Aurzen Zip tri-fold projector review: mirror anything (without DRM)
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Tri-folds are having a moment. Theres that impressive Huawei device, my favorite 3-in-1 Apple charger, and now this: the Zip tri-fold projector from a company called Aurzen. Its the most gadgety gadget Ive tested in a long time.The Zips heft, texture, and hinge stiffness evokes quality at first touch and its impressively bright for a compact battery-powered projector that initially costs $249.Using it is also a joy. It connects quickly to iPhones over AirPlay and to Android devices over Miracast, Smart View, or similar using Wi-Fi Direct no hotspot required. It then automatically focuses and aligns the image on any available flat surface including walls, t-shirts, and pillows. It works in both landscape and portrait modes and pairs with Bluetooth headsets for private audio or Bluetooth speakers for a shared experience. The built-in rechargeable battery lasts about 80 minutes in my real-world testing, but you can always plug it into a powerbank or wall jack to extend that.Using it sucks, however, if youre trying to stream from services like Netflix and Disney Plus or trying to watch Spotify music videos. Thats because all those companies protect their content with DRM, and Zips mirroring feature doesnt meet HDCP content protection standards, according to a popup message I received when trying to stream video from Amazon Prime.Otherwise, it mirrored everything I could see on my iPhone, Mac, and Android phone, including Plex videos, games, locally stored media, PDFs, PowerPoints, and every app that I opened.The Zip is so easy to carry and set up that Ive been using it almost daily over the last few weeks.8Verge Score$249The GoodQuick to connect to iPhone or Android80 minutes on rechargeable batterySurprisingly brightIncredibly compactThe BadWont stream from services like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney PlusSpeaker worse than my phonesAuto-keystone wont perform miraclesNo lens cover$249 at KickstarterHow we rate and review productsI used it on a 10-hour train ride to watch downloaded movies with Bluetooth headphones. Ive used it in the bedroom paired to a Bluetooth speaker to watch a film streamed over Plex with my wife after the kids took over the television. But mostly Ive been using it on any suitably flat surface to aimlessly flip through my social media feeds or play some casual games on a screen thats much larger than my iPhone. A friend said hed love to borrow the Zip projector for PowerPoint presentations at client sites, and I can see it playing a recurring role in my vanlife adventures to come. The Zips Z-shape works either upright for films and YouTube, or on its side for full-screen portrait video favored by TikTok and Instagram Reels. When upright, you can easily adjust the hinges to get just the right angle and image size. When sideways you have to get more creative to avoid obstacles. The Z-shape is useful for overcoming obstacles. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeIt really is tiny. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeWatching a downloaded film with my daughter on a train using headphones and an improvised screen. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeProjecting a giant 2-meter tall vertical YouTube Short video on the wall. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe autofocus works well, but the auto-keystone correction has a very limited range and works best when the Zip is placed directly in front of the projection surface. If you dont like the results you can give the projector a little shake to try again just dont expect miracles. The Zips base is metal so it can be affixed to magnetic mounts, including Aurzens own $25 suction-mount.If streaming services are critical to your usage, then Aurzen offers a bulky $65 CastPlay HDMI dongle as a work around. Modern phones with USB-C ports that support video output can then stream DRM-protected content directly to the Zip using a USB-C to HDMI adapter. I did not test this because, a) I dont have such an adapter, b) it adds too much complexity to a device that thrives on its simplicity. 1/13Supports casual gameplay.The Zip projector is great for anyone traveling light, without a laptop or tablet, that still wants a big(ger)-screen entertainment option for the phone theyre carrying. Its best in dark rooms, but works surprisingly well during the day so long as you dont mind viewing a smaller image to concentrate all that LED projected light. Color saturation and contrast arent great, but theyre passable, even at the Zips 720p resolution.SpecsBuilt-in rechargeable 5000mAh batteryWi-Fi DirectBluetooth 5.484 x 78 x 26mm (3.3 x 3.1 x 1 inches)280g (9.88oz)On-device power, brightness, volume controls, and capacitive menu buttonsFan produces about 30dB (from one meter) in brightest modeDual 1W speakers100 ANSI lumens720P resolutionAurzenHub remote control app is available for iOS and AndroidAurzen tells me that the Zip currently available for $249 early bird pricing on Kickstarter will cost $299 starting March 1st. Both prices seem reasonable for the experience provided. The average price will eventually rise to about $349 once it moves to Amazon which is a bit steep for a portable projector that cant easily stream your favorite shows.Photography by Thomas Ricker / The VergeSee More:
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