Dangbei N2 Mini Projector
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Dangbei N2 Mini projector is on sale on Amazon for $189.
- The N2 Mini is one of the easiest projectors to setup I’ve used, and delivers crisp 1080p video without much fuss.
- Unfortunately, it’s limited to 1080p and does not do 4K, and you’ll want to connect a Bluetooth speaker.
I’ve used plenty of projectors over the years. Back in the day, they were a pain to set up and use, with complex, fragile internal components and finnicky builds. Fortunately, they’ve come a long way, and now make projecting video considerably easier.
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But of all the projectors I’ve tried, the Dangbei N2 Mini resets the bar on simplicity.
Let’s chat about it.
My experience
Often, when I receive a projector to review, I know that I’ll have to dedicate extra time to get it set up and put it through its paces. One of the main reasons for this is that projectors are notoriously finicky; from getting the image correct (keystoning) to finding the right input for whatever source you want to use.
When I unboxed the Dangbei M2 Mini, my first thought was, “This is cute.” With its built-in stand (that offers plenty of angles for easy setup), the little guy looks like a robot from Star Wars that has an eccentric, snobby sidekick.
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Once out of the box, I consulted the manual, assuming this was going to be tricky to set up. It wasn’t.
In fact, it took me longer to input my Wi-Fi password than it did to set the projector up. From unboxing to projecting, it took maybe five minutes, tops. And out of the box, the keystoning was spot on.
The Dangbei N2 Mini remote makes interacting with the projector a snap.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Of course, that could have been a lucky guess on the distance and angle of my setup, but I’m going to have to give credit where credit is due. The reality is that the N2 uses what the company calls InstanPro AI image setup, which takes all of the guesswork out of getting the best image. The result is about as plug-and-play as a projector can be.
After firing up Netflix on the projector, I was met with the device’s first trade-off: the speaker. It’s small, so it doesn’t really get loud enough for the purpose, and the audio quality is definitely lacking. Luckily, you can connect a Bluetooth speaker instead, which drastically improves the experience.
Another trade-off that might turn some consumers off: it isn’t capable of projecting 4K. The best it can do is 1080p. Fortunately, the image is still quite sharp, and I didn’t find myself longing for 4K. I will say this: the N2 Mini only offers 200 ISO lumens, which means it’s not a viable option for projecting in daylight (or bright light). Because of that, you will need to take lighting into account when using the projector.
The autofocus feature is pretty impressive. Most often, I could move the project away or toward the projection surface, and it would quickly auto-adjust to keep the image clear. I did run into a couple of instances where I had to do some manual adjustments via the remote, but the N2 Mini even makes this easy. You don’t even have to access the projector’s menu for this. Just press the -/+ buttons on the remote to adjust the focus.
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After I did my initial testing with Netflix, I decided to attach one of my cameras to the project to see how it would handle that. To my surprise, it worked like a charm. All I had to do was hit the Home button on the remote, select HDMI as the input, and the image from the camera was there. There’s also a USB-2 connection (which I did not test), but I would imagine it would function exactly like the HDMI input.
Netflix isn’t the only app available for the projector. In fact, there are nearly 300 apps you can add (from Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and more). The OS that runs the project is a stripped-down version of Linux, so it’s also reliable, and the UI is responsive.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Given that this projector sells for $200 on Amazon, it should be considered a steal. Even though it doesn’t project in 4K, you still get a sharp image that is always in focus, and if the thought of setting up a complex project turns you off from using them, fear not, because the Dangbei N2 Mini is easy enough for anyone to get up and running.
If you’re looking for a way to entertain, inform, or educate people with the help of a projector, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bargain than the Dangbei N2 Mini.
How does it compare?
Here’s how the Dangbei N2 Mini compares to two other comparable mini projectors: the XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro, and the Nebula Capsule 3 Pocket Projector.
|
Max throw |
Resolution |
Brightness |
Max screen |
Price |
|
|
Dangbei N2 Mini |
11 ft. |
1080p |
200 ISO lumens |
120 in. |
$189 |
|
XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro |
17 ft. |
1080p |
400 ISO lumens |
200 in. |
$499 |
|
Nebula Capsule 3 |
12.4 ft. |
1080p |
200 ISO lumens |
120 in. |
$399 |
Additional tech specs
- 190° tilt with the built-in gimbal stand.
- Integrated power board.
- Nearly 300 apps (with dedicated remote buttons for Netflix, YouTube, or Prime Video).
- Native 1080P, up to 120″ with a 40-120 inch projection size.
- InstanPro AI Image Setup technology features Auto Focus, Auto Keystone Correction, Screen Fit, and Obstacle Avoidance.
- EngineX sealed optical engine (Standard mode < 27dB@25°C, Distance: 1m).
- Dolby Audio.
- Homeshare app for phone casting.
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