AAXA HP2 Review

AAXA Technologies offers a slew of neat portable projectors. Its pico projectors range from the 4K capable 4K1 and 1080p M7 to the budget-priced P6X, BP1 speaker projector, and HP1 Halloween projector. In addition to the HP1, AAXA makes another Halloween effects projector in the HP2. The tiny palm-sized device comes pre-loaded with a curated selection of seasonal videos. WIth spooktacular design, excellent sound quality, and a low price tag, the HP2 is a must-have for setting the October mood. Find out why the AAXA HP2 is a treat for tricks in our hands-on review!

What is the AAXA HP2 – Overview

The AAXA HP2 is a small portable projector that easily fits into the palm of your hand. It sports a pair of seasonally stylish devil horns on top alongside manual controls for power and navigating the on-screen display. In front, there’s a lens. Around back, you’ll find a USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone out jack, manual focus wheel, and a microSD card slot. Underneath, there’s a tripod mount that screws onto the included flexible leg tabletop tripod.

There’s a 1.65:1 throw ratio and 100 LED lumens. The HP2 features DLP projection technology paired with an LED light source. You won’t find an internal battery. Instead, the AAXA HP2 requires an external power source. Measuring 2.5 in x 2.25 in x 2.75 in and weighing just 0.31 pounds, it’s an incredibly lightweight and portable device.

AAXA HP2 Specs

• 100 LED lumens
• 1.65:1 throw ratio
• 100-100 inch screen sizes
• 15,000-hour lamp life
• Bluetooth audio out
• 1W speaker
• Inputs/outputs: 1 x USB-C with included combo power/USB Type-A adapter, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x microSD card slot
• Manual focus wheel
• Dimensions: 2.5 in x 2.25 in x 2.75 in
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• In the box: microSD card (pre-loaded with 5 x scary movies) USB-C to USB-A male/female cable, USB wall charger, remote control, tripod
• Spectral Illusions Halloween movies: Phantom Wraith, Blow the Man Down, Ghost of Prudence Primm, Electric Specters, and Phantom of the Park

AAXA HP2 Halloween Special FX Pico Projector Review Verdict

AAXA’s HP2 is a neat little Halloween portable projector. It’s incredibly affordable and comes pre-loaded with five different Halloween movie effects from Spectral Illusions. In my testing, I really enjoyed the small size, light weight, and ease of use that the HP2 delivers. The included tripod, complete with flexible, posable legs, makes it easy to install virtually anywhere. Sporting a devil horn design and arriving in what AAXA dubs “spooky black,” the HP2 is a fun seasonal gadget.

Everyday use is pretty simple. Merely turn the projector on, select your desired effects, and start scaring your friends and family. There are nearly limitless opportunities. I attached the HP2 to a doorknob to create a haunted hallway. My neighbors appreciated when I hooked the HP2 to my balcony railing, aimed it at the optional but recommended semi-transparent mesh screen, and created the illusion of ghastly ghosts and skeletons lurking on the deck. If you’ve got an empty picture frame, you could create a haunted portrait. Or, you can place the HP2 in a pumpkin for eerie illuminations.

Video quality is quite good, particularly in total darkness. With a low brightness of 100 LED lumens and a low resolution, the HP2 can’t withstand a lot of ambient lighting. Still, the HP2 isn’t intended as a home theatre projector for daylight viewing. Rather, it’s designed for effects.

Although I didn’t expect a lot from its 1W speaker, I was pleasantly surprised by the loudness and clarity. While the HP2’s built-in audio won’t rival that of even a budget soundbar, it’s perfectly suitable for playing the included Halloween videos, listening to music, or watching movies and TV. And if you need a boost, there is audio out via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Unlike the HP1 and BP1, the HP2 doesn’t have a battery. Therefore, I occasionally found myself a bit limited in where I could actually place the unit. You’re essentially tethered to a wall outlet, although I did manage to power the HP2 off of a portable battery pack. Lack of a full-size HDMI input makes watching videos from other sources a bit tricky. You can load music and videos on a microSD card or use its USB Type-A port and a flashdrive or harddrive however. Overall, the HP2 serves its purpose extremely well: To provide Halloween effects, or whatever other seasonal virtual decorations you can think of.

AAXA HP2 Design and Build Quality

 

The AAXA HP2 Halloween projector comes in spooky black. On top, you’ll find a pair of devil horns and physical controls in a power button, back button, navigation button, and ok button.

In front, there’s a lens and speaker grille. Around back, the HP2 packs a USB-C port, 3.5mm headphone output, microSD card slot, and manual focus wheel.

Underneath there’s a threaded tripod mount.

Build quality is excellent. The projector is comprised of mostly soft-touch matte plastic. Despite its small form factor and light weight, the HP2 doesn’t feel cheap or fragile. Though you won’t want to chuck it around haphazardly, the HP2 seems like it would survive getting tossed in a bag.

Audiovisual Experience

Don’t be fooled by the HP2’s small size. It can produce a big video with a sufficiently bright image in a dark room. After all, that’s the setting it was intended for – a spooky, dark atmosphere. Colors are vivid and bright. The red and orange hues in the included Blow the Man Down Halloween movie looked vibrant.

Audio is great too. The 1W speaker is capable of filling up a small to medium-sized room. Mids and highs are punchy with decent low-end performance. You can watch other movies and TV shows on the HP2. Videos look really good in total darkness.

In spite of the low brightness and resolution (the HP2 is merely 360p), videos are crisp and clean. Sure, the HP2 doesn’t give you cinephile-caliber image quality, but it’s not priced like a high-end projector either. WIth its ability to broadcast movies and TV shows from flash drives and microSD cards, the HP2 doubles as a multimedia projector year-round.

AAXA HP2 Halloween Special FX Projector Effects

The AAXA HP2 Halloween special FX pico projector comes pre-loaded with five different Halloween movies from Spectral Illusions: Phantom Wraith, Blow the Man Down, Ghost of Prudence Primm, Electric Specters, and Phantom of the Park. There’s a nice variety, from skeletons and spirits to a pair of undead pirates aboard a ship.

Spectral Illusions’s videos look stunning, and there’s good sound design too. You’ve got a lot of options for where to set up the HP2. For instance, you can shine a ghoul in your window, create a haunted hallway, concoct a spooky portrait, or light up a pumpkin. Spectral Illusions offers additional effects, or you can load up your own audio/visual tricks and treats.

Should You Buy the AAXA HP2 Projector – Is it Worth it?

The HP2 is an extremely fun, seasonal projector. If you’re looking for a high-tech Halloween gadget, the HP2 is a fantastic purchase. Its included Halloween movies are ghoulishly good, build quality is great, and it’s a solid value. The resolution and brightness could be better, a built-in battery might be nice, and a video display port such as an HDMI input may be helpful. Granted, an onboard battery would increase the size and weight, making the HP2 slightly less portable. Overall, the AAXA HP2 is perfect as a Halloween projector that’s capable enough to double as a multimedia projector. You may also consider the budget-priced, portable, smart AAXA P8 projector.

AAXA HP2 Halloween Projector Review – Final Thoughts

AAXA’s HP2 is a unique little projector. It’s ultra-affordable, simple to use, and comes packed with Halloween goodies. What’s more, it works quite well for movie nights when playing movies and TV shows from a microSD card or flash drive, so you can use it year-round.