For about the last year, I have been using different projectors as both TVs and monitors in my room, as I lacked the space for a dedicated television. So, when Aurzen reached out, offering their new EAZZE E1R portable projector, I was intrigued to see whether I could fit it into my setup and whether it would meet the needs that I have come to expect from a projector. Coming in at only $139.99 USD, the Aurzen EAZZE E1R Roku TV Smart Portable Mini Projector is easily affordable for anyone wanting a projector.
The Aurzen EAZZE E1R is a 720P projector with 1080p support, with 150 Lumens of light output, which is among the lower end of the scale for projectors I have used; however, it is also the cheapest, making this more acceptable. Unlike other projectors I have used that run on Google TV, the EAZZE E1R uses Roku’s OS, which took me a little time to adjust to.
Coming in a size similar to that of a large Gatorade bottle, the Aurzen EAZZE E1R is easy to pack away in a backpack, further helped by its folding and lightweight design. I would’ve preferred to have seen the projector powered by USB-C as opposed to the proprietary plug Aurzen has decided to use for added convenience when travelling with it, as it would’ve meant I don’t need to carry as many cables in my bag.
Initial setup was quick and easy, and the Roku home page made it simple to navigate through different menus, making it a breeze to add extra streaming apps I use regularly. However, the menus left room to be desired when it came to adjusting how the projector casts onto the wall/screen. When compared to the JMGO PicoPlay I reviewed last year, settings and options were much slimmer, making it a little more difficult to get a proper picture.
“Sound quality was quite impressive with the Aurzen EAZZIE E1R, and I was surprised at how rich the speaker sounded when playing both music and video.”
Focus adjustment on the Aurzen EAZZE E1R is done with a rotating dial on the top of the unit rather than using software to adjust the picture, which, while it can allow some fine-tuning, left me struggling to get just the right amount of focus on my image. I always found I was just shy of getting a perfect focus but never seemed to get it just right.
I would’ve liked to have seen better auto keystone adjustment as well, as when I tried to cast on a slight angle, due to not being able to position the projector directly at a wall, the image was always very angled and distorted. The available settings didn’t let me rotate the image, so I had to do drastic manual keystone adjustment or find a better spot to set up the projector.
Another gripe I had with the Aurzen EAZZE E1R was the overall fan noise coming from the rear of the projector. At all times, the fan was very audible with no option to adjust the fan speed or noise, making it rather distracting when in a quiet room. Other projectors I have tested run nearly silent in comparison, making this a potential deal-breaker for users wanting a silent projector.
Sound quality was quite impressive with the Aurzen EAZZIE E1R, and I was surprised at how rich the speaker sounded when playing both music and video. While I wouldn’t call it as good as some high-quality Bluetooth speakers I own and have tested, I was still able to hear all the detail I wanted, provided I could hear above the fan, as I mentioned above.
Additionally impressive was the near-instant-on startup time. Where my larger projectors take up to a minute to warm up, simply pressing the on button with the remote, and everything is loaded and ready to go on the Aurzen EAZZE E1R.
Overall brightness comes in at only 150 lumens, which is rather dim when compared to much larger projectors; however, when used in a fully dark room, this is where the Aurzen EAZZE E1R can shine decently. I found the 150 Lumens were perfect when using it in my bedroom at night, as it wasn’t so bright that it was hurting my eyes, while still being plenty bright enough to make video look as one would expect. Despite being limited to 720p-1080p, video looked good enough for movie nights, although video often looked a little on the softer side.
Gripes aside, the Aurzen EAZZE E1R is a decent option for those wanting a cheaper projector when on the go. Some software improvements could make this a much better product and would help me to recommend it more. For those wanting a higher-quality or brighter projector, you might want to look elsewhere, though you will need a bigger budget. For the price, though, the Aurzen EAZZE E1R is a projector I would classify as “good enough”.
- A Roku account and internet connection are required for activation (Creating an account is free)
- Roku TV Smart Mini Projector | All Top Apps: No streaming sticks. No switching inputs. Simply connect to Wi-Fi and explore NetfIix, Prime Video, HuIu, YouTube, The Roku Channel, AppIe TV, and more—all from the easy-to-use Roku home screen. You’ll also find live sports, plus plenty of free movies, shows, and live TV to enjoy. Powered by America’s #1 TV streaming platform (based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group, Dec. 2024), it makes your first smart projector experience simple from day one.
