Xming Episode One Projector Review

The Xming Episode One projector is the cheapest projector that I have ever used. And yet, it aims to provide a relatively high-quality experience and act as a great entry point for those new to projector tech, or for those who aren’t interested in investing many hundreds of dollars into a device. If I’m honest, I was skeptical, but I’m happy to say that I came away impressed. Here’s my review.

Bang for buck

For the low RRP of $229 – though it’s currently $199 down from a supposed $299 on the website – the Xming Episode One has specs that may surprise you. With a native 1080p image, 1500:1 contrast ratio, Dolby Audio, auto-keystone correction, support for 40-120” screens, and a claimed brightness of 150 ISO Lumens, there’s a lot to unpack here.

1080p is the highlight

The main highlight is that 1080p image which looks better than you’d expect with its claimed contrast ratio. Of course, there’s only so much that 150 ISO Lumens of brightness can do in sub-optimal conditions, so potential buyers should be planning to use this device in a dark room or during evening hours. You can get away with it in daylight, but I wouldn’t call the image satisfactory. My recommendation is to buy this projector if you can guarantee watching it in a dark environment.

Compact and portable

During the unboxing experience, I was very surprised by just how tiny this projector is. It measures 122x141x175 mm and weighs just 1.25 kg, making it incredibly portable.

With smaller projectors, fan noise can be a concern, as a smaller fan usually has to spin faster to move the required amount of air. The Xming Episode One, however, is impressively quiet. For those wondering, I had no issues when it came to overheating. It’s simply a quiet system that cools well.

Another big highlight of the Xming Episode One is that it uses Google TV. This means users don’t have worry themselves about getting apps like Netflix working, which is still a big issue for other projectors. Instead, this projector can simply be plugged in and it’s ready to go.

The drawbacks

With a budget-friendly focus, there have to be some drawbacks. With the Xming Episode One, I must again mention the brightness being limited to 150 ISO Lumens. Any ambient light is one of this projector’s weaknesses. The built-in speakers are another underwhelming aspect. While they will get the job done when caught in a pinch, higher volumes can get a little tinny,

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Formovie.