which is why experts advise to always have a spare mouse in stock.

MIUI TV OS

Like TV or smart TV, the novelty has its own custom skin. MIUI TV is developed on the basis of the sixth android and operates in Chinese. The entire system and many "factory" applications are directed to the Chinese market, which makes it difficult to change the language even to ENG.

To set "English", in the menu you need to upload a specialized APK file using a third-party device, for example, a USB-drive. It is also necessary to install third-party programs, because the gadget lacks an integrated software store. By default, YouTube and Netflix services are missing.

Video quality

Formally, the laser unit can emit 5 thousand ANSI Lumen. It uses a technology called ALPD 3.0, which is short for Advanced Laser Phosphor Display, which was created by developers from China - Appotronics. If this information does not mean anything to the user, then it is worth knowing that even in the daytime the image is juicy and only fades a little.

In a darkened room, the effect of a full-fledged cinema is formed. The powerful light of the sun, of course, has an adverse effect: in a bright room, the quality decreases, and it is unrealistic to hold movie screenings in the sun, for example, in the yard.

Image examples:

Picture in the afternoon:

Picture at night:

Contrast

The specified contrast is 3000: 1, which is practically no different from other devices that have higher indicators, for example, 1,000,000: 1. This value often little explains the true quality of the picture, in particular, when it comes to the projector, since even a small glare from the outside affects the reflection of the projection. In a darkened room, the picture is no match for a high quality LED TV.

Image quality and resolution

The limiting resolution is 1080p. Simply put - FHD. One way or another, 4K videos are playable, but upscaled to 1080p. Due to the much higher bitrate, videos in 4K format still look better when compared with the usual FHD standard. It will not be superfluous to highlight that during opening in 4K format, the maximum FPS is 30, and at FHD - 60.

At the maximum projection size, the picture is clear, even content written in small print can be read without difficulty. The device is well calibrated by default, but if necessary, it can be reconfigured. You can choose from templates or save your personal configuration.

Display

Even the best projector won't help if the user doesn't have a display to project the picture. Few people have the opportunity to put a projection with a diagonal of 150 inches indoors, most likely 120 will be an acceptable solution.

If we talk about coverage, then buying a projection display is a very important factor, in particular, from the side of color rendering. If the user wants to get an almost flawless image, then the additional purchase of a specialized display cannot be avoided. Depending on the size, their average price fluctuates around 8,000 rubles.

An ordinary white wall will also work, but the color reproduction will be imperfect. In fact, color quality can vary in the eyes of most users. If the user has a polished white wall, then this is enough. If there is no such surface, then it would be advisable to think about buying a display.

Sound

The novelty is equipped with 4 speakers: 2 cover a wide frequency range, 2 - only high. This is comparable to a real speaker system, but the sound is good for a projector, there is even juicy bass. If the user wants more, it is possible to connect a separate speaker system using the audio Out connector.

Since the device will stand directly in front of the wall, the sound is accordingly directed into it. There is a cooler inside the device, the functioning of which is audible in absolute silence, but while watching movies the background noise does not bother.

Specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

• Excellent resolution even at 150 inches diagonal;
• Supports 4K format, but with scaling;
• Intuitive system, short focusing;
• Vivid projection with excellent contrast in dark rooms and at night;
• High quality integrated speaker;
• High build reliability.

• The quality is reduced by the shining light of the sun;
• The menu is only in Chinese, only partly translated into "English".

How much is?

The average price is 133,500 rubles.

Where is it profitable to buy?

Of course, this is not a budget equipment, but it is much more affordable than direct competitors from well-known brands. You can find a gadget cheaper in online stores with delivery from China.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that Xiaomi's Mi Ultra Short 5000 is aimed primarily at professional use. If a user is looking for a device for home use, then it would be logical to find much more affordable and practical solutions that also provide good image quality and acceptable sound quality.

Exceptional moments, which should be attributed to negative, during the operation of the house - dimensions and noise level. It is not always realistic to hide them in a small room, which may cause other residents to get tired of it. On the other hand, the noise level can be reduced by configuring the menu settings, but it cannot be completely eliminated.

In general, in the reviews, buyers speak well of the projector and unambiguously recommend it for purchase.