TCL A1 Projector Review: HAL9000 looks affordable, but has flaws

Mainstream TV companies occasionally get into the projector market, and while Sony’s high-end models have achieved good results, other brands may have limited success rates. TCL is a company known for its large TVs and has also made a small projector A1, which is a little weird. It does not work as much as most projectors, and while I go all out to try new things, in this case the results are absolutely mixed together.

Remember that the price listed is only $500 (it has been boiled down to $400 on Amazon), its performance is very gentle. Some aspects of its image are decent, while others are good. Perhaps the weirdest thing is the lack of upward throws, which I will explain more about below, but basically means you need to use Keystone correction. I usually recommend this as it can lead to poor image quality. At the same time, it is also packaged in Google TV streams, clever handle/booth designs, and a pretty attractive look overall. But these only partially make up for their shortcomings.

Specifications, etc.

• Resolution: 1,920×1,080 pixels
• Compatible with HDR: Yes
• 4K Compatible: Yes
• 3D Compatibility: No
• Lumen specifications: 360
• Zoom: No
• Lens Move: No
• Lamp Life (Normal Mode): Not listed, but it is LED, so a little while

It’s always nice to see 1080p in a low-cost projector like this. The 360 ​​lumen rating is a bit low for the projector of its size and price, but surprisingly, it is actually less than what I measured. I don’t remember what happened last time. I have about 433 lumens, which is better than the budget projector and brighter than the Anker 3 Air (252 lumens). Its contrast ratio is excellent at 2,522:1, which is probably due to the simple lens of the projector and is the highest lens I measured in a model under $1,000. However, the brightness uniformity (uniform brightness throughout the image) is very poor.

One aspect you may not get from the photo is that the handle is loaded through the main body of the projector. Push it down and become a bracket that supports the front of the projector. It’s a clever design, but it does make a different problem even more complicated.

There is no change in the lens or zoom, although it is not uncommon for such PJs. What is unusual is that it lacks upward throwing. Almost every projector projects its image upward from the lens. Typically, this causes the bottom of the image on the screen/wall or slightly higher than the height of the projector. For example, this can be placed on a coffee table with the image at a reasonable height. Alternatively, flip it (literally) and install the projector close to the ceiling while projecting the image downwards into the middle of the wall.

The lack of upward throwing of the A1 means that it needs to be basically placed on the screen. Of any projector I reviewed in recent memory, only the Ultracheap Vimgo P10 is like this in any projector. Interestingly, the projector shares several design aspects with the A1, especially its panoramic design.

TCL’s decision to do the A1 work this way essentially means you need to process trapezoidal images, or always use Keystone corrections, as placing the A1 on the floor requires you to tilt the front to the wall. That is, unless you want to view half of the image on the carpet. Keystone corrections can reduce resolution, which we usually recommend avoiding, in which case it is difficult to do. Is this a deal breaker not intended for image-perfect inexpensive projectors? I don’t think so. Just… strange.

connect

• HDMI input: 1
• USB port: 1
• Audio: Headphone output, Bluetooth input
• Internet: Wi-Fi
• Remote: No backlighting

Inside is Google TV, so you can access almost any streaming service you want. All the regulars are here like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, etc. A single HDMI input allows you to connect to a gaming console.

There are two 8-watt speaker drivers inside the A1. These sound surprising. There are much more bass, and the treble is smoother and easier to listen to than most projectors (even larger ones). The sound even plays loudly, although it breaks down a little in the higher volume and reduces the bass, it is quite typical for such devices. You can definitely use it as a slightly larger portable speaker. If you need more, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can connect to the similar.

Comparison of picture quality

Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air is my favorite Portable projector. It’s smaller than the A1 and more expensive, but powerful. The Epson EF21 appears to be targeting similar places on the market, with a small scale and built-in streaming. However, Epson’s list is too expensive, at $900, although it’s often $650, which is more reasonable for what you get. I connected them to a monolithic 1×4 distribution amplifier and viewed them side by side on a 102-inch, 1.0 gain screen.

Even in the most accurate mode, Epson is brighter than the other two projectors. Put it in dynamic mode and you’ll hit slightly with image quality, but then brighter. However, its contrast ratio is poor, so the darkest part of its image is brighter than the darkest part of its TCL and Anker images. It also looks flat compared to them. The black bars in the mailbox movie are very bright gray. TCL looks the most contrasting. Usually, this will be a slam dunk in front of competition, but other aspects of the image let it down.

Colors are perhaps the place where they look the most different. Epson looks natural and creates more pleasing and more accurate images. That’s why, as I mentioned in the comments, it looks better than the numbers suggest. The color of Anker is OK. Nothing seems strange, but lacks Epson’s accuracy.

TCL is not very good. Its colors are side by side here, not as vibrant as the others. Red and green are particularly distinctly unsaturated. For example, in the flashing color of Thor: Ragnarok’s “Welcome to Sakaar” scene, the red of TCL is pinker than the others. Will you look at it and think “What’s the problem?” is enough? “No, but it’s far less impressive. Usually, color isn’t as important as brightness and contrast, but it can be very helpful to do it correctly, as Epson proves.

While Anker has better contrast than Epson, it also crushes shadow details, which actually makes its image look more artificial. It’s like editing a photo so that the bag under someone’s eyes is more visible. TCL’s impressive contrast is all the heavy lifting here. However, a lack of brightness uniformity can lead to peculiar images. The corners of the image are much deeper than the center, so it’s almost like watching everything through a vignette filter.

So despite its much worse contrast, Epson ended up being the most watched out of the three. However, here is a big warning, before you click on this comment, remember, remember, based on these three ideas, that you can get the Epson idea for $650, which is $650 as of this writing. If Epson’s initial $900 and its performance is very high, TCL would be the simple choice. Even so, the $150-$250 gap isn’t nothing, and TCL’s better speakers are a reliable “value addition”.

Is it… looking at me?

On the one hand, I like this new (-) cheap but capable projector. Google TV is the real game changer in the category. I like the idea of ​​a small device where you can pull out a shelf and have an impromptu movie night with a cable and minimal fuss. While you can get more performance, for a projector, it means a bigger, brighter, better looking image with just more money, but now everything is “more money”, so why not save some money to get a comfortable distraction?

With that in mind, I still haven’t sold completely on the A1. A little… strange. I don’t object to weirdness. I am Strange. The handle/holder is an intelligent design. Speakers are perfect for projectors. The size is correct. The image is incorrect in color, but I see worse. It has great brightness and great contrast. However, for me, it’s just hard for me to live with. I hate Keystone correction because it means you are losing the solution.

For those who don’t care about this, or just plan to use it for casual (or kids) viewing, it’s bigger than Epson or Anker, and those are also more expensive to $100 to $250. So, given its price and intended use, the A1 is usually pretty good. It’s better than Samsung freestyle, I’ll give it.