ViewSonic M1+ G2 Review: Great design, but something is still missing

Viewsonic projectors have been around in the Indian market for quite some time and the company even offers a wide range of monitors and display solutions for both offices and home entertainment. Earlier this year, ViewSonic refreshed its ‘M1’ ultraportable projector series with two new models, and in this review we look at the ViewSonic M1+ G2 which comes with a handful of upgrades, but the design remains almost the same as the last generation models. . The ViewSonic M1+ G2 projector, which currently retails for Rs 44,499 (initially priced at Rs 68,000), comes with built-in Harman Kardon speakers and promises a brighter and sharper viewing experience. The compact package contains a power cord, USB-C cable, user manual and remote control.

Design: Starting with the design, there’s no doubt that the ViewSonic M1+ G2 remains one of the most attractive ultraportable projectors on the market, even if it borrows a similar design from its predecessor. It has the same two-tone finish (silver and gray) that looks sophisticated, and the square minimalist design complements the overall look and feel. The projector’s integrated smart stand allows for easy 360-degree installation and doubles as a lens hood. We get a carrying case that makes it easy to store or pack the projector and protect it from dust, but it’s not water-resistant, so be careful if you’re out on a rainy day.

But the most noticeable and thoughtful part of the projector is the hidden slot on the right side with all the ports. There are plenty of connectivity options to use a variety of devices, and users can use the single microSD card slot, USB Type-C port, HDMI, USB Type-A port, and 19V DC power jack for charging. It essentially means that devices such as Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Amazon Fire TV Stick, USB drive and even newer smartphones can be easily connected to the projector to play content. The ViewSonic M1+ G2 does not come with an autofocus function, but there is a dial right next to the hidden connection slot to manually change the focus.

The new-generation ViewSonic M1+ G2 is slightly heavier than the last-generation model, although it remains lightweight (700 grams) that fits nicely in your backpack. The smart stand is made of metal that can easily support the weight of the projector at different angles. Finally, we get onboard controls to adjust the volume or turn off the device, but no dedicated buttons for keystone or brightness correction. Overall, the ViewSonic M1+ G2’s design will meet all your expectations of an ultra-portable projector, especially at this price.

Software: However, moving away from the ViewSonic M1+ G2 design, the proprietary software needs to be refined on this one. While it supports Wi-Fi connectivity, it’s not a ‘smart’ portable projector, so we won’t be able to access official Google services, including Google Assistant. In fact, the included remote also lacks shortcuts to popular OTT platforms like Amazon Prime Videos or Netflix, and there’s no dedicated voice command button.

We can access the official Prime Videos app through the Aptoide app store but cannot access Disney+ Hotstar. There is a third party app that gives access to YouTube; however, customers should be careful before signing in with their official Google account.

Another thing that may bother users is the typing experience on the proprietary software. For example, when you search for the Amazon Prime Videos app in the app store, you have to type the full app name because you can’t select the suggestive results based on half-entry. As mentioned, the ViewSonic M1+ G2 comes with the automatic keystone correction that adjusts the screen based on the frame, but to change settings manually, users can only tilt the screen up or down. Likewise, if you want to adjust the display settings while watching a video on Prime Videos, you will have to quit the app and go to the original settings page. However, you get a handy settings tab via the dedicated hotkey on the remote when watching videos stored on a connected external drive. Users can mirror screens with their iPhones and Android smartphones when they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

To be fair, most portable projectors in India don’t have smart viewing services at this price; however, there are limited options like XGIMI Mogo Pro which comes with a higher price tag (around Rs 60,000) and Android TV 9 out of the box.

Display and sound: Before we analyze display performance, here’s a quick summary of the specs to give you some perspective. The ViewSonic M1+ G2 offers 300 lumens of peak brightness, a slight jump of about 50 units compared to the old-generation ViewSonic M1 ultra-portable projector. You can even achieve a screen size of about 100 inches based on projection. The company claims an input lag of approximately 41.5 ms with a contrast ratio of 120000:1 and 1.07 billion colors. The light source with normal mode would last up to 30,000 hours. Finally, the native resolution is set to 854 × 480 pixels, but the projector supports 1080p videos.

So as promised by the company, the ViewSonic M1+ G2 delivers decent performance, but despite mild updates, you won’t get the clearest videos. While the sharpness and color accuracy may seem accurate (we’ve watched The Grand Budapest Hotel and several Office episodes), the low brightness overshadows the overall viewing experience. That means you can barely see anything with ambient light and the room should be dark enough to get the best visual experience.

As it is a portable projector, I also tested it outdoors, which makes the product exciting to use, although the viewing quality with its low brightness is just average, especially at this price. The battery on this one, on the other hand, is decent, just like the last-generation model, which lasts for about six hours. Unfortunately, you can’t see the battery levels except for the LED indicator, which makes it a bit clunky. The supplied charger charges the projector in approximately two hours.

Luckily we didn’t see any signs of overheating and the fan noise is quite loud, which doesn’t hinder the viewing experience. There’s HDR support, but you get ViewSonic’s proprietary Cinema SuperColor+ technology to deliver “lifelike colors”. We do get clear audio, but don’t expect powerful bass with this small, palm-sized device.

verdict: So far it is clear that ViewSonic M1+ G2 is not the best ultraportable projector on the market and certainly not the most ideal (portable) home entertainment system. But it’s also not the most disappointing projector you’ll see and it has multiple usage scenarios, such as office presentations or field trips, or even quick wedding clips to your family members on a big screen. Being a refreshed model, the minor upgrades show promise, but we don’t see any substantial changes – not even in terms of the design. Looking at the screen and sound, which should be the core area of ​​the projector, the ViewSonic M1+ G2 delivers decent, if not the best, performance. Therefore, looking at the rivals in the comparable price range (under Rs 45,000), ViewSonic’s M1+ G2 projector remains a mighty competitor.