Looking to get some extra bang from your iOS device while enjoying your videos on the big screen? Epson’s new MegaPlex MG-850HD iOS-connected projector may be just the thing you’re looking for.
Overview
The MG-850D ($799, link) is a projector designed specifically with iOS devices in mind, combining a high quality projection system with built-in speakers in a package small enough to carry from place to place.
Design
The MG-850D is also designed with a nod toward portability, and even includes a built-in handle on the side of the case, as well as a built-in lens cap (so you won’t have to worry about loosing it). The device is also robust and sturdy enough to handle being hauled around.
Weighing in at 8.6 lbs, and measuring 13.4 inches at its widest point, the MG-850D is small enough and light enough to carry around, though still a bit too bulky to be truly portable. In reality, the MG-850HD is about as portable as a projector like this can be without sacrificing quality – it isn’t just portable because its small and relatively light weight, it’s portable because it was carefully designed to be.
Features & Connectivity
The MG-850HD has all the features you’d expect from a modern projector, with the inclusion of an iPod/iPad dock, HDMI and other standard video connections, and a USB port for connecting to a variety of mobile devices.
Features such as automatic vertical and horizontal keystone (the projector will square the image up for you), automatic image rotation (so your picture is always level) and simple, lightning fast setup make the MG-850HD a breeze to use.
The MG-850HD features a 1.2:1 zoom lens, as well as a fixed throw angle. When you place the projector on your coffee table or other surface, the bottom edge of the image will be even with the centerline of the lens. If you need to raise the front of the device higher, however, that can easily be done by using the device’s built-in extendable front foot.
Performance
I set this projector up in my dimly lit television room, where I had set up a screen to project onto. Under these ideal conditions, the device worked as expected. Even when I opened windows, and turned on random lights, introducing glare and light pollution, the projector was still able to perform well above expectations.
Setting the projector up in my living room, which has a fair amount of ambient light, also yielded impressive results, despite the fact that the room had more light than is optimal for projecting and viewing movies.
While this projector doesn’t provide a full 1080p image (it sports a 1280×800 native resolution), it was nevertheless able to produce clear and crisp high-contrast video with abundant detail, making me question whether I really even needed 1080p support.
The projector also has a set of 10W stereo speakers, which perform extremely well. No matter which room in my home I tried the device in, even my large living room, it was able to pump out more than enough sound to provide an exceptional viewing experience. An external audio system isn’t required (though you can hook the projector up to external speakers if you wish.
Image Quality / Brightness
Image quality is top notch for a projector in the sub-$800 price range. The MG-850HD’s bright picture has strong, saturated color, and video and game content from my MacBook Pro was sharp and clear.
The first thing you’ll notice when you fire up the MG-850HD is that it’s very bright. The brightness is more than adequate for any viewing situation, and using the projector’s presets, you can tailor the brightness to an appropriate setting for whatever situation you;re in. The MG-850HD also has a 1.2:1 zoom lens, so you can adjust the picture size significantly without needing to move the projector.
The MG-580D has incredible color performance as well, even before I adjusted the settings. Even at its defaults, the colors were well-saturated and balanced, resulting in a delightful viewing experience even for those who don’t take the time to fully optimize the settings.
iOS Connectivity
The MG580’s flagship feature, namely the ability to dock with iPhones, iPods and iPads, also works extremely well. Plugging your device directly into the 30-pin connector delivers instant results with no setup. I experienced similar results when hooking up other devices, including an Android phone, to the projector – it’s simply enough that there’s really no need to fuss with the device to get it working. It just works.
In addition to the iPod dock, the MG-850HD incorporates most standard connection options, including an HDMI port, component video inputs, and a composite video port with RCA audio input, and includes two USB ports on the back for connecting to an even broader range of devices.
What’s more, all of these ports have detachable covers, fully protecting the connections when they’re not in use. Even the iPod dock on the rear of the projector retracts out of the way when you don’t need it.
Verdict
The MG-850HD offers solid performance, capable of delivering clear, crisp images, high quality sound, and an all-around pleasurable viewing experience, all within a compact and easy to manage package.
For its $800 asking price, you couldn’t ask for a much better device, especially one built with iPhone & iPad connectivity and portability in mind.
Rating & Conclusion
[rating:4.5]
For its many merits, including portability, versatility and great image and sound quality, weighed against its relatively few faults, I award the Epson MegaPlex MG-850 projector a 4.5 out of five. The MG-850HD is available for $7.99, or can be purchased from Amazon for just $699. For more information, head on over to Epson’s official product page.
Pros
- Very good data and video image quality. Docks with and projects from iOS devices.
- Excellent sound quality, even without external speakers.
- Doubles as a speaker dock for various devices.
- Large number of connections for hooking up to a variety of devices.
- High brightness – bright enough to be used in almost any environment.
- Simply connect, project and play.
Cons
- A little too heavy to be truly portable, but can still be transported from place to place.
- Lacks a VGA connector for hooking to older devices.
