ZTE Spro Plus is a portable projector with lasers
If you ever need an Android-powered portable projector that you can use to Skype someone that also doubles up as a Wi-Fi hotspot, look no further.
I've honestly never found myself desperate for a portable projector, but there does seem to be a market for these kind of devices. ZTE's Spro Plus (pronounced S-Pro, despite the lack of a dash) is a portable Android-powered projector with a powerful sound JBL sound system and a large 8.4-inch 2K display. It also acts as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Instead of typical LED bulbs, it uses lasers that are able to project an 80-inch image from 2.4 meters (7.9 feet), though I'm guessing it has to be completely dark for this really to be any good. During my time with the Spro Plus though, I was impressed with how bright the laser-projected image was in a lit room. Even though the image output was just at HD quality (that's 1,280x720 pixels), the picture still looked great.
The Spro Plus will debut globally this summer, with pricing yet to be determined. If it's not too expensive, this could be quite a handy device to lug around for a vacation to watch Netflix, which is how I could picture myself actually wanting a gadget like this.
Key details
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow software
- Doubles as a Wi-Fi hotspot with LTE connectivity
- 12,100mAh battery with 6 hours of projection time
- JBL sound system with 2.4-watt speakers
- 8.4-inch display
- Weighs less than 1kg (2.2 pounds)
ZTE says the projector is capable of projecting on any surface with a 500 lumens brightness, and automatic focus keeps the image sharp. You can also plug in a video camera to the Spro Plus via the USB port and use it as a video meeting device, as it's able to pick up voices from 5 meters away. Voice commands are also supported.
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Another thing you can do with this gadget since it runs Android is to link up a Bluetooth gaming controller and then play games on a large display instead of playing it on your phone. Lastly, the Spro Plus also has Miracast support, so you can mirror your phone's display to the projector as well.