An interesting smart projector has arrived on Kickstarter that can be used as a wall or ceiling projector, a mini smart display for work or play, or even a bedside clock. The A3 outputs 4K visuals at 3,000 lumens, and the stand housing the speaker can be tilted.
The Chinese startup started out making projectors for other brands in 2023, but switched to making its own models this year. An early version of this versatile projector appears to be already onboard, called the A2 Pro, and was recently featured on the YouTube channel Store Know Shadow. With A3, Toei is turning to smart technology enthusiasts around the world through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.
At its heart is a 4K UHD projection engine that can reportedly support 8K input, with image sizes ranging from 40 inches diagonally to a whopping 450 inches, giving the A3 “immersive visuals on an epic scale.” “The ultimate option to realize this.”
The fully enclosed LED light source emits 3,000 ISO lumens (based on in-house testing using the ISO 21118 standard) and can be viewed during the day without the need to draw the blinds, but a darkened space provides the best results.
The projector is mounted on a dedicated stand and the unit can be tilted 260 degrees, allowing for a variety of installation options, including ceiling-dropping. When you point the lens down, the projection engine stops, but when you tilt the unit, built-in sensors automatically start the show. The stand also features a 20W speaker system for providing soundtracks to your visuals or streaming music via Bluetooth.
The company says it has autofocus chop to keep vision sharp without manual tweaking, but doesn’t mention other auto-adjustment techniques like keystone correction, fit-to-screen, and object avoidance. .
At the heart of its operation is a MediaTek MT9669 chipset that supports 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The current prototype is said to run Android 9.0, but the production version is expected to move to Android 11 operating system. This may seem a little outdated compared to smartphones, but it seems to be common in the budget projector space. Donying said this version of Google’s mobile OS is customized specifically for the A3 and “perfectly matches the capabilities of the hardware and the needs of our users, ensuring a truly unique and optimized experience.” I am. The promotional image also clearly shows Netflix among the supported apps available, so don’t try to connect your Google TV device to one HDMI port or otherwise try to circumvent Netflix’s police. There is no need to do this.
We’ve seen tablets with built-in pico projectors, but the A3 flips that script and features a tablet-like touchscreen display on top for control, navigation, and app functionality. Adding a BT keyboard and mouse to the equation transforms this projector into a home office workhorse, allowing users to manage email, browse the web, create documents, and more while using the touch display as a screen. You can. Flip the unit over and the desktop will be projected.
Wireless screen sharing is also available, so you can line up presentations, scroll through holiday photo albums, share videos, launch mobile games, and more from your smartphone. But, strangely, there is one spec missing from the blurb provided. Wi-Fi hasn’t been confirmed, but given all the mentions of streaming capabilities, screen mirroring, and internet activity, it’s likely included.
As mentioned, Dongying turned to Kickstarter to finance production and engage directly with potential customers. Current pledge prices start at $209 USD, with an expected retail price of $399 USD. The usual crowdfunding caveats apply, but if all the campaigns that have already been funded go as planned, shipping is expected to begin in March 2025.
Source: Kickstarter