JMGO O1 Review – The Best Budget Ultra-short Throw Projector on the Market

Ultra-short throw (UST) projectors have become incredibly popular. Because USTs sit merely inches away from a wall or screen, you can easily place them on a media center for a true TV alternative. There’s no messing about with running cables around the room or ceiling mounting a projector. However, USTs often cost a premium. Enter the JMGO O1. It’s a budget-priced ultra-short throw projector that’s easy to use, great for gaming, and solid for movies. But is the O1 the right projector for you? Find out in our hands-on JMGO O1 review!

What is the JMGO O1 – Overview

The JMGO O1 is an entry-level ultra-short throw projector. It features a 0.24:1 throw ratio that’s capable of producing up to a 100-inch image from just over 10-inches away from the screen. There’s a native 1080p resolution and an LED light source. Its LED lifespan is rated at 45,000 hours, and you’ll find a 4000:1 contrast ratio. JMGO’s O1 boasts 800 ANSI lumens of brightness.

Under the hood, the JMGO O1 packs a MediaTek MT9669 chip that’s mated to 3GB of DDR4 RAM and 16GB of built-in storage which houses its Android-based Luna OS operating system. You’ll find plenty of inputs and outputs including an Ethernet LAN jack, TOSLink optical audio output, dual USB hosts, and a pair of HDMI ports, one of which features ARC or audio return channel for piping audio out from the projector to compatible soundbars or receivers.

The speakers are co-created by Dynaudio. At just over 5 pounds (lbs.) or 2.3 kilograms (kg) and measuring just 12.1 x 9.2 x 3.8 inches, the JMGO O1 is small as well as lightweight. Normally priced around $1,100 but regularly on sale for about $900 or less, the JMGO O1 is a fantastic value.

JMGO O1 Specs

• Native 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080)
• Brightness: 800 ANSI lumens
• Throw ratio: 0.25:1 (60-inch to 100-inch screen sizes)
• Projector technology: LED
• Lamp life: 45,000 hours
• 4000:1 contrast ratio
• 3GB DDR4 RAM, 16GB onboard storage
• MediaTek MT9669 chip
• Android onboard (Luna OS)
• Inputs/outputs: 1x Ethernet LAN, 1x TOSLink optical audio S/PDIF, 2x USB ports, 2x HDMI inputs (including 1 with ARC)
• Speakers co-created by Dynaudio
• Adjustments: Auto-focus, auto-keystone, wall color calibration
• Weight: 5.07 lbs. (2.4kg)
• Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.2 x 3.8 inches
• Input lag: Under 30ms

JMGO O1 Review Verdict – An Excellent Ultra-short Throw Projector

Although ultra-short throw projectors can be easier to install than traditional long or even short-throw projectors, they’re not always ideal for beginners. Because many USTs are high-end, an ultra-short throw unit can cost a premium. However, the JMGO O1’s ultra short throw design lets you generate up to a 100-inch image from just over 10-inches away from the wall or screen. It’s got a native 1080p resolution which looks crisp and vibrant colors. The 800 ANSI lumens isn’t super bright, but paired with the right screen (I recommend an ALR or CLR UST screen), its image is viewable even in the middle of the day with the blinds shut.

Movies and TV shows looked great on the O1. Additionally, with its low sub-30ms of input lag, the JMGO O1 is an excellent gaming projector. There’s a dedicated low latency mode which, when toggled on, drops input lag to a perfectly playable under 30ms. As such, the JMGO O1 works like a champ for all but the most competitive gamers.

On the audio side, the Dynaudio-tuned speakers are pretty solid. I’d still recommend a decent soundbar or surround sound system which is easy to hook up thanks to the O1’s ARC connection. However, the onboard speakers sound better than most other projectors and can fill up a small to medium-sized room.

Unfortunately, the brightness is a bit low. Its 800 ANSI lumens is about in line with the industry standard for similarly-priced and specced projectors. Daylight viewing is possible with the shades drawn and a proper screen, although the image won’t hold up under much ambient lighting. It’s not a 4K projector, which is to be expected at this price point. I’d have liked 3D support for watching 3D movies, a feature JMGO omits on its O1 UST. Nevertheless, despite a few minor quibbles, the JMGO O1 is the best budget ultra-short throw projector on the planet.

JMGO O1 Design and Build

The JMGO O1 arrives in a compact form factor. Its small footprint measures merely 12.1 x 9.2 x 3.8 inches and the entire unit clocks in around 5 lbs. In front, you’ll find JMGO and Dynaudio logos.

On top, the JMGO features a microphone, power button and indicator LED light rung, laser sensor module, ambient light sensor, and ultra-short focus lens.

Around back, the O1 packs an Ethernet LAN port, S/PDIF optical audio output, a pair of USB ports, two HDMI inputs including one with ARC, and a barrel jack power connector.

The sides of the unit pack speaker grilles.

Underneath, you’ll find four rubber feet and a threaded tripod mount.

JMGO O1 Picture Quality

Image quality on the JMGO O1 is fantastic. Scenes from “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” looked stunning with extremely accurate colors and gorgeous contrast. The vivid color palette popped on-screen while the environments such as cloud-blotched skies or a green gradient of trees remained easily discernable.

“Wonder Woman 1984” was punchy with lifelike colors. Live television such as sports played great. There is MEMC or motion estimation motion compensation to smooth out fast-moving content such as football or basketball matches. However, it does introduce some of what’s known as the soap opera effect for unnatural movement, so I preferred leaving MEMC off entirely.

Even standard definition content looks surprisingly sharp. I queued up some old DVDs of “Charmed,” and the 480p video didn’t exhibit any jaggies.

Animated content looks stunning. The vibrant environments of “Raya and the Last Dragon” looked realistic and crisp. Brightness is good for a projector in this class, although you’ll want to use an ALR screen if possible as well as watch in a dark room.

With some videos, contrast left a bit to be desired. While watching “Hawkeye,” I noticed some washed-out details. In most preset modes, you can’t change individual settings, but with the User profile, you can adjust the contrast. With a few tweaks, the picture looked great.

JMGO O1 Gaming Performance

I’m a big gamer, and sadly many projectors come with high input lag. Thankfully, the JMGO O1 features a low input lag under 30ms. Generally, on a projector, anything under 50ms is fine for casual gaming while I recommend 30ms or less for more serious play.

In bouts of Hitman 3 and Batman the Telltale Series, I experienced no noticeable input lag. Even during online gaming like Fortnite I didn’t see any perceivable input lag.

Outside of purpose-built gaming projectors like the BenQ TK700STi or Epson LS500, you’re hard-pressed to find better low latency for projector gaming.

JMGO O1 Audio Quality

Projector speakers are similar to television speakers in that most of them are tinny. You’re usually better served using a surround sound system or a soundbar. The JMGO O1’s speakers punch slightly above their weight class and can competently fill a small to medium-sized room with cinematic stereo sound. Since there’s Dolby Audio processing, even high-end audio tracks will play just fine, though they’ll be downsampled to stereo when using the inbuilt speakers. Of course, even a budget soundbar or pair of stereo speakers is a noticeable upgrade. But if you insist on using the JMGO’s built-in speakers, you won’t be disappointed.

JMGO Features and Ease of Use

Where the JMGO O1 really shines is its simplicity. Thanks to auto keystone and autofocus, both of which work flawlessly, installation is a sinch. Of course, you’ve also got manual control if you prefer. A dedicated ALR UST screen works best, but the O1’s wall color calibration setting allows you to just aim the projector at a blank wall instead. With its wide array of features, the JMGO O1 is a beginner-friendly projector that’s perfectly suitable for home theatre enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

JMGO O1 Software Experience – Luna OS

As a smart projector, the JMGO O1 runs Luna OS. It’s an Android-based operating system that works fine for everyday use. Navigating the on-screen menus and enabling or disabling various settings remains intuitive.

There’s an app store with access to select streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. However, Luna OS is based on Android 6.0 so it’s pretty outdated. Thus, I’d recommend using a standalone streaming stick or box like the NVIDIA Shield TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku.

JMGO O1 vs. The Competition

The JMGO O1 may not be the brightest or highest resolution ultra-short throw projector available. Yet where it succeeds is in delivering a simple to use UST that provides excellent picture quality without breaking the bank.

Elite Projectors offers its MosicGo. In our review, we liked the MosicGo’s brightness, image quality, and portability (the MosicGo features a built-in battery while the MosicGo Lite doesn’t). Input lag is a bit lower at 17ms, but the speakers weren’t quite as good and the MosicGo lacks auto focus as well as auto keystone.

Epson’s LS300 ultra-short projector is a 3LCD projector that runs Android TV. Like the O1, the LS300 has a native resolution of 1080p. It packs a whopping 3600 ANSI lumens and an exceptional Yahama 2.1 soundbar integrated into the front of the unit. There’s also low input lag of around 16ms. However, the LS300 is twice the price of the O1.

Optoma’s GT5600 boasts 3600 ANSI lumens, a native 1080p resolution, low input lag for gaming, and auto keystone for simple installation. But the GT5600 is a lamp-based projector rather so its lamp life is significantly less than the O1.

If you can step up to 4K, the JMGO U2 is an outstanding ultra-short throw projector. In addition to its 4K resolution, the U2 differs from the O1 in that it’s a laser TV rather than an LED projector. In our testing, the JMGO U2 produced a big, bright, crisp image with fabulous color accuracy. Amenities like 3D support make it worthy of home theater placement, though its input lag is higher at about 40ms, and it’s over twice the price as the O1.

In the end, it’s tough to find a ultra-short throw projector that provides the price-to-performance ratio of the JMGO O1. Sure, there are brighter USTs or options with improved color accuracy and black levels, but not in the same price range.

JMGO O1 vs JMGO O1 Pro

JMGO O1 Pro specs:	JMGO O1 specs:
Native 1080p resolution	Native 1080p resolution
6000:1 contrast ratio	4000:1 contrast ratio
1250 ANSI lumens	800 ANSI lumens
0.21:1 throw ratio	0.25:1 throw ratio
45,000-hour lamp life	45,000-hour lamp life
3GB RAM, 64GB onboard storage	3GB RAM, 16GB onboard storage
Weight: 4kg	Weight: 2.3kg
Measurements: 380.5mm x 311.99mm x 116.5mm	Measurements: 308.19mm x 235.88mm x 97.63mm
Co-engineered by Leica

Notably, JMGO also offers the O1 Pro. It features a pretty similar spec sheet as the vanilla o1. However, the O1 Pro is slightly heavier and larger. Additionally, it includes 64GB of onboard storage versus 16GB in the O1. Where the Pro really differentiates itself is in offering a brighter 1250 ANSI lumens image with a better contrast ratio of 6000:1. All told, the JMGO O1 is a modest upgrade over the O1. If you value savings, the O1 is a wonderful choice. But if you need a bit more brightness and contrast, the O1 Pro is a worthy step up.

JMGO O1 Ultra-short Throw Projector Review – Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the JMGO O1 is a value-priced ultra-short throw projector. It gets you a native 1080p resolution, great contrast, excellent color accuracy, and solid black levels. There’s extremely low input lag for gaming plus a slew of quality of life features like auto focus and auto keystone correction that make set up a breeze.

While brightness is a little on the low side and the O1 lacks 3D support, it’s still in line with most projectors – UST or otherwise – in this price range. Overall, the JMGO O1 is the best budget ultra-short throw projector available.

Your turn: What ultra-short throw projectors do YOU recommend?