Optoma understands a matter of two about projectors, so it's no surprise that the PK301 just isn't only modest and light-weight, but manufactured together with the very same good quality as its bigger siblings. This pico pumps out a comparatively bright image, and we definitely appreciate the convenient focusing ring. Nonetheless, the PK301's comparatively higher price tag and brief battery living hold it rear. And you've to leap via some hoops to view PowerPoints.

Design

The Optoma PK301 seems to be like one particular of your organization's larger projectors was left in the dryer far too prolonged. The rectangular system actions four.7 x 2.7 x 1.a couple of ins and weighs a mild 8 ounces. It is really all black, help you save to the chrome-colored focusing ring around the lens, as well as the sides have vertical slats to make it possible for air in.

Within the rear of the system are inputs for its 24-pin universal connector, mini-HDMI, audio out, A/V in, microUSB, and ability. Around the suitable side is often a microSD Credit card slot, along with the bottom houses the battery along with a tripod mount. The PK301 comes having a lightly padded circumstance.

The PK301 can be bundled with an adapter cable that connects the universal port to VGA. a a couple of.5mm-to-component connector, as well as a USB cable. Sadly, the integrated documentation--a straightforward fold-out pamphlet--is skimpy compared to your 160-page, 16-language booklet that will come together with the Samsung SP-H03 projector.

Interface

To the top rated of the PK301 can be a 4-way thrust-button navigation pad with two extra buttons for Menu and input resource. The all-black buttons could be impossible to utilize had been they not backlit blue. The PK301's on-monitor selections are uncomplicated to understand--the major menu lets you pick involving RAM (settings), microSD, USB, and Quest--nevertheless it's simplistic compared to that on the Samsung SP-H03. Moreover, the background of the menu fades to black and it appears to be like the image is finding minimize away from, which can be alarming the very first time you use it.

Performance

Whilst pico projectors are hardly ever heading to rival full-size projectors when it comes to brightness, we located the rated 50 lumens of your PK-301 to generally be lots enough within a darkened room. The brightness can also be turned straight down to 20 lumens in Typical mode. Although its native resolution is 854 x 480 pixels, the PK301 is capable to challenge photos approximately 1080i. It supports 3GP, AVI, MOV, and MPEG-four online video formats, and BMP and JPEG pictures.

We located the focusing ring for being really complete. It obtained the correct volume of stiffness in order that we failed to must power it into posture, and failed to come to feel like it would drift out of emphasis. Even so, we desire there was an anti-keystoning attribute so the PK301 didn't ought to be to the identical level as the image it projected.

Also in contrast to the Samsung SP-H03 along with the 3M Mpro150, the PK301 are unable to natively view PowerPoint presentations; you will need to initially join the projector to your ntoebook by means of USB and set up the ArcSoft Marketing Converter a few software which is to the projector by itself. So as to view a PowerPoint, you have to drag and drop information to the Marketing Converter 3 app, which will then transfer the presentation on the projector. Also observe that this computer software converts the presentation to static photos, so that you reduce any animation and sound.

Battery Everyday living and Guarantee

Although projector corporations are usually hyperbolic in their claims, the PK301's stated battery everyday life of one hour (in 20 lumen mode) was extremely shut to correct; the battery died right after 56 mins of actively playing a film continually. Even so, the Samsung SP-H03's battery lasted 40 minutes extended. Optoma sells an prolonged battery pack that it claims offers more than 5 hours of playing time.

Verdict

You will find some items we like regarding the Optoma PK301; of every one of the pico projectors we have tested not long ago, it is the easiest and most correct to emphasis, and it has a superb number of connection alternatives. It's photographs are also fairly bright. Even so, we prefer the Samsung SP-H03, which can be much less high-priced, has longer battery lifestyle, and may display PowerPoints natively.