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Review: LG PW800

Introduction

The LG PW800 ($599.99, £385.24, AU$738.45) is small, lightweight and attractive. But, unlike other projectors that compromise image quality for hardware aesthetics, the PW800 is an ideal combination of brains and beauty.

It is a great tool for the traveling businessperson or for the consumer who wants a small projector that can perform very well in a small room. It weighs an amazing 1.3 pounds (0.59 Kg) – much lighter than most projectors in this field, especially those that produce images as stunning.

If you are looking for something a bit bigger as a permanent solution for a conference room or lecture hall, the Epson EX7235 Pro might be right up your alley. The EX7235 Pro weighs 5.29 pounds (2.4 Kg) and is a good device for heavy-duty use, whereas the PW800 is built for smaller gatherings at various locations.

A cheaper comparable option is the Vivitek Qumi Q5, which would be well-suited for someone who really only cares about portability. The Qumi Q5 costs $555 (£360.88, AU$708.59) and weighs (1.1 lbs, 490 grams). However, the LG PW800 outperforms the Qumi in most aspects, so keep reading if both size and performance are crucial for you.

Design and specs

At first glance, you would think that the LG PW800 was just a basic projector incapable of handling the needs of a working professional. But, you would be wrong.

The LG PW800's dimensions are 5.5 x 2.0 x 5.5 inches (13.97cm x 5.08cm x 13.97cm). It comes with a beautiful DLP LED projector bulb and an 800 lumens lamp, which feels even brighter than its stated power. The default resolution of the PW800 is WXGA (1280 x 800) and can display an image from 25- to about 100-feet in size. The native projection ratio is 16:10 but does support the older 4:3 and 16:9 ratios seamlessly.

The PW800 has a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 and has a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours. The projector's bulb is 3D capable and supports DLP Link glasses.

You can connect to the LG PW800 via VGA, HDMI (MHL-Ready), RGB in, composite AV in, and an audio out port. Outside of that, you can also connect to the PW800 projector using its WiDi (Wireless Display) technology. The LG PW800 creates a wireless display function to connect Android devices and other Intel WiDi-ready devices.

Below is the LG PW800 configuration sent to TechRadar Pro:

• Projection system: DLP LED
• Resolutions: 1280 x 800
• Brightness: 800 Lumens
• Contrast ratio: 100,000:1
• Projection distance: 25" - 100"
• Video inputs: VGA, HDMI, RGB, WiDi
• Audio outputs: 3.5mm jack
• Dimensions:** 5.5" x 2.0" x 5.5"

Performance and flaws

With a 7.52 second boot the PW800 is fast to set up. The projector has an easy-to-use sliding lever that shifts focus. You can power on the projector on the device itself or by using the remote.

Using a source like VGA, RCA, or HDMI is pretty straightforward, but not automatic. If the source is already set up, you can just plug in and play. However, the PW800 is not set to auto scan or auto input search, so if you plug in HDMI and the projector is set to Component then it will not automatically change to HDMI.

The PW800 has a beautiful D-pad style menu at the top of the projector. The button makes navigating through choices super easy. However, if you want to change the volume, or input, you have to use the given LG remote, which is responsive and intuitive.

The PW800 comes with two-watt speakers that produce poor sound quality, but not as bad as most of the other projectors I've tested. There is very little bass and the volume doesn't get high enough. The higher the volume the worse the audio quality becomes, so don't expect to blast your favorite tunes from one end of your mansion to the other.

If you're working in a small room, with a small audience, the speakers are passable. I tested them in a 14-foot by 14-ft room, and it worked fine, but I cannot imagine it being good for anything larger than 20-feet by 20-feet.

Flaws

You need an Android device to Screen Share on the PW800. If you are a Mac user, you're out of luck. I even attempted to connect a Windows machine and I could not get it to work. I looked at the instructions and the information was extremely vague (and I am an information technologist). I can't imagine the typical consumer being able to solve this riddle without exerting superfluous effort.

The projector also doesn't enable you to zoom onto specific parts of the image. If you want to make the screen bigger you have to do it by physically moving the projector back and forth from the screen. This is a very simple feature that is available on most projectors at this price range.

Final verdict

I thoroughly enjoyed using the PW800. Yes, it has a few minor flaws, and one feature that is totally off-limits if you don't own an Android device. But if you just need a solid projector for a modestly-sized room, you'll be impressed with LG's new creation.

We liked:

The PW800 is so simple that anyone can use it. If you're looking for someone who wants a great no-frills projector with a few cool features, then the LG PW800 is for you. It comes with almost everything – it is 3D ready, it has a powerful bulb, it features a ton of connectors and it's light as a feather.

The PW800's image quality is impressive, especially for a device that costs less than most laptops. You can't go wrong with this device.

We disliked:

Auto focus is a pretty standard feature on most projectors. Having to manually adjust the focus to get the image to be perfect is a nuisance, especially for anyone who will be using the PW800 for important meetings. What's the point of having a machine that boots so quickly if you're going to make users waste valuable time bringing the image into focus?

Hands down, the Wireless Display was the projector's worst feature. It won't work unless you own an Android device, which is incredibly inconvenient. If you're an Apple enthusiast, you must keep this in mind before making a purchase.

The sound quality is as bad as most other projectors. If you're an entertainment enthusiast, and you want to watch movies with the sound at full blast, you will need to look into a premium projector at a higher price-point.

Final verdict:

With only 800 lumens, this pocket-sized projector really handles its own. It comes with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, it's 3D-ready, and it packs a DLP LED bulb – these are wonderful specs at this price. The build and image quality is perfect and it's ideal for anyone who wants to pack a projector up and take it out on the road. There are other projectors out there, PW800 is a dream of a purchase.

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