The Nothing Projector One is a compact and accessible way to watch movies on your wall, if you can live with 1080p and a bit of fan noise.
In this day and age, the consumption of high-resolution digital media is an everyday aspect of life. From television shows, to movies, clips, shorts, and video games.
Gone are the days of large tube televisions, dim back-lit projector televisions, and low-resolution CRT monitors. The sources are also better quality, as you're no longer dealing with poor-quality videos from the earliest days of Internet media.
As a member of Generation X, I may look back on those afternoons of sitting too close to an ancient RCA floor model TV to watch "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" with a nostalgic tear in my eye. But now, I personally welcome our high-definition overlords.
Our options for delivery systems for digital media are now vast. With the onset of high-definition projectors packed with innovations and with a non-prohibitive cost of entry, there are even more options to get an at-home cinematic experience.
Among the manufacturers working to capture the attention of consumers is the China-based company Nothing Projector. It has a deep catalog of projectors, projector screens, and accessories for home theatre viewing, all to meet a wide range of budget and space requirements.
The latest projector from the company is the Nothing Projector One (or NP One). A unit was sent over for me to put through the paces in a small apartment environment.
Nothing Projector One Review: An overview
The Nothing Projector One is an all-in-one projector. Powered by Google TV, it has a variety of features, including support for Netflix and all mainstream streaming apps.
All of this is done without dongles, while still providing a 1080p experience, Dolby sound, and a compact size.
My testing environment consisted of my one-bedroom apartment with minimal space. There was some ambient light, and some lightly textured walls in lieu of a dedicated projector screen.
Nothing Projector One Review: Specifications
- Dimensions: 122 x 141 x 175mm (4.8 x 5.6 x 6.9 inches)
- Weight: 1.25kg (2.76 pounds)
- Total Power: 65W
- Brightness: 300 ANSI lumens
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Ratio: 1.2:1
- Audio: Dolby Audio
- Screen Size: 40in - 120in
- Operating System: Google TV OS
- Storage: 16GB eMMC
- Memory: 2GB
- Wireless: Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz/5GHz
- Operating Temperature: 0C to 40C
- Noise:
Nothing Projector One Review: Opening the box
The Nothing Projector One arrived in a single, well-secured box. Inside was the smart projector unit, remote control, AC Adapter, power cord, user manual, and warranty card.
Out of the box, the Nothing Projector One is a compact, boxy unit with a clean black matte finish, purple accents, and purple branding. Around the back are the single HDMI port, single USB-A port, and 3.5mm analog line inputs.
Nothing Projector One Review: The box the projector arrives in.
Above the inputs and power connection, there is a large, vented air intake, which occupies 90 percent of the back of the projector. The air outlet protrudes slightly on the left side of the unit, but it is not intrusive.
Nothing Projector One Review: In Use
Setting up the Nothing Projector One was a relatively smooth process. Especially for someone like me who has never owned a projector prior to this review.
I cleared a section of wall above my painting/crafting area in my apartment and unboxed the projector. It was placed on a small end table and elevated by the Nothing Projector One box.
Nothing Projector One Review: The front and the projector's lens
In a more permanent configuration, I would absolutely find a more suitable location. But, as mobility is one of the touted features of the Nothing Projector One, I wanted to know if I could just unbox the projector, plug it in, and play.
I booted up the Nothing Projector One and navigated through the setup screens to connect it to my Wi-Fi network. This process was smooth, and I was prompted with a fairly sizable firmware update.
With the projector updated, I power cycled it (just to be thorough) and began again, reaching the home screen. The unit automatically focused and keystone corrected without prompting.
The Nothing Projector One runs on Google TV with integration for all major streaming services. It also allows for the connection of multiple users and full Google Voice and Google Cast functionality, with a clean home screen and excellent remote control for navigation.
If the idea of connecting your streaming accounts to the Nothing Projector One makes you uneasy, you do have options. The projector works fine without any account connection as a standard projector, via the wired HDMI input or the Chromecast wireless functionality over its dual-band Wi-Fi (5GHz & 2.4GHz) and Bluetooth.
Nothing Projector One Review: The rear, with ports and the sizable air intake
For testing, the walls of my apartment are textured, and I expected the resolution of the projection to be poor to average at best. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how sharp and bright the quality is in the 40-inch screen size my space would allow.
That said, the Nothing Projector One does not like ambient light. Just like most projectors, the darker the environment, the better.
Taking photos for this article during daylight hours, the lights were turned off, and there was a small amount spilling through the patio door blinds. While the room was not completely dark, the quality was surprisingly good.
Nothing Projector One Review: Heat and noise
I have two issues with the Nothing Projector One: Sound and heat.
The Nothing Projector One is not a quiet projector. The air intake and outlet work constantly while the unit is running, and while the sound is not thunderous, it is noticeable in the quiet moments.
If you are watching a quiet movie or playing a horror game, you will notice it unless you wear noise-cancelling headphones.
Nothing Projector One Review: The side exhaust kicks out a fair bit of heat
The second issue is the heat. Again, the Nothing Projector One air intake and outlet produce a constant supply of warm air that is noticeable in enclosed environments.
If you use the Nothing Projector One in a small bedroom or dining room for hours, you will notice a change in ambient temperature.
That said, the sound and heat produced by the Nothing Projector One did not affect the quality of the projection during any of my testing. Nothing Projector also claims the Nothing Projector One will function as normal for 40 thousand hours.
Nothing Projector One Review: Good in large settings and on the go
Mobility is a big part of the selling points for the Nothing Projector One, and I can see why. The projector is compact and lightweight, and after the initial firmware updates, the unit is truly plug-and-play.
Nothing Projector One Review: A decent projection, even with some environmental light spill
I can easily see this projector in schools or social gatherings, or backyard movie nights with a large sheet or portable screen. The built-in audio is good and in a larger space, the sound and heat produced by the Nothing Projector One are negligible.
At $199, the Nothing Projector One is inexpensive, which is nice. It's not a $3000 projector, and you shouldn't expect that kind of performance in a $200 projector. For the scenarios described, I can see it being worth the investment.
Nothing Projector One Pros
- Easy setup
- Excellent auto focus and auto keystone correction
- Works well on normal, non-screen surfaces
- Excellent application and Google TV integration
- Good wired and wireless connection versatility
- Good remote control
Nothing Projector One Cons
- Ventilation noise is obvious in quiet environments, which is the unit's biggest drawback
- Heat output noticeable in smaller spaces
- You get what you pay for, but this is a pro and a con
Rating: 3 out of 5
Where to buy the Nothing Projector One
The Nothing Projector One is available in the Nothing Projector Store for $199.
