Using a projector to turn a blank space at home into an additional screen makes a lot of sense, and the Lumos Auro Home Cinema Projector does exactly that. The image brightness and details are great, but the projector is let down by its bad User Interface (UI) experience.
Quick specs
- 6,000 Lumens
- 1,080p resolution
- Dolby Audio
- 2x HDMI ports, 2x USB ports, LAN port,
The Smart version's selling point is that it comes with Android OS, with Netflix and YouTube apps for just $99 more, but navigating the touch-based operating system with just the four directional buttons is a massive drag. It's also pretty hard to navigate in the Netflix and YouTube app with just the remote. You can and should plug in a mouse and a keyboard. However, I couldn't seem to connect a Bluetooth keyboard.
While the smart version of the Lumos Auro Projector has a Miracast/AirPlay app installed, it doesn't work well and even when it does, it's laggy. I thought about plugging in a Google Chromecast to get mirroring and solve the user experience problem, but the smart version doesn't support HDCP 2.2 so you can't do that.
If you can disregard the issues with the smart version, the Lumos Auro is actually a decent projector. The minimum distance of 1.5 meters gets you a sharp 50-inch display, while a distance of 3 meters nets you a 100-inch projection. The screen is clear even in the day, though you will want to draw the shades for the best experience. You can also mount it on the ceiling. The projector features Dolby Audio, and you can always pair it with a Sonos Beam for even better sound.
I do regret getting the smart version of the $398 Lumos Auro Home Cinema Short Throw Projector, as the non-smart version is better. You can just plug in a Chromecast dongle or Apple TV box and have no issues. The projector comes with a one year warranty, but there's no refund if you regret the buy.
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