REVIEW – Let’s face it, sometimes a 65-inch TV is not big enough. Can the Heyup Boxe Lite Smart Projector solve a problem I didn’t know I had? Read on to find out!
What is it?
The Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector is a compact LCD projector that can output 80-120 inches of high-definition visuals. It features an Android interface that is capable of displaying content through an HDMI connection, mobile device mirroring, as well as a built-in App Store with access to apps such as YouTube, and Netflix, among others.
What’s in the box?
- Heyup Boxe Lite Projector
- Power cord (both for US and European)
- Remote (no AAA batteries)
- Manual
Product specs
- Brand: Heyup
- Model: Heyup Boxe Lite
- Lamp: LED
- Lumens: 150 ANSI
- Contrast ratio: 1000:1
- Throw Ratio: 1.30:1
- Ram+ROM: 1GB + 8GB
- Imaging System: LCD, 1080p decoding
- Input ports: HDMI 2.0/ USB
- Output port: Headphone (Audio Out)
- Speaker: 3W
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 / 4:3
- System: Android 9
- WiFi: 2.4 gHz
- Bluetooth: Yes
Design and features
I’ve used projectors at work and they were usually big, bulky, full of connections, and generally took a while to hook up and get working correctly. When allowed to review the Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector, I was intrigued, to say the least. The form factor of this projector is different from the traditional short and wide style of projectors, offering a more tall and narrow size that seems to be more of a recent design trend. The projector only has 1 button (on/off), a single HDMI input port, a focus wheel, a headphone jack, and a USB A input port. Overall, not a lot of physical buttons, and pretty simple.
Audio Connectivity & Performance
The Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector does include a built-in speaker that gets pretty loud, loud enough to fill a large living room. The sound is clear but lacks depth and base. If you wanted that deep, booming sound, then the headphone jack would be a great option to connect the projector to a boombox or other powered external speaker. Although this unit does have the ability to connect to speakers via Bluetooth, I found that there is about a quarter of a second delay – nothing outrageous, but enough to notice that the words don’t exactly match up with a person’s lips. Through the built-in speaker, voices would be loud and clear. As you’ll notice with the rest of this review, any adjustments have to be made through the included remote.
Video Connectivity & Performance
Connecting my iPhone via the Apple HDMI dongle to the Heyup Boxe Lite Smart Projector worked great. Both sound and video transmit without any issues. You can connect your computer, streaming box, or other HDMI-connected device and there shouldn’t be any issues. The option to plug in a USB drive that contains videos, or documents, is a smart choice. It would eliminate the HDMI cable from draping over the back and provide a cleaner connection, provided your media is stored on a USB device such as a thumb drive. unfortunately for me, the mirroring option from my iPhone did not work to play videos. Once I started AirPlay, I could see my screen through the projector, but regardless of which video source I chose (Disney+, Netflix, YouTube), I would always get a connection error. I’m not sure if an Android device would have better results, but I could not get this function working even though the documentation and website description said it was possible. I did have good luck running YouTube and Netflix through the pre-installed apps on the projector (more on that below).
Keep in mind that the Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector is not a 4K, ultra-bright, video experience but rather a compact, simple-to-use option to watch videos and display documents. This projector works best in dark environments. In my living room during the day with the shutters closed, the image was still a little washed out considering it was about noon and the sun was out. I was still able to watch the movie (the Marvels), but at night the image quality picked up considerably and the contrast improved and provided that “punch” that wasn’t there during the day. Focusing was simple using the focus wheel. If I kept the projector level and parallel to the projection surface, then I did not need to make any adjustments. Once the projector and the projection surf are not lined up, the project does provide options to adjust keystoning and zoom levels. On the bottom of the project has a threaded hole to attach a tripod. Again, the remote is required to make any selections or changes.
App Connectivity
Another smart option that is included in the Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector, is the inclusion of an App Store and pre-installed apps. Already installed was a YouTube app as well as a Netflix app. Note, that I mention “a YouTube app” and ” a Netflix app”, rather than “the YouTube app” or “the Netflix app” as the App Store on the projector does not appear to be the official Google Play Store. When using the YouTube app, it appeared to be the correct one found through the official Google App Store. I did want to mention that this projector runs on Android 9 and Android 14 is out on the latest devices now. I’m not sure if this is a huge deal breaker, but rather something to be aware of when using the included apps or downloading apps from the included App Store. Just make sure to have the remote handy to make any changes.
Privacy
To use any apps or utilize the mirroring function, you will need to connect the Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector to wifi to access the internet. As with any device that is connected to your home network, be aware of the possibility of data leakage. To use the projector without any internet connectivity, the safest method would be either through HDMI or USB connections. If you must connect this projector to the internet, consider connecting it to a guest network.
Setup
To use the Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector via HDMI, just power on the projector, and then connect the HDMI device. Select the HDMI source with the remote and your video should start right up. The USB connection option is very similar, but instead of choosing the HDMI source, select the USB option and use the remote to find the file you would like to display. As I mentioned earlier, I could not get casting to work for me, but the pre-install YouTube app worked fine once connected to wifi.
I found the biggest strength of this unit was how ease it was to setup and start watching content.
What I like
- Small, and the fan is quiet
- Wireless capable
- Built-in speaker is loud and clear, enough to fill a living room
- Tripod connection option on the bottom of the unit
What I’d change
- The power cord comes out the side, I would have preferred for it to come out the back of the projector
- Must use the remote (included) to select or make changes to the projector settings
- The App Store does not appear to be the official Google Play Store
- Was not able to use AirPlay to play video content from iPhone
Final thoughts
Overall, I like the Heyup Boxe Lite smart projector. It is compact and easy to set up and use. I can see using this outside at night, perhaps to watch a movie poolside or for a drive-in-themed birthday party. I think using this for fun rather than ultimate video quality is the purpose of this projector. It even comes in bright orange!
For me, I would prefer to use the HDMI connection to avoid any internet connectivity issues. Connecting via HDMI to a phone, tablet, or computer is super simple. Any privacy concerns are eliminated and you’ll just be able to enjoy the projector.
I do need to call out a missed opportunity with this projector. The connection options and the built-in speaker lean toward making this projector portable. However, not having a built-in battery limits the portability of this unit. If a battery were included, this would be a perfect all-in-one, portable movie projection solution. I did use it outside, connected to my portable solar battery/generator. This gave me the most freedom to set it up anywhere in my yard.
So what problem did this solve for me? Now I can enjoy movies pretty much anywhere! It’s simple to get going and will provide a fun and different experience than watching a movie or content in your living room. Pair this up with some popcorn and enjoy the show!
Price: $149.00
Where to buy: Heyup and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Heyup Store.
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Hows the quality in different light settings? These smaller ones leave me concerned it needs to be total blackout to get a decent picture.
Hi Charlie, in the daylight, the video is washed out, lacking contrast. It’s still viewable but doesn’t have that punch that comes out when it’s dark.
My recommendation is to get the room as dark as possible or use it at night.
I used it a night, outside, projecting on the side wall of my house and the picture was pretty good, definitely enjoyable!