A leading manufacturer of portable projectors, Vivitek has announced its entry into the Nepali market with an ultra-portable smart LED projector – the Qumi Q3 Plus. It is currently available at the Evo Store for a discounted introductory offer of Rs. 59,000 (Rs. 65,000 otherwise). So, is this projector worth buying for this expensive pricing? Let’s find out.
DESIGN
The design is one of the strongest points of the Vivitek Qumi Q3 Plus. Weighing at just 460gm, the device is 6.9-inch long. In addition, it is ultra-portable and easy to carry around.
It is coated with high-quality plastic on all sides and is comfortable to hold. On the back, the device features a power button, a charging port, a micro SD card slot, an HDMI port, dual USB ports and a headphone jack. A lens for projecting sits at the front along with dual speaker grills. I really liked how Vivitek has made the dual speaker grills appear as if it were just one. There is also a sliding lens cover for lens protection. There is an adjustable stand to support the device at the bottom. There is also a ‘nail port’ to attach the projector to a stand. I used a tripod for this and it worked quite well.
For me, the only downside of the device is its lack of zoom lever. Yes, the picture adjusts itself on a surface, but you’ll need to place the device at a few meters distance to get the best quality picture.
DISPLAY OF THE PROJECTION
The display is another area where the Qumi Q3 Plus excels. According to its specs, the device features a native resolution of 720p with a maximum supported resolution of 1080p. With a contrast ratio of 5000:1 and brightness at 500 lumens, the projection is really bright and of high quality. It is eye pleasing, lively with the color reproduction being terrific. You can toggle the brightness, contrast and sharpness, and select options like Movie mode, Presentation mode, etc.
SOFTWARE
The projector runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box. The software component of the device is simple and lag free. Although the radio signal sensor was weak, I could easily navigate through the internet, and stream videos comfortably. It also has another connectivity option – the Bluetooth.
The device comes with some useful apps like Miracast, Happycast, WPS Office, etc. It has an Appstore that contains plenty of apps of various categories.
PERFORMANCE
Under the hood, the Qumi Q3 Plus is powered by a 1.5 GHz Quad-core processor. When I used the device, it didn’t lag or underperform. However, it did suffer stutters sometimes when I cast my phone, but it was something I could ignore.
The area around the lens heats up after using the device for 10-20 minutes and gets very hot after an hour. Even when charging, the area around the charging port gets heated.
HARDWARE
The device has 5.32GB of on-board storage that can be expanded via an external microSD card. The dual speaker grills on the back are average in a quiet setting. So, I suggest the buyers get a set of speakers if you want to play audio.
BATTERY
The device is backed by a huge 8000mAh battery, and the company claims that it lasts 2 hours after it’s fully charged. When I used it, it gave me a playback time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 40 minutes. The usage included a projection of HD video via the HDMI cable and through an external drive.
CONCLUSION
There are lots of non-branded projectors in Nepal whose price start from little over Rs. 5,000. They work, but unlike the Qumi Q3 Plus, you’ll be disappointed with their performance, resolution, and other functions. Ergo, if you want a top-notch projector, at home or at work, this device is definitely for you because there’s not a better device at its price with all its functions.
