Earlier this year, ZTE presented at CES a device coming out of the line of products of this company: a portable projector with Android. A multimedia device to view content in any place with a wall and an incentive to use a platform that offers a wide range of applications, services and games today.
Almost a year has passed since its announcement in Las Vegas but now at last ZTE dares to launch it into the Spanish market. SPRO 2 manages to capture our attention from the first minute with his singular proposal but also raises a question: do we need a projector of this type? Read our analysis to find out the answer but you already anticipate that it is one of the most curious gadgets we have discussed this year.
What is ZTE SPRO 2?
Being an Android-powered device, many of the specifications that we find in this projector of ZTE are similar to a mobile phone. Processor, RAM, internal memory, screen... All they must have added is a projector, go with them.
ZTE SPRO 2, technical specifications
Dimensions: 134 x 131 x 33 mm
Weight: 526 grams
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
RAM: 2GB
Internal memory: 16GB (expandable with microSD up to 2 TB cards)
Luminosity: 200 lumens
Maximum projection size: 120 inch
Resolution: 720 p
Battery: 6,300 mAh
Version of operating system: Android 4.4 KitKat (for now without upgrading to later versions)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g / / ac - Bluetooth 4.0 - USB 3.0 - 2. 4 g / 5G, MIMO
Price: 699 euros (recommended price)
Processor riding this mini projector is the same one we saw during 2013 on high-end smartphones. Both the CPU and GPU have aged very well and its performance to date is sufficient to reproduce any content without problems.
2GB of RAM are good companions and taking into account that a projector multitasking is not as important, the amount that is enough. If we speak of the projector as such include the luminosity: 200 lumens, double that of the previous model of ZTE. The canon is able to project images of up to 120 inches.
Weight: 526 grams
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
RAM: 2GB
Internal memory: 16GB (expandable with microSD up to 2 TB cards)
Luminosity: 200 lumens
Maximum projection size: 120 inch
Resolution: 720 p
Battery: 6,300 mAh
Version of operating system: Android 4.4 KitKat (for now without upgrading to later versions)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g / / ac - Bluetooth 4.0 - USB 3.0 - 2. 4 g / 5G, MIMO
Price: 699 euros (recommended price)
Processor riding this mini projector is the same one we saw during 2013 on high-end smartphones. Both the CPU and GPU have aged very well and its performance to date is sufficient to reproduce any content without problems.
2GB of RAM are good companions and taking into account that a projector multitasking is not as important, the amount that is enough. If we speak of the projector as such include the luminosity: 200 lumens, double that of the previous model of ZTE. The canon is able to project images of up to 120 inches.
In the model that is put on sale in Europe does not have a SIM card slot. In the United States (it was marketed with operator) they included it. Very useful for data plans with many gigs and so do tethering or play content in streaming if there is no WiFi. We have to comply only with a hole to insert microSDs and expand the 16 GB of internal memory.
Compact but versatile (and somewhat heavy)
ZTE has taken good note of the first-generation SPRO. They leave that bulbous design which gave a very stubby appearance. Now introduced straight lines into a metal body that gives much better presence to the projector. Discreet, but attractive.
The SPRO 2 is easy to place anywhere. It occupies little and can tilt one blade to raise the image we project. With him away one meter of the wall is sufficient. By occupying little space we can put in different places without having to interfere or rearrange everything nearby.
At the top we have a five inch display and HD resolution. Chosen panel is right, the glass is thick but unless we have lots of direct light against the upper part of the device, we will not have problem in viewing the content that displays.
Because of its size, it is easy to take anywhere. In fact, it is well to pose to move it and is not as static as the majority of projectors. The only drawback is it's weight: more than half a kilo that ZTE tries to justify with 6,300 mAh battery.
The connectors on the back were the only logical position while on the sides, we find volume buttons on the side opposite the small projector speaker. In an effort to make a small device out of SPRO 2, ZTE has sacrificed quality audio with speakers that fall something short as we will see later.
ZTE enhances more than its SPRO to give a touch more attractive and serious. It won't be to the history of design, but the approach is functional and aesthetic terms outstrips the original model. The Chinese manufacturer begins with right foot as per our analysis.
Remarkable in the projections, scraping enough in the audio
Being a mini projector designed to move it from one place to another, ZTE sacrificed some quality but the experience with that has convinced us. Mobility means quickly to put it anywhere and thanks to the technology of automatic adjustment the projector will know at what angle is the screen and display it correctly.
Gives equal position or angle on the wall. SPRO 2 focuses and adjusts very accurately, something that is appreciated is what we always want to put it on a surface, turn it on and begin viewing content.
For brightness, we have three available options. With brightness to minimum or medium we have enough light to view content at night or in low ambient light. If it is daytime touch we use it to the maximum and that is when the SPRO 2 loses its mobile part: to use all the power of the lamp, it is necessary to connect it to the mains, in the other two cases is not necessary.
The approach is quick and projections showing are crisp. Natural colours, good contrast... It is not a projector designed for sybarites but image quality offering is good enough for most users. ZTE plays very well the relationship of size and specifications.
The only downside that we put to the part of the image is the resolution. SPRO 2 only shows images in HD 720P. Having so many models on the market with Full HD and 4K for the most demanding, a little less resolution is cast. That doesn't mean that you don't see well but is a pity play not to have Full HD and have to rescale for better resolution.
If projecting images meets note, with the sound we found some problems. Mono speaker with very little power and size reduced by what tends to sound a bit metallic. The good news is that having Bluetooth we can match you to a higher quality sound system.
ZTE has decided to put its priorities in the image and here as projector adheres very well, pity not to reproduce content in Full HD, but the quality offered is sufficient for such mobile device. The sound however is a pending matter whether to go ahead with this family of products.
Hardware antique but capable of anything
Snapdragon 800 already showed a couple of years ago it was a great processor and even today it is still a good choice. To not render in Full HD, GPU has more margin to display content without much effort.
We have been testing the SPRO 2 with games, multimedia applications and streaming services. The experience at all times has been very good and there has been no regret hitches or unexpected crashes in the middle of any activity.
As you can imagine the projector is designed to touch as little as possible once running. Therefore, touch anything with it ends up being a little frustrating if we don't take it as if it were a mobile phone.
Specifications is not more a pointer device but the Setup is an intermediate point between powerful hardware and not have to increase the price by introducing components that were not likely to highlight both as a mobile phone or a tablet.
The internal memory is rather low (16GB), fortunately includes a slot microSD for insert cards of up to 2 TB of capacity. Taking into account that almost the entire burden of content are files, the 16 gigs in a projector base not forcing us to be doing juggling with applications. If you are not going to use streaming content services, I advise heating that you use a memory card.
The 6,300 mAh offer a proper autonomy. In our experience it is capable of playing 2 hours of streaming video and something else if the content is local and the SPRO 2 is not connected to any network. Enough to see most movies. Always get the charger over to avoid trouble because it uses its own connector (round peg, as laptops).
Android is the perfect companion for a projector
ZTE is clear that if you want to make a 'smart' project the only logical choice was Android: easy to use, platform known by users and with many applications and tools. What surprises us is that they have decided to go for 4.4 KitKat and not Marshmallow or Lollipop. Time have had since they announced the device and finally launch it to the market.
The SPRO 2 comes with a slightly modified Android. By default we find a different launcher that organizes applications in different tabs and panels for easy access to everything. A detail that is appreciated since the experience we have with this device is different to that of a mobile phone or a tablet.
To make life a little easier, ZTE includes some multimedia applications so we don't have to be looking at our expense in Google Play. Among them we find a video player compatible with the majority of formats used today.
ZTE has taken good note of the first-generation SPRO. They leave that bulbous design which gave a very stubby appearance. Now introduced straight lines into a metal body that gives much better presence to the projector. Discreet, but attractive.
The SPRO 2 is easy to place anywhere. It occupies little and can tilt one blade to raise the image we project. With him away one meter of the wall is sufficient. By occupying little space we can put in different places without having to interfere or rearrange everything nearby.
At the top we have a five inch display and HD resolution. Chosen panel is right, the glass is thick but unless we have lots of direct light against the upper part of the device, we will not have problem in viewing the content that displays.
The connectors on the back were the only logical position while on the sides, we find volume buttons on the side opposite the small projector speaker. In an effort to make a small device out of SPRO 2, ZTE has sacrificed quality audio with speakers that fall something short as we will see later.
ZTE enhances more than its SPRO to give a touch more attractive and serious. It won't be to the history of design, but the approach is functional and aesthetic terms outstrips the original model. The Chinese manufacturer begins with right foot as per our analysis.
Remarkable in the projections, scraping enough in the audio
Being a mini projector designed to move it from one place to another, ZTE sacrificed some quality but the experience with that has convinced us. Mobility means quickly to put it anywhere and thanks to the technology of automatic adjustment the projector will know at what angle is the screen and display it correctly.
Gives equal position or angle on the wall. SPRO 2 focuses and adjusts very accurately, something that is appreciated is what we always want to put it on a surface, turn it on and begin viewing content.
For brightness, we have three available options. With brightness to minimum or medium we have enough light to view content at night or in low ambient light. If it is daytime touch we use it to the maximum and that is when the SPRO 2 loses its mobile part: to use all the power of the lamp, it is necessary to connect it to the mains, in the other two cases is not necessary.
The approach is quick and projections showing are crisp. Natural colours, good contrast... It is not a projector designed for sybarites but image quality offering is good enough for most users. ZTE plays very well the relationship of size and specifications.
The only downside that we put to the part of the image is the resolution. SPRO 2 only shows images in HD 720P. Having so many models on the market with Full HD and 4K for the most demanding, a little less resolution is cast. That doesn't mean that you don't see well but is a pity play not to have Full HD and have to rescale for better resolution.
If projecting images meets note, with the sound we found some problems. Mono speaker with very little power and size reduced by what tends to sound a bit metallic. The good news is that having Bluetooth we can match you to a higher quality sound system.
ZTE has decided to put its priorities in the image and here as projector adheres very well, pity not to reproduce content in Full HD, but the quality offered is sufficient for such mobile device. The sound however is a pending matter whether to go ahead with this family of products.
Hardware antique but capable of anything
Snapdragon 800 already showed a couple of years ago it was a great processor and even today it is still a good choice. To not render in Full HD, GPU has more margin to display content without much effort.
We have been testing the SPRO 2 with games, multimedia applications and streaming services. The experience at all times has been very good and there has been no regret hitches or unexpected crashes in the middle of any activity.
As you can imagine the projector is designed to touch as little as possible once running. Therefore, touch anything with it ends up being a little frustrating if we don't take it as if it were a mobile phone.
Specifications is not more a pointer device but the Setup is an intermediate point between powerful hardware and not have to increase the price by introducing components that were not likely to highlight both as a mobile phone or a tablet.
The internal memory is rather low (16GB), fortunately includes a slot microSD for insert cards of up to 2 TB of capacity. Taking into account that almost the entire burden of content are files, the 16 gigs in a projector base not forcing us to be doing juggling with applications. If you are not going to use streaming content services, I advise heating that you use a memory card.
The 6,300 mAh offer a proper autonomy. In our experience it is capable of playing 2 hours of streaming video and something else if the content is local and the SPRO 2 is not connected to any network. Enough to see most movies. Always get the charger over to avoid trouble because it uses its own connector (round peg, as laptops).
Android is the perfect companion for a projector
ZTE is clear that if you want to make a 'smart' project the only logical choice was Android: easy to use, platform known by users and with many applications and tools. What surprises us is that they have decided to go for 4.4 KitKat and not Marshmallow or Lollipop. Time have had since they announced the device and finally launch it to the market.
The SPRO 2 comes with a slightly modified Android. By default we find a different launcher that organizes applications in different tabs and panels for easy access to everything. A detail that is appreciated since the experience we have with this device is different to that of a mobile phone or a tablet.
Beyond audiovisual pure and simple, is also a very attractive console. Given the large number of games and emulators that exist on Android, if we match a Bluetooth remote control get the projector to be more than a tool to watch movies and series.
If you want to launch content from mobile phones, it has support for Miracast for thus not depend on cable. Pity that LTE connectivity will stay on the road because as a hot spot for sharing connection up to 10 people was an interesting incentive.
The launcher and customizations that ZTE provides save the shortcomings of a KitKat that today has already fallen a bit behind. A most recent version we miss but at the moment we know if the Chinese company plans to upgrade to Lollipop or Marshmallow.
SPRO is a bold product and ZTE are aware that going to a very specific niche. Its price of output (699 euros) does not help to reach the general public but as multimedia projector with Android is a device that liked. Very capable and with clear guidance on who seeks mobility and content without relying on an additional source.
If we have clear to what we are going to use, it is an interesting option. Its closest competitors are the conventional projectors and there are very good options in quality but where the part of content we have to meet us with cables or wireless connectivity. A product interesting but intended for the few into a niche that's in itself is small.
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