Let me start by saying I do not have a projector screen. I’m simply projecting onto a pretty flat wall with a light gray-ish color and a flat finish. This review is based on 1 week of use. Also, I used to own a Samsung LSP9T triple laser projector, which forms the baseline for my experience with laser projectors.
Picture Quality
Standard definition looks as good as you would expect. UHD looks great. I have not tried Dolby Vision or 4K. Colors are vibrant, even without a screen. I’m impressed. I can’t compare side-by-side, but I’d say the picture quality on this projector is as good or even better than the Samsung LSP9T. The upper corners did seem a tiny [emphasize tiny] bit out of focus right out of the box, but I am projecting on a wall that is not as flat as a screen. Also, there’s not much going on in the upper corners that I pay attention to during normal use. I’ve seen other reviews where games have important info in the corners, which I can see being an issue. For me, it’s not a problem.
Setup
Keystone was pretty noticeable out of the box and took a minute to figure out the controls, but had it adjusted quickly. Connected to my network and I was watching streaming services within minutes. I have not figured out the focus adjustment. Maybe I’m expecting it to be more complicated than it needs to be, but I can only use the left and right arrows on the remote and doing so seems to have little or no effect on the focus. Overall, the setup was simple.
Picture Settings
This projector has several preset Picture Modes that allow you to customize things like brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, and sharpness. There are more advanced settings that let you tweak many properties. I thought the preset Movie Picture Mode was great, so I’ve been using it. Over time, I may experiment with the advanced settings.
Audio
I thought the sound coming out of the built-in speakers was Impressive. I did not need to go above about 40% volume to fill the room with sound. The base is adequate, but you don’t feel it like you would from a subwoofer. It depends on the content, but based on what I’ve watched so far, dialogue is clear even when there is a soundtrack playing in the background. I’m happy with the sound.
Menus and UI
I’m not a fan of the Android TV interface that comes on this projector. I much prefer the Samsung Tizen interface that I had on the LSP9T. It’s not horrible, but it does feel a little inconsistent with the use of icons, tiles, lists, and fonts. I’ve never used Android TV before, so maybe I just need a little more time with it. Samsung UI seems much more intuitive.
Apps
The lack of support for some of the apps I am used to using is probably the biggest issue for me, but it’s not a huge issue and definitely not a showstopper. No Netflix. Yes, I know, I can use a streaming device from Robu or Amazon, but those take up an HDMI slot and require a power cable, which requires a little more cable management. Netflix and the Spectrum TV app are the two I’m missing the most. The rest of the apps I typically use are there.
Look
Style is such a personal thing. I like that the unit is a dark gray and not completely black or completely white. The project blends in with more spaces that way. It does strike me as a little too boxy and could have used some curves. I've seen complaints in other reviews about the logo on the front of the unit and I get that. It’s not a big deal for me, as it does not distract me while I’m actually using the projector, since my attention is on what’s being projected, not on the projector.
Price/Value
It's not cheap, but it's one of the lowest price triple laser TVs around right now. It’s less expensive than the Samsung LSP9T and the AWOL LTV-3500. When considering the picture and sound quality, at its price point, this projector is a good value. Part of the value equation is how long the unit lasts, which I can’t measure yet. Hopefully this projector will last and, if it does fail, the manufacturer stands behind their warranty.
Miscellaneous
I chose to use a Roku Streaming Stick 4K with this projector and one of the features is the Roku remote can be configured to control the TV’s volume and power toggle. Formovie is not on the list of manufacturers in the Roku remote setup process, so I’ve not been able to take advantage of that. That could change in a future Roku update.
The projector has a power on feature that will turn on the project when a connected HDMI device is powered on, which is convenient.
Conclusion
Pros: value, picture and sound quality, simple setup
Cons: app support, new unknown brand lacks support from other devices