TCL’s PlayCube Projector: More Fun Than a Rubik’s Cube
▼ Summary
– The TCL PlayCube is a highly portable, 1080p projector praised for balancing brightness, battery life, and a compact, adaptable design.
– Its key physical feature is a 90-degree rotating cube design that allows for easy image adjustment over obstacles without always needing a tripod.
– The projector is notably bright for its size (750 ISO lumens) and performs well in both small, daytime settings and larger, nighttime projections.
– While its single 5W speaker provides adequate volume, the audio quality is described as lacking fullness and can become harsh at higher volumes.
– Battery life is strong at about three hours in bright mode, but performance can be inconsistent, with potential drain in standby mode, especially in warm climates.
Finding the ideal portable projector often means searching for a device that strikes a perfect balance. It must offer solid image quality and decent sound without being too bulky or draining its battery too quickly, all while remaining affordable. TCL’s PlayCube projector manages this balancing act, presenting a compelling case for its $800 price tag with a versatile, compact design that’s ready for adventure.
During extensive testing on a lengthy road trip and later at home, the PlayCube proved to be remarkably adaptable and user-friendly. Its defining feature is a 90-degree rotating design, inspired by the Rubik’s Cube, which lets you easily lift the projected image over obstacles without needing a tripod. You can also use the threaded connector for a tripod mount or simply flip it onto its back for ceiling viewing. It comes equipped with all the modern conveniences: automatic focus, keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, screen detection, and eye protection.
Brightness is a standout feature for such a small device. While 750 ISO lumens won’t rival a home theater setup, it’s impressive for a projector that fits in your palm, measuring just under six inches cubed and weighing 2.7 pounds. This output is sufficient for daytime viewing on a smaller screen or a expansive 100-inch image at night. In testing, it performed well even under a bright Croatian sun inside a van, though the lack of color-adaptation technology, like that on Samsung’s Freestyle+, meant colors were slightly affected by projection surfaces. The image remained perfectly watchable.
Audio comes from a single 5W speaker. It gets loud enough to fill a room but lacks stereo separation and depth. Music can sound thin, and complex movie soundscapes become muddled. Sound quality becomes uncomfortably harsh above 60 percent volume, which is still very loud, during an outdoor movie night, keeping it below 20 percent was necessary to avoid disturbing neighbors. For better audio, you can connect headphones or external speakers via the audio jack or Bluetooth. The projector can also function as a Bluetooth speaker, though the cooling fan remains annoyingly active.
Battery performance was strong in recent tests. TCL claims up to three hours of runtime, a claim verified during a Netflix stream of The Aviator, which lasted the full duration of the film on a single charge in the brightest mode. It recharges fully in about 104 minutes with a 65W USB-C charger and can be powered by external USB-C banks. Earlier testing showed some inconsistency, likely due to power management in standby mode, where the fan periodically activates and drains power. A full shutdown via a long press on the power button avoids this phantom drain, though it increases boot-up time to about 80 seconds.
The user experience is generally good, though with some typical portable-projector quirks. The Google TV interface can occasionally be sluggish, taking a second to respond to the remote. The automatic image adjustments are also slow to engage, but they are appreciated when they work, even if obstacle avoidance can be inconsistent. All settings can be manually adjusted if needed.
Positioned as a device “designed specifically for camping projection,” the PlayCube excels for mobile lifestyles. While not inexpensive at $799.99, it delivers a hard-to-find combination of brightness, battery life, and ultra-portability. Competitors like the Xgimi Halo+ offer similar specs in a larger package with better sound but shorter battery life, though sales can make them a more budget-friendly option. For those seeking a versatile, go-anywhere projector that makes few compromises, the TCL PlayCube is a compelling and fun choice.
(Source: The Verge)
