Whether or not you find Google TV compelling on a TV, there’s a different form factor where it’s a genuine game changer—on a projector.Add How-To Geek on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover If you’re in the market for a new smart TV, there are many reasons to consider buying a laser projector instead.But that's not the case I'm here to make.
I'm here to tell you that Google TV is, despite the name, even better on a projector than on your TV.Google TV projectors are surprisingly good They're easy to use and the picture quality can be gorgeous Close There are two projectors with Google TV in my home.The most recent addition is the JMGO IRIS Ultra Max, and I must admit, this review unit has impressed me (and priced at $3,500, I would hope so!).
Setting it up was as simple as opening the box and placing the unit on a small coffee table in my bedroom.I then plugged it into an Anker SOLIX S2000 portable power station so that I don’t need to run a cord across the room to the nearest outlet.Setting up Google TV was as straightforward as it is on a TV.
If you haven’t done this in a while, it’s far less frustrating than it used to be.I was able to do the entire process by scanning QR codes on my phone and avoided having to enter any passwords using a virtual keyboard.The projector produces a sharp 4K image that is comparable to that of my 75-inch Frame TV.
The built-in laser bulb requires no knowledge or effort on my part.The sound easily filled our room, and the included remote was every bit as intuitive as the one we use with our TV.The projector booted up only marginally slower than a TV, and the interface was as quick to navigate once fully loaded.
The experience was quite different on my first Google TV projector, the Bluetooth speaker-sized Nebula Capsule Air (now discontinued, but quite similar to the Capsule 3).This projector's image quality is only 720p, but there was an entirely different reason why I purchased it in the first place.Google TV makes a projector far more portable No need to pack a streaming box and extra cables Close Since Google TV is built-in to the JMGO IRIS Ultra Max, the power cord was the only cable I needed to concern myself with.
I didn’t need to run an HDMI cable to a separate streaming box or laptop, which would then require its own separate charger.This makes the projector much easier to set up on a whim anywhere in the house—and it's not a projector intended to be portable.Our Nebula Capsule Air takes portability to another level.
It has a battery baked in, so I don’t even need to pull out a charger if we don't plan to watch something longer than a couple of hours.This makes it easy to toss the Capsule Air in a bag and take it with us anywhere.It can be set up outdoors as easily as inside, especially with the optional tripod that also extends battery life (pictured above).
This portability could be easily negated if I had to also pack along a streaming box, a separate charger, and the necessary cables.Even a Roku streaming stick, tiny as it is, still requires a separate USB cable.Projectors come with privacy benefits Google TV is no longer always on Close Modern TVs don’t just push pixels out—they bring data in.
They keep tabs on what devices we connect to our HDMI ports.They spy on the physical media we watch.They have microphones and light sensors.
Some even have cameras.Once you add in smart home features like Google Home and Samsung SmartThings, there are boundless amounts of data a TV can collect.Even when a projector is running the same software, it’s just not as good as spying on us.
Unlike a TV, mine stay unplugged for the vast majority of the time and are only out when we’re actively using them.You still have the option to ignore Google TV You aren’t beholden to the built-in software If you can’t stomach Google TV, you can replace the home screen just like on your phone.There are even workarounds to disable Google TV entirely.
This is viable because projectors, even tiny ones, still come with HDMI ports.Those projectors that largely live in one place can have an Apple TV plugged into them.In my case, the likely companion would be an open source streaming box with zero tracking.
This would allow me to access my digital library and host a movie night even if the internet is down.This HDMI port is also a prerequisite for connecting to a separate gaming device, be that a PlayStation 5, a Nintendo Switch 2, or a gaming PC.In short, you don’t need to eschew the Google TV label to select a projector you can use in all the ways you may already be accustomed to using one.
I’d prefer a dumb TV, but I love having a smart projector While I would like a TV to be a dumb display that I plug my streaming devices into, I've learned that I prefer my projector to come with software built in.This makes projectors far easier to set up and move around.It also changes your relationship with TV.
You don’t need to have a black panel occupy a wall in your room.Instead, enjoy a movie wherever you want and tuck your “TV” away when you’re done.
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