Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
What differentiates the SPro from most other projectors on the market is that it ships with Google's Android operating system and has built in WiFi. If you're traveling to give a presentation, this small unit can replace your laptop or tablet, a larger mobile projector, and all your cable clutter.
The versatility allows you to grab files, videos, photos, and slides from Google Drive or any other cloud storage service, similar to an Android smartphone. You can also plug in a memory card or USB flash drive to access your content.
Specs
The ZPro comes with a DLP lamp rated at 100 lumens with a 20,000-hour lamp life.
In comparison, the Epson EX7235 Pro is much brighter with 3,000 lumens. In use, the overall features of the SPro are comparable to the AAXA LED Android projector. Both the ZTE and SPro models are powered by Android 4.2, but the LED Android projector delivers better image quality with 550 lumens and a resolution of 720p. The SPro offers more versatility than the AAXA unit in that you can use the ZTE device without having to turn the projector on given its built-in touchscreen.
The SPro comes with 4GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM. The Android 4.2.2 operating system on the device is powered by Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, giving it plenty of power to drive video, presentations and images. Given the size of the unit, you likely wouldn't use the projector as a handheld gaming device without the addition of a Bluetooth game controller.
The built-in micro SD card slot and USB port allow for expansion. With the USB port, you can plug-in a flash drive and use the pre-loaded file reader, or download a file manager of your choice through the Google Play Store, and pull up your documents easily.
The HDMI port allows you to connect a laptop if you would rather just forego Android and drive your presentation from your notebook.
Performance
When it comes to projector performance, the SPro delivers mediocre image quality. The projected image displays at a more conservative 854 X 480 resolution, so it doesn't quite match the higher 720p or 1080p output found on larger, expensive rivals.
For comparison, the compact Vivitek Qumi Q5-RD has a brighter 500-lumen lamp that's capable of outputting video at a higher 720p resolution. However, Vivitek's solution lacks WiFi and the native Android OS found on the SPro.
The SPro can project images to a display size of between 10 inches to 10 feet (254mm to 3m). Images are displayed in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. This makes it ideal for showing off HD video, which are captured in 16:9, or for displaying photographs, which are often shot in 4:3.
Though its image quality may suffice in a pinch, I found the SPro's relatively meager 100 lumens of brightness output makes it harder to use in a room that is not dimmed. The brightness is less of an issue for smaller projections, but when I projected a 10-foot presentation, it was harder to see the image unless the ambient lighting was dimmed low.
You'll definitely want to turn the lights down - if not completely out - before you begin your "feature presentation."
Additionally, with the HDMI port, I can also connect a smartphone, laptop, or tablet to project content from those devices. I was able to connect my Windows laptop and an Android tablet to the projector using both a wired HDMI cable and wirelessly with Miracast.
Using an iPhone with a Digital AV adapter, I was able to display some content - like photos and presentations - but not others. Copyright-protected movies purchased through iTunes would not play on the projector through the HDMI connection.
The built-in speaker delivers decent audio quality that's surprisingly loud. The downside, however, is that the fan on the SPro spins louder than the audio output and overpowers the speaker.
The fan kicks in immediately when the projector is turned on. To overcome fan noise when playing movies, I connected a Bluetooth Jambox Mini. Speakers can connect to the SPro wirelessly with Bluetooth or via the audio-out jack.
The SPro is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. Although the battery size seems robust considering most high-end Android phones come with a capacity under 3,000mAh, I only get about an hour and a half of video playback. For still images and presentation slides, the total run time comes closer to two hours on a single charge.
Because the SPro doesn't charge through micro USB like a standard phone, you'll need to be near a wall charger if your sales pitch runs long.
