Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector
The Optoma PK201 Pico Pocket Projector is marvel of modern miniaturization. It's a real working projector that's two and a half inches wide, less than 3/4 of an inch thick and just a hair over four and a half inches deep. Yet it can project an image that can measure from five inches to five and a half feet measured diagonally.
With its vivid 2000:1 contrast ratio you can project on a screen or just about anywhere. Next time you're on a road trip sit in the back seat and project a movie or play a video game on the seatback in front of you.
The LED light source is rated to last 20,000 hours. You'll never change the lamp in this projector. So how do you get a decent picture out of a pocket-sized projector? Texas Instruments has adapted its famed DLP projection panel system (the part that forms the image) to the requirements of this mighty mite.
The PK201 comes with a Li-On battery that's good for about an hour on a charge. You can recharge it using the included AC adapter or, at a slower rate, directly from the USB port. Of course you can always run on AC power if there's a socket nearby and save your battery power for when you really need it.
You can project from a wide variety of sources thanks to the PK201's 2.5 mm A/V jack.
The PK201 has 28 MB of its own internal memory and its microSD slot accepts cards up to 16 GB. That means you can bring along tons of movies, songs and photos right in the projector. And with an optional iPod kit, sold separately, you can project right from your iPod or iPhone.
The PK201 also projects NTSC and PAL video signals and 720p and 1080i high definition video.
And if you get tired of giving presentations or showing off pictures and movies play a video game. Imagine playing on a 66 inch screen from a device you can fit into your pocket.
- 2000:1 contrast ratio
- Texas Instruments DLP Pico Projection Panel with 20,000 Hour LED light source.
- 2.5mm jack AV input for composite video and stereo audio-in.
- USB cable included.
- Weighs only 5.6 ounces (159 grams) including battery.
- Included Li-On battery charges through included AC power adapter or USB port.
- Works up to an hour on a single charge.
- Fits in the palm of your hand. (2.4 x 0.7 x 4.6") (60.6 x 16.6 x 117.7 mm)
- Projects images up to five feet and a half feet across diagonally.
| Image Display | |
|---|---|
| Projector Display System | Texas Instruments DLP Pico Projection Panel |
| Native Resolution | WVGA (854 x 480) |
| Number of Pixels | 409,920 |
| Lumens Brightness | 20 |
| Contrast Ratio | 2000:1 Full On/Full Off |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 native; 4:3 Compatible |
| System | NTSC, PAL |
| HDTV Compatibility | 720p, 1080i |
| Lens System | |
|---|---|
| Lens | N/A |
| Focus/Zoom Adjusting | Manual/None |
| Lens Shift | None |
| Recommended Projection Size | 5 – 66" |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Keystone Correction | None |
| Ceiling Mountable | No |
| Rear Screen Projection | No |
| Projection Tilt Option | None |
| Built-in Speaker | 0.5 Watt x 1 |
| Input/Output Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Input Terminals |
Mini HDMI x 1 Composite Video and Stereo Audio (2.5 mm) x 1 Micro USB x 1 24-pin Universal Port x 1 |
| Output Terminals | Audio x 1 |
| Card Slot | MicroSD (Supports up to 16 GB Capacity) |
| File Formats |
Video: AVI, MOV, MP4, 3GP Image: JPEG, BMP Audio: AAC, MP3, PCM, ADPCM, WMA, OGG Note: Some Formats Are Converted by Optoma Pico Video Encoder |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Lamp (Bulb) | LED (Estimated Life 20,000 Hours) |
| Fan Noise | None (0.0 dB) |
| Remote Control | None |
| Power Requirements | 100 – 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz Auto Switching |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 2.4 x 0.7 x 4.6" (60.6 x 16.6 x 117.7 mm) |
| Weight | 5.6 oz (159 gm) With Battery |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 30 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
93%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to setup (10)
- Lightweight (6)
- Durable (4)
- Easy to set up (4)
- Great picture quality (4)
Cons
Best Uses
- Smaller rooms / apartments (8)
- Movies (5)
- Small rooms (5)
- Attached to computer (3)
- Professional (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Quality oriented (5), Practical (4), Movie enthusiast (3), Power user (3)
- Primary use:
- Business (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (16)
Most Liked Positive Review
PK-201 - Worth Every Cent!
Upon receiving my PK-201, I immediately tested it with videos taken by my cellphone as well as various pictures. It was about 12:00pm and it was a sunny day. Despite this, ...Read complete review
Upon receiving my PK-201, I immediately tested it with videos taken by my cellphone as well as various pictures. It was about 12:00pm and it was a sunny day. Despite this, the image and video quality is more than visible inside my room.
That night, I put it to better test by connecting my MacBook Pro to its multi-to-15pin cable. I played "Finding Nemo" and that is when I really started to love this item! The colors are wonderful! It was actually way better and clearer than a budget 32" LCD TV we have. I had it project up to approximately more than 96".
The next Friday, we watched "Avatar" - on a free wall roughly projecting more than 100"-120". I admit a brighter LED/bulb would've been better but the PK-201's performance is unbelievable! It wasn't too dark/dim - we managed to finish this long movie enjoying every single detail of it!
Before buying this, I thought the good reviews were too good to be true. However, after testing and using it myself, I realized the reviews were actually very much understated. If anyone would be impressed by how good the projected image is, trying to find where it is coming from will make you want to give it more stars than any review site would allow.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Missing on 2 important points
Usefulness hampered by low brightness, meaning that you need an darkroom to get a bright enough image. And you are limited to about a screen of 32" before image is too dim and deterio...Read complete review
Usefulness hampered by low brightness, meaning that you need an darkroom to get a bright enough image. And you are limited to about a screen of 32" before image is too dim and deteriorated. Cannot use it in a typical office unless you can completely make a room dark. Best at sizes up to 15 inches.
Also, the focus ring does not have enough play to properly ajust focus.
I do not recommend buying this unit unless you have a very specific use for it. Using an iPad yields much better results.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 30 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Easy To Setup
Cons
- SCREEN DISPLAY
Best Uses
- Living Room
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
THIS ITEM IS GENERALLY USED FOR SMALL AUDIENCES , IT 'S SIZE IS EXCELLENT FOR CARRYING AROUND .ENLARGING THE SCREEN ,SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE DONE BY PULLING BACK THE UNIT ITSELF .
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy To Setup
- Intuitive Controls
Cons
Best Uses
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I use this product at home and with friends and I have found it a very fun toy. It can really throw an image which seems surprising coming from something so small. Image quality is good as long as the room is dark and you're not too far from the wall. The farther you get from the wall, the picture is harder to see and it's hard to get a good focus. But that is to be expected for a pocket projector. Also, it gets scarily hot in a very short amount of time. But that does not affect performance. I enjoy this product quite a bit. I am also impressed with the built-in speaker. It is so small but gives good sound for a small audience.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Sharp images
Cons
- Confusing operation
Best Uses
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
Used primarily for photo presentations. Compact yet produces sharp images. Problems with placing and keeping the images in same order they are put on mini-disk. Operational manual is not thorough and must be downloaded (only several pages). Gets VERY hot.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Setup
Cons
Best Uses
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I love this little thing. I purchased it to use in an art installation, and it worked out great. I also use it to watch movies in bed from my lap top, which is also really fun. I threw a video dance party for my family and projected youtube videos on the living room wall, they danced til 4am and this little projector made it through without a glitch.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Setup
- Quality picture
Cons
- Poor Sound Quality
Best Uses
- Movies
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I love this little thing! i hook up my xbox for when i feel like gaming or to my ipod or dvd player when i feel like watching movies. Its nice because even tho its not as bright as a more expensive projector as long as u have a dark room u have very nice quality picture.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Clear Image
- Easy To Setup
- Light Weight
Cons
Best Uses
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I used my new Pico PK201 for a video installation in a gallery and my work looked great. The image was very sharp and clear projected on a wall 7 feet away, which was surprising to me. It is so light weight that I mounted it on a L-bracket with a square strip of velcro. I had the audio coming out of the dvd player, and I haven't bought the MicroSD Card yet, so I can't comment on how these work.
One thing that is not great about it is the menu. Sometimes it is confusing to navigate.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Setup
- Energy Efficient
- Intuitive Controls
Cons
Best Uses
- Living Room
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
It is a very useful tool for teaching small groups of people.It´s easy to carry.The main problem is that it becomes very hot after a few minutes of use
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Intuitive Controls
Cons
- Difficult To Setup
Best Uses
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
It's not compatible with OS X
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Setup
- Versatility
Cons
- Aditional accesories need
Best Uses
- Movies
- Presentation applications
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
Very useful tiny device.Ultra portable. It projects everything, photos, movies from DVD & Blue Ray players (HDMI input), TV from tv tuners, graphs etc. Very useful the MicroSD card slot, I use a 16GB one on which I can load tones of data. The darker the room the better the performance. The remote control is a must for convenience. I am still searching for a female USB cable in order to use USB flash drives.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- Difficult To Setup
- Poor Interface
Best Uses
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I can view pictures from the mini-SD card only. When connected to the Mac laptop, projector menu is all the further I can get. e-mail to Optoma unanswered. Instructions have little useful information.
Battery life about twenty minutes. Most pictures look good but dark pics are really dark. Requires VGA adapter for macs.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Setup
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
GET A HUGE TV SCREEN ANYWHERE.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Setup
- Excellent image
- Interfaces Well With TV
Cons
- Short Battery Life
- Short Cables
Best Uses
- High Definition Video
- Movies
- Smaller Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
Almost like being in a theater! Turns any wall into a movie screen.
I first tried this little gadget with The Empire Strikes Back, and suddenly, it's 1980 again! Nothing quite like seeing the Imperial Walkers at the scale they were originally intended.
My primary use was for a quick 'n' dirty way of seeing High Def video off of my camcorder. This device excels at that, once you get an HDMI cable. As an added plus, it also allows you to flip, mirror or rotate the image, depending on how it's oriented. Perfect for a 35mm depth-of-field adapter which rotates the image 180 degrees.
The buttons can be a bit of a challenge to manipulate, since you have to press on the control pad area for 'em to light up and the supplied cables are wee bit on the short side, but that's an easy enough fix.
If it came supplied with a remote, it get five stars!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Clear Picture
- Easy To Setup
- Energy Efficient
Cons
Best Uses
- Attached to Computer
- Dorm Rooms
- Movies
- Small Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I use my projector for portable home theater and have found it to be surprisingly bright. As long as the room is reasonably dark it throws a clear watchable picture. Picture quality and colour are both excellent. I have found the focal depth to be very shallow though so if you can't set it perpendicular to the wall one side of your image may be out of focus.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Clear Picture
- Easy Controls
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I was a little uncertain about the product because of the low light output. After receiving it and charging it was not as bad as I thought. I am a Portrait photographer and wanted it to use to project the session in the clients home. You do need low light conditions but it does work well showing the client how it will look for enlargements.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Clear Picture
- Easy Controls
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
Best Uses
- Dorm Rooms
- Movies
- On the go
- Small Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
This projector is an amazing little device. I use this projector to watch my DVD collection that I have saved onto my computer. I use the microSD card capability as I find it to be the simplest method of viewing a file. I've tried projecting onto both a wall and a screen and they look great. Obviously it's not the same quality as a full blown projector or an HD TV, but that's to be expected in a device this size. The video was crisp and bright, and was even better than I had expected. The built in speaker works great for a small environment like in the bedroom, but if you're going to use it on a larger scale, you can hook up any speakers that use a headphone jack. You'll also want to be near a wall outlet as the battery only lasts about 60-90 minutes on full brightness, (though there is a lower setting). All of the friends that I've shown it to are amazed. I enthusiastically recommend this projector to anyone interested in a pico projector.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy Controls
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
- Low power
Best Uses
- Attached to Computer
- Business
- Small Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
The Pico is simple and compact, it's size is deceiving as to it's usefulness. For impromptu meetings where visuals are a must, this little guy comes in real handy. It's only drawback would be it's not real powerful so don't try to use it to replace a larger room projector.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
- Difficult Controls
- Dim
- Poor Audio
- Poor Video Quality
Best Uses
- Attached to iPhone
- Small Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
Usefulness hampered by low brightness, meaning that you need an darkroom to get a bright enough image. And you are limited to about a screen of 32" before image is too dim and deteriorated. Cannot use it in a typical office unless you can completely make a room dark. Best at sizes up to 15 inches.
Also, the focus ring does not have enough play to properly ajust focus.
I do not recommend buying this unit unless you have a very specific use for it. Using an iPad yields much better results.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Clear Picture
- Durable
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
- Confusing / Bad Remote Control
Best Uses
- Attached to Computer
- Business
- Small Rooms
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
Great little item to have for small group presentations.
As the lumens are lower, it is not intended for large groups.
Does sometimes take a little time to get devices recognized.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easily Viewed
- Lightweight
- Super Mobile
Cons
- Could be brighter
- Long throw with no zoom
- Needs conversion software
Best Uses
- On-the-fly presentations
- Professional
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
Super mobile presentation
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easily Viewed
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not bright
- Short battery life
Best Uses
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Optoma Technology PK201 Pico Pocket Projector:
I use this projector mainly for presentations to medium to large audiences. The picture doesn't come across great if the light is bright in the room. Very sharp picture from close to several feet away. Very small design, easy connection. I would recommend buying the cord that would provide the connection from mini to standard. All in all, it is a great product for the size and money. Doesn't add any weight to my laptop case. Battery life is not great, expect to have it plugged in most often.
- Primary use:
- Business
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Screens
- Price: $45.50
Mounts
-
- Original: $24.95
- Save: $2.49
- Price: $22.46
- Price: $6.95
Cables & Cable Management
- Price: $39.50
What's in the Box
- Power Adapter
- Rechargeable Li-On Battery
- Male USB Cable
- Composite A/V Cable (RCA to Mini Jack)
- Universal to VGA Cable
- Pouch
- 1-Year Optoma Limited Parts and Labor Warranty, 90-Day Warranty on Batteries
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