Although the palmtop-size ViewSonic M1 mini ($169.99) throws a relatively faint image, physically this projector is bright and cheery—matte white on the sides and bottom, with interchangeable top plates in gray, yellow, and teal. With a cleverly designed built-in stand, above-average image quality, and a simple interface and media player, this affordable, highly portable device is a good choice as an entry-level projector for use in a family room or while on vacation. The M1 mini's modest brightness limits its usable image size, and it works best in a darkened room.Palmtop DNA (With a Few Flourishes) An LED-based projector that uses Texas Instruments' DLP technology, the M1 mini has a rated brightness of a mere 50 ANSI lumens. It offers 854-by-480-pixel (aka FWVGA or 480p) resolution, which is very common among micro projectors, at a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The light source has a rated 30,000-hour lifetime, which should more than last the life of the projector. At a glance,...
ViewSonic's M1 mini is a highly portable palmtop projector that counters its modest brightness with a cleverly designed stand, decent image quality for photos and videos, and the ability to play music files.
Highly portable; Simple yet innovative stand; Interchangeable top panels in three colors; Media player handles photo, video, and music files in a variety of formats
Can project images only at modest size; No on-body control panel; Tiny remote is easily lost