Are you in the market for an outdoor projector to enjoy your favorite movies and shows in the backyard this summer? The WiMiUS projector has gained popularity as an affordable option, but don‘t be fooled by the attractive price point. As a digital technology expert, I‘ve taken a close look at the WiMiUS projector and uncovered several reasons why you may want to avoid this particular model.
Before we dive into the reasons to steer clear, let‘s take a quick look at what the WiMiUS projector offers. This outdoor projector retails for around $300 and boasts features like:
- Native 1080p resolution (with claims of "4K support")
- 500 ANSI lumens brightness
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
- Built-in autofocus
On paper, the specs look pretty decent for the price. However, in practical use, the WiMiUS projector falls short in a number of key areas. Here are the top 10 reasons I recommend avoiding the WiMiUS outdoor projector:
1. Misleading Claims About 4K Resolution
One of the most glaring issues with the WiMiUS projector is how the company markets the device‘s resolution capabilities. While product descriptions tout "4K support," the native resolution is actually only 1080p.
What exactly does "4K support" mean then? Essentially, the projector is capable of accepting a 4K signal, but it will downscale it to 1080p for output. You‘re not getting a true 4K image. Many shoppers may see "4K" in the specs and assume they are getting an Ultra HD projector at a great price, but that‘s simply not the case.
For comparison, true 4K projectors like the LG CineBeam use a native 4K DLP chip that produces an 8.3 million pixel image. The WiMiUS uses a 1080p chip that can only output 2 million pixels. It‘s incredibly misleading for WiMiUS to slap a "4K" label on this projector. If you‘re looking for authentic 4K performance for the sharpest, most detailed picture quality, the WiMiUS will leave you disappointed.
2. Disappointing Image Quality, Even at 1080p
Setting aside the 4K marketing hype, you‘d hope that the WiMiUS would at least deliver an excellent full HD 1080p image. But in reality, the picture quality is mediocre at best.
While 500 ANSI lumens is adequate for viewing in very dark environments, it‘s on the low end for an outdoor projector. Ambient light can easily wash out the image, so you‘ll need very dark conditions to get a half-decent picture. Backyard movie nights will require waiting until very late once all traces of sunlight are gone.
The image also tends to look soft and lacks pop, even with the lights off. There are much better 1080p projectors on the market that provide superior sharpness, color accuracy, and contrast. The WiMiUS just doesn‘t impress, even ignoring the resolution inflation.
3. Unreliable Bluetooth Connectivity
WiMiUS touts the projector‘s modern Bluetooth 5.2 support as a convenient way to connect wireless speakers or soundbars. Unfortunately, the Bluetooth performance is surprisingly unreliable.
Many users have reported issues with pairing and maintaining a steady connection, especially with certain speaker models. Some have found that the projector won‘t recognize their Bluetooth speaker at all, while others experience frequent audio dropouts.
Bluetooth range also seems to be worse than other devices with 5.2 support. Speakers that are further than 15-20 feet away struggle to maintain a connection, which is very limiting for outdoor viewing.
With such shoddy Bluetooth, you‘re better off using a wired connection to external speakers. But that kind of defeats the purpose and convenience of having Bluetooth in the first place.
4. Poor Compatibility with Popular Streaming Devices
Connecting a streaming stick or box is a popular way to watch content on a projector. The WiMiUS advertises plug-and-play support for devices like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast.
However, many users have run into a slew of frustrating compatibility issues, including:
- HDMI handshake issues causing signal dropouts
- Laggy, unresponsive performance
- Audio and video going out of sync
- Certain apps refusing to open or load
- Complete lack of audio output in some cases
Your mileage may vary depending on the exact streaming device you‘re trying to use. But there are enough widespread reports of compatibility problems to give potential buyers pause. For the price, you shouldn‘t have to cross your fingers and pray that your go-to streaming device works properly with the projector.
5. Autofocus That Often Misses the Mark
The WiMiUS projector‘s autofocus feature promises to deliver a clear picture without any tedious manual adjustment. While autofocus is certainly a convenient perk, the WiMiUS‘ implementation is spotty at best.
Numerous owners have found that the autofocus struggles to dial in a crisp image on the first try. It often stops short of perfect focus, leaving the picture looking slightly soft. You may find yourself needing to use the manual focus ring to get a tack-sharp image, which defeats the purpose of having autofocus to begin with.
The autofocus is also easily confused if there are objects between the projector and screen (like chair backs, plants, or people walking by). This can cause the focus to drift in and out as the projector tries to compensate.
Some users have found that disabling the autofocus and sticking with manual adjustment provides the best results. This is yet another disappointing shortcoming compared to other projectors with more reliable automatic focusing.
6. Underpowered, Low-Quality Audio
Let‘s face it, no one expects mind-blowing audio from a projector‘s built-in speakers. But even with tempered expectations, the wimpy 12W speakers in the WiMiUS projector are a big letdown.
The speakers struggle to produce clear, engaging sound at all but the lowest volumes. Turn them up to a level suitable for outdoor viewing and you‘ll be greeted by loads of distortion and harsh sibilance. Dialogue intelligibility is poor, and there‘s virtually no bass response.
External speakers are a must if you want a halfway decent audio experience. But then you‘re right back to dealing with the WiMiUS‘ Bluetooth woes. It‘s a lose-lose situation.
7. Inscrutable, Poorly Translated Onscreen Menu System
The on-screen menus for accessing the WiMiUS projector‘s settings and features are a convoluted mess. The menu structure is unintuitive, options are confusingly labeled, and many of the descriptions are poorly translated from Chinese to English.
It‘s an exercise in frustration trying to find a particular setting or option. The included remote is also cheaply made and not very responsive, which compounds the difficulty of navigating the interface.
The user manual is equally poorly written and unhelpful for deciphering the Byzantine menus. You‘re left to hunt and peck to figure out what each poorly-labeled option actually does. A far cry from the slick, user-friendly interfaces of projectors from more reputable brands.
8. Limited Zoom Range and Offset
Getting the projected image to fill your screen without geometric distortion requires precise positioning of the projector relative to the screen. The WiMIUS has a very limited 1.1x optical zoom range, which gives you little wiggle room for placement.
The vertical offset (how much the image is shifted above the centerline of the lens) is also very small. You‘ll likely need to place the projector on a raised surface to get the image vertically centered on your screen. A ceiling mount is out of the question due to the lack of lens shift and limited offset.
This inflexibility can make it difficult to get the projector set up in your space if you have limited placement options. Other projectors offer more generous zoom and offset to accommodate a wider variety of mounting scenarios.
9. Reports of Premature Hardware Failure
No one expects a $300 projector to be a paragon of build quality and longevity, but the WiMiUS appears to be a real roll of the dice in terms of reliability.
An unsettling number of buyers have reported issues with the projector failing after just a few months of light usage, including:
- Sudden loss of power
- Overheating and automatic shut-off
- Color distortion and flickering
- Dead pixels appearing on the image
- Ports failing or breaking
Customer support from WiMiUS is virtually nonexistent, leaving many users with a very expensive paperweight shortly after purchase. The short 1-year warranty isn‘t exactly reassuring either.
Buying from a little-known budget brand like WiMiUS is always going to come with some risk. But quality control for the WiMiUS projector seems especially spotty, making it a real gamble in terms of dependability.
10. You Can Do Much Better for Your Money
The WiMiUS‘ $300 price tag might look tempting, but it‘s a classic case of being too good to be true. The poor performance and missing features we‘ve outlined make it a pretty lousy value overall.
Stepping up to something like the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 for $200 more gets you a MUCH better projector that‘s still relatively affordable. With 3x the brightness, robust Android TV streaming built-in, vastly superior image quality, and better reliability, it‘s a no-brainer.
If you can stretch your budget a bit further, you can get into 4K projectors like the BenQ TK850 which offer dazzling Ultra HD resolution, high brightness, and flexible setup.
The bottom line is that you don‘t have to settle for the underwhelming WiMiUS just to save a few bucks. There are much better values to be had in the ~$500-1000 range that will serve you much better in the long run.
Conclusion
While the WiMiUS outdoor projector might look like a screaming deal on paper, its real-world performance and quality leave a lot to be desired. From misleading resolution claims to shoddy Bluetooth, poor compatibility, unreliable autofocus, and beyond, it falls short in a number of key areas.
If you value your money and your sanity, I strongly recommend looking at more capable outdoor projector options from established, reputable brands. The small step up in price will pay big dividends in performance, features, and overall satisfaction.
Don‘t settle for the disappointing WiMiUS just to save a quick buck. Trust me, your backyard movie nights will thank you for investing in something better!
