AAXA 4K1 Review

The AAXA 4K1 proves that size doesn’t matter. Packed into a compact chassis, the 4K1 features a native 4K ultra high definition (UHD) resolution, bright 1500 LED lumens, and an LED light source. Capable of producing a fantastic image, the 4K1 is an excellent overall value. While it lacks some home theatre features, the AAXA 4K1’s versatility and affordability make it one of the best 4K projectors on the market. Learn why you should consider the 4K1 in our hands-on AAXA 4K1 review!

What is the AAXA 4K1 Projector?

The AAXA 4K1 is an LED home theater projector. It features a native 4K 3840×2160 UHD resolution which is achieved through pixel-shifting technology. Although the 4K1 does display 8.3 million pixels on the screen, it utilizes a 1080p chip and quadruples the 1920×1080 pixels to achieve a true 4K 8.3 million pixels. An LED light source delivers up to 30,000 of lamp life and 1500 LED lumens for a reasonably bright image.

Connectivity is great with a pair of HDMI ports with HDCP 2.2, an RCA AV input, a USB port, and microSD card slot. The onboard operating system (OS) is intuitive and easy to navigate. There’s a 2,000:1 contrast ratio for a gorgeous image. A pair of built-in 2.0W stereo speakers deliver commendable audio. At under 4 pounds and a mere 2.40 x 8.30 x 7.20 inches, the 4K1 is lightweight as well as compact. However, there’s no built-in battery, so you’ll need a power outlet or portable generator. With a 1.2:1 throw ratio, the AAXA 4K1 can produce a 100-inch image from around 8.9 feet from the screen, and generates up to a 200-inch recommended picture. In the box, you’ll find the projector, an RCA AV input cable, carrying case, remote with battery, and power supply.

AAXA 4K1 Mini Projector Specs

• Light source: LED
• Projector technology: DLP
• 1500 LED lumens
• 30,000 hours of lamp life
• 4K 3840×2160 UHD resolution with pixel-shifting
• Ports: 2 x HDMI with HDCP 2.2, 1 x RCA AV cable, USB, microSD
• 2,000:1 contrast ratio
• 2 x 2.0W stereo speakers
• Dimensions: 2.40 x 8.30 x 7.20 inches
• Weight: 3.8lbs.
• Throw ratio: 1.2 :1 (Up to 200-inch recommended screen size; Produces a 100-inch image from around 8.8 feet or 2.7 meters from the screen)
• Accessories: Carrying case, remote with battery, AV cable, power supply

AAXA 4K1 LED Mini Projector Design and Build

Clocking in at a mere 3.8 lbs. and in a compact 2.40 x 8.30 x 7.20-inch chassis, the AAXA 4K1 arrives in a small form factor for portability. In the front, you’ll find the lens. Around back, the 4K1 sports a pair of HDMI ports, an AV jack for plugging in the included RCA AV cable, a USB port, headphone jack, on/off switch, and DC barrel jack connector.

On the sides, you’ll find dual 2.0W stereo speakers as well as a microSD card slot. The top of the projector features a set of physical buttons for navigating the onboard operating system.

 

AAXA 4K1 OS and Software Experience

The AAXA 4K1 portable LED projector comes with a built-in OS. It’s simple and incredibly effective. Navigation is a breeze, and the baked-in media player had no issue displaying photos and videos from a connected flash drive as well as microSD card.

Connectivity – AAXA 4K1 Inputs/Outputs

With its plentiful inputs and outputs, hooking up everything from PCs, Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and game consoles to legacy devices like VCRs and LaserDisc players works extremely well. I was able to connect my PlayStation 3, Chromecast with Google TV, Windows desktop, and Raspberry Pi via the HDMI inputs. Using the included RCA jack input, I was able to connect older devices including my VCR, LaserDisc player, and Nintendo 64. The USB port can be used for local file playback as well as powering streaming sticks such as a Roku Stick or Fire TV Stick. And the microSD card slot makes playing videos, music, and viewing photos using the onboard media player a breeze.

AAXA 4K1 Audio Performance

Outfitted with a pair of 2.0W speakers, the AAXA 4K1 offers decent audio performance. The 4K1 can fill a small room fairly well and sound quality is good for a set of built-in speakers. However, nothing will compare to even a budget set of speakers or a soundbar. Especially when using a projector, you’ll want audio as big as the on-screen image, so I suggest sending your audio to a soundbar or receiver.

While the 4K1 lacks audio return channel (ARC) for piping audio over HDMI from the projector to an ARC-compatible receiver or soundbar, you can use the headphone out jack to send audio via an analog cable. Alternatively, you route your home theatre equipment like streaming boxes, game consoles, and Blu-ray players into a receiver or soundbar, then send the video from the soundbar or receiver to the AAXA.

AAXA 4K1 Projector Picture Quality

The AAXA 4K1 has absolutely stunning picture quality. Its 2000:1 contrast ratio means decent black levels and contrast. Where the 4K1 really shines is its brightness. Despite the 1500 lumen rating, its LED light source produces a picture that appears much brighter and combats ambient lighting extremely well. In fact, the 4K1’s vivid image competes well with 2000 and 3000 ANSI lumen projectors. As such, the AAXA 4K1 could work well in a living room or game room, and it’s good for office productivity in a conference room too.

Movies look great on the AAXA. Color reproduction was fantastic. Dario Argento’s “Suspiria” with its vivid color palate shone crisp and clear. “Kong Skull Island,” was resplendent with the deep, inky blacks of Kong standing out well against the green and orange hues of the landscape backdrop.

Animated content really pops. “Ghost in the Shell” looked resplendent with its eye-popping, intricate colors.

Live TV and sports were equally as enjoyable. Fast-paced soccer matches showed little to no motion blur. Unfortunately for home theatre buffs, the AAXA 4K1 lacks 3D capabilities. And despite its 4K resolution, the 4K1 lacks high dynamic range (HDR) such as HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. Nevertheless, its picture quality is absolutely stunning.

Gaming on the AAXA 4K1

Video games look magnificent on the AAXA 4K1 pico projector. I hooked up both my PlayStation 3 and my gaming desktop. With input lag around 30ms, the 4K1 is more than suitable for gaming. Video games on a projector are incredibly immersive. For casual gaming, the 4K1 mini projector is a fantastic choice that should satisfy all but the most hardcore gamers.

Its 30ms of input lag isn’t noticeable at all, and I had no issues playing single-player games such as Telltale Games title Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy or Red Dead Redemption.

Even twitchy fighting games like My Hero Academia were perfectly playable.

You won’t benefit from high refresh rate gaming – the AAXA 4K1 tops out at 60Hz. And even though you won’t experience super-low under 15ms input lag, the 4K1 is a really good projector for most non-competitive gamers.

AAXA 4K1 Review Verdict

The AAXA 4K1 is an exceptional 4K projector. It’s lightweight and small for simple portability. A slew of accessories including a convenient carrying case make it a good value. Picture quality is superb with the 4K1’s ability to generate a big, bright image. Movies and live TV look equally stunning. Colors are pretty accurate with a punchy, vivid image.

Video games display flawlessly with a perfectly acceptable 30ms of input lag that’s suitable for anyone but competitive gamers. The 4K1 displays presentations and web browsers well, making is a solid choice for business environments just as much as for hosting backyard movie nights.

Although they won’t compete with even a budget soundbar, the AAXA 4K1’s built-in speakers sound good enough for a spontaneous movie night, and can easily fill a small room. Its software experience is intuitive while allowing for lots of customization such as tweaking video settings. Brightness is outstanding. All projectors look best in a dark setting, but the AAXA 4K1 maintains a watchable image even with a modest amount of ambient light.

Home theatre aficionados may be disappointed by the 4K1’s lack of 3D support, absence of HDR, and its colors as well as contrast. Most users will be perfectly happy with the AAXA 4K1’s image quality, but hardcore cinephiles may desire better black levels and color accuracy. What’s more, you won’t find any sort of smart streaming capabilities. So to access Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Disney+, and other apps, you’ll need a streaming box or stick. Even for smart TVs and projectors, I still recommend a dedicated media streamer like the Nvidia Shield TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Apple TV, or Roku.

In spite of its portability, the 4K1 doesn’t include a built-in battery. As such, you’ll need to have an outlet nearby to use the AAXA. But a portable power station will let you project anywhere. I’d imagine that an onboard battery would add extra size and weight, plus battery life wouldn’t be great without dropping down the brightness significantly. It’s a bit of a tradeoff, and ultimately the high brightness combined with a high resolution makes the 4K1 a stupendous choice.

Should You Buy the AAXA 4K1?

The AAXA 4K1 is an incredible projector. Clocking in under $1,000 normal retail price, it’s a budget-conscious 4K projector. With its excellent video performance when displaying movies, TV shows, and PC content coupled with a low 30ms input lag, it’s a versatile projector that’s capable of everything from home theatre use to gaming and office productivity. At 1500 lumens, the 4K1 is plenty bright for even living room viewing.

A small footprint and light weight make the AAXA 4K1 allow for portability. Ample inputs alongside a slew of accessories posit the 4K1 as an outstanding value.

Lack of a battery may disappoint some users, although you’d sacrifice portability and brightness. HDR would have been nice, but particularly for the price, the 4K1 is tough to beat. If you’re in the market for a portable projector capable of producing a large, bright, vivid image that’s built for both work and play, the AAXA 4K1 is hands-down the right choice. You’re hard-pressed to find a 4K projector in the same price range as the 4K1.

The Competition

Xgimi offers its 4K Horizon Pro projector. The Horizon Pro boasts 2200 ANSI lumens, Android TV 10.0, HDR with HDR10 and HLG, 3D, auto-focus and -keystone, plus dual 8W 45mm Harman Kardon speakers. Features such as 3D, HDR, and better speakers make the Horizon Pro a compelling choice with many quality-of-life amenities, though it’s pricier than the 4K1. Like the 4K1, the Horizon Pro lacks a battery.

Anker’s Nebula Cosmos Max is a phenomenal 4K projector. Packing 1500 lumens, Android TV 9.0, HDR with HDR10 and HLG, 3D, plus horizontal and vertical keystone, the Cosmos Max is an awesome 4K projector. There’s no built-in battery.

The Anker Nebula Cosmos non-Max clocks in around the same price as the AAXA 4K1. While it includes an Android TV OS and HDR with HDR10 as well as HLG, the Nebula Cosmos has a lower resolution at 1080p and fewer lumens at 900. No battery comes built-in, though there is 3D and the speakers are terrific.

Xgimi offers its Halo portable projector (our review) for around the same price as the AAXA 4K1. The Halo sports HDR with HDR10, Android TV 9.0, Harman Kardon speakers, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, auto-keystone and -focus, plus 3D capabilities. However, it’s only 1080p and limited to 800 ANSI lumens versus the 4K1’s 1500 lumens.

ViewSonic’s X10-4KE is a 4K short-throw LED projector with 2400 LED lumens or brightness, Harman Kardon speakers, and 3D support. It’s significantly more expensive than the 4K1 however. Dropping down to 1080p, the ViewSonic M2 is a portable smart projector that’s around the same cost of the AAXA 4K1.

If you’re tight on space, the Elite Projector MosicGO is a fantastic ultra-short throw (UST) projector that can produce a large over 100-inch image from mere inches away from the screen. The MosicGo has a native 1080p resolution, low 17ms input lag, dual 8W stereo speakers, and an IPX2 water resistance rating.

The portable projector space has no shortage of options to pick from. While there are portable 4K projectors on the market, it’s tough to beat the price-to-performance ratio. Despite missing out on 3D and HDR, the AAXA 4K1 manages to keep its price aligned with most 1080p pico projectors and delivers a higher-resolution, brighter image on a budget.

AAXA 4K1 Projector Review – Final Thoughts

The AAXA 4K1 is an impressive unit. It’s small, lightweight, and extremely bright. Normally priced under $1,000 USD, the 4K1 is an absolute steal for a 4K projector. Its LED light source promises a long, maintenance-free lifespan. Colors and contrast look quite good. With a mere 30ms of input lag, the 4K1 is great for gaming. 3D capabilities would have been a nice touch, and lack of HDR might disappoint cinephiles. While the 4K1 delivers portability in a compact chassis, it doesn’t include a battery so it’s not truly portable. If you want a projector that’s as comfortable in the backyard for movie nights as it is in the living room for TV and gaming or presenting in the board room, the AAXA 4K1 is a top-notch projector.