The Acer C250i auto-portrait portable projector is finally here!
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the world’s first auto-portrait LED projector!
Acer C250i Portable Projector
The Acer C250i is a lightweight, portable LED projector with a stand-free multi-angle orientation and the world’s first auto-portrait mode.
Acer C250i Twisted Roll Design
Thanks to its unique twisted roll design, it supports stand-free multi-angle projection. You no longer need a stand or tripod.
When used on its side, just roll it to the perfect angle to project on the wall or ceiling.
Its vertical orientation, on the other hand, supports horizontal wall displays, and automatically activates the auto-portrait mode.
Auto-Portrait Mode
The auto-portrait mode lets you direct project videos or photos in the portrait orientation (like video chats or live-streaming sessions) wirelessly, without black bars on both sides.
Performance
Despite its compact size, the C250i boasts 1080p (Full HD) projection, with a battery life of up to 5 hours on a single charge. You can even use it as a portable power bank to recharge your mobile devices.
Its LED module has a 30,000-hour lifespan, with 300 ANSI lumens of peak bones and a 5,000:1 contrast ratio. It also has a wide colour gamut of 100% NTSC.
Connectivity
Android and iOS users can connect and stream to the C250i wirelessly, but it also comes with a standard HDMI port to support desktop or laptop computers.
It also comes with USB Type C and USB Type A ports to support video outputs from smartphones. You can also insert a USB drive for direct playback without a PC or smartphone.
Acer C250i Specifications
Specifications
Projector C250i
Projection System
DLP
Light Source
LED
Resolution
1920 x 1080 pixels
Brightness
300 Lumens
Contrast Ratio
5000 : 1
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours (Standard)
30,000 Hours (ECO)
Battery
30 Whr lithium ion
(9,000 mAh @ 3.33 V)
Input Ports
HDMI x 1
USB Type A x 1
USB Type C x 1
Output Ports
3.5 mm Audio Jack x 1
USB Type A (DC Out) x 1
Dimensions
104 mm in diameter
190 mm tall
Weight
775 g
Acer C250i Price + Availability
The Acer C250i is available with immediate effect, at the recommended retail prices of RM 1,699 / ~S$569 / US$489 / ~£317 / €539 / RMB 3,299 / ~A$608.
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BenQ 4K projectors have been the no. 1 in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa for 3 straight quarters in 2018. Find out how BenQ best their rivals in the 4K projector market for most of 2018!
BenQ 4K Projectors No. 1 For 3 Consecutive Quarters In 2018
With a massive 36% of market share in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East, BenQ 4K projectors has emerged the top brand for 4K projectors. In Japan alone, BenQ captured a historical market share of 53% in the 4K projector segment.
Winning Features of BenQ 4K Projectors
BenQ’ s product quality and unique Cinematic Color technology offers long-lasting accurate colors and authentic cinema performance.
BenQ W1700 4K home cinema projector was awarded the G-mark Design Award 2018 by The Good Design Award for its design that blends well into home space.
BenQ TK800 4K HDR home projector won the 2019 Sound+Image Yearly Award for Best AV Projector under $5000 from Australia.
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Designed to deliver the big screen experience, the BenQ TK800 4K HDR projector is their top-of-the-line 4K HDR projector for the home entertainment market.
Find out why the BenQ TK800 won our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
BenQ TK800 Key Features Summarised
Here is a quick video that summarises the key features of the BenQ TK800 4K HDR projector :
BenQ TK800 Price + Availability
The BenQ TK800 4K HDR Projector is available at a retail price of RM 5,599 in Malaysia / US$ 1,499. Here are some online purchase links :
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) comes in an unassuming brown box, with a discreet TK800 label on the lower right corner. Let’s unbox it and see what we find inside!
Once you fully unbox it, you will find the following items :
One BenQ TK800 4K HDR projector with lens cap
One 3 m long power cord with localised power plug
One BenQ RCV015 remote control
Two Maxell AA alkaline batteries
One CD containing the User Manual and Adobe Acrobat Reader
One BenQ User Manual Addendum sheet
One BenQ Quick Start Guide
Note that the package does not include any HDMI cable. While you can use HDMI 1.4 cables, it is recommended that you use HDMI 2.0a/b cables that are certified for 4K video at 60 Hz with HDR.
The BenQ TK800 Up Close!
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) is a compact projector that weighs just 4.2 kg. Its powerful 240 watt lamp allows it to create 4K HDR displays at up to 200″ in size at 3,000 lumens!
Its DLP projection system is built around a single DMD chip and a new 4-segment colour wheel that delivers 30-bit colour resolution, with a wide colour gamut of over 92% of Rec. 709!
The TK800 comes with a plethora of connectivity options – all the way from the good old VGA port to the latest HDMI 2.0 port (with HDCP 2.2).
And a combination of three adjuster feet and easy keystone correction allows you to properly align the projected image.
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4K Lens System
The BenQ TK800 features an optical system designed for 4K projection.
The lens array consists of four groups of 7 lens elements, with low-dispersion coatings to minimise chromatic aberrations.
This 4K lens system provides up to 1.2X optical zoom, with wide apertures of f/1.94 to f/2.06.
The zoom function allows you to, for example, project a 100″ image from a distance of 3.25 m to 3.9 m away.
At its widest, the TK800 lens array will provide clear focus between 1.95 m and 6.51 m away. if you dial the zoom up to 1.2X, it will provide clear focus between 2.34 m and 7.81 m away.
4K UHD Resolution
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) is built around the 0.47″ single DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) chip from Texas Instruments.
There are over 2 million microscopic mirrors on this chip – each representing a pixel.
This DMD chip has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, so how does the TK800 project a 4K UHD display with 4X as many pixels? That’s where the XPR Technology comes in.
XPR Technology
What XPR does is “wriggle” the projection lens in a circular fashion at 240 Hz, so that each micromirror creates four projected pixels, instead of just one pixel.
This effectively quadruples the DMD chip’s native resolution of 1920 x 1080 into a projected image of 3840 x 2160 pixels.
XPR allows the TK800 to deliver true 4K resolution with almost 8.3 million pixels, making the projected image appear much sharper, especially in larger projections.
However, because they were generated from a DMD chip with 1920 x 1080 independent pixels, expect aliasing artifacts.
While a true 4K DMD chip with 8.3 million micro mirrors would deliver the best possible 4K projection quality, that is many more years in the making and would be prohibitively expensive.
4K Scaling
The single DMD chip the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) uses has just over 2 million micro mirrors, which gives it a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
This means that all 4K content will be downsampled to 1080p, and processed for 4K output by the DMD chip. The projected image is then quadrupled by XPR to the 4K resolution.
The actual image is not a true 4K output of a proper 4K DMD chip, but it’s far better than a 1080p projection. The image processing ensures that final image is perceptively close to the actual 4K image.
The good news is – XPR will also upscale your 1080p content to the 4K display resolution, giving you a perceptively sharper and more detailed image than is possible with a 1080p projector.
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HDR With Wide Colour Gamut
DLP projectors can deliver wide colour gamuts, allowing the displayed colours to be more vivid, and more accurately reflect real world colours.
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) comes with a new 4-segment RGBW colour wheel which allows it to achieve 92% of the Rec. 709 colour space.
As a HDR-capable projector, the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) supports HDR10 content, which are enhanced with their exclusive Auto HDR Natural Colour Rendition and Projector-Optimized HDR technologies.
Auto HDR Natural Colour Rendition automatically analyses the scene and adjusts the colour temperature, and compensates for oversaturated greens and reds.
Projector-Optimized HDR, on the other hand, enhances dark details by preserving details and displaying the grayscales properly.
This is probably a combination of a light dump for the micromirrors, and the DMD chip’s ability to produce 10-bits of greyscale (1024 shades).
Do note that you should use HDMI 2.0a/b cables if you plan to display HDR content. Only HDMI 2.0a/b cables are certified for 4K video at 60 Hz with HDR.
Football + Sport Modes
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) is a home entertainment model that adds two new display modes – Football and Sport.
The Football Mode preserves natural skin tones, intensifies the vibrant colours of the lush green grass on the pitch while simultaneously enhancing the clarity of the announcer’s commentary over the loud background noise of a cheering crowd in an open-air stadium.
Sport Mode is ideal for indoor sports and prioritises realistic skin tones, enhancing wood tones as well as offering vivid reds combined with balanced green and blues.
The acoustic clarity of a sports commentator’s voice and other subtle details such as squeaking sneakers, referee whistles, and ice scraping under skates are retained and enhanced.
BenQ CinemaMaster Audio+ 2
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) features their improved CinemaMaster Audio+ 2 technology.
It uses a single 5 W speaker, with an aluminium driver diaphragm for better details in the mid and high frequencies, while a resonance chamber provides a more resonant bass.
The speaker also uses heat-resistant NdFeB magnets for a longer lifespan, and less distortion.
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BenQ TK800 Control Options
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) has simple controls located on the top panel.
It consists of a Power button, arrow keys (that double as keystone and volume control keys), and other OSD function keys.
For more elaborate functions, you can use the BenQ RCV015 remote control.
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) projector has two IR receivers for this remote control – one located at the top, next to the controls, and the other is in front, next to the lens.
BenQ TK800 Adjustment Options
To keep the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) level on uneven surfaces, it comes with three adjustment feet, all with rubber soles.
The front adjustment foot has a quick release button with four locking steps. The two rear adjustment feet are of the screw type, which allows for finer adjustments independently.
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) also comes with easy keystone correction. Just use the vertical keystone correction function to quickly align the projected image.
This is very useful if you plan to use the TK800 (which is portable) at different locations.
BenQ TK800 Connectivity Options
The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) comes with a plethora of connectivity options, all discreetly hidden at the rear panel.
From left to right, you will find the following ports :
3-pin 12 V power port
3.5 mm audio-in port
3.5 mm audio-out port
15-pin VGA port
HDMI 1 – HDMI 2.0a (with HDCP 2.2)
HDMI 2 – HDMI 1.4 (with HDCP 1.4)
mini-B USB 2.0 port
Type A USB 2.0 port (with 1.5 A power output)
12 V trigger port
Kensington lock slot
Please note that while there are two HDMI ports, only HDMI 1 supports HDMI 2.0a with HDCP 2.2. You should always connect your Blu-ray player, or other sources of 4K content to HDMI 1.
You should also use a HDMI 2.0a/b cable that is certified to support 4K video at 60 Hz with HDR.
The BenQ TK800 In Action!
We set-up the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) in a moderately dim room, to create an image of about 80-inches in size in a small condo
4K HDR Video – Insects
We made the hall darker in this test, so you can better assess the contrast ratio (rated at 10:000:1), and the colour gamut (rated at > 92% Rec. 709).
You can’t see it in the video, but you have to go very close to the wall to make out the individual pixels. The image may have been pixel-quadrupled from 1080p, but it is perceptually indiscernible from a true 4K image.
Note too how loud and rich its single 5 W speaker sounds. BenQ delivers on the promise promise of better details and resonant bass with its aluminium driver diaphragm and resonance chamber.
4K HDR Video – Scenery
In this test, we let more ambient light in, to simulate the usual daytime viewing with the (non-blackout) curtains drawn.
The 3000 lumens Philips bulb did a great job of delivering more than adequate brightness to tackle the ambient light coming in from the curtains on the right.
Note how vivid the images are. That’s thanks to its 4-segment RGBW colour wheel which allows it to deliver a HDR image with true white.
It also allows the TK800 to deliver a wider colour gamut in excess of 92% of the Rec. 709 colour space.
On the audio side, note the fan noise just before the test begins. It is quite audible when nothing is running, but once you start the video, the 5 watt speaker is so powerful, it completely drowns out the fan noise.
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BenQ TK800 : Our Verdict + Award
The BenQ TK800 (Price Check) is a truly impressive 4K HDR projector.
There may be brighter 4K projectors (like the 3500-lumen ViewSonic PX747-4K), but it is one of the few to offer a 4-segment colour wheel to deliver true white for a vivid HDR viewing experience, and a wide colour gamut of 92% of the Rec. 709 colour space.
This allows the TK800. to stand out amongst the crowded field of affordable 4K projectors designed to provide a cinema-like experience.
Now, it does not offer a true dot-for-dot 4K resolution like a proper 4K LCD TV would, but it delivers 4K images that are perceptually indistinguishable from true 4K images. And it gives you a much larger display size at a fraction of the cost.
DLP projection technology also eliminates a pesky problem with LCD TV technology – glare from ambient light sources. Its main problem of washed-out colours in bright ambient light is largely eliminated by the much higher 3000-lumen brightness in the BenQ TK800 (Price Check) – 36% brighter than its predecessor, the BenQ W1700 / TH2550!
It also impressed us with its audio capabilities. Powered only by a single 5 watt speaker, it delivered a surprisingly loud and rich soundscape.
For these reasons, we believe the BenQ TK800 (Price Check) deserves our Reviewer’s Choice Award! Congratulations, BenQ!
BenQ TK800 vs. BenQ W1700 / TH2550
The BenQ TK800 is a much brighter version of the BenQ W1700 / TH2550 launched last year, with a new 4-segment colour wheel. Here is a comparison of their key specifications, with their differences highlighted.
Specifications
BenQ TK800
BenQ W1700 / TH2550
Projection System
0.47” single DMD DLP
0.47” single DMD DLP
Display Resolution
3840 x 2160 pixels with XPR
1920 x 1080 pixels without XPR
3840 x 2160 pixels with XPR
1920 x 1080 pixels without XPR
Native Aspect Raio
16:9
16:9
Colour Resolution
30-bits (1.07 billion colours)
30-bits (1.07 billion colours)
Colour Gamut
> 92% Rec. 709
> 96% Rec. 709
Maximum Brightness
3000 ANSI Lumens
2200 ANSI lumens
Contrast Ratio (FOFO)
10,000:1
10,000:1
HDR Capable
Yes, HDR10
Yes, HDR10
3D Compatibility
Frame Sequential: Up to 1280x720 120 Hz
Frame Packing: Up to 1080p 24 Hz
Side by Side: Up to 1080i 60 Hz
Top Bottom: Up to 1080p 24 Hz
Frame Sequential: Up to 1280x720 120 Hz
Frame Packing: Up to 1080p 24 Hz
Side by Side: Up to 1080i 60 Hz
Top Bottom: Up to 1080p 24 Hz
Light Source
Philips UHP E20.7 Fusion Air Lamp
- 170 W to 240 W
Philips UHP E20.7 Fusion Air Lamp
- 170 W to 240 W
Bright / Vivid TV / Cinema / Sport / Football / User1 / User2 / (3D)
Bright / Vivid / Cinema / Sport / User 1 / User 2 / ISF Night / ISF Day
Audio
CinemaMaster Audio+ 2
1 x 5 W speaker
CinemaMaster Audio+ 2
1 x 5 W speaker
Available Ports
1 x VGA (15-pin D-Sub)
1 x HDMI 2.0a (HDCP 2.2)
1 x HDMI 1.4a (HDCP 1.4)
1 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x USB 2.0 Type mini B
1 x 3.5 mm Audio in
1 x 3.5 mm Audio out
1 x 9-pin RS-232 serial port
1 x 3.5 mm DC 12V trigger
1 x VGA (15-pin D-Sub)
1 x HDMI 2.0a (HDCP 2.2)
1 x HDMI 1.4a (HDCP 1.4)
1 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x USB 2.0 Type mini B
1 x 3.5 mm Audio in
1 x 3.5 mm Audio out
1 x 9-pin RS-232 serial port
1 x 3.5 mm DC 12V trigger
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ViewSonic just unveiled two new projectors – the portable ViewSonic M1 projector, and the high-resolution ViewSonic PX747-4K projector. They also gave us a demonstration of both models. Find out what they offer over their competitors!
The ViewSonic M1 + PX747-4K Projectors Revealed!
Unveiling the new ViewSonic M1 and PX747-4K projectors was Chaw Foo Hong, Country Manager of ViewSonic Malaysia.
“With the M1 ultra-portable projector, ViewSonic aims to share the perfect entertainment companion at home and on the go for our customers,” he said, “And our new 4K UHD projector has been designed for the most demanding users who want to incorporate all that 4K content and into their big screen experience.”
The ViewSonic M1 Portable Projector
The ViewSonic M1 (Malaysia | US | UK) is designed for entertainment on-the-go, with a built-in battery that provides up to six hoursof power and 16 GB of built-in storage. Its LED bulb produces 250 lumens of brightness, with a 120,000:1 contrast ratio. Paired with a short-throw lens, the ViewSonic M1 can display large images in small spaces.
An integrated smart stand provides for a simple 360-degree setup – allowing users to project their content to a big empty wall or even watch their favourite movies on the ceiling. The stand even doubles as a lens cover, with the M1 automatically powering on for instant use once the lens is uncovered.
A built-in safety feature temporarily turns off the lens when objects are detected too close to the projector. Best of all – the ViewSonic M1 (Malaysia | US | UK) boasts an auto keystone feature that automatically corrects the perspective of the images projected.
The ViewSonic M1 (Malaysia | US | UK)1 also boasts dual harman/kardon speakers and a myriad of connectivity options – USB 2.0 and USB-C ports, as well as Audio Out and HDMI ports. It also has a built-in microSD card slot for storage expansion.
The ViewSonic PX747-4K UHD Projector
The ViewSonic PX747-4K (Malaysia | US | UK) claims to be the world’s first high-brightness DLP 4K projector. Offering an Ultra HD resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels at up to 3500 lumens of brightness, it allows users to enjoy their movies without worrying about ambient lighting.
The ViewSonic PX747-4K (Malaysia | US | UK) is built around the same Texas Instruments LDP DMD technology that powers 90% of the world’s digital movie theatres. This guarantees that the PX747-4K will deliver accurate and long-lasting colour with high contrast ratios.
The ViewSonic PX747-4K (Malaysia | US | UK) comes with dual HDMI ports, and HDCP 2.2 support, allowing easy connectivity to 4K Blu-ray players and the PlayStation 4 Pro. Google Chromecast can also be connected directly to its USB port to stream media content. It can also deliver power to your wireless devices, eliminating the need for extra power points.
ViewSonic M1 + PX747-4K Price + Availability
Here are the recommended retail prices and direct purchase links for the new ViewSonic projectors :
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BenQ just announced the release of the BenQ TK800 4K HDR Home Entertainment Projector, arriving just in time for the coming World Cup 2018! If you are looking for a 4K projector with HDR capability, check out these details of the new BenQ TK800 home projector!
The capabilities of the TK800 were put put to the test when BenQ Malaysia invited guests and home theatre enthusiasts to experience the TK800 firsthand at an exciting viewing party in Kuala Lumpur.
Guests were able to see for themselves the superb picture quality of the TK800 4K HDR Home Entertainment projector as it projected a live telecast of a sporting event, displaying crisp details, natural colours and all the action.
Product Manager of BenQ Malaysia Ms. Jeane Liew said, ”The launch of the BenQ TK800 4K HDR Home Entertainment projector comes at the right time as Malaysians are now appreciating and enjoying more 4K content. In keeping with BenQ’s phenomenal growth, we are glad to announce that BenQ Malaysia will be offering a 3-year on-site warranty, which is one of the longest in the industry”.
BenQ TK800 4K HDR Projector
Featuring true 4K 3,840 x 2,160 UHD resolution with 8.3-million distinct pixels, the BenQ TK800 (Price Check) produces lifelike realism utilising projector-optimised HDR to enhance brightness and contrast range with one-step image optimisation and automatic HDR natural colour rendition.
The BenQ TK800’s innovative 4K colour wheel achieves 92% of the Rec. 709 colour gamut in conjunction with a high 3,000 lumen brightness for awe-inspiring projected picture quality in environments with bright ambient lighting such as living rooms and backyard parties.
Football + Sport Modes
The Football Mode preserves natural skin tones, intensifies the vibrant colours of the lush green grass on the pitch while simultaneously enhancing the clarity of the announcer’s commentary over the loud background noise of a cheering crowd in an open-air stadium.
Sport Mode is ideal for indoor sports and prioritises realistic skin tones, enhancing wood tones as well as offering vivid reds combined with balanced green and blues. The acoustic clarity of a sports commentator’s voice and other subtle details such as squeaking sneakers, referee whistles, and ice scraping under skates are retained and enhanced.
CinemaMaster Audio+ 2
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The BenQ TK800 (Price Check) also boasts of a CinemaMaster Audio+ 2 sound system that has been upgraded to offer a significantly wider frequency range and 5-watt power, utilising materials such as an aluminium driver diaphragm and resonant sound chambers for delicate details, pure vocals, and resounding bass.
Other Features
A true 4K DLP projector with high brightness for the living room, the sleek and compact TK800 blends beautifully into any décor in an elegantly simple fashion. The BenQ TK800 (Price Check) also integrates auto keystone correction and 1.2X zoom flexibility to accommodate any space.
Powered by renowned Digital Light Processing, the 2015 Academy Award of Merit Oscar winning projection technology used in 90% of the world’s digital cinemas, the TK800 delivers long-lasting picture quality with precise colors and razor-sharp clarity without maintenance or degradation.
BenQ TK800 Price + Availability
The BenQ TK800 DLP Projector is now available in Malaysia at a retail price of RM 5,599 (inclusive of 6% GST) / US$ 1,499. Here are some purchase links for your convenience :
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