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Xiaomi brings laser projectors within reach of the masses

Xiaomi brings laser projectors within reach of the masses
The Xiaomi Mi Projector outputs 5,000 lumens
The Xiaomi Mi Projector outputs 5,000 lumens
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector will initially only be available in China
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector will initially only be available in China
The Xiaomi Mi Projector outputs 5,000 lumens
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector outputs 5,000 lumens
Xiaomi claims 25,000 hours of display time for its Mi Projector
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Xiaomi claims 25,000 hours of display time for its Mi Projector
A breakdown of the Xiaomi Mi Projector
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A breakdown of the Xiaomi Mi Projector
The Xiaomi Mi Projector comes with built-in speakers
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector comes with built-in speakers
The Xiaomi Mi Projector
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector
The Xiaomi Mi Projector
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector
The Xiaomi Mi Projector boasts 5,000 lumens of brightness
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector boasts 5,000 lumens of brightness
Multiple HDMI, USB and optical ports on the Xiaomi Mi Projector
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Multiple HDMI, USB and optical ports on the Xiaomi Mi Projector
The Xiaomi Mi Projector
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The Xiaomi Mi Projector
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Xiaomi has announced an affordable, short-throw laser projector designed to display cinema-quality images. The Chinese company is initially only releasing the projector in its home market from early July, but priced at less than US$1,500 it could prove to be a game-changing product if it garners a wider release.

The Xiaomi Mi Projector boasts a maximum brightness of 5,000 lumens with a static contrast ratio of 3,000:1. The ALPD 3.0 laser display technology the projector relies on is produced by the same company that provides laser projection to the majority of cinemas in China.

The unit comes with a built-in speaker, three HDMI ports, one USB 3.0 port, a network port and optical audio output. The company also claim that the device should run for 25,000 hours without any lens replacement. This equates to about 17 years running four hours a day.

The unit measures 16.1 x 11.5 x 3.9 in (410 x 291 x 88 mm) and its short-throw lens only needs to be 20 in (50 cm) from a wall to project the maximum 150-in diagonal spread, but it can still produce a 50-in display when plum against the wall.

Multiple HDMI, USB and optical ports on the Xiaomi Mi Projector
Multiple HDMI, USB and optical ports on the Xiaomi Mi Projector

The only drawback we can really find is that the projector only displays 1080p, but this is where the price point really becomes Xiaomi's strength. Set to retail in China at ¥9,999 (under US$1,500), it brings laser projectors within reach of a lot of consumers. Optoma released a pretty impressive UHD projector recently for under 2K, but if Xiaomi can up the display resolution and get this into international markets for a similar price then it will be hard to beat.

Chinese customers can grab one of the Mi Projectors from July 4. There's no word on a wider release at this stage.

Source: Xiaomi Today / Mi (in Chinese)

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5 comments
5 comments
Bob Flint
Doesn't matter if it lasts 17 years, at the current price and resolution it's already outdated, you can get a 55" 4k for less than half this price...
f8lee
gimme! gimme! gimme!
eMacPaul
@Bob, and how much for a 150" 4k to match the max size of this projector?
Jimjam
Years ago Microsoft research were experimenting with sending light through an optically dense wedge behind a screen (with a black back). Microsoft were trying to create a glasses free 3d system ultimate rear projection TV system: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/the-wedge/
I was wondering if this could be adapted to be a superior projector system? I'm guessing that current systems have to have a white background to reflect the light off, which also reflects ambient light well unfortuntately. Projecting the light up through a thin wedge means that the 'back of the screen' could be black and unreflective.
With a high enough resolution you might even be be able to create a pseudo holographic lightfield display: https://www.seereal.com/technology/
Can anyone tell me if there are any obvious flaws in this approach explaining why Mircosoft seem to have dropped it?
AngryPenguin
'The only drawback we can really find is that the projector only displays 1080p'
That's a First World Problem if I've ever heard one.