Lifestyle – Snazzy Cool Stuff

Before we get to the meat of the answer here, we have to realize that there is a gaping, yawning chasm between the top of the line projectors and the $30 cardboard cutouts with a lens. Fortunately, there is room in the middle to find functional, clear projectors at reasonable prices. There is a clear link between how much you spend on a projector and how clear the image is. Like so many other things in life, you get what you pay for. That being said, if you don't need a crystal clear 4k, HD picture projected onto a 30-foot screen, you will have a lot of options. Least Expensive (And Least Clear) Smartphone Projector Options One of the very least expensive ways to enlarge and project the images on your smartphone is a cardboard box with a lens. OR These two cardboard smartphone projectors are a great novelty item, but far from a high-tech, big-screen experience. The package contains a cardboard box that is decorated to resemble a real movie projector. There is a door on the back of the box with a sticky pad where you place your phone. On the other end of the box is a hole where you insert a short tube and a lens. And...Well, that's it. To set up this simple projector, you simply insert the lens tube in one end of the box and place your phone in the other end, close the box and your phone's screen will be projected onto any flat, white surface. You also need to download an app to allow your phone to reverse the landscape view on your phone because when the picture hits the lens without the app, the picture will be upside down. To adjust the size and clarity of the picture that is projected, you simply slide the 2 pieces of the box closer together or pull them farther apart. The clarity of the projected picture is at best, decent. In a very dark room with your phone brightness at 100%, you can get a watchable picture of acceptable clarity. It is grainy and not at all sharp, but you will be able to follow a story. The best thing about this projector is that it does not require any batteries or power other than that provided by your smartphone. As I try to find a good use for this projector, the only real-time I personally might use it is on a camping trip. It's light, it doesn't require extra batteries, and is portable. Let's face it when you are stuck out in the woods, how good does the picture really need to be? So, on the low end of the spectrum, smartphone projectors struggle mightily with providing a clear picture, but on the positive side, you are only paying 20 to 30 bucks. Most Expensive And Clearest, Smartphone Projector Options Now let's go to the other extreme. Let's take a look at projectors that run anywhere from $200 to well over $1000. When you spend this kind of money, you would expect to get more than a cardboard box and a lens, and a fuzzy picture. The good news is that you do get more... lots more. Take this 5G, Bluetooth, WIFI projector for example... This baby can project the images on your phone in crystal clear HD onto a 200-inch surface. It also has tons of other bells and whistles. It can be used inside or outside, but even at this price (around $500), It is not going to give you great visibility in the bright daylight. But in addition to that super clear image, you also get multiple input options. You can project from your phone, laptop, PS4, or even a smart stick. This powerful device comes with a more than adequate speaker system, but you also have the ability to attach your own speakers or sound bars for a true theater experience. When paying this kind of money for a projector, you also receive enhanced functionality. This projector will automatically fix the projections to show a clear picture even if you don't have the projector facing perfectly straight at the screen. You can link this projector to your phone for clear movie projections via, HDMI, WIFI, or BlueTooth. With the added storage, you can even download movie files to the projector itself, which frees up your phone for your continued use. Nothing like multitasking during a good movie. Am I right? Anyway, if you have the big bucks to spend and want a lot of bells and whistles to go along with a giant, super clear movie experience there are some great high-end projectors out there for you to choose from. Affordable And Clear Smartphone Projector Options In between "Cheap plus Fuzzy" and "Big Bucks plus All-the-Gadgets and Crystal Clear" is where I usually do my shopping for Snazzy Cool Stuff. In the price range between, say, $50 and $200 is where I live and where you can find a perfectly good smartphone projector that has great clarity and a few nice add-ons, without overspending on things you don't need. This is where YOUR personal preference really comes into play. Do you want a screen included with your projector? well, choose this one... Do you want to use it primarily outdoors? This might be for you... Maybe you want to use your projector with more than just a smartphone. Try this one... Perhaps you want a nice clear picture for the least amount of money. Here is a possibility... Or you need a small, very portable projector. Here you go... In any case, all of these possibilities have some similarities. They do provide a projection from your smartphone that is very clear and provide a nice viewing experience. Final Thoughts You can spend a few dollars to get a bigger fuzzier picture, or you can spend around a hundred bucks to get a nice CLEAR picture from a smartphone projector. You can even spend more if you want a bunch of extra bells and whistles. The bottom line, though, is Even the projectors that are reasonably priced provide a clear picture from your smartphone. Thanks for reading Y'all. Now go get something snazzy and cool! Tom