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The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Tiny Projector That Packs Bunch

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  I’ve been wanting to get a higher resolution projector for the house to use both as an entertainment screen and 2nd display when working in the studio. I’ve got a FHD projector which is good enough, but I wanted that crisper picture that comes with a higher resolution. I saw Epson had the Lifestudio Pop Plus 4K Pro Smart Projector, which was paired with Bose speakers, I had to pick one up to try. Pros: - Small & Portable Size. - Amazing Autofocus (EpiqSense 2.0)*. - Bright, Sharp Image, and Rich Color. - Great Sound. Cons: - Object detection can be extremely sensitive. - No Lens Cap included. Setup: Setup was very easy as the Lifestudio Pop Plus Projector uses the Google TV OS. Just plug in, power on, then follow the on-screen steps to connect your Google account (or setup a new one). During setup, you can add all your additional streaming platforms that can be logged into after setup, additional services can be added or removed post setup as well. Overall, I found the setup to be painless and quick, it took about 10mins to get through all the setups. I’m surprised at how small and compact the Lifestudio Pop Plus is, measuring in at 7.5in by 7.8in by 2.7in, with a weight of only 3.5lbs. This is a very portable and powerful projector. The only concern I had with the Lifestudio Pop Plus physical design is that there is no Lens Cap included or built-in. As this is a very portable projector, it will often get moved around (at least I plan to move it around) between uses, which increase the risk of damage to the Lens. A simple Lens Cap could help prevent an accident, but there wasn’t one included. Screen: The Lifestudio Pop Plus can project a screen size between 30” to 150” at a distance of 30” to 158” with an image resolution of up to 4K (2160P) with a refresh rate of 60Hz. This is a huge range, but with the 4K resolution the image quality won’t suffer like with a lower resolution. With a Brightness of 700 Lumens and Color Processing of 10-Bit, it has support for HDR standards HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. Though the exact supported Color Space (YCbCr) will depend on Input Signal and Refresh Rate, refer to the Specs sheet on Epson for exact compatibility if you encounter any issues. I had no issues enabling HDR when connected to my laptop, ensure to use an HDMI 2.0 or better cable. Autofocus: The Autofocus of the Lifestudio Pop Plus is AMAZING at times, then annoying in others. The autofocus software, EpiqSense 2.0, does a great job optimizing the image to any surface whether that be a wall or screen. Adjusting the size, alignment, and color automatically to any situation, but this is where it can also get annoying. Take for example, you have a room with big windows that case shadows on the surface you’re projecting to, the EpiqSense 2.0 will sometimes sense the change in shadows as “objects” or changes to the projected surface and adjust mid use. You can use the manual focus to adjust or fix the zoom of the image but that also takes additional effort and doesn’t result in the best image quality. Joking that the Projector can see its own Shadow wouldn’t be too far off. Just keep objects out of the front of the projects path. The only other kind of annoying thing is the alignment will often leave an outline bright section, call this the maximum display surface, with the actual picture inside of this surface. In brighter rooms this wasn’t very noticeable, say a living room during the day. But if you want to use the projector in a bedroom or at night, you will see an outline on the picture if you are projecting at an angle or onto an imperfect surface. You can fix this by adjusting the projector to be directly on to the screen surface, straighten and raise the projector to avoid angles, but that takes away the flexibility and might now fit every situation. Software: Google TV OS was easy to navigate, but more importantly to me was that it was very responsive in menu. There was no lag or slow loading within the menu as I’ve experienced with other built-in software. The main menu will adjust to display the streaming service you’ve enabled. Within the Settings, there are different manual adjustments you can tweak to help get the best experience such as picture mode or manual zoom/alignment. But honestly, even with the previously mentioned autofocus challenges, I found myself leaving the auto adjusting settings as I then didn’t have to manually adjust every time I moved the projector around. Maybe once I figure out a more permanent position for the projector, then I’ll disable the autofocus and manually set, but until then I found the flexibility of autofocus more convenient. Picture Quality: The Picture Quality is great for a projector, I honestly was surprised how clear and vivid the picture was. In a dark room, the Lifestudio Pop Plus makes the colors pop, while keeping the picture crisp and sharp. This was obvious in my studio where I have blackout curtains to control the light. The 4K resolution was a huge help in keeping the image sharp, as 1080p was good but would quickly get fuzzy at larger screen sizes. The 700 Lumens was bright enough to see the picture even in a well-lit room, but the quality of the image did suffer greatly, the image was still bright enough to see but depending on the wall projected to, it was easier to see the screen features such as marks or imperfections in the wall. I’ll definitely want to close the curtains before watching something to get the best picture experience. Sound: I was pleasantly surprised by how loud and clear the sound was, I was able to turn up the music of a Youtube video (Linkin Park FTW) and didn’t hear any distortions or breaking. The Bose technology really stands out with music and movies, providing an almost cinema like experience from a tiny package. I honestly think the sound on the Lifestudio Pop Plus beats out speakers twice its size for clarity, maybe not power but the sound was plenty loud enough to hear from anywhere in the house. Connectivity: The Lifestudio Pop Plus provides many different connectivity options: WiFi, Bluetooth, or HDMI. It has HDMI 2.0, which does 4K @ 60Hz with the correct cable. The WiFi streaming worked perfectly, with no issues though this more depends on your network than the Projector. Similarly, Bluetooth connection works great, but I do prefer the WiFi connection over Bluetooth for higher quality. I didn’t have any issues, even streaming from my phone but this will likely depend more on the device you’re streaming from or your network and internet service. Your results may vary. Conclusion: If you’re looking for a 4K Projector that packs a ton of power into a tiny box, the Epson Lifestudio Pop Plus 4K Smart Projector is a solid option. Providing 4K @ 60Hz with 700 Lumens and HDR10/HLG features, the picture quality is amazing while cranking out banging sound with the Bose speakers. The autofocus can be a bit sensitive, specially if you have anything running in front of the projector while it’s on, but the ability to pretty much setup and let it automatically adjust is so good. I’m more than thrilled with the projector and have already recommended it to someone looking for a new Projector.

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  Posted 1 month ago by BradfordBT

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Easy To Setup. Convenient Size. Incredible Sound.

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  The Epson Lifestuido Pop Plus 4K projector is a prime example of what a portable projector should be. With 4K Pro-UHD, up to 150" projection and Sound by Bose - Epson did not leave much on the table. {PROS} - Speakers tuned by Bose - Ultra portable at just 3.5lbs - Google TV - Auto picture setup with EpiqSense 2.0 - Up to 150" screen size - All of your favorite streaming apps out of the box (Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, etc.) {CONS} - 700 lumens - Spotty WIFI at times - Black levels I'm a huge fan of this projector. My two stand-out feature has to be the Bose Speakers and Auto picture setup. This is the first projector I've used where I felt an external speaker was not necessary. The speakers pump out a rich sound that fills any room and the sound stage is full at any volume. I even cracked a smile when I fired it up for the first time - I wasn't expecting it to sound this good. The auto picture setup is an absolute game changer. All you have to do is point it at the wall and the Pop Plus does the rest. This makes setup insanely fast and you don't have to put any thought into adjusting the image even if you need to reposition it during movie night. I also place a ton of value on its ability to recognize when someone is passing in front of the projector while it's on. I have young children that like to constantly dart in front of the projector and this gives me peace of mind that they won't be blasted in the eyes with 700 lumens. {SUMMARY} The Epson Pop Plus 4K projector would be perfect if it was rated for at least 1,000 lumens. Not being able to use it in a room with modest light limits its use cases and it definitely dilutes the experience. That being said, if you do have it in optimal lighting conditions, the Pop Plus is impressive. Movie night in our house has never looked or sounded this good. I still can't get over how good this portable speaker sounds.

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  Posted 1 month ago by KenE

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  The portability is this model's best feature!

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  PROS - Portability - Bose sound on board (no need for external speakers) - Google TV and all the smart apps associated with streaming - Works with screens up to 150" - Ease of set-up (Auto picture setup with Epiq Sense) SO-SO Price ($800). While not as expensive as some other models, with the specs, I think I'd wait for a sale CONS - 700 lumens (this is relatively low, I think 1200 should be a minimum) - Black levels (this is far from an OLED, but it's more a disadvantage of projectors rather than quality) - Wifi can be spotty at times, no matter the strength of your router In today's world, projectors have not gained the same level of popularity as traditional televisions. Many consumers are intimidated by the need for an additional screen and the space required for proper setup. While this concern is valid, using a projector has never been easier than it is today. Epson has been at the forefront of consumer-friendly projectors for several years. With their latest model, they offer an even more portable, easy-to-use projector. Epson's Lifestudio Pop Plus 4K PRO-UHD Portable Lifestyle Smart Projector with Bose sound may have a very long name. Yet, it's simpler than the name suggests. It's an excellent option for anyone looking for a solid projector at a reasonable price (some Epson projectors are over 2K). What is always nice about Google-backed products is that it's super easy to set up. Epson, as well as many other companies, uses Google TV as the preferred UI. A code will appear to scan with your phone, and your wifi info will be automatically entered. As with many Wi-Fi-dependent tech, there will be spotty signals at times, especially when traveling. In the past, one of the most frustrating things was calibrating the projector's lens not only to fit your screen, but also to be as clear as possible. Not anymore. You can adjust the distance to or from the wall and get it calibrated to your liking very easily. Espon has made that easy as well with the auto-tuning it has on board. You can mount it on the ceiling or place it on a stand. The Epson Projection Studio app can be used for post-set-up. This projector works with any screen up to 150 inches! The best middle ground for both space and picture is 120 inches. The picture quality is fantastic for the price point, especially with HDR, and the Bose speakers provide an immersive sound experience without the need for external speakers. This is imperative for those who travel with the projector, whether camping, staying in hotels, or visiting other destinations where traditional TVs may not be the best option. The brightness is 700 lumens (I wish it were higher), so it works best in darker rooms. 1200 lumens should be the absolute minimum. This is one of its downsides, but it isn't unique to most projectors. With the way projectors work, sadly, watching in bright sunlight will never work as well as on a traditional TV. When compared to an OLED screen, it lacks in every way possible; however, with the lights turned down and the popcorn popping, this thing will make traveling or a stay-over at grandma's house a fun experience. Portability is its standout feature. It is a characteristic that differentiates it from your home TV and may encourage potential buyers who otherwise wouldn't consider purchasing it. It's small and lightweight, making it super easy to carry around, and the lens is protected by glass.

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  Posted 1 month ago by Bryan