Which Projector’s Rating: 3.5/5
Pros
Cons
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 has a sleek and compact design. You might find these features beneficial, especially if your house’s space is becoming a premium. It offers relatively good picture quality in rooms with minimal ambient lighting.
This projector has excellent features, which we’ll discuss later in this review. In addition, It also has its downsides which we’ll take a look into as well. Being the newest projector in the market, we’ll also take an in-depth look at its software and pricing.
Let’s get started!
Design
Xiaomi Mi smart projector 2 has a similar design to its predecessor – the original Xiaomi Mi compact projector. These two projectors are identical in dimensions, casing, color scheme, and shape.
It has a modern and compact design with the following dimensions: 115mm x 150mm x 150mm (4.5” x 5.9” x 5.9”). This design makes it portable and ideal for outdoor and indoor usage because it is not heavy – the projector weighs approximately 2.8lbs (1.3kgs).
Apart from being portable, its compact design and lightweight are advantageous. You can easily put the projector away in storage when not in use.
However, its portability is a bit limited. While it is light and easily movable, you’ll still need to consider that Xiaomi Mi smart projector 2 does not have an internal battery. Therefore, you’ll need to look for a power outlet to use the projector.
Additionally, the power cable isn’t that long and doesn’t employ modern technology such as USB C. However, the projector does come with 1 HDMI port, 1 USB 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm headphone port.
This projector comes in a singular color – a white plastic shell. The white plastic shell is broken by a gray fabric that covers the front. This color scheme is not the best, and neither is it the worst.
Xiaomi probably designed it this way so that it could blend with both indoor and outdoor decor.
It would be best to consider where you’ll place the projector as it will significantly affect the output quality of the image. In addition, you might consider getting a projector screen with it – doing so will help you enjoy a better image quality display.
Choosing the right projector screen for this projector depends on where you are going to use your projector. If, for example, you want to use your projector indoors without the possibility of shifting rooms occasionally, consider getting a fixed projector screen.
However, consider getting a portable projector screen if portability attracts you to this projector. They are smaller and can be easily folded and carried around with the projector.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 Remote Control
The projector also comes with a simple remote control whose design is outstanding. It has the right buttons and just a little more for extra entertainment. The remote allows you to change the projector’s volume, activate Google Assistant, watch Netflix, go through the projector’s menu, etc.
Despite the remote control’s simplicity, it might be challenging to use in dark rooms as it does not have backlighting. It would have been better if Xiaomi had added the backlight feature on this remote control as an upgrade from the Xiaomi Mi compact projector’s remote control.
In addition to being an upgrade, the backlight could help immensely, mainly because this projector is designed for low ambient light use. In other words, this remote control forces you to press buttons by simply feeling them since you cannot see them.
Features
Xiaomi Mi smart projector 2 has similar features to its predecessor. The projector has a 5W internal speaker from Dolby Audio which produces a decent sound quality. However, you might come out highly disappointed if you are the type of person who loves clear, balanced audio.
Apart from the speaker, it also has a HDMI port, USB 2.0 port, a headphone 3.5mm port, and a power inlet port. In addition, this projector has auto-keystone and automatic focus. These two features help a great deal in improving the projector’s image display quality.
Auto-focus and auto-keystone are great features, mainly if you use a projector screen to reflect images. They help the projector detect and correct distorted images. For the best image results, consider placing your Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 approximately 1.6m away from a 60” projector screen (using the 1.2:1 distance ratio).
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 has an internal fan that helps cool the projector. One downside of using this projector is that its fan is audible, which can be pretty uncomfortable to sit near because the sound quality is affected by fan noise.
Picture Quality
This projector offers a reasonably good picture quality, especially with minimal ambient light. In addition, the projector will produce a better image quality if paired with the right projector screen.
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This projector has a native display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is also HDR-compatible, which helps it produce a decent picture quality. Unfortunately, it is not 4K-compatible, does not have a shift lens, and cannot zoom.
You can use a projector screen ranging from 60” to 120” for the best picture quality. Remember, it is essential to use the 1.2:1 distance ratio to calculate the distance your projector needs to be away from your projector screen.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 projector lamp is not bright – it produces around 500 to 1300 ANSI lumens. It, therefore, means that using your projector in rooms that have bright ambient light will cause your images to appear washed out.
Here’s the deal:
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 produces a decent picture quality. You’ll need to do the following to retain that picture quality:
- Control ambient light as too much of it will cause pictures to appear washed out.
- Use a projector screen to reflect images from the projector.
- Consider the 1.2:1 distance ratio rule when calculating the ideal distance your projector needs to be away from your projector screen with regard to its size. For example, a 60’’ screen will require you to place your projector 1.6m away from the projector screen.
Software
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 runs on Android TV OS, certified by Google. Therefore, this projector allows you to stream music and videos and even play games. In addition, you can activate Google Assistant with a touch of a button.
You can command the projector with your voice by using Google Assistant, just as you would when using an Android phone or tablet. Since the projector runs on Android TV OS, you can connect your Google Account, watch your favorite YouTube videos, or even log into Netflix.
It is important to note that the projector will not support heavy games because it has limited storage and RAM. It comes with 16GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM – not enough to handle RAM and storage-consuming games.
We strongly recommend using this projector for simple tasks like streaming music, podcasts, etc., and watching movies. Maxing any projector, in general, will undoubtedly shorten its lifespan.
The best part about using this projector is its versatility. You can cast videos straight from your smartphone or connect a computer to your projector using the HDMI port. Using this projector, you can also plug in a thumb drive and view images or even watch a movie.
The projector can connect to the internet or a wireless network using Wi-Fi.
Pricing
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 is quite expensive compared to what it offers. The projector has a low ANSI lumen output, meaning it cannot be used in bright rooms. Additionally, it does not have an in-built battery, unlike other portable projectors.
In other words, it would have been better if Xiaomi would reconsider the pricing of this projector. You can get a slightly better projector for a cheaper amount of money.
Final Thoughts
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 has a sleek design – you could almost mistake it for an Apple product. It tries to combine the best of two worlds – smart devices and projectors. This projector produces a decent image quality with the proper ambient light control and projector screen.
In addition, both auto-keystone and auto-focus help the projector produce a decent picture quality by detecting and correcting distorted images.
However, its downsides, such as the speaker and low brightness, make it a little bit far from perfect. Unlike other portable projectors, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 does not have an in-built battery. In addition, its loud fan can be a bit vexing.
Bottom line:
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 is one of the best and most modern projectors. It does an excellent job, and you should consider getting one today.
