There was a time when phone manufacturers tried adding projectors to devices. Do not believe? For example, Samsung Galaxy Beam with such an outlandish function. It was out of production a long time ago, but the projector actually worked in it.

The projector in the phone displayed an image on the wall or any surface, duplicating the content on the smartphone screen: a video from YouTube, text or a page from a browser, while lying on the couch in a dark room. Since the projectors are not very powerful, it was necessary to turn off the lights and close the windows - restrictions that are standard for more powerful equipment of this type.

Now the second wave of mobile projectors has begun. Although not all, but many manufacturers have produced such accessories. I don’t know what this is connected with, perhaps they are trying a new niche, what if buyers want to watch videos at home on the walls, like we watched filmstrips as children? Therefore, I propose to look at a selection of several mobile projectors, here they are.

ASUS S1 Mobile

A small, inexpensive and mobile projector from ASUS will be a good alternative to a similar accessory from Moto. And thanks to the built-in 6000 mAh battery, ASUS works even longer. With a brightness of 50 lumens (at a quarter power), the projector operates for up to 3 hours. In addition, this thing works as a powerbank and charges the smartphone when necessary. Unfortunately, you can only connect the projector via wire using an adapter and an HDMI/MHL cable.

Price: $270/26,000 rubles

Resolution: 854x480

Brightness: 200 lumens

ASUS ZenBeam E1

Another option from ASUS, the device is smaller than the S1, so you can even stuff it into the back pocket of your jeans if you want. To me this is a strange idea, but ASUS thinks differently. Moreover, this baby works even longer - charging lasts for 5 hours. The 6000 mAh battery also works as a spare battery for a phone or other suitable equipment. True, there is less brightness margin here. The device was announced in early June, but how much it will cost is still unknown.

Price: not yet for sale

Resolution: 854x480

Brightness: 150 lumens

LG Minibeam Nano

The smoothly contoured projector is lightweight and mobile, although it won't fit in your pants pocket. But compared to other analogues, it works wirelessly; the picture can be streamed via Miracast or Wi-Fi Direct, if you don’t want to connect via HDMI/MHL. Through the built-in USB port you can connect a flash drive and watch videos, photos or read with the whole family coursework. The projector is not very bright and only works for 2 hours.

Resolution: 854x480

Brightness: 100 lumens

Lenovo Pocket Projector

The compact box from Lenovo, despite its modest size, is capable of a lot. As you can see, the height adjustment works here, the device transmits images wirelessly via Miracast or DLNA, and it also has a microSD slot for viewing videos or pictures. The device is good for everyone, but it just doesn’t shine brightly at all; a presentation on this one will have to be carried out in pitch darkness.

Price: $250/16,000 rubles

Resolution: 854x480

Brightness: 50 lumens

Philips PicoPix 4350W

The little thing weighs even less than many smartphones, and the device works via HDMI or Miracast. In addition, we connect the projector to speakers via Bluetooth for more high-quality sound. But there is a low resolution, modest autonomy - only 2 hours of work, and even a high price.

Price: $350/27,000 rubles

Resolution: 640x360

Brightness: 50 lumens

Celluon PicoPro

This is not an ordinary device. Laser beam projector produces clear images high resolution, working up to 2.5 hours. It has a built-in speaker, and the device transmits images via HDMI or Miracast. The projector is large and comparable in size to the iPhone 6 Plus, with a maximum brightness of only 30 nits.

Resolution: 1920x720

Brightness: 30 lumens

UO Smart Beam

Another laser projector in a box format. Like previous model, this one also always produces a sharp and focused image, which compares favorably with its analogues. The built-in battery lasts for 2 hours, you can connect via HDMI, MHL, Miracast or DLNA.

Price: $400/29,000 rubles

Resolution: 1280x720

Brightness: 60 lumens

ZTE Spro 2

A very unusual projector: essentially it is a small tablet with its own Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 5-inch touch screen, 16 GB of data storage and ancient Android 4.4 inside. The device reads memory cards and has a large brightness reserve. The projector received Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB, as well as an LTE modem. The 6300 mAh battery provides up to 3 hours of operation. Such a sophisticated unit costs us some cosmic money.

Price: $550/56,000 rubles

Resolution: 1280x720

No matter how large the screen of your smartphone or tablet is, it will never be able to compete in size with the image created by a projector. More recently, this class of devices was available exclusively in a stationary version, but times are changing, and now with pocket projectors weighing only 100-200 grams, you can easily get a picture with a diagonal of as much as 1.5 meters.

IN There was a conversation about the features of use and differences between mobile projectors, today we will look at 6 devices belonging to 3 different formats:

• pocket models;
• small palm-sized devices with a brightness of 200-300 ANSI lumens;
• powerful projectors with a brightness above 500 ANSI lumens, but all made in the same compact form factor.

Aiptek MobileCinema A50P

No longer new, but at the same time inexpensive model, produced by the German company Aiptek. It is perfect for people who are not very demanding in terms of size and picture quality, but who still want to get an ultra-compact pocket projector for a low price. MobileCinema A50P has the dimensions of a smartphone and weighs 165 grams. According to the manufacturer, the device supports an incoming video signal up to 1920 x 1080, but the actual matrix size is 640 x 480, so the Full HD frame will be compressed, which in the case of the A50P does not always have an effect on the quality. The projector is very small and fits easily into your pocket. The brightness of 35 ANSI lumens is enough to create a clear image with a diagonal of 15 cm to 1.5 meters.

To connect a signal source, a pair of input connectors are used: micro-HDMI and micro USB, there is support for MHL video transmission technology. The controls include a power button and a focus wheel. There is no focal length adjustment, nor is there any correction for optical distortion, so when using the device, try to position it perpendicular to the light beam, otherwise the rectangular screen will become trapezoidal. From nice bonuses- the ability to recharge external devices, which will allow you to save the game or watch a movie that is about to end suddenly. The price is no less pleasant. With an average cost of 6,000 to 10,000 rubles, the MobileCinema A50P is unrivaled among budget pocket devices.

Philips PicoPix PPX 4350

PicoPix PPX 4350, available with both wireless module, and without it, confidently claims to be one of the most multifunctional pocket projectors. Weighing 129 grams and measuring 9.7 x 5.4 cm, it is capable of independently reproducing audio, photo and video content, which can be stored on internal memory device, and also read from a flash drive or SD card. A model with a wireless module can receive data transmitted via a wireless Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection from a smartphone or tablet; in addition, the PPX 4350 is equipped with the Bluetooth PicoPix function, designed to transmit an audio signal to Bluetooth speakers or wireless headphones.

The device uses projection DLP technology and a standard matrix for this class with a size of 640 x 360 pixels, although the scaling of the Philips developers is definitely better than that of Aiptek. The brightness of the projector is 50 ANSI lumens, the image diagonal is 152 cm, and the projection distance is from 48 to 285 cm. The battery charge lasts for 1.5-2 hours, the video signal can only be supplied through the micro-HDMI connector, manual focus, there are picture correction algorithms . Overall, one of the best pocket models that has its own media player, but the price of 22-25,000 rubles for a projector without Wi-Fi and 27,000 rubles for a set with a module is perhaps somewhat higher than what you usually want to pay for a small entertainment gadget.

LG PH300

A fairly recent projector with original design, designed in retro style. The device weighs 430 grams and easily fits in the palm of your hand. The luminous flux of this “baby” is already 300 ANSI lumens, which allows it to show a clear picture in poorly dimmed rooms. The LG PH300 is equipped with a more “mature” DLP matrix with a physical resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, which gives it the ability to reproduce images with HD resolution without scaling. The diagonal of the projected image can vary from 50 to 254 cm, Focus manual, time battery life– 2.5 hours, ports: HDMI, USB and headphone output.

There are functions for automatically rotating the image 180 degrees and correcting keystone distortion, which makes it possible to install the projector at any angle to the screen. The device is controlled using the touch panel on the top edge or the included remote control. There is a built-in media player and the Pixel File Viewer application, designed for viewing documents and presentations created in Word, Excel and Power Point from a flash drive or SD card. The price for this miracle of technology varies from 32 to 50,000 rubles.

Asus S1

An elegant solution of a similar format, produced by Asus. S1 weighs 342 grams and has dimensions of 110 x 102 mm. The projector boasts 200 ANSI lumens of brightness. stylish design and costing from 22,000 rubles. It is possible to adjust focus, brightness, contrast and aspect ratio, but unfortunately there is no keystone correction. There is no media player here, but the built-in battery can last up to 3 hours, and, if necessary, can recharge another gadget. The connectors include a USB, HDMI and USB port, MHL is supported, and a 3.5 mm audio output for connecting headphones or an external speaker. The size of the matrix is ​​not the most impressive - 854 x 480 pixels, but the screen diagonal of 2.5 meters is a lot for such a compact device, especially since the image quality of the S1 is quite good, especially if the room is well darkened.

Vivitek QumiQ5

One of the most recognizable portable projectors available in 5 different color variations. Its dimensions are larger than the previous ones: 16 x 10 cm, and the weight is already 490 grams, but the brightness is 500 ANSI lumens. Vivitek projectors have always been famous for their quality and capabilities and QumiQ5 is only proof of this. The real resolution of the matrix is ​​1280 x 800 pixels, the diagonal is 2.4 meters, and the projection distance is from one to three meters. The device has a keystone correction function, a media player for playing video and viewing documents, photos or presentations, as well as a significant number of ports. In addition to a USB and SD card slot for playing content from the drive, there is a mini-HDMI connector, a 3.5 mm composite video input, a connector for connecting an adapter to a component input or VGA, and a 3.5 mm audio output. 3D support and remote control are provided, optionally available Wi-Fi module. The price for QumiQ5 varies from 40 to 50,000 rubles.

Optoma ML750e

A model from Optoma that is not inferior in quality, weighs 380 grams and dimensions 105 x 106 mm, and is capable of producing a luminous flux of 700 ANSI lumens. The resolution is 1280 x 800 pixels, the screen size is 2.54 m, and the projection distance is from 0.55 to 3.23 m. There is a built-in media player, distortion correction and 3D support, a Wi-Fi module is offered as an option. Connectors include an HDMI port with MHL support, a USB port, and a connector for connecting an adapter to analog video inputs. The picture quality is very good, and the brightness is the highest on the market for such dimensions, which fully justifies average price 45,000 rubles.

Conclusion

In the article, we examined only a small part of the extensive range of mobile projectors, but thanks to it, now you have an idea of ​​​​in what formats and with what capabilities compact devices weighing up to 500 grams are produced. If mobility is important, take pocket ones; if brightness is important, take a powerful model like QumiQ5 or ML750e, but if you want something that’s not very expensive, but also not 50 lumens, then pay attention to the brainchild of LG or Asus. Enjoy watching!

There was a time when manufacturers of smartphones and other mobile gadgets tried to include a projector in the functionality of their devices. Then it might seem that you won’t need to constantly look for a projector for your smartphone.

For example, in the famous model Samsung Galaxy Beam was provided with a built-in projector for mobile phone. But the phone itself has long been discontinued. Of course, such attempts were made further, but they could not provide a truly high-quality picture.

Therefore, a reasonable question arises: how to connect your phone to a projector, which we will talk about in more detail.

Why do you need a portable projector for a smartphone - there are different situations

Situations can be completely different - an urgent presentation, an interesting video, a useful seminar for your colleagues or friends. After all, we all strive to optimize our lives, so we no longer always take a laptop on the road - often you can limit yourself to a tablet computer or phone.

Their functionality allows you to always stay in touch, solve the most urgent problems and quickly receive necessary information. Yes, and the problem is watching videos and presentations on big screen also fades into the background - today there are effective ways to connect for mobile devices.

We connect the projector for mobile devices as standard - using cables.

The simplest and affordable option- connection via cable. Projectors have an HDMI input, and tablet computers usually have an HDMI output. If we talk about phones, here you can use an adapter from microUSB to VGA - in the worst case it will cost 100 rubles, but it will make life much easier.

How to connect a projector to a mobile phone wirelessly is more difficult, but more interesting.

More often modern models support connecting laptops and . A very convenient option when there is no opportunity or desire to work with wires. But it still requires more time and patience compared to a direct wired connection.

• Turn on the projector, select Wi-Fi (DLNA) in the signal source settings. Here we will see the name of the network and the password for it.
• After that, turn on Wi-Fi on your smartphone and connect.
• Open the phone settings, here select “Screen”, then “Wireless Projector”.
• Then, depending on the specific smartphone model, select enable signal transmission in the menu or simply select the appropriate projector from the list that appears.

This is where our efforts end - these four simple steps should be enough to fully demonstrate films or . It should be added right away that depending on the specific brand of the manufacturer, you can download thematic applications to your smartphone. For example, Casio calls it “C-Assist”, Epson calls it “iProjection”, etc. They will allow you to connect faster and provide additional functionality for setting up image display on the screen.

Design

If you look at the smartphone, you can understand that it is a Samsung product. It will be difficult to determine the model; it is a kind of unified design for different series. It seems like they are working on shapes and outlines, but for some reason the company doesn’t want to create different solutions, and everyone ends up looking the same. I think that the device can be easily confused with the Samsung Galaxy S II or Galaxy S Advance. The latter is especially similar, since the sizes of the devices are comparable.

The case turned out to be quite massive: 124x64.2x12.5 mm, weight 145.3 g. The projector required extra space, so the model does not differ in its thin body. Although in general outline she is cute and comfortable. The device reminded me of the HTC Evo 3D: a solid thing with non-standard functions.

In my opinion, a projector in a smartphone will be of interest primarily to business audiences. On the contrary, the body of the device is distinguished by cheerful colors that will remind you of the Corby model. Young buyers may turn their attention to this model, but it is unlikely that the projector will play a key role when choosing a smartphone. The assembly is, as usual, very good; the abundance of plastic did not affect the solidity and overall cohesion of the parts.

On the front panel there is a light sensor, as well as a 1.3-megapixel camera for video calls. Speaker hides under a decorative silver mesh.

The black front panel is surrounded by a silver frame, which acts as a protective element when the phone is placed face down.

A bright yellow stripe runs along all sides of the body. This is the basis of the device, so you can enjoy the cheerful colors even if you remove the back cover. The plastic is simple, matte, pleasant to the touch. In general, the device turned out to be very nice in terms of materials. There is no metal, but the plastic is good. The back cover is made of a slightly rough and rubberized coating, which is not at all slippery and can easily withstand careless handling.

At the bottom, in the center, there is a large home key. It is made flush with the surface and surrounded by a small narrow frame. For some reason they made it very thin; you have to press not with the entire pad of your finger, but only with part of it. The button is mechanical, the presses are clear, the stroke is small, a click is heard. By holding it for a few seconds, you can display a list running applications.

On either side of it are two other functional controls for the phone. There are symbols on the left and right of the touchpad: these are the menu button and the back key. Thanks to enough being given to them large space, they press accurately and are easy to use. The buttons are backlit and are activated when you touch one of the touch zones. Subsequently they go out, despite the working screen. Their operation is configured in the menu, so if desired, the backlight can be completely turned off or, conversely, activated for a longer time.

There is a small microphone hole at the bottom. There is also a microUSB port here. With its help, the phone is connected to a computer or to a wall charger.

On the left side there is a paired volume key. It is embossed, easy to feel and pleasant to press. There is also a microSD compartment protected by a lid.

This also includes a headphone output. Of course, the place for it is not the best; the plug can cause some inconvenience, especially if it is long enough.

On the right side there is a small button to turn off the device, which also functions as a screen lock. Above it is a button of the same shape to start the projector. At first there is confusion because out of habit the top button is pressed. It would be more logical to place them the other way around or make them of different shapes.

The removable panel fits tightly and reliably, it is almost entirely flat, only at the top there is a noticeable protrusion above the projector, which is located at the end of the case.

In the center there is a round 5-megapixel camera lens and an LED flash.

The battery is where it should be, under the removable cover.

Screen

The smartphone has a 4-inch display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels. The display is capacitive, displays up to 16 million colors, multi-touch is supported - up to 10 simultaneous touches. The device responds perfectly to pressing. The protective layer is made of Gorilla Glass which protects the surface from damage.

The TFT screen can be assessed in two ways. On the one hand, we remember the SuperAMOLED screens with PenTile that come with some models. The picture is brighter and richer, the black and white colors are better. At the same time, not everyone likes overly aggressive color rendering. It's worth good screen, I like him. Pleasant shades, good viewing angles, no flaws in the image. The dot density is relatively high at 233 PPI, so it will likely appeal to most buyers.

Platform

The device has a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz and a Mali-400 graphics accelerator. Volume random access memory is 768 MB. 8 GB of internal memory is offered for storing applications, of which about 1.5 GB is used for installing software, leaving 4 GB for user needs. The card slot allows you to expand the usable space up to 32 GB inclusive. With map maximum size The smartphone worked well. The operating system is Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread.

Interface

The proprietary interface TouchWiz 4.0 is used as a shell. At the top of the screen there is a service line, where the time, battery charge, and signal reception level indicator are displayed. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on it, you can find out in more detail about what programs were downloaded, what messages and letters were received, or what files were received. Highlighted as a separate line turning on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, silent mode and GPS.

You can use both standard widgets for Android and original elements from Samsung. For widgets, seven desktops are allocated, on which you can place additional functional elements at your discretion.

When you add a new widget to your desktop, a new widget may appear along with it. new panel. If desired, you can remove the existing unnecessary part interface of your choice.

You can add application shortcuts to the desktop, create folders and change the background, using both animated pictures on the desktop and installing static images from the gallery. There are several font styles to choose from.

When the phone screen is locked, it displays the date and time, as well as service information. To unlock, you need to pull the top layer covering the desktop. If there were missed calls or SMS, they will be displayed on the screen with a separate icon on the left or right. The picture is set on the lock screen, the location for the clock is changed.

To enter the menu and launch an application, you need to click on the icon located at the bottom of the screen. There is a line of four icons that are constantly displayed on the screen in any menu item. These are Phone, Contacts, Messages and Applications. The menu is presented in the form of 4x4 icons, and an option in the form of a vertical list is also available. If desired, you can move icons to other tables, add them to folders, thus organizing applications to your taste.

As you add and install new programs, they are automatically placed on the screen. They can be deleted directly from the menu; you just need to go into edit mode. But you can only delete programs that you added yourself; those installed by the manufacturer are not subject to such an operation. When you hold down the menu button, a pop-up window will open, which will display shortcuts to six recently launched applications.

Phone book

The general list shows stored contacts, both in the phone memory and SIM card, as well as data from the account Google posts. You can choose among them by setting the ability to display subscribers only from the selected memory type. In the settings, you select your preferred method for sorting names.

By clicking the field reserved for the subscriber's picture, you can make a call, send him a message or email, and also view information about him. There are many fields provided for additional data. It includes various types of telephone numbers, email addresses, instant communication tools, residential addresses and other information.

If the subscriber is assigned an image, it will be displayed on the screen. To simplify the search, you can use the vertical line on which the alphabet is depicted. Thus, by sliding your finger over it, the letters pop up and you can quickly find your way around. Of course there is also standard function search among contacts. There is a quick call to 8 selected subscribers. Contacts can be distributed by various groups, to which an individual signal is assigned.

From phone book you can quickly call or write an SMS to a person - you just need to swipe your finger left (call) or right (message) on the line with the subscriber's name. By clicking on the space reserved for the subscriber’s picture, you call quick menu, with the help of which a message, mail is sent, and also phone call to the selected person.

Call log

You can access the call log directly from the phone book; it is highlighted in a separate tab. There the dialed numbers are sorted by date. But they are not the only ones who appear. It also contains information about messages. If desired, the amount of displayed data can be reduced to a minimum or, conversely, the most complete informational list of events of recent days can be obtained.

By selecting a subscriber, you can see which calls were made and how many times - such a collapsed list is much more convenient than a long string of dialed numbers of the same type. However, in the general list of calls there is a duplication of identical numbers, which overloads the log with identical data. The smartphone can display separate group frequently used numbers, which is convenient.

The number is dialed using virtual keyboard, while entering numbers, the smartphone automatically displays on the screen contacts stored in the device’s memory with similar initial digits in the number.

Messages

For SMS and MMS there is a shared folder, where received messages go. When sending, by adding various objects to the text, you can automatically transform it into a multimedia message.

When sending a message, the phone can display the last used numbers, thereby greatly simplifying the search for the recipient. A message can be sent simultaneously to several subscribers or to a group created in the smartphone’s memory. There is a set of funny android emoticons.

Combines correspondence with subscribers into dialogues. The smartphone can automatically delete old SMS if there is no desire to store thousands of archives on the device. As you type text, you can cut, copy, and paste it.

Entering text is convenient. It offers not only the Samsung keyboard option, but also the modern Swype function. Its essence is that you just need to move your finger along the layout with signs. The device will independently generate words based on which characters were touched by the user’s hand. For clarity, during such input, a blue bar is displayed on the screen, which allows you to avoid confusion when typing text.

The function is very convenient, it independently places problems between words, selects words well, and most importantly, you can type text very quickly. If the word is short and a combination of several possible options is possible, then the phone will display them, then you need to choose between them yourself. You can add new words to her vocabulary.

Email

To work with email, the mailbox is automatically configured (if it is not Gmail, which connects immediately after the email address is entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password).

Samsung Galaxy Beam understands perfectly different encodings, supports downloading attachments (you must insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) in familiar formats. When creating a letter, you can also attach various files from the device memory. Both the text copy function and automatic check mailbox (the interval is set manually). Sorting mail by date, subject, sender and size works.

Gallery

Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are displayed here. The gallery works in both vertical and horizontal orientation. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Working with files is fast, image previews are generated without delay. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device.

The preview folders contain smaller pictures, so that not 3, but 4 pictures can be placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works using multi-touch. Files can be sent via email, Bluetooth, SMS or hosted on Picasa. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign them to a contact. It supports rotating images, reducing their size, and also displays additional information about specific file, also shows the location where the photo was taken if geotagging is enabled.

Images are shown both in folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, photo section) and ordered by date. Thanks to this, it is very convenient to view photos - there are several sections in the same folder. You can scroll either using the bar displayed at the bottom of the screen or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere on it. The built-in photo editor will help you complete your pictures. various effects.

Player

The player's interface is simple and intuitive. A general list displays all the songs in the smartphone’s memory. There are also additional columns. Playlists of several types, albums, artists, genres, composers, years. While playing music, the cover specified in the file tags is displayed on the screen; if there is none, there will be a multi-colored picture instead.

The volume can be changed both from the player menu using the vertical adjustment scale and with the side keys. The screen displays the name of the artist, the name of the album and the song being played. Tracks can be put on repeat (song, album, all songs) or listened to in shuffle mode.

Used for navigation virtual keys(forward, backward and pause), you can also switch between songs by flipping through the file cover image. While listening, you can set your favorite song as a ringtone, contact or alarm.

The user has access to numerous equalizer settings. This is auto, regular, pop, rock, jazz, dance, classical, live sound, other. This is a self-changing audio profile. You can select the audio effect: normal, wide range, concert hall, music clarity, bass boost, externalization.

When the keyboard is locked, the player control line is displayed at the top of the screen, which contains navigation keys, information about the song being played, and cover art.

Smartphone Galaxy Beam plays music well, it is pleasant to use as a player, especially if you choose higher quality headphones for it than a standard headset.

Radio

The receiver supports RDS, can work in the background and turn off after a set time period (30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours). The function works automatic search radio stations. You can display 6 of your favorite radio stations on your desktop and quickly switch between them.

As with the player, there is a pop-up window at the top of the screen for quick navigation between stations. To end the radio broadcast, a separate “stop” key is provided.

Video

The smartphone has full support for DivX and XviD codecs. Therefore, it can be used to watch unconverted videos. Videos are played here in 720p quality. The video library is displayed in the form of a list with a small preview image of the film, its name and duration are also indicated. During viewing, controls may be displayed on the screen, including rewind and pause keys. A scroll bar appears, allowing you to quickly navigate through the movie being played. While watching, you can change the screen brightness and color shades (normal, warm or cold). Available additional function image enhancements. Also, using the lock key on the side of the phone, you can protect yourself from accidental presses while watching a movie.

Projector

The function is launched either by long-pressing the dedicated button on the side of the smartphone, or through the menu, where you can access additional options. First of all, it is worth noting that a smartphone allows you to broadcast to any surface exactly the image that the user sees on the smartphone screen. It can be a picture, text or video. Mobile projector allows you to manually set the optimal brightness level, but it is better to set it to the maximum level.

The projector produces 15 lumens, so the picture is best seen in the dark, in a room where there is no light. Even with soft indoor lighting or street light that enters an office or apartment, it will be difficult to see the image. Mobile device designed for a small area, so there should be no problems within a limited space. The maximum that can be obtained from a projector phone is a resolution of 640x460 pixels.

IN Samsung Galaxy Beam There is a function for text notes that can be made during a presentation or slide show. You draw something on the smartphone screen with your finger, then erase it or select another tool, as well as its color. The picture display mode changes, and the alarm clock turns on. Sound signal is complemented by an image from the projector, so you can receive both visual and audio alerts. Ultimately, the function worked well; the phone showed, perhaps, the maximum of what one could want from a mobile device.

The predecessor was not a mass solution, not everyone knew about it, and it was not sold everywhere. Therefore, the logical step was the emergence updated version devices. Interestingly, the latest modification is sold with the same name, only under a different index. Inside there is a more attractive and modern filling: a 4-inch screen, a dual-core 1 GHz processor, a 5 MP camera, 720p video recording and capacious battery for 2000 mAh. We get universal solution middle class, where the projector will be the most interesting, and all other functions are already familiar from previously released Samsung models.

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone


• Battery


• Cable


• Stereo headset


• Charger

Design

If you look at the smartphone, you can understand that it is a Samsung product. It will be difficult to determine the model; it is a kind of unified design for different series. It seems like they are working on shapes and outlines, but for some reason the company doesn’t want to create different solutions, and everyone ends up looking the same. I think that the device can be easily confused with or. The latter is especially similar, since the sizes of the devices are comparable.

The body turned out to be quite massive: 124x64.2x12.5 mm, weight 145.3 g. The projector required additional space, so the model does not differ in its thin body. Although in general terms it is nice and comfortable. The device reminded me of: a solid thing with non-standard functions.

In my opinion, a projector in a smartphone will be of interest primarily to business audiences. On the contrary, the body of the device is distinguished by cheerful colors that will remind you of the model. Young buyers may turn their attention to this model, but it is unlikely that the projector will play a key role when choosing a smartphone. The assembly is, as usual, very good; the abundance of plastic did not affect the solidity and overall cohesion of the parts.

On the front panel there is a light sensor, as well as a 1.3-megapixel camera for video calls. The speaker is hidden under a decorative silver mesh.

The black front panel is surrounded by a silver frame, which acts as a protective element when the phone is placed face down.

A bright yellow stripe runs along all sides of the body. This is the basis of the device, so you can enjoy the cheerful colors even if you remove the back cover. The plastic is simple, matte, pleasant to the touch. In general, the device turned out to be very nice in terms of materials. There is no metal, but the plastic is good. The back cover is made of a slightly rough and rubberized coating, which is not at all slippery and can easily withstand careless handling.

At the bottom, in the center, there is a large home key. It is made flush with the surface and surrounded by a small narrow frame. For some reason they made it very thin; you have to press not with the entire pad of your finger, but only with part of it. The button is mechanical, the presses are clear, the stroke is small, a click is heard. By holding it down for a few seconds, you can display a list of running applications.

On either side of it are two other functional controls for the phone. There are symbols on the left and right of the touchpad: these are the menu button and the back key. Due to the fact that they are given a fairly large space, they can be pressed accurately and are easy to use. The buttons are backlit and are activated when you touch one of the touch zones. Subsequently they go out, despite the working screen. Their operation is configured in the menu, so if desired, the backlight can be completely turned off or, conversely, activated for a longer time.

There is a small microphone hole at the bottom. There is also a microUSB port here. With its help, the phone is connected to a computer or to a wall charger.

On the left side there is a paired volume key. It is embossed, easy to feel and pleasant to press. There is also a microSD compartment protected by a lid.

This also includes a headphone output. Of course, the place for it is not the best; the plug can cause some inconvenience, especially if it is long enough.

On the right side there is a small button to turn off the device, which also functions as a screen lock. Above it is a button of the same shape to start the projector. At first there is confusion because out of habit the top button is pressed. It would be more logical to place them the other way around or make them of different shapes.

The removable panel fits tightly and reliably, it is almost entirely flat, only at the top there is a noticeable protrusion above the projector, which is located at the end of the case.

In the center there is a round 5-megapixel camera lens and an LED flash.

The battery is where it should be, under the removable cover.

Screen

The smartphone has a 4-inch display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels. The display is capacitive, displays up to 16 million colors, multi-touch is supported - up to 10 simultaneous touches. The device responds perfectly to pressing. The protective layer is made of Gorilla Glass, which protects the surface from damage.

The TFT screen can be assessed in two ways. On the one hand, we remember the SuperAMOLED screens with PenTile that come with some models. The picture is brighter and richer, the black and white colors are better. At the same time, not everyone likes overly aggressive color rendering. The Galaxy Beam has a good screen, I like it. Pleasant shades, good viewing angles, no flaws in the image. The dot density is relatively high at 233 PPI, so it will likely appeal to most buyers.

Platform

The device has a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz and a Mali-400 graphics accelerator. The amount of RAM is 768 MB. 8 GB of internal memory is offered for storing applications, of which about 1.5 GB is used for installing software, leaving 4 GB for user needs. The card slot allows you to expand the usable space up to 32 GB inclusive. The smartphone worked well with the maximum size card. The operating system is Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread.

Interface

The proprietary TouchWiz 4.0 interface is used as the shell. At the top of the screen there is a service line, where the time, battery charge, and signal reception level indicator are displayed. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on it, you can find out in more detail about what programs were downloaded, what messages and letters were received, or what files were received. The inclusion of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, silent mode and GPS is highlighted in a separate line.

You can use both standard widgets for Android and original elements from Samsung. For widgets, seven desktops are allocated, on which you can place additional functional elements at your discretion.

When you add a new widget to your desktop, a new panel may appear along with it. If desired, you can remove any part of the interface that has become unnecessary.

You can add application shortcuts to the desktop, create folders and change the background, using both animated pictures on the desktop and installing static images from the gallery. There are several font styles to choose from.

When the phone screen is locked, it displays the date and time, as well as service information. To unlock, you need to pull the top layer covering the desktop. If there were missed calls or SMS, they will be displayed on the screen with a separate icon on the left or right. The picture is set on the lock screen, the location for the clock is changed.

To enter the menu and launch an application, you need to click on the icon located at the bottom of the screen. There is a line of four icons that are constantly displayed on the screen in any menu item. These are Phone, Contacts, Messages and Applications. The menu is presented in the form of 4x4 icons, and an option in the form of a vertical list is also available. If desired, you can move icons to other tables, add them to folders, thus organizing applications to your taste.

As you add and install new programs, they are automatically placed on the screen. They can be deleted directly from the menu; you just need to go into edit mode. But you can only delete programs that you added yourself; those installed by the manufacturer are not subject to such an operation. When you hold down the menu button, a pop-up window will open, which will display shortcuts to six recently launched applications.

Phone book

The general list shows stored contacts both in the phone memory and SIM card, as well as data from your Google account. You can choose among them by setting the ability to display subscribers only from the selected memory type. In the settings, you select your preferred method for sorting names.

By clicking the field reserved for the subscriber's picture, you can make a call, send him a message or email, and also view information about him. There are many fields provided for additional data. It includes various types of telephone numbers, email addresses, instant communication tools, residential addresses and other information.

If the subscriber is assigned an image, it will be displayed on the screen. To simplify the search, you can use the vertical line on which the alphabet is depicted. Thus, by sliding your finger over it, the letters pop up and you can quickly find your way around. Of course, there is also a standard search function among contacts. There is a quick call to 8 selected subscribers. Contacts can be divided into different groups, which are assigned an individual signal.

From the phone book, you can quickly call or write an SMS to a person - you just need to swipe your finger left (call) or right (message) on the line with the subscriber's name. By clicking on the space reserved for the subscriber's picture, you call up a quick menu with which you can send a message, mail, or make a phone call to the selected person.

Call log

You can access the call log directly from the phone book; it is highlighted in a separate tab. There the dialed numbers are sorted by date. But they are not the only ones who appear. It also contains information about messages. If desired, the amount of displayed data can be reduced to a minimum or, conversely, the most complete informational list of events of recent days can be obtained.

Having selected a subscriber, you can see which calls were made and how many times - such a collapsed list is much more convenient than a long string of dialed numbers of the same type. However, in the general list of calls there is a duplication of identical numbers, which overloads the log with identical data. The smartphone can display frequently used numbers in a separate group, which is convenient.

Dialing a number is carried out using a virtual keyboard, while entering numbers, the smartphone automatically displays on the screen contacts saved in the device’s memory with similar initial numbers in the number.

Messages

For SMS and MMS there is a common folder where received messages go. When sending, by adding various objects to the text, you can automatically transform it into a multimedia message.

When sending a message, the phone can display the last used numbers, thereby greatly simplifying the search for the recipient. A message can be sent simultaneously to several subscribers or to a group created in the smartphone’s memory. There is a set of funny android emoticons.

The device combines correspondence with subscribers into dialogues. The smartphone can automatically delete old SMS if there is no desire to store thousands of archives on the device. As you type text, you can cut, copy, and paste it.

Entering text is convenient. It offers not only the Samsung keyboard option, but also the modern Swype function. Its essence is that you just need to move your finger along the layout with signs. The device will independently generate words based on which characters were touched by the user’s hand. For clarity, during such input, a blue bar is displayed on the screen, which allows you to avoid confusion when typing text.

The function is very convenient, it independently places problems between words, selects words well, and most importantly, you can type text very quickly. If the word is short and a combination of several possible options is possible, then the phone will display them, then you need to choose between them yourself. You can add new words to her vocabulary.

Email

To work with email, the mailbox is automatically configured (if it is not Gmail, which connects immediately after the email address is entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password).

The phone perfectly understands various encodings, supports loading attachments (you must insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) in familiar formats. When creating a letter, you can also attach various files from the device memory to it. The function of copying text and automatically checking the mailbox works (the interval is set manually). Sorting mail by date, subject, sender and size works.

Gallery

Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are displayed here. The gallery works in both vertical and horizontal orientation. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Working with files is fast, image previews are generated without delay. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device.

The preview folders contain smaller pictures, so that not 3, but 4 pictures can be placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works using multi-touch. Files can be sent via email, Bluetooth, SMS or hosted on Picasa. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign them to a contact. It supports rotating pictures, reducing their size, and also displays additional information about a specific file, and also shows the place where the picture was taken if geotagging is working.

Images are shown both in folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, photo section) and ordered by date. This makes it very convenient to view photos - there are several sections in the same folder. You can scroll either using the bar displayed at the bottom of the screen or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere on it. The built-in photo image editor will help you add various effects to your pictures.

Player

The player's interface is simple and intuitive. A general list displays all the songs in the smartphone’s memory. There are also additional columns. Playlists of several types, albums, artists, genres, composers, years. While playing music, the cover specified in the file tags is displayed on the screen; if there is none, there will be a multi-colored picture instead.

The volume can be changed both from the player menu using the vertical adjustment scale and with the side keys. The screen displays the name of the artist, the name of the album and the song being played. Tracks can be put on repeat (song, album, all songs) or listened to in shuffle mode.

Virtual keys are used for navigation (forward, backward and pause), and you can also switch between songs by flipping through the file cover image. While listening, you can set your favorite song as a ringtone, contact or alarm.

The user has access to numerous equalizer settings. This is auto, regular, pop, rock, jazz, dance, classical, live sound, other. This is a self-changing audio profile. You can select the audio effect: normal, wide range, concert hall, music clarity, bass boost, externalization.

When the keyboard is locked, the player control line is displayed at the top of the screen, which contains navigation keys, information about the song being played, and cover art.

The smartphone plays music well and is pleasant to use as a player, especially if you choose higher-quality headphones for it than a standard headset.

Radio

The receiver supports RDS, can work in the background and turn off after a set time period (30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours). The automatic search function for radio stations works. You can display 6 of your favorite radio stations on your desktop and quickly switch between them.

As with the player, there is a pop-up window at the top of the screen for quick navigation between stations. To end the radio broadcast, a separate “stop” key is provided.

Video

The smartphone has full support for DivX and XviD codecs. Therefore, it can be used to watch unconverted videos. Videos are played here in 720p quality. The video library is displayed in the form of a list with a small preview image of the film, its name and duration are also indicated. During viewing, controls may be displayed on the screen, including rewind and pause keys. A scroll bar appears, allowing you to quickly navigate through the movie being played. While watching, you can change the screen brightness and color shades (normal, warm or cold). There is an additional image enhancement function. Also, using the lock key on the side of the phone, you can protect yourself from accidental presses while watching a movie.

Projector

The function is launched either by long-pressing the dedicated button on the side of the smartphone, or through the menu, where you can access additional options. First of all, it is worth noting that a smartphone allows you to broadcast to any surface exactly the image that the user sees on the smartphone screen. It can be a picture, text or video. A mobile projector allows you to manually set the optimal brightness level, but it is better to set it to the maximum level.

The projector produces 15 lumens, so the picture is best seen in the dark, in a room where there is no light. Even with soft indoor lighting or street light that enters an office or apartment, it will be difficult to see the image. The mobile device is designed for a small area, so there should not be any problems within a limited space. The maximum that can be obtained from a projector phone is a resolution of 640x460 pixels.

The device has a text annotation feature that you can make during a presentation or slide show. You draw something on the smartphone screen with your finger, then erase it or select another tool, as well as its color. The picture display mode changes, and the alarm clock turns on. The sound signal is complemented by the image from the projector, so you can receive both visual and audio alerts. Ultimately, the function worked well; the phone showed, perhaps, the maximum of what one could want from a mobile device.

Camera

5-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash. Shooting starts exclusively from the smartphone menu. The interface is well designed. The shutter button is located on the right, the rest of the space is reserved for the viewfinder and two small zones for service options. The shortcut menu located on the left is customizable. The most are taken there required functions For quick access. Focusing on any point on the screen is implemented; you just need to touch the desired place.

Camera settings:

White Balance: Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Incandescent lamps, Fluorescent lighting.

Effects: Normal, Negative, Black and White, Sepia.

Shooting Mode: Single Shot, Self Portrait, Beauty Face, Smile Detection, Continuous, Panorama, Vintage, Motion Shot, Add Me, Cartoon.

Shooting conditions: Portrait, Landscape, Night, Sports, Party, Beach\Snow, Sunset, Dawn, Autumn colors, Fireworks, Text, Twilight, Backlight.

Exposition.

Timer: 2, 5, 10 seconds.

Focus: Auto, Macro.

Photo size: 5M (2560x1920), 3.2M (2048x1536), 2M (1600x1200), 0.3M (640x480 pixels).

ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800.

Metering: Center-weighted, Spot metering, Matrix.

Flash.

There are some other settings as well.

The shooting quality is good, there is a macro mode. Therefore, a smartphone is convenient to use for various purposes and tasks.

Organizer The calendar in the device is made in a traditional style; the display of information for a whole month, a week or a specific day can be configured. You can set the alert type and tone for recorded events and meetings. There is a division of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. While creating new entry it is given a name, a period and a place. You can specify which calendar it will be synchronized with, and you can send invitations to contacts from your address book. The repetition period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording - the alarm will go off in advance. Additionally, the alert type is set. Watch The smartphone allows you to save several alarms in memory. The repeat can be set either once or every day, only on weekdays or weekly. You can also set specific days. The signal melody is set, you can add a vibration alert and a text file to it. The period for the signal to be triggered again is set. There is a pre-alarm function. It boils down to the fact that the phone begins to make soft sounds in advance, gradually forcing the owner of the phone to wake up. Pleasant sound accompaniment from the sounds of nature has a pleasant effect, helps to wake up in a welcoming mood. The smartphone displays time in different time zones. There is a stopwatch. There is a timer. The voice recorder is simple and convenient; it saves recordings both in the phone memory and on a card. The recording time is user-defined, so you can take small notes that fit in an MMS. Designed as a wooden board with a sheet of paper attached, notes allow you to create notes. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation. In the latter case, more functions are available. Browser Used for internet surfing convenient application. A navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, and to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages and has a log of pages viewed. You can keep several windows open at the same time. There is a search for words on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function for changing the screen brightness directly from the browser. The font size changes, saving passwords works. In this application you can adjust the brightness level. The browser is convenient, it’s comfortable to use, it supports full Adobe Flash, so there will be no restrictions on the sites. GPS navigation Used for navigation Google Maps. The only drawback is that the program requires constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, so the application has become fully functional and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners. There is a definition function current location, calculating the route from the starting point to the ending point, and specifying the method of movement: by car, on foot or public transport. The route is laid out on the map, with key places indicated in the form text messages, which are displayed on the screen in the form of a column, you can switch between them: view the route in advance or vice versa, go back and plot another path. Zooming works using multi-touch or virtual buttons. Applications The Play Market will provide access to many applications; here it is easy to choose the necessary set of programs for yourself. Eat convenient function search, as well as dividing programs into categories, which greatly simplifies browsing. You can look at the reviews, evaluate the rating and express your opinion about the software. Each application is equipped brief description and images for greater clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if purchased new phone, you can immediately install those programs that you previously purchased. Standard for most modern devices The application allows you to view videos and search among them. The application runs in full screen mode. The File Manager allows you to work with folders and the data stored in them. You can arrange them by different types, delete content. Mini diary will help you create a note by adding a picture to it. Polaris Office allows you to view documents on your phone screen. The program will detect data not only in the device’s memory, but also on a remote server. Shows weather forecast and news. Tasks are created with a priority and a reminder signal. There is a flashlight that shines very brightly and can display images in different colors. Connections The phone operates at frequencies of 850/900/1800/1900/2100 MHz and uses a front 1.3 MP camera for video calls. The device has Bluetooth 3.0, which is characterized by high data transfer speed. The Wi-Fi module with b/g/n support works great. DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos wirelessly from compatible devices. There is also Wi-Fi Direct for quick exchange data. The microUSB connector, which has become a standard, helps transfer data via USB 2.0. Kies Air is convenient for synchronizing your device and computer. The smartphone connects via Wi-Fi to the PC. You can work with phone data through the browser, everything is simple and convenient. The main advantage of this solution is that it does not require installation additional applications. Working hours The lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh is replaceable, it lies under back cover. The test version had a different battery, its capacity was 1850 mAh. In video playback mode at maximum screen brightness and Wi-Fi smartphone lasted 4 hours 37 minutes. This is much less than the Galaxy S Advance, but the device is pre-production, so the problems can be explained by this fact. Otherwise, the operating time should not differ much from this model; you can get a day or two of work, depending on the load. Conclusion The device is not for sale yet. I saw an offer from MTS, where it is estimated at about 13,000 rubles. An interesting option, especially considering that the model’s hardware is similar to the Samsung Galaxy S Advance, which sells for 3-4 thousand rubles more. Let's start with the projector. As is the case with any specific function, this option will be of interest to a very limited circle of people. In my opinion, this is rather an attractive and unusual opportunity, but not a key option when choosing a smartphone. Practice shows that hardly anyone will use it regularly, and if you look at the notorious business circles, they will most likely give preference to professional equipment. In any case, everything will be decided by the price of the device and the timing of its appearance on the market. Moreover, the offer from Samsung itself turns out to be good. It has a capacious battery and good hardware. So it's entirely possible that the Samsung Galaxy Beam will be relatively popular because of these features rather than its built-in projector. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory Article publication date: May 18, 2012