Finally, there’s a new projector that’s actually portable. Prima Projector is the most pocket-friendly projector ever made. It’s the same size and weight as an iPhone, so you can easily slide it in a pocket or a bag. It even has a touchscreen just like your phone, making it simple to project anywhere with swipe-and-click ease. Portability isn’t the only perk of Prima. It’s also got a brand new projection engine from Texas Instruments, a quad-core processor, Android 7.1 OS, and built-in speakers. Prima is a premium projector, no doubt. But is it worth the premium price tag*? We’ll let you know below. *For a limited time, you can get Prima for 50% off during a presale event. This includes free shipping and an accessory bundle worth over $100. The sale price makes Prima much more affordable and worth a buy in our book. The opinions in this review are based on Prima’s retail price of $799.99 USD.
Prima Projector Benefits
Prima is like a smartphone, computer, and projector rolled into one. Here’s how it can improve your movies, games, and work.
1 Prima Projector Benefits2 Prima Projector Review2.1 Product Specifications2.2 Key Features2.3 Verdict3 Pros4 Cons5 Prima Projector: Final Thoughts
A Cinema in Your Pocket: Prima is more than a projector. It casts a massive 200-inch screen in full 1080p HD with zero loss in quality. It delivers cinema-quality projection from your pocket. Projecting is as Easy as Using Your Phone: Thanks to simple touch controls and an intuitive Android operating system, you can use Prima just like your phone. Whether you want to project a movie or a GIF, you can point, swipe, and project anywhere in seconds. Download Apps Directly to Prima: Prima’s powerful processor and hard drive can run any of the 3M+ apps on the Google Play store. Access YouTube, Netflix, Steam, and more directly from Prima’s dashboard. Project Anything from Any Device: Prima connects to anything and everything. It connects via WiFi, Bluetooth, Airplay, HDMI, headphone jack, USB, and more. Play movies, console games, VHS… Prima can project it all.
Prima Projector Review
Prima has a ton of new tech in a surprisingly tiny package. Let’s take a look under the hood.
Product Specifications
Prima comes in black and looks just like a smartphone. Seriously, if you didn’t know it was a projector, you’d think it was a phone. It measurements 146 X 78 X 18 mm and weighs 6.6 oz (188 g). That’s the same size and weight as an iPhone 8s. Prima looks sleek, but more importantly, it’s sturdy. Sure, you don’t want to play football with it, but it rides in your pocket as safely as your phone. Here are some of the tech specs:
Projection engine: Texas Instruments DLP 200-inchResolution: 1920 X 1080CPU: RK3128 CPU 4 CoreOperating system: Android 7.1Storage: 8 GB Internal (up to 16 GB total)Wireless: Bluetooth 4.1 and 5G WiFiPorts: HDMI, 2x USB, headphone jack, DC5V, Micro SD, TFVideo playback: 3 hours (30 hours audio-only playback)Keystone angle correction: Yes
Prima Projector ships with the following in the box:
Prima ProjectorBluetooth remote controlHDMI cablePower cable (all global variants available)Tripod (included with purchase for a limited time)Carrying Pouch (included with purchase for a limited time)
Key Features
200-inch 1080p Cinematic Projection
First, we have to talk about Prima’s projection engine. Unlike bigger names in tech, Prima doesn’t make its own projection lens or engines, so it sourced a new DLP engine from Texas Instruments. And TI delivered. Prima projects bigger and brighter images with a higher resolution, and it all fits in a smaller package than its competitors. Prima performs better than similar projectors by Sony and Philips and it’s smaller and more user-friendly. That’s why Prima has garnered the name of “pocket cinema” over “pocket projector.” It projects up to 200 inches (18 feet!) in 1080p with no loss in quality. That’s HUGE. It’s bigger than the side of a house. It’s a legit cinema screen! Prima’s projection is also brighter than that of other projectors. At 200 ANSI Lumens, Prima is 5x brighter than the Sony MP CL1A, and it’s 4x brighter than most other small projectors. This makes a big difference. Not only can you use Prima in daylight conditions, but it also projects deeper blacks and more vivid colors. It looks fantastic.
The First Truly Portable Projector
As we mentioned before, Prima is the only projector that actually deserves the name “portable.” It’s almost too easy to slip it into your pocket. Because it feels just like a phone, your brain is already trained to take it with you. It’s not just the size of the projector that matters. What makes Prima truly portable is its intuitive controls and user experience. For the first time, you can whip a projector out of your pocket and show off a YouTube video just as easily as you could on your phone. This could liberate us from squinting at tiny screens forever. Want to play a round of Fortnite with a friend? Why not project it? Want to share some memes at the bar? Project them on the table instead of passing your phone. Want to scroll Reddit during your lunch break? Project it directly from Prima and save your eyes and neck. With a swipe and a click, you can project anything, anywhere.
Apps, Downloads, Web Streaming, and More
Prima has the processing power of a computer. Fitted with a quad-core CPU and Android 7.1, you can run all of your apps and software directly from Prima, including all of the 3M+ apps on the Google Play store. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Steam, Office—whatever you need for work or play, you can keep on Prima. That makes it simpler than ever to project what you need when you need it. You won’t have to worry about pairing with a device or connecting tangled cables. Everything you need is already on Prima. Prima connects to WiFi, so you can surf the web, chat with friends, get on social media, collaborate at work, and a lot more.
Cast and Mirror in an Instant
Prima can do almost anything on its own. But, sometimes it’s just easier to mirror or cast from another device. Luckily Prima connects to any device instantly and wirelessly. Just connect via Bluetooth, WiFi, or Airplay, and Prima will automatically calibrate the screen settings to deliver a clear image. If you’re brainstorming at work or sharing videos with friends, anyone can toss their content onto Prima in an instant and project it in full HD.
Decent Audio
We were surprised to hear Prima’s speakers for the first time. They were so loud! Ok, so they aren’t that loud, but they are much louder speakers in other projectors. And, they’re a lot clearer too. Prima’s speakers are comparable to a mid-range wireless Bluetooth speaker. You won’t get a lot of bass, but they’re plenty loud for meetings and movie nights, and they don’t require external speakers. Other projectors’ speakers are pretty much useless, so this is a welcome innovation.
50% More Battery Life
One reason that portable projectors were never convenient to use on the go was that they could barely get through a movie. The average projector battery lasts less than 2 hours. Prima delivers 3 hours of video playback per charge. It might not be as long as you want, but it’s better than any portable projector even close to this size. At least with Prima, you’ll be able to reach the end credits of nearly any movie. Plus, it has 30 hours of audio playback. So if you finish a 2-hour movie and want the party to keep going, you can switch to music and listen for another 10 hours or so.
Verdict
Prima is a fantastic little projector. It outperforms all of the portable projectors of its kind in terms of resolution, screen size, processing power, and, most importantly, portability. If you’re tired of staring at small screens, Prima could be the answer. With Prima, you can project your apps and work anywhere, saving your neck and eyes from strain. Prima also improves socializing and collaborating, as everyone can casts media from their phone for all to see. Prima is a great tool for those who can’t see small screens well. Its intuitive controls are just like a phone, and its dashboard looks like a smart TV. It requires very little learning to use, and it instantly makes digital life more accessible. To sum up our review, here are the pros and cons of Prima:
Pros
Pocket-friendly: Prima is the size of an iPhone. It was made to go anywhere with you in your pocket. Bigger and brighter projection: 200-inch 1080p HD DLP projection by Texas Instruments with 3D and 4K support. Up to 5x brighter than other portable projectors. Universal compatibility: Project anything—phones, computers, cameras, tablets, gaming consoles, Raspberry Pi, and so much more. Easy to Use: Prima’s swipe-and-click simplicity makes it easy to project anything from a GIF to a movie. Why use your 4-inch phone screen when projecting in HD on Prima is easier?Clear, loud speakers: An achievement in projector speakers, Prima’s audio is loud and crystal-clear. No external audio needed!50% more battery power: Prima delivers a consistent 3 hours of video playback and 30 hours of audio playback per charge. That’s 50% more than competing projectors.
Cons
Speakers lack bass: We like Prima’s speakers, but they won’t deliver a cinematic experience to match the 1080p projection. They’re fine on the go, but if you want to feel explosions and gunfights, you’ll want to connect to better speakers. The remote lags a bit: Sometimes when you use the remote, it takes Prima a few seconds to respond.Pricey: Prima costs a couple of hundred bucks more than other portable projectors. In our opinion, the improved resolution and screen size are worth it, but it still makes our wallet hurt. Luckily, you can still get Prima for 50% off during the presale.
Prima Projector: Final Thoughts
2021 might still be fresh out of the gate, but Prima is our pick for the best portable protector of the year so far. Its cinematic video quality makes us forget about all the movies we missed in the theater in 2020, and its simple controls make it easy to use anywhere. We’re excited to see how many people start using projection tech on the go with Prima this year. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see someone on the bus projecting Netflix onto the back of the seat in front of them. If you want to give Prima a try, get it before the hype hits. During the presale event, you can get Prima for 50% off the retail price. Plus, you’ll get FREE global shipping and some free accessories like a tripod and a carrying pouch. If you wait and buy Prima off the shelf, you’ll pay over $500 more. Get your Prima Projector before the sale ends at primaprojector.com
