When my kids were in high school, our family had a summer tradition of showing outdoor movies for friends and neighbors. We suspended the practice when they went off to college, but maybe we’ll revive it this summer.
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Right now, I’m testing the TCL A1 1080P FHD Smart Projector, which the company launched late last year. And unlike those old days, we won’t have to connect the projector to a DVD player or any other device. It has Wi-Fi and runs Google TV, so you get immediate access to Netflix, Amazon Prime video, Hulu, Disney and DirectTV, YouTube and YouTube TV with the ability to download thousands of additional channels from a very large library. If you can stream it, it’s probably available as a Google TV app. With the exception of YouTube, the apps I mentioned require a subscription, but Google says there are “over 800 free channels.”
We also won’t have to connect it to a speaker because it has an excellent one built in. The sound quality, which includes Dolby Audio, is quite good, but it does not work directly with Bluetooth speakers. There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack that can be used with analog headphones or speakers or with a Bluetooth adapter such as the $36 Beeitzie Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver. You can, however, pair the TCL projector with your phone to use as a Bluetooth speaker.
Giant screen
One advantage to a projector over a TV is that you can have a giant screen for relatively little money. TCL says it’s capable of projecting to a screen as big as 120 inches, which would be extremely large for a regular TV. And, if you have a fold-up screen or a large white wall, you don’t have to take up space for a TV.
One disadvantage is that projectors work better in dark environments. This TCL projector has a brightness rating of 360 ISO lumens, which is pretty low, but it passed all but one of my tests. As I expected, It looked pretty washed out when I had it fill an 80-inch screen in my living room during the day with light coming in from large windows. It looked great at night, and it also looks surprisingly good in my well-lit office where the projector is close enough to my white wall to throw an image that’s equivalent in size to a 55-inch TV.
But it also passed the large-screen outdoor test when placed in my driveway aimed at my beige garage door, which is far from an ideal movie screen. And to push its limits, I moved it far enough from that garage door to project a movie on what is the equivalent to a 170-inch diagonal screen — 50 inches more than it’s rated for — and it still looked good. Were I to use a decent white screen or perhaps even a large white sheet, it would look even better, but neighbors who walked by during this “screen test” agreed that it was bright enough for them to enjoy an outdoor movie.
The TCL A1 costs $500 at TCL.com, but I found it online at Amazon and Walmart for $400. Amazon had used in “like new” condition for $274.27.
It is pricey compared with some projectors, but it also has some advanced features and is very compact, weighing 5.5 pounds and measuring 5.0″ x 7.6″ x 10.4.” It comes in a foam plastic carrying case that could easily fit in an airline overhead, should you want to use it to project a presentation from your laptop. It has a handle that also serves as an adjustable stand with a 15-degree tilt. The size, weight and handle make it easy to move it from room to room or pack it up for a trip.
The projector has an HDMI port for use with a laptop, DVD player or any other media device with HDMI out. There is also a USB port that can be used for media or to power some devices such as a Roku streaming stick, though with all the channels you get with Google TV, you’ll have no need for a Roku stick. Google TV even gives you access to the Roku app, which has a lot of free ad-supported content.
Auto leveling and focusing
When I first used the projector, I was upset that it was a little off balance and had to put a folded piece of cardboard under one side of its base to level it. Then I discovered it has automatic keystone correction, which squares up the image nicely. It also has auto focus with the ability to manually adjust the focus if you want. I found the auto focus worked well, so I never had to make any adjustments. That means you can move the projector and let it re-adjust its focus for you.
The remote control has pre-set buttons for YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video, but you can easily use it to load any Google TV app. The navigation pad that lets you move up, down, left and right can be used to fast forward and reverse in most shows. There is a volume button, but unfortunately, no mute button. A microphone button works with Google Assistant to use your voice to control the projector and any home smart devices that work with Google Assistant.
The projector will be great for outdoor movie nights, but it lacks one essential feature. It doesn’t make popcorn.
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Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at [email protected].