Wanbo t2 max is, despite its name, a compact home projector at an affordable price. We tested it in detail in the editorial office and now we bring you our review. You will read about the parameters of the projector, its control, user environment and our experience.
The projector began its journey on the crowfunding platform YouPin and is part of the ecosystem of Xiaomi products.
Where to buy Wanbo T2 Max?
You can buy the Wanbo T2 Max projector from our international partner Banggood. It is available in several European warehouses, which will ensure fast and trouble-free delivery by courier. At the same time, you don't have to worry about any extra fees.
XIAOMI Wanbo T2 Max Global Version
Technical specifications
Wanbo t2 max | |
---|---|
Technológia | 3.5 "LCD panel |
Lamp type |
LED |
Luminosity |
200 ANSI lumens |
Native resolution |
1920 x 1080 px |
Contrast ratio |
2000:1 |
Lamp life |
20 hours |
Aspect ratio |
16: 9 / 4: 3 |
Supported video formats |
AVI / MOV / MP4 / MKV |
Supported audio formats |
ACC / FLAC / MP2 / MP3 / WAV / OGG |
Page correction |
yes - correction of all 4 corners |
Projection distance |
1.2 - 4 m |
Image size |
40 - 200 " |
Operating system |
Android |
memory |
1 GB RAM + 16 GB storage |
Ports |
HDMI / USB 2.0 / 3.5 mm jack |
Consumption |
55 W |
Wireless connectivity |
WiFi / Bluetooth 4.0 |
Speakers |
2 3 x W |
Weight |
900 g |
dimensions |
110 x 140 x 150 mm |
Based on the parameters, it is clear that this is a projector that is more of a basic model. However, due to the low price, this is to be expected and the projector will be suitable for darker rooms or those where there is a possibility of shading.
Content and quality of packaging
Let's start traditionally, with the contents of the package. The Wanbo T2 Max LED projector was delivered to us in a box measuring 211 x 181 x 187 mm. Inside, the projector is stored in white foil, protected by soft foam reinforcement on all sides except the top.
Accessories and operating instructions are stored under the projector. The accessories consist of a charging adapter with a mains cable and a remote control. Because we had a global version of the product, we got a cable with an EU connector. Batteries for the remote control (2 x AAA) are not included.
In addition to the mentioned foam reinforcements, the projector is also protected by a transparent foil in the front part. The packaging is good enough to protect the projector from damage during shipping.
Design, processing and layout of elements
The design of the Wanbo T2 Max projector is a bit unconventional compared to conventional projectors. As you can see in the photos, it does not have the classic shape that we know from many other projectors. Its dimensions are 110 x 140 x 150 mm (wxdxh), weighs 900 g and is sold only in white.
Despite the non-standard design, we like the projector. It is compact and white in combination with black gives it elegance. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it takes up a minimum of space and fits into a modern home.
It is made of plastic, some parts creak slightly when pushed, but overall the processing is at a good level and the projector certainly does not make a cheap impression. As for the layout of the elements, the dominant lamp is the LED lamp in the front part, under which there is a grille for air flow, which can also be found on the back. In addition to the grid, there are also ports (USB, HDMI and 3.5 mm jack) along with a power port.
The top side is home to a button that turns the projector on and off, as well as a white wheel to focus the image. The wheel has a slight play, which does not give a very good impression, but holds its position well. On the sides we find a pair of speakers, which have a power of 3 W.
The underside contains four rubberized feet to keep the projector from sliding. The thread for connecting to a tripod has also found its place here.
Is the brightness of 200 ANSI lumens enough?
The luminosity of 200 ANSI lumens is not very high and, as expected, you will not use the projector in the room during daylight. The image during the day without shading the room is too faint and difficult to see. The projector can only be used in such conditions if you place it quite close to the wall, but this will reduce the image to a minimum, which is not very desirable when projected on a wall.
You can place the Wanbo T2 Max at a distance of 1.2 to 4 meters from the wall, which of course determines the size of the picture. It varies from 40 to 200 ″ depending on the distance of the projector.
For full use with a large image, it is necessary to create suitable conditions in the room, ie the greatest possible darkness. If you don't have a so-called blackout curtains, which even during the day can decently shade the room, you will use the projector to the fullest only after dark.
In complete darkness, the image is surprisingly good. The colors are sufficiently rich and after adjustment using the aforementioned wheel on the top, the image is sharp. Many low-cost projectors suffer from low sharpness, especially in the corners of the image, which is not the case with the Wanbo T2 Max. Here the sharpness is good all over the area.
200 ANSI lumens is enough for normal home use, but it is necessary to create the right conditions. Of course, it is not appropriate to expect an image of the same quality as significantly more expensive projectors with higher brightness, but under suitable conditions we have absolutely no reservations about the quality of the image. Full HD resolution is absolutely sufficient and colors can be calibrated.
Getting acquainted with the environment
The Wanbo T2 Max projector comes with the Android operating system. Unfortunately, its version is now obsolete. Android is pre-installed in version 6. The system is very similar to various cheap Android TV boxes from China.
The user environment consists of several parts. In the upper right corner you will find the search, weather widget, date, time and Wi-Fi connection status. The main part of the screen is a wall with applications and video suggestions on YouTube. These are divided into several categories such as News, Music, Sports and others. Pre-installed applications include Netflix, Amazon Prime or Facebook, Mcast or even an Internet browser (not Chrome).
At the bottom there is still an input and setting option. The environment is simple, minimalist but clear. However, it is not perfectly smooth, so reactions are sometimes slower.
Settings menu
The system settings are quite strict and we will not find many options here. Here you will find the basic settings for WiFi and Bluetooth. WiFi only works in the 2.4 GHz band and we only have Bluetooth here in version 4.0.
Only the font style can be selected in the display settings, and the memory and storage items only show information about current usage and remaining free space. We will not find Slovak among the language settings, but if English interferes with you, Czech is available. If you want to mount the projector on the ceiling, you will find the option to rotate the image in the settings.
However, there is also another menu of projector settings that you can view using the remote control. Here you can slightly adjust the picture, its colors and sound from several preset modes.
Apps and replacement for Google Play
The operating system basically brings several applications. To stay with the settings, we will mention the ZoomSettings application. Used to correct the shape of the image. In the application, you can move all four corners of the image individually to adjust the image to your liking.
Multimedia applications that are pre-installed include YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. There is also a popular social network Facebook and a web browser. If you want to install any application, you must head to the application store.
Although the Wanbo T2 Max projector has the Android operating system, you will not find the classic Google Play store here. There is a modified version called APP Store. Here you will find the popular web browser Google Chrome or also the multimedia application KODI. However, you will not find applications like Magio Go, Skylink or Antik TV here. However, you can install them via a web browser by downloading the .apk file.
Connection options and their quality
You can watch movies or videos directly through the projector's operating system, or you can use one of the connection options and use the projector only as a display unit. Of course, the highest quality is the transmission via the HDMI port, to which you can connect, for example, a laptop or set-top box from your TV provider.
Another option is to connect a USB key or an external drive with multimedia content using the USB port. You can install the media player to browse or use the pre-installed LocalMM application.
The last option is image mirroring or so-called remote screen. For this option, we have the Miracast protocol and also the pre-installed Mcast application. In this way, you can mirror, for example, the screen of a smartphone, as we have tried.
The image quality is not the best in this case, and the colors have a slightly cooler tinge. They lack higher saturation and contrast. When playing videos through screen mirroring, we occasionally experience torn images and short outages.
Speakers and sound quality
Wanbo T2 Max has a pair of speakers that are located on the sides of the projector. Both have a power of only 3 W. Their quality is quite poor, so don't have too high expectations. The sound is tinny and lacks bass, but the volume is completely sufficient.
External speakers or a soundbar can be connected to the projector to improve audio output. We tested the connection of the soundbar via Bluetooth. The connection worked without any problems and the sound improved rapidly.
Noise and cooling
The space around the lamp and under it heats up the most. Here, warm air is blown out, while cold air is sucked in from the rear through the opening grille. The manufacturer boasts efficient cooling. We measured the temperature after about an hour of use with a non-contact thermometer. In the warmest front part he showed us a value around 40 ° C.
As for the noise, we measured it with a digital sound level meter at a distance of about one meter from the projector. It was at the level of 38 - 40 dB. You could hear the projector so slightly, but when the film was on, we didn't notice its sound at all and it wasn't disturbing.
Remote control
The projector comes with an infrared remote control that works great. Despite its IR, it works almost like a Bluetooth controller, so there's no need to aim precisely at the projector to control it.
It is powered by a pair of AAA batteries, which are not included in the package. It contains basic navigation buttons, volume control and we have nothing to complain about. It is comfortable to hold in the hand and has compact dimensions.
Wanbo T2 Max: Final evaluation
Wanbo T2 Max is a compact projector with an unconventional design. It belongs to the Xiaomi ecosystem, offers luminosity at the level of 200 ANSI lumens and FullHD resolution. Due to the lower brightness, it is only suitable for shaded rooms and is ideal for use in complete darkness.
However, the picture is surprisingly good. Although the colors are not very rich and black is rather dark gray, but given the price, it is a very decent image that is sharp over the entire surface. The negatives include weak speakers and an outdated system, which is not always completely smooth.