AAXA M7 Projector Review

AAXA offers an array of different pico projectors including the budget-friendly P6X, BP1 Bluetooth speaker projector, and 4K1 portable 4K projector. Its M7 is a fantastic little portable projector. Outfitted with a battery, the M7 mini projector is truly portable. With a bright LED light source and native 1080p resolution, the M7 delivers excellent image quality in a small package, making it one of the best portable projectors on the market. Find out why this may be the right projector for you in our hands-on AAXA M7 projector review!

AAXA M7 Mini Projector Overview

The AAXA M7 is a tiny projector. Boasting a massive 15000mAh battery, the M7 can operate for around three-hours on battery power. It’s got a native 1080p resolution and accepts a 4K image. An Osram LED light source delivers 1200 LED lumens, which drops down to 650 LED lumens on battery power. Under the hood, there’s a DLP that makes for good colors, and contrast.

A 1.2:1 throw ratio lets you cast up to a 200-inch image. There are several different inputs and outputs including an HDMI input, a USB Type-A header, USB Type-C port with video-in capabilities, a microSD card slot, A/V RCA input, and headphone-out jack.

Rather than using a manual focus, the M7 opts for an electronic focus. There’s also auto vertical keystone which contributes to a quick setup, though you can manually adjust the keystone as well. In addition to powering the device itself, the M7 doubles as a power bank for charging external devices. Despite the built-in battery, the projector remains small and lightweight with dimensions of 7.3in x 6.4in x 1.85in and clocking in at a mere 3 lbs.

AAXA M7 Specs

• Native 1080p resolution (accepts a 4K input)
• 1200 LED lumens plugged in (650 LED lumens on battery)
• 1.2:1 throw ratio
• 2000:1 contrast ratio
• Up to 200-inch image
• Electronic focus
• Auto vertical keystone (with manual vertical keystone control as well)
• DLP processing chip
• Osram LED light source with up to 30,000 lamp life hours
• 4W stereo speakers
• Inputs/outputs (I/O): 1 x HDMI, 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB Type-A, 1 x microSD card slot, 1 x 3.5mm AUX output, 1 x A/V input
• 15000 mAh battery (up to three-hour battery life)
• Weight: 3lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.3in x 6.4in x 1.85in

AAXA M7 Review Verdict

The AAXA M7 may be small and unassuming, but its performance punches well above its weight class. Arriving in tiny 7.3in x 6.4in x 1.85in chassis and weighing less than four pounds, the M7 is capable of casting up to a 200-inch image. A 1.2:1 throw ratio means you’ll need to place the projector about eight feet away from the screen to achieve a 100-inch or larger image.

Typically with traditional lamp-based projectors, around 3000 ANSI lumens is required for viewing with moderate amounts of ambient lighting. However, the AAXA M7’s 1200 LED lumens made for an exceptionally bright image. Even in the middle of the day with the blinds closed and a lamp on, the M7 didn’t appear washed out. In total darkness, the picture quality was stunning.

Despite its high brightness, the M7 doesn’t sacrifice on picture quality. Color accuracy is great, and there’s good contrast to boot. For movie-lovers, the M7 is a real treat. While it doesn’t feature a high refresh rate or ultra-low lag, the ability to accept and downscale a 4K, 30 frames per second (FPS) signal to 1080p makes the M7 perfectly suitable for casual gaming.

Solid connectivity lets you hook up an array of different devices and peripherals ranging from streaming boxes and game consoles to PCs, phones, tablets, flash drives, and microSD cards. There’s even an A/C RCA input for interfacing with legacy devices such as VCRs or LaserDisc players.

With exceptional versatility, the AAXA M7 is a projector that’s just as capable in a home theatre or backyard for movie and game nights as it is in the board room or classroom delivering presentations.

AAXA M7 Mini Projector Design and Build Quality

The M7 pico projector is a sturdy device. A metal mesh grate surrounds the sides of the projector. This lends a premium feel and added security. Still, the AAXA M7 remains lightweight but without feeling fragile.

On the left-hand side of the unit, you’ll find an electronic focus control, 3.5mm headphone out jack, A/V RCA video input, USB Type-C port, microSD card slot, and a reset button. Around back, there’s a power button that lets you toggle the projector on and off or put it in a charge mode for use as a power bank. The right-hand side of the projector sports an HDMI input, USB Type-A, barrel jack power connector, and status indicator LED light.

In front, you’ll find the projector’s lens and LED light source. A set of controls for navigating the onscreen display sits atop the M7. Underneath the device is an access hatch covering the 15000mAh battery and screw holes for a ceiling mount.

Inputs and outputs are quite good. I liked the RCA A/V input which let me hook up a few older devices including my Nintendo 64 game console, a VCR, and my LaserDisc player. Sure, the image was standard definition and low quality, but it’s a nice feature. The USB-C jack worked well for screen mirroring from my Samsung Galaxy S9+ handset. But the HDMI input is what most devices like game consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices will take advantage of.

A single HDMI input is good, although I’d have liked to see a pair of HDMI ports. Granted, the USB-C with DisplayPort works for video display purposes, although some users may need an adapter if connecting multiple devices. Yet, since it’s a portable projector, chances are you won’t be connecting multiple devices simultaneously.

AAXA M7 Video Quality

The AAXA M7 mini projector delivers a bright, native 1080p image. Color accuracy is excellent. The bright visuals in Dario Argento’s “Suspiria” looked vivid and punchy with vibrant shades of red and blue. Similarly, contrast is great. Especially in scenes with a lot of detail, the M7’s video quality becomes apparent. During the initial descent into Skull Island in “Kong: Skull Island,” the clouds popped with a gradient of greys, whites, and blacks.

Animated content looks stunning. With its multi-color palette, “Ghost in the Shell” was pure eye candy, especially with the M7’s bright LED light source. There are a few different brightness settings like Standard, Eco, and Boost. Likewise, you can set the color temperature as well as picture mode. Enabling the Dynamic picture mode and Boost brightness setting provides maximum brightness, slightly at the expense of picture quality. I found that the Standard mode looked best for natural colors.

With its excellent color accuracy and great contrast as well as black levels, the AAXA M7 is a solid proejctor for watching movies or shows. It may not satisfy hardcore cinephiles, but it’s tough to find this combination of video performance and portability.

Gaming on the AAXA M7

Although it’s not a gaming projector with super low input lag and a high refresh rate, video games looked stunning on the M7. Blown up to 100-inches or more, gaming proves immersive. I played a Marvel Ultimate Alliance as well as Red Dead Redemption and noticed no perceptible lag. Although I was unable to measure the AAXA M7’s input lag, I’d guess it’s around 30-40ms.

For casual gaming and single-player titles, the M7 works just fine. It’s the perfect projector to set up in the backyard or bring to a friend’s house, then hook up a Nintendo Switch, gaming laptop, or Android TV box for gaming on the go.

Audio Quality of the AAXA M7

The AAXA M7’s built-in 4W speakers are surprisingly competent. They won’t blow you out of the water, however they’re capable of providing adequate sound that’s enough to fill a small room. A dedicated home theatre system, soundbar, or even a standalone speaker will still yield more robust audio.

Unfortunately, the M7 lacks audio return channel (ARC) for piping audio out via HDMI. You won’t find an optical TOSLink audio out jack or Bluetooth either. Instead, your only audio output option is a 3.5mm headphone jack. I was able to connect a pair of headphones as well as a portable speaker. While the onboard speakers leave a bit to be desired, that’s true of virtually all projectors. If you’re projecting a huge image, you’ll want big sound to match.

Additional Features on the AAXA M7

Aside from being a projector, the AAXA M7 doubles as a power bank. A switch on the projector’s rear lets you toggle the device into a charge mode that reverses the current. Rather than sending power to the projector, the M7 then sends power out via its USB Type-A and USB-C ports for juicing up external devices such as phones or tablets. I was able to charge my Samsung Galaxy S9+ Android phone.

Doing away with a manual focus, the M7’s electronic focus works flawlessly. I was able to effortlessly focus the AAXA’s image and achieve a perfectly crisp picture.

Disappointingly, the M7 lacks any smart capabilities. You won’t find any built-in streaming interface, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. Even with most smart projectors, I still recommend using your own streaming box or stick. Many smart projectors including the Xgimi Halo and BenQ GV1 feature Android implementations that lack native Netflix support. Additionally, underpowered processors and paltry RAM tend to cripple many smart projectors. As such, the M7’s lack of streaming capabilities isn’t a dealbreaker. Especially with the onboard USB ports that can power a streaming stick, it’s simple enough to plug in a Roku Stick, Chromecast with Google TV, Shield TV, or another device.

Bluetooth would have been nice for wireless audio transmission. Of course, Bluetooth can add a bit of latency, so the wired 3.5mm headphone jack is better. And if you really need a wire-free experience, you can always plug in a Bluetooth transmitter.

Should You Buy the AAXA M7 – Who is the M7 for?

The AAXA M7 is a wonderful device for users that value portability. Small, lightweight, and battery-operated, the AAXA M7 is a truly portable projector. An LED light source with 1200 LED lumens offers an extremely bright, vivid picture that has good color accuracy, contrast, and black levels. It’s a projector equally as capable in the backyard showing off your favorite movies or hosting an outdoor game night as it is in the classroom and office for presentations.

Anyone looking for an affordable portable projector will be more than happy with the M7. It lacks 4K, a streaming interface, and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Image quality is great, although admittedly not cinephile-caliber. But it’s really difficult to find this mix of portability and performance. Movies and games look fantastic, set up is a breeze thanks to the M7’s e-focus, and the projector can even accept a 4K, 30 FPS signal which then gets downscaled to 1080p. As an added bonus, the M7 does double duty as a power bank.

AAXA M7 Projector Review – Final Thoughts

The AAXA M7 is a value-packed pico projector. It’s a neat option that won’t break the bank but doesn’t compromise on quality. An onboard battery, tiny footprint, and light weight make the M7 actually portable. A native 1080p resolution coupled with a bright 1200 LED lumens ensures a bold, vivid image. Movies, games, and presentations all look quite good on the M7. What’s more, the AAXA M7 can function as a power bank for charging up external devices. All told, the M7 is one of the best budget projectors for backyard movie nights.