They say that good things come in tiny packages, but the Dangbei N2 Smart Projector has blown me away with how much it can fit in such a compact package. This is both a little device and one that won’t break the bank, and for someone of a certain age who recalls projectors as something only the wealthy could afford, it’s a complete surprise.
For starters, you will not need a screen to project the Dangbei N2. I tested it in a variety of situations, including a dark-ish coloured wall, and it looked great. The N2, like many TV gadgets these days, offers built-in apps for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and a variety of others, though most will be ignored and you’ll set things up your own way, using your existing devices.
The main feature, however, is the combination of autofocus and keystone correction. Again, not to harp on about being old, but you used to need a professional to come in and install a projector since they need the perfect angle and focus or you’d be left having a miserable time. The N2 does away with all of this while keeping these two crucial features.
When you switch on Autofocus, it performs exactly what you’d think from the name, and it will immediately straighten itself out. That may sound like damning with faint praise, but it means that if you knock or move the machine, it will not need to be reset every time. I tested this by moving it about the room, and it’s like seeing magic happen.
The keystone correction is yet another miracle. I decided to be extremely lazy and lay on the bed, with the projector balanced on a headboard behind me. Using what the maker calls to as “obstacle avoidance,” it only set the screen to the correct size in front of me, but when I placed my feed in the way of the projected image, it readjusted to make things right. Furthermore, if you are limited on space and must position the Dangbei N2 at an unusual angle, you can use the keystone correction to manually change the screen size, placement, and anything else you require. .It all adds up to a system that feels simple to use but is adaptable if you need to adjust anything, which is a welcome development for a technology that used to be so cumbersome.
As you might expect from the pricing, this isn’t a 4K projector. You either believe that resolution is the most significant feature on your television, or you don’t. I believe that this is a reasonable price for a 1080p box, and the fact that it supports HDR10 means that you can game with superb illumination (400 lumens), and HLG is also accessible if needed.
The image quality is clear, even at big scales, however it depends on what you’re projecting onto. If you have a screen ready, that’s excellent. If you’re using a painted wall in a less-than-ideal colour, it’ll be less fantastic but still good. While I couldn’t test the advertised lifespan in a short period of time, Dangbei claims it provides 30,000 hours, which is a reasonable amount of time. The projection itself can reach 120 inches at the top, but I don’t have large enough walls for that, and it looked good at every image size I tried. Using the automatic functions, it will scale to the appropriate size for you, but you will receive a 60-inch screen from less than two meters away, which is rather impressive.
On the back, there are two USB connections and a 3.5mm connector for audio output. One HDMI input isn’t ideal, and I’m not sure whether it wouldn’t be preferable to have only one USB port for a fire stick, for example, and two HDMI connections for other devices. The remote is small and inoffensive, with few buttons, and there is a stand available that was not included, which I believe would be a necessary additional buy for most people. For example, you could place the N2 on a bedside table and project the image onto the ceiling, utilizing all of the auto-correction settings, but you’d need the stand for this. There is a tilt option underneath, but it is difficult to access and does not fully accomplish the job.
The N2 includes two 6W speakers, which are rather good. I’m an audio snob, therefore I always urge that you add your own audio equipment to the mix, whether it’s a full surround setup or a good sound bar. However, the on-board audio performs admirably, and it is perfectly adequate for use in a garden setting. Because of the unit’s portability, you may want to utilize it at events, presentations, or anything else, and it is ideal for doing so due to its ease of setup, size, and weight.
This projector has relatively few drawbacks for the price. The Dangbei N2 has an extremely simple setup method, a good picture, and a low price. There’s little doubt some might miss the higher resolution of a more “premium” unit, and yeah, not adding the stand is a bit of a letdown, but truly, this is a beautifully affordable projector.