Optoma Photon Go review: a compact UST projector with an integrated battery

The Optoma Photon Go is the most compact and lightweight ultra-short-throw projector on the market. It’s also the only one to feature a rechargeable battery for on-the-go use. Its unique design, image quality (RGB laser, HDR10) and Google TV interface make it an attractive choice for users looking for a portable model. However, will its announced autonomy of just 1.5 hours and its Full HD image resolution be enough to win over a wide audience?

Included accessories

The Optoma Photon Go comes in a compact cardboard box alongside its AC-to-USB-C power adapter and a USB-C power cable. The manufacturer also includes a remote control with batteries and a quick-start guide.

Presentation

At 25.2cm wide, 15.7cm deep, 6.2cm high and weighing just 1.72kg, the Optoma Photon Go is the smallest UST (ultra short throw) projector on the market. Its size and discreet design make it easy to install in a living room, a bedroom or even outdoors. But beware: it’s not waterproof!

It’s also the only ultra short throw projector with a built-in battery. It offers up to 1.5 hours of autonomy, enabling you to use the projector on the move to enjoy an immersive experience anywhere.

Of course, it can be used without a time limit when plugged into an electrical outlet. You can also use a portable charger with a USB-C port to power it when you’re on the go. A 20,000 mAh model will provide up to 4 hours of autonomy.

Automatic settings for easy installation

The very low throw ratio of 0.18:1 enables this Optoma projector to display a 100-inch (2.5 m) image at a distance of just 25cm from the wall or screen.

It features automatic keystone correction and focus, so it’s up and running in seconds without any tedious adjustments. If the projector is not perfectly aligned with the screen, it automatically straightens the edges of the image so that it is perfectly proportioned, before adjusting the sharpness, with no intervention from the user.

Image size and projection distance (aspect ratio: 16:9)

Full HD, HDR10 DLP and triple laser

The Optoma Photon Go uses DLP projection technology, renowned for its precision and sharpness. It is combined with a triple RGB laser light source delivering 650 ANSI lumens, a value that the manufacturer claims is sufficient for good visibility in moderate lighting conditions.

Although limited to Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), the projector supports 4K video, which it downscales before displaying in 1080p. It also supports HDR10 and HLG to display images with a wide dynamic range and optimize on-screen contrast. Last but not least, its triple laser technology enables it to cover a very wide color space, guaranteeing realistic, nuanced hues.

Google TV, HDMI 2.0, WiFi

To be truly versatile and Plug’n Play, the Optoma Photon Go projector integrates Google TV with Google Assistant, offering an intuitive interface and the convenience of voice control. All streaming services are accessible, including Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video and Disney+.

In terms of connectivity, this projector features an HDMI 2.0 port, letting you connect a video game console or DVD/Blu-ray player, but without the ARC audio return function. Its USB-C port is for power supply only, while its USB-A multimedia port allows you to connect a USB stick or external hard drive for audio and video playback. The Photon Go also supports 5 GHz WiFi, with the Google Cast function (wireless audio-video streaming from a smartphone), and has an RJ45 network port to guarantee smooth, stable streaming.

Dolby Audio

Although it’s much smaller than all other ultra short throw projectors, the Optoma Photon Go boasts an integrated audio system, which in itself is quite a technological feat! Comprising two stereo drivers, it benefits from an amplification of 2 x 10W and supports Dolby Audio but not DTS. For an even more immersive sound experience, it is possible to connect a soundbar or a home theater system to the projector’s S/PDIF optical output.

Note that the integrated Bluetooth receiver allows the projector to be used as a portable Bluetooth speaker, with its battery providing up to 4h of autonomy.

Suitable for gaming

The Optoma Photon Go may not be the most responsive or fluid, but it can still be used for gaming sessions. Its response time of 27.1ms in Full HD at 60Hz guarantees good responsiveness, enabling you to play family games without detrimental latency.

Key specifications

Installing the Optoma Photon Go projector

Our review of the Optoma Photon Go projector was primarily carried out in the 4K TV and UST projector area of the Son-Vidéo.com store in Nantes. We first installed this projector at the foot of an ALR Lumene Movie Palace UHD 4K Extra Bright UST screen, then tested the projection directly on a white wall in the store. The Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player, connected to the projector with an Audioquest Forest 48 HDMI cable, enabled us to play a few Blu-ray movies. We also connected the projector to the Internet via WiFi to take advantage of streaming services via Google TV.

Once the projector has been placed at the foot of the wall or screen, installation takes just a few minutes. As soon as it’s switched on, the Photon Go automatically adjusts the image geometry and focus all by itself. Note that this is the only ultra short throw projector to date to feature this type of automatic adjustment! The results are sometimes imperfect, but it’s easy to manually straighten the edges of the image (“Image correction” menu).

All that’s left to do is to connect the projector to Wi-Fi and log in to your Google account to enjoy streaming. You can also connect a video player (HDMI) or an external hard drive (USB) containing your favorite films and series, if you don’t want to connect it to the Internet. Note that the integrated media player handles most video files, except H.265, which requires the use of a third-party app such as VLC.

Our impressions

A highly appealing projector

Once you’ve got past the astonishment of its small size and light weight, which almost makes it seem like a toy, this Optoma projector is immediately appealing. Its composite chassis is well finished and looks robust. The matte anthracite color is highlighted by a glossy black border. The fabric-covered top panel gives it a distinguished look. It’ll look great displayed on a piece of furniture in your bedroom or living room!

The integration of a rechargeable battery is the second major advantage of this projector. Until now, Optoma didn’t have any self-powered models in its catalog, leaving this market to young Chinese brands such as Dangbei, Nebula and Xgimi. But rather than confronting them directly in the field of compact, classic focal-length projectors, where they are the market leaders, Optoma has turned the tables to become a pioneer, unveiling the first – and so far only – battery-powered ultra short throw projector. It’s a shame, however, that the battery isn’t longer: 1.5 hours may be enough to watch a match, or one or two episodes of a series, but it’s too short for an entire movie.

The included remote control has the design and button layout frequently found on Google TV devices. It has a navigation wheel (white) with a central validation button (black), a voice control button above, and a home button below. We also appreciate the focus adjustment buttons (above the YouTube button), and direct access to the projector settings menus (below the Netflix button). The only fly in the ointment is the absence of backlighting for the controls, which is useful when using the projector in the dark. Fortunately, the intuitiveness of the buttons and their reduced number make this remote control easy to use.

Google TV and multimedia features

The Optoma Photon Go projector accesses the entire catalog of services and apps offered by the famous operating system. These include all the most popular TV streaming and replay services, such as Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, YouTube, Disney+, Canal+, Molotov.TV and more. It’s possible to customize the interface and create multiple user profiles (one for each family member) to personalize the experience.

Our main complaint concerns the projector’s responsiveness, which is frequently found wanting. This resulted in a time delay between pressing a button on the remote control and the expected effect being produced on screen. Repeating the pairing process between the remote control and the projector did not resolve this issue.

White wall or ALR screen?

In reality, however, the results are more varied, depending on the light output of the projector and the ambient light pollution.

With its maximum brightness of 650 ANSI lumens, the Optoma Photon Go offers good visibility on a white wall, provided you project in the dark. As ambient brightness increases, the use of an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen is essential. Otherwise, the image quality suffers, with low contrast and dull colors.

During our review, projecting onto an ALR anti-glare screen, ideally in the dark, produced the best results. Colors were undeniably more vivid and nuanced, and the contrast was higher, giving the scenes we viewed greater intensity and realism.

Unfortunately, the cost of such a screen at least doubles the bill, as the least expensive ALR screen comes in at the same price as this projector (Instaal Fix Extra Bright 240C – €990).

What picture quality can you expect from the Photon Go?

The Optoma Photon Go adopts a triple RGB laser, and this is immediately reflected on screen in rich, intense colors. By default, the standard picture mode tends to produce hues that are a little too saturated. We recommend the more realistic Cinema and Natural modes.

Those who wish to do so can adjust multiple settings to personalize the image according to their preferences. The brightness of the device can be set to four values (Auto, Bright, Standard and Eco), to adapt the projection to ambient light conditions. The custom picture mode also lets you adjust contrast, color saturation, sharpness, as well as the gain of the three primary colors (RGB) and gamma (Normal, Dark, Bright).

On a 100″ screen (2.5m), the limits of the 1080p HD resolution are immediately apparent. You have to be about 4 meters away from the screen to stop seeing the pixels that make up the image. The alternative is to bring the projector closer to the wall or screen to reduce the size of the image, and that of the pixels.

Resolution aside, the image proves to be rather precise and detailed, whether you’re watching an animated film (Spider-Man: New Generation) or a blockbuster shot in natural settings (Mad Max: Fury Road). Colors leap off the screen with beautiful intensity, and contrast proves highly satisfactory.

Projected on a white wall, the Fernando docuseries, which follows the rise of the Spanish Formula 1 driver, suffers from the low luminosity of the projector. The colorimetric potential is there, but contrast remains weak, and the picture lacks intensity.

The smoothness of the picture is generally satisfactory, even if there is some judder on the screen during tracking shots and action scenes, due to the absence of motion compensation.

Finally, despite the use of a triple-laser light source, there is still a slight rainbow effect, which will deter those who are more sensitive to it.

A wide, energetic sound

Despite its compact size, this projector has no shortage of energy when it comes to reproducing the roar of engines. Whether you’re in the desert with Furiosa behing the wheel of her truck, or in the cockpit of an F1 car with Alonzo, the Optoma Photon Go is up to the challenge. Sound effects benefit from a beautiful stereo width that contributes to the realism of the experience.

Naturally, the lowest frequencies are absent due to the reduced size of the drivers. Leaving aside this lack of low-frequency amplitude, explosions and accelerations are well rendered, while voices are easily extracted from the soundtrack, guaranteeing a good perception of dialogue.

However, you need to stay fairly close to the device to take full advantage of its audio capabilities, as the sound quickly fades as you move away from the projector.

Optoma Photon Go compared to the ViewSonic X1000-4K

The Optoma Photon Go is the most affordable ultra short throw projector on the market, costing €300 less than the ViewSonic. It offers unrivaled portability and integration capabilities thanks to its compact size, very short focal length and integrated battery. What’s more, it features automatic adjustments (keystone and focus) and outperforms the X1000-4K in terms of color coverage thanks to its triple RGB laser technology. Finally, its Google TV interface is more complete than the ViewSonic’s customized version of Android TV. The latter, however, stands out for its ability to project more precise and detailed images (4K Ultra HD), its superior brightness (2,400 lumens), its more powerful audio system and its three HDMI ports.
The Photon Go prioritizes portability, ease of installation, vivid color and access to more streaming platforms, while the X1000-4K focuses on image precision and detail, more extensive connectivity and a more engaging audiovisual experience.

Optoma Photon Go compared to the Nebula Mars 3

The Nebula Mars 3 stands out for its longer battery life, whic reaches 5 hours in video mode, and its ability to project a larger Full HD image, up to 5 meters diagonally. It, too, integrates an Android TV system with access to streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+, and features a speaker Bluetooth function. More robust, it is water, dust and drop resistant, making it ideal for outdoor use.

The Optoma Photon Go, on the other hand, boasts superior image quality thanks to its triple RGB laser technology, offering wider, more accurate color reproduction. Its ultra-short focal length enables 100-inch (2.5-meter) projection just 25 centimeters from the wall, perfect for small spaces. Although its battery life is shorter (just 1.5 hours), it offers features that will appeal to both film and video game enthusiasts, with a low response time.

Who is the Optoma Photon Go designed for?

The Optoma Photon Go is aimed at anyone looking for a compact, lightweight and easy-to-carry projector, ideal for small spaces. It also targets those who want to enjoy an immersive experience on the move, with its built-in battery providing up to 1.5 hours of autonomy. Its Google TV interface and practical design make it a great choice for consumers keen on streaming and simple installation. It’s also ideal for video games and outdoor projection.

Our verdict

The Optoma Photon Go won us over with its unrivaled compactness, ease of installation and integrated battery, offering true mobility to anyone looking for a projector that’s easy to move. Its Google TV interface, HDR10 compatibility and the rich colors offered by triple laser technology make it an attractive choice for streaming services.

However, its short battery life prevents prolonged use on the move, unless an external battery is used to power it. What’s more, its Full HD resolution limits image precision, and therefore the projector’s appeal to users looking for superior projection quality. Nevertheless, it should find its audience among those looking for a compact and practical projector.

In a nutshell, the Optoma Photon Go is a fine demonstration of compactness, ease of use and portability, with its integrated battery and Google TV interface. However, the manufacturer would benefit from offering a 4K version of this model, with a longer battery life, to reach a wider audience and satisfy discerning users.

We liked

• The compact format
• The simple installation
• The vivid colors and intense contrast
• Google TV with all the streaming services
• The built-in battery
• The practical, intuitive remote control

We would have liked

• A smoother picture
• Better calibration right out of the box
• More powerful sound
• A longer battery life
• A backlit, more responsive remote control

Optoma Photon Go review – FAQ