Formovie, the Chinese projector maker known for its excellent Formovie Theater UST projector, has announced the preorders for its new affordable compact 1080p projector, the adorable $299 Xming Episode One. Falling under Formovie’s independent sub-brand, Xming, the Episode One is designed to fit nicely with the portable projector set. Its lightweight and diminutive design, weighing 2.8 pounds and measuring 6.9 by 4.8 by 5.6 inches, makes it an ideal companion for backyard movie nights.
Despite its small size, the Xming Episode One packs a punch with an LED light source that offers 150 CVIA (China Video Industry Association) lumens of brightness, which is roughly equivalent to 122 ANSI lumens, the more common measurement in the U.S. For context, Nebula’s popular Capsule projector beams out 100 ANSI lumens and, while not blisteringly bright, it’s great for most indoor and outdoor movie nights.
The Xming Episode One is a standard-throw projector with a 1080p resolution image that can be projected from 40- to 120-inches in size, with a throw ratio of 1.2:1. That means for a 40-inch image, the projector should be roughly 41 inches (3.4 feet) from the screen, while a 120-inch image will require around 125 inches (10.4 feet) of distance. Formovie recommends the Episode One for use in small to medium-sized rooms.
Setting up the Episode One should be pretty easy, even if you move it around, thanks to its auto keystone correction and autofocus features. Like most new projectors hitting shelves lately, the Episode One runs on the Google TV operating system, which means that you don’t necessarily have to connect an external streaming device to it. Netflix is already preinstalled, and you can add pretty much any streaming service or app available on the Google Play Store. It also has Chromecast built-in so you can cast content right from a smartphone or compatible device.
Sound-wise, the Xming Episode One has two 3-watt internal speakers and supports Dolby Atmos when outputted to a compatible system. Speaking of outputs, the Episode One features one HDMI 2.1 input, a USB-A input, and a 3.5 mm analog jack for headphones or a speaker. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi support for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
While compact, the Xming Episode One projector does not feature an internal battery and must be connected with the included AC adapter. This might be a game-changer depending on your portability needs, but for backyard movie lovers this summer, an extension cord is all you’ll need. For those already interested, the $299 projector is available for preorder starting today. Formovie is offering it at the preorder price of $229 on the Formovie website if you use the code EPPRE.
