When it comes to watching your favorite movies and shows or playing a new game what do you choose to use to enjoy them? Most media lovers will automatically defer to their home TV or their personal computer. Some may choose to use a monitor or just use their smartphone. For many, the idea of owning a projector seemed like a high-end luxury rather than something that was easily obtainable.
Nowadays, with the cost of technology steadily decreasing, objects that were considered luxury items are now easily obtainable. Even on TikTok, a low-end projector model can be purchased for under 100 dollars. With that in mind, we look at the Xming Episode One Google TV Projector from Formovie.
Back in October, Formovie reached out to us asking if we would like to review one of their newest projectors, the Xming Episode One Google TV Projector. After reviewing the Dangbei Neo Smart Projector, we gladly accepted the chance to review a different smart projector and see how it compared. Below we will be going over the overall specs, comparison with the Dangbei projector, the Positives and Negatives of the Xming Episode one, and our final thoughts on the product.
Xming Episode One Google TV Projector
Manufacturer: Formovie
Release Date: August 1, 2024
Price: $199
Dangbei vs Xming
With anything you purchase, you will typically compare items to other things you own or similar items in the market. The Xming is half the weight of the Dangbei projector and slightly smaller; it is 4.8 x 5.5 x 6.9 in vs Dangbei’s 7.87 x 6.18 x 3.94. When it comes to picture quality, the Xming Episode One LCD Projector has a crisper image when closer to the projected surface.
However, it has a more difficult time projecting when there is more light in the room or is further away from the projected surface; the Dangbei can project into a higher luminosity room. With sound quality, the Dangbei projector’s speakers provide a louder overall experience but the Xming speakers provide a cleaner listening experience; when you compare the speaker size, the Dangbei projector is 2 to 1 W (6w to 3w) difference which can create a sound difference.
The Dangbei project utilizes Linux while Xming Episode One Google TV Projector uses a version of the Google App Store. Unlike the Dangbei projector, the app store allows for a wider variety of applications including a web browser.
This allows for Crunchyroll and Twitch to be installed on the projector alongside other helpful apps more efficiently. When you compare the two remotes the Danbei remote has more buttons for quicker access while the Xming gives users the ability to change profiles and voice search. The two biggest downsides to the Xming Episode One Google TV Projector remote is its inability to refocus the picture or mute the audio.
If you have a power outage, the Dangbei projector will retain the parameters that were established while the Xming will reset and try to refocus and resize the screen. If the projector does not focus properly or goes to the wrong dimensions, you will need to adjust the size.
However, resizing the display is a harder task than it should be. With the Dangbei, all you have to do is push the focus and dimensions button on the remote or hit the settings button; with the Xming, you will need to go to settings and then select the all settings button to adjust the focus and keystone.
With the Xming, you cannot mute audio unless you are pausing the video. With the Dangbei projector, there is a separate button to mute the audio. The Xming feels like it needs to be in a small room or outdoors in a quiet area to be heard well while the Dangbei can fill up bigger spaces. With both devices, you can connect them to Bluetooth to stream the audio to a Bluetooth speaker.
Connecting the projector to other devices such as a phone or computer can be a hassle with it not always accepting the connection and having to pair it a few times; in fact, outside of YouTube, Netflix, and Crunchyroll, it often fights to stream video from other devices. You can stream using Google Cast or Google TV to the Xming Episode One but only for apps that you can easily install on the projector.
Although the Xming Episode One Google TV Projector offers a wider variety of applications, switching between the applications can cause delayed responses, especially in non-factory shipped apps.
The inability to mute the audio holds the device back and makes it so you have to exit what you are watching; this can potentially cause you to lose your progress on certain videos.
Though the manufacturer advertises the ability to connect devices to the projector, we were unable to connect our PC to the projector through Bluetooth or smart view (screen sharing).
The visual picture of the projector can suffer when in illuminated or bright areas. Also resetting the focus and parameters can be a bit of a challenge if not done properly the first time.
At $219, the Xming Episode One Google TV Projector is a fairly good product especially when you compare it to other devices at a higher price. Although it may not have superior specs, it still provides better quality than projectors at a lower tier or at the same level.
Its compact size allows for it to be easily packed away for transportation (the size of a Funko) and its easy setup and go features allow for use while traveling. Connecting to a Bluetooth device is recommended for audio function, but the speakers provided can still provide decent sound in a small enough room.
If you are in the market for a projector and want something with Smart functionality then picking up the Xming Episode One Google TV Projector would be advisable. The device is a good entry point for those who want more than just a simple projection device. If you are in the market for a projector and want to have a fairly decent product then we recommend picking up the Xming Episode One.
The Xming Episode One Google TV Projector was provided by Formovie. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here. Xming Episode One Google TV Projector is available starting at $199.
