Dangbei N2 Mini assessment: Cinema on the ceiling

I don’t want an excuse to move to mattress early, however I’ll take one if it presents itself. With the power to mission my favourite reveals proper on the ceiling of my bed room, the Dangbei N2 Mini projector has rapidly grow to be a quiet favourite in my tech rotation because of its combo of portability and its gimbal stand. It’s not one thing I exploit each single day, however once I do fireplace it up, it brings a form of low-effort magic that’s laborious to overstate.

I’ve a fairly well-established routine of pouring tea, slipping on cozy socks, and claiming the nook seat of my household’s sofa, all whereas my associate flips by way of streaming companies to seek out us one thing I’ll inevitably go out to 10 minutes in. I usually use a projector for particular events or distinctive use circumstances like an outside film night time. Once I unpacked the Dangbei N2 Mini, nonetheless, I used to be instantly tickled by the prospect of ceiling projection. Make amends for The Bear with out lifting my head off the pillow? I have to. The concept would possibly sound area of interest or perhaps a little gimmicky, however mendacity again and watching scenes play out above you feels impossibly cozy and uniquely immersive.

The choice to eat content material like a corpse is because of the projector’s built-in gimbal stand. It gives as much as 190 levels of tilt, so you’ll be able to intention at every thing out of your floorboards to your ceiling trim, and sure, even the ceiling itself. For this assessment, I often used the projector overhead but in addition beamed it at a wide range of extra conventional choices, together with indoor and outside partitions. The shades of my outsized home windows really make for excellent screens. Like several compact projector, it delivers flexibility and portability, blowing out the boundaries of the place you would possibly usually arrange an impromptu screening.

The N2 Mini tasks at 1080p decision, displaying a transparent image in full coloration with loads of distinction. With a brightness ranking of 200 lumens, it’s clearly designed for dim environments, and that’s positive. In darkish rooms, the picture is vibrant and detailed, becoming for screens as much as 120 inches. Through the day, it’s extra restricted, however not unusable, similar to most choices at this worth level. It’s not meant to compete with shiny front room TVs or big-screen beamers however will do in a pinch. I set it up as a secondary display in my kitchen when internet hosting pals and it was positive however, ideally, it’s finest utilized in cozy, low-light settings, which is mostly the vibe I need for films anyway.

As for tuning into mumbled dialogue or catchy intros (sadly, not White Lotus Season 3’s [it grew on me! — ed.]), the projector packs 6W Dolby Audio audio system, they usually’re respectable for a tool this small. I didn’t discover myself craning to listen to or itching to sync up exterior audio system. In the event you do need to create a bigger or extra directed sound, you’ll be able to pair the projector with audio system by way of Bluetooth. There’s additionally an audio-out jack if Bluetooth seems like witchcraft, or if you happen to simply need to plug in a pair of headphones instantly. The unit itself is near-silent which additionally helps, although I used to be nearly nostalgic for the whirring of a fan.

As for streaming, the N2 Mini runs a Linux-based OS with a quick interface and ample inside storage, plus Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and some different apps built-in. For every thing else, there are HDMI and USB slots. I might have beloved to see Max or Disney Plus natively supported, however you’ll be able to lengthen what you’ll be able to stream utilizing the HomeShare operate (with blended success). No matter what you intend to look at (or play), setup is simple. I plugged it in, turned it on, and the N2 Mini basically did the remaining, using immediate autofocus, auto-keystone, and even impediment detection.

There are, nonetheless, a number of limitations. The N2 Mini doesn’t function a built-in battery, so whereas it’s technically moveable, you’ll want to remain close to an outlet or convey a beefy energy financial institution if you happen to’re going totally off-grid. With somewhat creativity and an extended extension wire, I used to be nonetheless capable of get to each spot I wished, nevertheless it did current a small hurdle. I additionally was by no means completely positive the way to maintain the unit between places. Having been spoiled by the Yaber T2’s carry deal with, I discovered the N2 Mini somewhat clunky.

Thankfully, it measures in at simply 14.3 × 14.9 × 24.1 cm and underneath 4 lbs, so it could actually get tossed in a backpack or carried like a child with out an excessive amount of pressure. The mission can be not constructed for gaming; the latency is ok for turn-based or informal stuff, however don’t count on twitch-level responsiveness. Nonetheless, for a light-weight, budget-friendly projector, the trade-offs really feel affordable.

All in all, the Dangbei N2 Mini isn’t right here to revolutionize your private home theater, nevertheless it simply would possibly quietly sneak into your routine and make every thing just a bit extra pleasant. It has some shortcomings, like a dreaded plug and a less-than-ergonomic construct. It additionally received’t win over hardcore players or AV snobs. However for informal binge periods, film nights with pals, or watching Vertigo horizontally like a sentient throw pillow (it’s trippy, belief me), it completely delivers.

There are extra refined projectors positive, however at $229 (and particularly if on sale — it’s $179 on the time of writing), it’s a really stable purchase. TL;DR, ceiling content material is underrated — this projector shouldn’t be too.