CES 2026 NEWS – EV ownership has quietly created a new entertainment problem that nobody saw coming. Tesla Model Y drivers, in particular, have discovered that charging stops, campground stays, and scenic overlook parking sessions come with a lot of downtime and not much to do with it. Aurzen thinks portable projection is the answer, and the company showed up to CES 2026 with a hardware concept that takes this idea seriously.
The ZIP Cyber Edition, making its U.S. debut at this year’s show, isn’t trying to be a permanent car accessory or a dashboard-mounted screen replacement. Aurzen’s pitch is more interesting than that: a projector you bring with you, set up anywhere the moment strikes, and pack away when you’re done. The CES demo featured a Tesla Model Y transformed into a temporary cinema, with the ZIP Cyber Edition powering projection from the ceiling, the trunk, and standard seated positions inside the cabin. Each configuration took under a minute to arrange. The folding mechanism does most of the work. What makes this feel different from other portable projectors is that Aurzen isn’t overselling the car angle. The company positions the ZIP Cyber Edition as lifestyle hardware that happens to work exceptionally well in vehicles, rather than car tech that struggles outside of one context.
Super Early Bird: Save up to $210
Bonus: FREE 1-year extended warranty
Regular Price: $449.99
Deal Price: From $239.99
Ends: January 31, 2026
Ships: March 10, 2026
Where to buy: Aurzen
The Tri-Fold Design Changes What Portability Means
You notice the folding mechanism immediately. The ZIP Cyber Edition collapses into a quarter-height form factor measuring approximately one inch thick when fully closed, which is thin enough to slide into a glovebox, a laptop bag, or the side pocket of a backpack without any negotiation.
Aurzen calls this the world’s first tri-fold truly portable projector, and the claim holds up under inspection. The body articulates at two hinge points, allowing the projector to flatten completely or lock into multiple angled positions depending on where you’re pointing it. In the Tesla demo, ceiling projection used a steep upward tilt that would be impossible with a rigid body. Trunk projection worked with the device nearly horizontal. Neither required an external mount. The cyber-inspired aesthetic isn’t just naming convention. Surface detailing leans into angular patterns and a matte finish that resists fingerprints better than glossy alternatives. You can feel the material confidence when handling the unit.
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The hinge mechanism itself has a firm, deliberate resistance. Aurzen clearly tuned this for repeated use rather than one-time setup. Adjustments don’t drift once you’ve locked an angle, and the whole assembly feels more robust than expected given the slim profile. This is a projector designed for people who move it constantly.
Portability at this thickness changes the mental calculation for when you’d actually bring a projector along. Most portable projectors still occupy noticeable space, demand external tripods or stands for angle adjustment, and often require a separate power bank to extend runtime beyond an hour. They require deliberate packing decisions. The ZIP Cyber Edition slides into gaps that already exist in your bag or vehicle storage, which means you’re more likely to have it with you when an unexpected use case appears. That’s a subtle shift, but it matters for products that compete on spontaneity rather than planned viewing sessions. Aurzen understands that the best projector is the one you actually remembered to bring.
Display Performance and Wireless Mirroring
The ZIP Cyber Edition uses DLP projection technology with a native 720p resolution, which lands it in the practical tier rather than the spec-chasing tier. For a projector this size, resolution choices involve tradeoffs against brightness, thermal management, and battery draw. Aurzen prioritized real-world usability over numbers that look better on paper but collapse under extended use. The projected image carries the warm color balance typical of DLP systems, with crisp text rendering that holds up well for presentations and streaming interfaces. Focus stays stable when you bump the device or shift its angle mid-projection, which matters more than you’d expect for a projector that gets repositioned constantly.
All Aurzen projectors carry SGS certification under ANSI/ISO 21118. That’s industry-standard brightness measurement, meaning the lumen figures you see actually reflect tested performance rather than inflated marketing claims. You won’t find exaggerated projections here.
Connectivity is where the ZIP Cyber Edition solves a problem most portable projectors ignore: what happens when there’s no Wi-Fi. The device supports AirLink one-click mirroring without requiring a local network connection, functioning as a direct wireless bridge between your source device and the projector using a proprietary protocol that bypasses router dependency entirely. That enables direct content playback from phones, tablets, and laptops even in campgrounds, remote overlooks, or parked vehicles far from any router. This is particularly valuable for the EV road trip positioning, where cell signal might exist but reliable hotspot performance doesn’t. The projector doesn’t need to join a network to function as a display. It creates its own direct link. For business travelers setting up in hotel rooms with unreliable guest Wi-Fi, that’s a meaningful advantage. For outdoor use, it’s essential.
Battery Life and Charging Flexibility
The built-in battery delivers up to 1.5 hours of projection on a single charge, which aligns with short-form entertainment rather than feature-length movie marathons. You get enough runtime for a charging stop, a campsite episode binge, or a quick presentation without worrying about finding an outlet. Outdoor use before dusk pushes the brightness limits, though. This is a projector that works best after sunset or in shaded, enclosed spaces.
USB-C fast charging extends flexibility considerably. The ZIP Cyber Edition can draw power from portable battery stations, vehicle USB ports, or standard wall adapters, which means top-ups happen during natural pauses rather than requiring dedicated charging sessions. For users who already carry power banks for phones and laptops, the projector integrates into existing travel kits without adding another charging routine. This mobile-first design philosophy runs through every decision Aurzen made. The ZIP Cyber Edition assumes you’re never near an outlet, never on stable Wi-Fi, and never willing to sacrifice cargo space for entertainment gear. Every spec choice reflects those constraints.
Beyond the Vehicle: Creative and Professional Use Cases
EV owners represent the headline demo, but Aurzen deliberately expands the ZIP Cyber Edition’s appeal beyond cars. The company has showcased projection for creative workflows like tufting and sewing, where adjustable angles allow the device to project patterns directly onto work surfaces. Crafters who’ve wrestled with overhead lighting and paper templates will recognize this as a genuinely useful application.
Business travelers get a fast-setup display for hotel rooms, temporary offices, and client sites where hauling a monitor isn’t practical. The sub-one-inch folded profile fits carry-on luggage without eating into laptop or document space. Setup takes seconds rather than minutes. You project, present, pack, and move on. No cables to untangle. No stands to configure. No explanation required for why you’re carrying a projector. This is presentation hardware that doesn’t announce itself. Outdoor entertainment expands the positioning further. Camping and RV travel involve the same portability constraints as EV road trips: limited storage, unpredictable power access, and environments where traditional displays either can’t go or aren’t worth the hassle. The ZIP Cyber Edition works equally well projected onto a tent wall, a cabin ceiling, or a portable screen clipped to a tailgate.
What emerges from these scenarios is a product that refuses to be categorized as single-purpose. Aurzen built flexibility into the hardware rather than marketing it as a one-trick EV accessory.
Pricing and Availability
The ZIP Cyber Edition is available for pre-order through Aurzen’s official website at aurzen.com, with shipping starting March 10, 2026. The regular price is $449.99, but Aurzen is running a Super Early Bird promotion through January 31, 2026, offering savings of up to $210. Pre-orders also include a free 1-year extended warranty on purchases made directly through Aurzen.
For readers tracking Aurzen’s broader lineup, the company’s SGS certification standard applies across its entire portfolio. Every brightness claim is verified, which is increasingly rare in a market saturated with inflated lumen numbers.
Viewers expecting 4K home theater performance or three-hour movie marathons should look elsewhere. The ZIP Cyber Edition isn’t competing in that category. It’s built for people who value having a projector with them over having the highest-spec projector at home.
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