ViewSonic M1+ portable smart Wi-Fi projector review

ViewSonic M1+ portable smart Wi-Fi projector is a pico projector that throws a video image just like those used in home theaters or for business or educational presentations, but they are smaller and have less light output. Pico projectors are considered entertainment devices. Know more in ViewSonic M1+ portable smart Wi-Fi projector review.

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The ViewSonic M1+ is an iF award-winning, ultra-portable LED projector that can deliver a convenient, enjoyable entertainment experience anywhere it goes. With a built-in battery, a LED light source with up to 30,000 hours of lifespan, all packaged into less than 1 kg, the M1+ can deliver years of multimedia entertainment wherever it goes – from room to room, both inside and outdoors. Its smart stand enables simple 360-degree setup, while doubling as a lens cover. More benefits are covered ViewSonic M1+ portable smart Wi-Fi projector review.

Pros & Cons – ViewSonic M1+ portable smart Wi-Fi projector

Pros

Long battery life
Travel-friendly
Highly portable
Sleek design
Short throw lens lets you put projector closer to screen
Great sound from the Harman Kardon speakers
Variety of connectivity options
Excellent image

Cons

Auto keystone glitches
A bit pricey for occasional use
Installing apps isn’t easy

Specs – ViewSonic M1+ portable smart Wi-Fi projector

Light Source Type: LED
Light Source Life (hours) with Normal Mode: up to 30000
Lamp Watt: RGB LED
Native Resolution: 854×480
Brightness: 300 (LED Lumens)
Contrast Ratio: 120000:1
Resolution Support: VGA(640 x 480) to FullHD(1920 x 1080)
HDTV Compatibility: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Display Color: 1.07 Billion Colors
Lens: F=1.7, f=5.5mm
Projection Offset: 100%+/-5%
Throw Ratio: 1.2
Keystone: +/- 40° (V)
Audible Noise (Normal): 26dB
Audible Noise (Eco): 25dB
Local Storage: Total 16GB , (12GB available storage)
Input Lag: 41.5ms
Optical Zoom: Fixed
Image Size: 24
Throw Distance: 0.64m-2.66m, (38
Horizontal Frequency: 15K-102KHz
Vertical Scan Rate: 23-120Hz

Best price

Good mini projectors are usually an investment, particularly those with well-thought design and good sound quality. Among the many things that’s great about the ViewSonic M1+ is its fair price point given all that it offers. It is available below $400.

Compare ViewSonic M1+ portable smart Wi-Fi projector vs ViewSonic M2

	M1+	M1 Mini Plus	M2
Resolution	VGA (640x480p)	VGA (640x480p)	Full HD (1920x1080p)
Brightness	300 LED Lumens	120 LED Lumens	1200 LED Lumens
Wi-Fi and Smart UI (Aptoide)	✓	✓	✓
Bluetooth Speaker	✓ (In)	✓ (In/Out)	✓ (Out)
Speaker Type	Dual Harman/Kardon	JBL	Dual Harman/Kardon
Built-in Battery	Up to 6 hours	Up to 1.5 hours	–
Built-in Storage	16GB	8GB	12GB
Easy Setup w/Auto Correction	Auto Vertical Keystone	Auto Vertical Keystone	Auto Focus & H/V Keystone
Weight/Dimensions	1.65 lbs / 5.7″x1.6″x5.0″	0.66 lbs / 4.1″x1.1″x4.1″	2.9 lbs / 8.8″x2.9″x8.8″
Connectivity	HDMI, USB C, USB A	HDMI, USB C, USB A	HDMI, USB C, USB A, Micro USB

Design

It is truly identical to its predecessor in terms of looks and weight. As for its palm-size, the ViewSonic M1+ will fit in your hands. It weighs 1.7 pounds and measures 5.7 x 4.96 x 1.57 inches.

Rotating handle

There’s a rotating handle that—when folded up—covers the lens, protecting it from damage (but not from dust). When folded down, the handle serves as a base for the projector and turns it on. If you move the handle 180 degrees to the rear, you can point the projector toward the ceiling if you and/or the kids don’t mind lying on your backs while you watch a movie.

Ports

The ViewSonic M1+ is basically the identical twin of the M1. Right out of the box, you will be given a manual, a soft felt sleeve (or case), a charging cable and adaptor, a USB type C cable, a remote control and 1 unit of the M1+ itself.

Input

HDMI: 1, (HDMI 1.4/ HDCP 1.4)
USB Type C: 1 (5V/ 2A)
Audio-in (Bluetooth): 1 (BT4.2)
USB Type A: 1, (USB2.0 Reader)
SD Card: Micro SD (32GB, SDHC)
Wifi Input: 1 (5Gn)

Output

Audio out (3.5mm): 1
Audio-out (Bluetooth): 1 (BT4.2)
Speaker: 3W Cube x2
USB Type A (Power): 1 , (USB2.0 – 5V/1A,, share with USB A Input)

Screen size

At a distance of 2 meters, the projection size is about that of an 85-inch monitor. With the swiveling stand, the M1+ can project at any angle within 360-degrees. This means it can even project upwards to the ceiling or downwards to the floor

Resolution

Its native resolution is 854×480 pixels. Based on our usage experience, visuals start to become more noticeably pixelated when you stretch the distance between the wall and the M1+ beyond 2 meters.

Keystone

Coupled with the automatic keystone detection and adjustment, it will automatically correct the projections to be proportionate no matter the projection angle. The auto keystone feature also seems to have improved from the predecessor considerably.

Audio

You absolutely wouldn’t require an extra pair of speakers unless you’re going for something on the higher end. With a great volume range, some bass and crisp clarity, the audio at max can easily fill an entire living hall. Having said that, it definitely won’t match the quality of branded standalone speakers but as a built-in unit, it is more than suffice.

Battery

The M1+ has a battery life that can last up to 6 hours of continuous use in one full charge. That is equivalent to about 2-3 movies depending on their length, which is a no-brainer. Additionally, it also has the auto-blank feature that is inherited from its predecessor, which cuts power to the projection beam when objects are detected too close to the lens (less than 30cm away).

Controls

The projector’s few controls are located on the rear panel. They consist of Plus, Minus, and Back buttons to navigate the on-screen menus, and an On-Off button which doubles as an Enter button. The included remote has similar keys, but it includes controls to access the Settings menu and to adjust or mute the volume.

Eye Care

Utilizing reflective light, which bounces off the wall or projector screen before hitting your eyes, the projector makes the viewing experience virtually blue light free, less invasive to your sight and reduces eyestrain over prolonged viewing periods.

ViewSonic M1+ screen mirroring

The ViewSonic M1+ can connect to WiFi on its own. By doing so, the M1+ can be accessed by smartphones for screen mirroring. In my case, I use an iPhone 11 Pro, and screen mirroring was pretty much a breeze. In mere seconds, the M1+ was able to mirror my phone’s screen and replicate video playbacks in full-screen format. For Android, the app to use is Chromecast.