I examined this projector and it made my TV out of date

Projectors may be good for watching sports activities and movie nights, however I often desire my LG smart TV for day by day use and gaming. That is as a result of most projectors cannot match its stellar image high quality, excessive distinction, and quick refresh charge. Even the brighter fashions I’ve tried that work in vital ambient lighting are both too dear to be sensible or lack sure smart TV features I take without any consideration. Nonetheless, Dangbei’s new DBOX02 Professional challenged my philosophy and blew me away with its all-around talents and reasonable price ticket.

Dangbei is not any stranger to the projector sport and impressed me with its transportable Freedo and Atom fashions, that are glorious for on-the-go use. As its title suggests, the Dangbei DBOX02 Professional is an evolution of the 4K DBOX02 projector with upgraded {hardware} and options. I spent every week testing its capabilities to see what it might do and that is the way it went.

4.5/5

Model

Dangbei

Native Decision

4K UHD (3840×2160)

ANSI Lumens

2,500

Projection Know-how

Laser

Professionals & Cons

• Shiny sufficient for daytime use
• Native 4K decision
• 120Hz HDMI ports

• Requires third-party app to entry USB information
• Black end picks up fingerprints

Worth, availability, and specs

Ticks all containers

The DBOX02 Professional is filled with trendy options and consists of an built-in gimbal stand, making the set-up a breeze. It is a real rival to big-screen sensible TVs due to its 4K decision, large show, and excellent connectivity choices that help most gadgets.

On the skin, it retains the all-black, boxy design of its predecessor, with the built-in gimbal stand the principle distinction. The stand is sturdy sufficient to double as a carrying deal with. It presents 120 levels of tilt adjustability and a handy 360-degree horizontal rotation in order that I can level it in my most well-liked course in seconds. Alternatively, you should utilize the screw on the backside to connect an adjustable projector ground stand or ceiling mount, that are each obtainable from the Dangbei website.

Cooling is not a difficulty due to the intensive perforations alongside the edges, which seemingly contribute to the booming sound high quality from the 2 built-in 12W audio system. The rear homes an in depth port choice, which rivals many sensible TVs and impressed me with its usefulness.

These embody a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, together with one with eARC functionality. Moreover, there are a pair of USB 2.0 ports for connecting exterior drives and reminiscence sticks, and a LAN port for wired networks. Attaching soundbars or exterior audio system is a cinch with a 3.5mm port and S/PDIF optical port, or you possibly can attempt Bluetooth 5.2 in the event you desire the wi-fi route.

Beneath the hood is a Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A55 with 2GB of RAM and a good 32GB of cupboard space for apps. Talking of apps, Google TV offers a clean consumer expertise and consists of shortcuts to standard streaming platforms, like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube.

The DBOX02 Professional presents glorious picture high quality in each darkish and lightweight settings, with native 4K (3840×2160) decision and a couple of,000 ISO lumens, equal to round 2,500 ANSI lumens. It delivers a real cinematic expertise with a picture measurement of 40 to 300 inches, although you will want a distance of 28 ft to get pleasure from its full potential. Dangbei recommends a 100-inch show because the candy spot for measurement and picture high quality, which requires 9.2 ft of area.

You’ll find the DBOX02 Professional on the official Dangbei web site or Amazon for $1,600.

What I favored concerning the Dangbei DBOX02 Professional

Day and night time versatility

The Dangbei DBOX02 Professional is likely one of the finest projectors I’ve examined due to its all-around efficiency and practicality. I am over projectors that take ages to arrange and love that the DBOX02 Professional makes life simple with no guide settings required.

I did not require a separate mount as a result of it took me just a few seconds to regulate the gimbal to the right angle. It was simply as quick on the software program facet, and the autofocus and keystone correction kicked in robotically to show crisp visuals in an ideal rectangle. Establishing Google TV is as simple because it will get, and it requires me to scan a QR code after getting into my Wi-Fi particulars.

Nonetheless, I used to be most impressed by the DBOX02 Professional’s excellent image high quality and daytime efficiency. I attempted films, like The Fifth Aspect, The Lego Batman, and Ballerina through the day with my curtains closed, and was amazed on the vivid colours and visibility, even through the darker scenes.

I’ve tried comparable checks with lesser projectors, and the films had been unwatchable and blurry with washed-out colours. The expertise carried over to gaming, and the large display measurement enhanced the dazzling maps in Apex Legends and ensured I had no bother navigating the gloomy alleys of Robocop: Rogue Metropolis.

The DBOX02 Professional is sweet sufficient for daytime viewing, however like all projectors, it actually shines at night time or in darkish rooms. Making an attempt it at night time was a implausible expertise, and the mixture of 4K decision and an enormous show blew me away whereas watching anime battles in Cyberpunk: Edge Runners and a Kaiju tearing up Tokyo in Godzilla: Minus One.

Sound is simply as essential as visuals for creating an immersive expertise, and the DBOX02 Professional delivers in spades, in contrast to many different projectors I’ve examined. Its pair of 12W audio system would not have the thump of a devoted subwoofer, however presents excessive quantity ranges with excellent readability and minimal distortion. They’re much better than any sensible TV and may simply be enhanced with a soundbar or residence theater system.

I additionally appreciated the DBOX02 Professional’s all-around practicality and port choice. The pair of HDMI 2.1 ports was very best for connecting my laptop computer and PS5 to the projector and helps a 120Hz refresh charge for smoother gaming. I additionally favored having an optical port to connect my speaker system and the liberty to solid music and movies from my cellphone.

Most shopping for choices come right down to worth. I believe the DBOX02 Professional’s $1,600 tag earlier than reductions is a candy deal contemplating all its options, and makes it value contemplating towards similarly-priced TVs.

What I did not like concerning the Dangbei DBOXO2 Professional

Minor quirks

No projector’s good, and I really feel the DBOX02 Professional may very well be higher in sure areas. The outside’s all-black end has a businesslike look, however it’s a fingerprint magnet and feels plastic-y in comparison with the gunmetal grey on the Freedo.

Connecting USB storage was extra sophisticated than I anticipated as a result of there is not any plug-and-play compatibility. I wanted to obtain the File Supervisor+ app from the Google Play Retailer to view the information, however it wasn’t a deal-breaker as a result of it solely took a couple of minutes and labored with none points.

Must you purchase the Dangbei DBOX02 Professional?

You get what you pay for

Dangbei’s DBOX02 Professional exceeded my expectations and made me query the viability of shopping for an enormous sensible TV. It is across the similar worth as an entry-level 100-inch TV, however presents nearly triple the display measurement and much better sound.

Sensible TVs will often have the sting in lighter circumstances, however the DBOX02 Professional is not any slouch and delivers comparable image high quality due to its excessive brightness, 4K decision, and 120Hz refresh charges. Its intensive port choice and wi-fi connectivity choices full the package deal, making it value contemplating when you have the area — which might be the deciding issue.

The DBOX02 Professional has all of the bells and whistles you could possibly ask for at an inexpensive worth and is a possible TV various when you have sufficient room for its cinematic capabilities. These with smaller flats and restricted area will not be capable of get pleasure from its full potential and shall be higher off with a wise TV or cheaper, extra compact alternate options, just like the Dangbei Atom or Yaber K3.

This gadget was supplied to Pocket-lint by Dangbei.

4.5/5

Model

Dangbei

Native Decision

4K UHD (3840×2160)

ANSI Lumens

2,500

Projection Know-how

Laser

The Dangbei DBOX02 Professional is a laser projector choices 4K decision and as much as 300-inches of show space.