Please noteĀ the standard Impact 2.0 and 4.0 models are now end of line and have been upgraded to the Plus model variants with brand new features.
However! These newer models retain everything our customers loved about the original Impacts, so now there's even more to love!
For more info and a comparison on the Pico Genie Impact 2.0 and 4.0 Plus features pleaseĀ tap hereĀ to read the blog!
November 2020: Pico Genie haveĀ introducedĀ three new ultra small, pocket sized projectors for 2020 / 2021:Ā Impact 2.0,Ā Impact 3.0Ā andĀ Impact 4.0. This new range offers some great surprises and are some of the smallest yet powerful projectors for the money we have ever seen.
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They are jampacked with amazing features across the whole range of Impact 2, 3 and 4. In summary they offerā¦.
- Surprisingly good image quality & sound
- Vertical Keystone Correction but also unusually Horizontal Keystone
- IOS Quick Connect Screen Mirroring with your standard USB charging cable
- Android screen mirroring
- SMART TV onboard including Netflix, iPlayer and more
- Simple and Easy to use
- Good accessories included (everything needed to get started). Impact 2.0 also includes a tripod
The main differences between the Impact 2 & 3 & 4 models are below (see table at bottom of this portable projector review for full comparison and differences):
- Impact 2 does not have SD port but all models have USB
- Brightness in ansi lumens: 200 (impact 2) versus 300 (Impact 3) versus 500 (impact 4)Ā
- Image:Ā 480p (impact 2/3) versus 540p (Impact 4) resolution
- Contrast: 1000:1 (impact 2) versus 3000:1 (Impact 3/4)
- Manual vertical keystone correction & horizontal 4 corner correctionĀ (impact 2) versusĀ vertical auto keystone correction and horizontal manual 4 corner projection (impact 3/4)
- Onboard memory 8gb v 16gb (Impact 3/4)
- Sound: Speakers are good on all models but Impact 3/4 is like a powerful external Bluetooth speaker (5 watts)
- Size: Impact 2 is one of the smallest yet powerful projectors in the world at only 174g in a tiny cube versus 510g (Impact 3) and 630g (Impact 4)
| Specs | Pico Genie Impact 2.0 | Pico Genie Impact 3.0 | Pico Genie Impact 4.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness (ANSI lumens) | 200 | 300 | 500 |
| Native Resolution | FWVGA (854*480) | FWVGA (854*480) | 960*540 |
| Built-in Speaker | 1.5W (x1) | 5W (x1) | 5W (x1) |
| Focus | Manual | Manual | Auto / Manual |
| Keystone Correction | Vertical Ā±45 & Horizontal Ā±45 degree | Auto/Manual Correction Vertical Ā±45 degree & Manual Horizontal Ā±45 degree |
Auto/Manual Correction Vertical Ā±45 degree & Manual Horizontal Ā±45 degree |
| Wired Mirroring | For iOS devices only (USB port) | For iOS devices only (USB port) | For iOS devices(USB port); For Android (Type-C port) |
| More Info | Full Details Below | Full Details Below | Full Details Below |
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Image Quality: Surprisingly Bright Clear images with Amazing Contrast
One of the most striking elements of the new Pico Genie Impact projectors is just how crisp and clear the image is.
On bright days the Impact projectors all handled the sunlight better than expected. With sunlight being something that plagues the lower priced projectors often seen on Amazon, its good to know the contrast, resolution and brightness are all better than average for these price points.
All models support a resolution up to 1080p Full HD compatibility with brightness from 200 ansi lumens (Impact 2) and up toĀ 500 ansi lumens (Impact 4).
For comparison on Amazon, this would translate into around 1200 toĀ 3000 marketing lumens.
Unusually for a portable projector at this price point, all the Pico Genie Impact range of projectors have both vertical and horizontal keystone correction. The latter is normally reserved for high end projectors over Ā£800.
Horizonal keystone is a great feature allowing you to move your projector to the left or right of the image you are projecting onto without the image distorting so you can have it on a side table instead of directly in front of the screen or in the middle of the room which can be awkward. Coupled with vertical keystone you can position the projector at 45 degree angles anywhere without any image distortion.
Overall all Pico Genie Impact projector models seem to offer an above average performance in terms of image quality and deep colours creating aĀ better viewing experience.
Watch the Pico Genie Impact 2.0 in action
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Watch the Pico Genie Impact 3.0 in action
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Watch the Pico Genie Impact 4.0 in action
Ā Bigger Sound, Smaller device
As expected all the Pico Genie Impact projectors feature built in speakers however theĀ Pico Genie Impact 3.0Ā and 4.0Ā have incredible sound that saves you having to carry around an external speaker (although you can still connect one via Bluetooth or AUX).
Considering the tiny size of the Impact 2 this also has surprisingly good sound to match its impressive image quality.
Fan noise is something we often get asked about and weāre pleased to say thatĀ the Impact series is very quiet with minimal fan noise! This comes in handy when watching movies, presenting and more.
Amazing Lightweight Design & Built in Battery For Travelling
Despite their small appearance, from the look and feel of the Impact seriesĀ you can tell straight away no compromise has been made on the design and build.Ā They allĀ look and feel amazing with a solid quality build.
These compact projectorsĀ can be carried literally anywhere and are small enough to fit in a pocket or small bag. Perfect for being away from the home / office and need a portableĀ TV solution.
These projectors weigh next to nothing with the heaviest being only 630g (Impact 4.0) and the lightest of them only 174g making the Impact 2 one of the smallest yet powerful cube projectors in the world.
Battery power is standard with internal batteries lasting 2-3 hours You can also plug them into the mains power and it charges the battery at the same time in the same way as a mobile phone. If you are camping in the middle of a field youāre good to project with sound and if you run out of juice on your mobile phone from projecting so much video, this range of projectors can actually act as a PowerBank to charge your mobile phone, tablet etc.
SMART TV built in
With Android 7 powering the back end you get a really nice SmartTV interface view across all the models. It basically allows you to watch Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube or download your favourite App to watch whatever you want.
You can also use the screen mirroring feature to mirror your tablet, smartphone or laptop screen onto the projector.
On the Impact 2 & 3 & 4 projectors, you can also mirror your screen via an HDMI connection or if your device does not have an HDMI port you can get HDMI to Display Port or USB C adaptors to fit your device if you prefer to hard wire it.
Either way, you have all the options to watch TV, carry out presentations or mirror your screens either wirelessly or wired.
Easy To Connect & Built in OS
The Pico Genie Impact range all come with the same easy to use interface with bright clear graphics and an intuitive menu system, making this range of portable projectors the clear choice for any technophobes out there!
This is particularly noticeable when connecting IOS devices such as Apple iPhones or iPads. Normally Apple require expensive HDMI to lightning adaptors which cost up to Ā£35 just for a cable so you can mirror your ipad or phone screen. However all the Pico Genie models allow you to simply plug in your existing Apple USB charging cable to connect your IOS phone making it ultra simple to connect in one clickĀ (some newer IOS devices use USB-C and will require a USB-C to Mini HDMI adaptor for wired screen mirroring).
With the Impact 4.0 you can also connect to Android phones viaĀ USB-C cable for wired mirroringĀ (see compatible wired Android devices).
For both Android and Apple users, wireless screen mirroring is also an option.
With the projectors built-in Wi-Fi and android operating system users canĀ surf the web on the projector directly. You can even view all your emails on the projector or video conference on a bigger screen.
Below are the different connectivity options available for each projector.
Impact 2.0:Ā Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mini HDMI USB, Android / IOS Screen Mirroring
Impact 3.0:Ā Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, MicroSD, HDMI, USB, Android / IOS Screen Mirroring
Impact 4.0: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, MicroSD, HDMI, USB, Type-C (USB-C),Ā Android / IOS Screen Mirroring
Overall
If you are looking for an easy to use portable projector solution with cinema sized images in a handheld package then all three of these Pico Genie Impact projectors will do the job well.
The easy to use operating system and unique connectivity options make these projectors simple enough for even a novice to use and for Apple users these projectors are going to be a delight to use with the USB direct wired connection.
Image quality is above average with high contrast and the horizontal keystone correction is the icing on the cake for anyone needing more flexibility in positioning their screen.
ForĀ ultra portability, darker rooms as well as great images we recommend theĀ Pico Genie Impact 2.0.
For use in brighter areas and for amazing sound quality we recommend theĀ Pico Genie Impact 3.0.
For wider connectivity options, use in brighter areas as well as amazing sound and image quality we recommend the Pico Genie Impact 4.0.
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Compare the differences between the Impact 2, 3 and 4
| Specs | Pico Genie Impact 2.0 | Pico Genie Impact 3.0 | Pico Genie Impact 4.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Technology | DLP | 0.2" DMD DLP | 0.23" DMD DLP |
| Brightness (ANSI lumens) | 200 | 300 | 500 |
| Marketing Lumens | 1200 | 1800 | 3000 |
| Native Resolution | FWVGA (854*480) | FWVGA (854*480) | 960*540 |
| Supported Resolution | 640*480~1920*1080 (Up to 1080P) | 640*480~1920*1080 (Up to 1080P) | 640*480~1920*1080 (Up to 1080P) |
| Light source | RGB 3LED OSRAM | RGB 3LED OSRAM | RGB 3LED OSRAM |
| LED working life | Above 30000 hrs | Above 30000 hrs | Above 30000 hrs |
| Focus | ManualĀ | ManualĀ | Auto / ManualĀ |
| Operation System | Android 7.1.2 | Android 7.1.2 | Android 7.1.2 |
| CPU | Cortex A7 Quad-Core, 1.2GHz | Cortex A7 Quad-Core, 1.2GHz | Cortex A7 Quad-Core, 1.2GHz |
| Memory | RAM:DDR3 1G + ROM Flash memory 16GB(EMMC 5.1) | RAM:DDR3 1G + ROM Flash memory 16 GB(EMMC 5.1) | RAM:DDR3 2G + ROM Flash memory 16 GB(EMMC 5.1) |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5.0GHz dual band) | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5.0GHz dual band) | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5.0GHz dual band) |
| Wireless mirror | Airplay for iOS devices; Miracast for Android devices; DLNA | Airplay for iOS devices; Miracast for Android devices; DLNA | Airplay for iOS devices; Miracast for Android devices; DLNA |
| Wired Mirroring | For iOS devices only (USB port) | For iOS devices only (USB port) | For iOS devices (USB port); For Android (Type-C port) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Keystone Correction | Vertical Ā±45 & Horizontal Ā±45 degree | Auto/Manual Correction Vertical Ā±45 degree & Manual Horizontal Ā±45 degree |
Auto/Manual Correction Vertical Ā±45 degree & Manual Horizontal Ā±45 degree |
| Projection Methods | Front/Rear/Ceiling | Front/Rear/Ceiling | Front/Rear/Ceiling |
| Operation Methods | Remote, Mouse, Physical Buttons | TouchPad Mouse, Remote, Mouse, Keyboard | Remote, Mouse, Keyboard |
| Application | Compatible with thousands of Apps. | Compatible with thousands of Apps. | Compatible with thousands of Apps. |
| Colour | Grey | Black | Silver |
| Contast Ratio | 1000:1 | 3000:1 | 3000:1 |
| Screen ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Throw Ratio | 1.2:1 | 1.2:1 | 1.2:1 |
| Refresh Rate | 60HZ | 60HZ | 60HZ |
| Projection Screen Size | 7"~120" | 7"~200" | 7"~200" |
| OSD language | Multi-Language | Multi-Language | Multi-Language |
| Interface | Mini HDMI x1 Input (1.4 line) | HDMI x1 HDMI input (1.4 line) | HDMI x1 HDMI input (1.4 line) |
| USB x1 Multimedia Play & Wired Mirror | USB x1 Multimedia Play & Wired Mirror | USB x1 Multimedia Play & Wired Mirror | |
| MicroSD x1 Multimedia Play (up to 1080p,32G) | MicroSD x1 Multimedia Play (up to 1080p,32G) | ||
| DC x1 Global Plug Option | DC x1 Global Plug Option | DC x1 Global Plug Option | |
| 3.5mm stereo audio output | 3.5mm stereo audio output | 3.5mm stereo audio output | |
| Keys | Power, Volume+/-, Enter | Power, Touchpad | Power |
| Built-in Speaker | 1.5W (x1) | 5W (x1) | 5W (x1) |
| Built-in Battery | Li-Polymer, 2850mAH | Li-Polymer, 7000mAH | Li-Polymer, 10000mAH |
| Working time | 2hrs (Approx.) | 2hrs (Approx.) | 2hrs (Approx.) |
| Projector Size (mm) | 55(D) x 55(W) x 55(H) | 136(D) x 65(W) x 60(H) | 160(D) x 90(W) x 50(H) |
| Net Weight | 174g | 510g | 630g |
| Power consumption (W) | 8.5W | 22W | 36W |
| Power supply | DC 5V/2A | DC 12V/2A | DC 12V/4A |
| Accessories Included | Manual / Power Adapter / Remote /Tripod / HDMI cable / Mini HDMI adapter | Manual / Power Adapter / Remote / HDMI Cable | Manual / Power Adapter / Remote / HDMI Cable |
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Please noteĀ the standard Impact 2.0 and 4.0 models are now end of line and have been upgraded to the Plus model variants with brand new features.
However! These newer models retain everything our customers loved about the original Impacts, so now there's even more to love!
For more info and a comparison on the Pico Genie Impact 2.0 and 4.0 Plus features pleaseĀ tap hereĀ to read the blog!