ALLIWAVA PR550 REVIEW: Cute 1080P Projector with Android System!

Introduction

At first glance, the ALLIWAVA PR550 projector might look like a kid's projector due to its cute design, but it boasts impressive features such as 1080p native resolution, 400 ANSI or 18,000 lumen brightness, vertical correction, electric focus, and even a smart system with built-in apps. It's worth noting that we've previously tested the ALLIWAVA PR850, but the new PR550 is notably more compact. Let's dive into the details.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The box of the ALLIWAVA PR550 project features a picture of the projector and highlights its white color. Opening the box, you'll find the projector, a user manual, and a package containing accessories such as a power cable, HDMI cable, and remote control.

The design of the PR550 is quite attractive due to its white matte finish with rounded edges, making it a visually appealing device. With dimensions of 250 by 170 by 120 mm, it's compact but not lightweight at 1638 grams.

Design and Build

The front panel of the PR550 contains a lens, infrared receiver, and automatic keystone correction sensor. The focus adjustment is electric but not automatic. On the back panel, you'll find a USB port, HDMI port, headphone jack, another IR receiver, a power connector, and a speaker. Large ventilation grilles on the side panels help prevent overheating.

On top of the projector, there's a control panel with power, return, source, OK, and navigation buttons. However, using the remote control is more convenient since it includes focus adjustment buttons and a mouse cursor button.

The bottom has four rubber feet and a tripod mount. Although the PR550 is compact and easy to carry, it's not a portable projector due to the lack of a built-in battery.

Powering Up and Interface

Turning on the projector, you immediately see the ALLIWAVA logo. Since the projector doesn’t have autofocus, you need to adjust the focus manually using the remote control. The keystone correction, however, is automatic and quite convenient.

Initially, you see a simple multimedia system featuring options like HDMI, files, and settings. Diving into the settings, you find network and Bluetooth settings, input selection (only HDMI is available), display settings (including brightness and color modes), audio settings (with just a sound effects option), general settings (such as device name and Bluetooth speaker mode), and system settings (like language, input method, date, time, and system update).

Smart System and Applications

The PR550 also has a smart system loaded with applications like Netflix, YouTube, and others. To access it, press a sequence of buttons (menu, up, right, down, left) on the remote control.

In the My Apps section, you'll find pre-installed applications like App Store, MirrorCast receiver, file manager, Netflix, Office Suite, AirPlay, YouTube, and Google Play Store. Connecting to a Wi-Fi network allows you to download more apps from Google Play Store, for which you need to log into your Google account.

The smart system's settings menu mirrors the simple multimedia system so we won't go into detail here.

Screen Mirroring and Bluetooth

For screen mirroring, the projector supports iOS Cast and Android Cast. I tested it with an iPhone, and after selecting PR550 in the screen mirroring menu, the phone's screen was successfully mirrored.

In terms of Bluetooth, you can connect earbuds or external speakers, though the built-in stereo speakers are more than adequate. There's even a Bluetooth speaker mode available in the settings, turning the projector into a Bluetooth speaker for your smartphone.

Performance and Image Quality

I connected my laptop via HDMI to test the projection quality. Despite being a budget projector, the PR550 has a native 1080p resolution with 4K support. The center of the projection screen is clear and sharp, but the edges are a bit blurry—though this isn't noticeable when watching videos.

At 3 meters from the wall, the projection screen size was about 90 inches, with a maximum size of 120 inches at 4 meters distance. With a brightness of 400 ANSI (or 18,000 lumens), the projector performs well in a dark room and is usable in well-lit environments for tasks like playing cartoons or video games, though a dark room is optimal.

Conclusion

Overall, the ALLIWAVA PR550 stands out with its cute design, compactness, smart system, and decent image quality. The built-in speakers are particularly impressive for the projector's size. For $ 129, it offers good value for money.

Keywords

ALLIWAVA PR550
1080p native resolution
400 ANSI brightness
Electric focus
Smart system
Built-in apps
Bluetooth speaker mode
Screen mirroring
Compact projector

FAQ

Q1: What is the native resolution of the ALLIWAVA PR550? A1: The native resolution of the ALLIWAVA PR550 is 1080p.

Q2: Does the ALLIWAVA PR550 support 4K content? A2: Yes, it supports 4K content.

Q3: How do you adjust the focus on the PR550? A3: The focus adjustment is electric and can be controlled using the remote.

Q4: What ports are available on the PR550? A4: The projector features a USB port, HDMI port, headphone jack, and power connector.

Q5: Can I use the PR550 as a Bluetooth speaker? A5: Yes, you can use the PR550 as a Bluetooth speaker for your smartphone.

Q6: Is the keystone correction automatic? A6: Yes, the keystone correction is automatic.

Q7: How does the projector handle screen mirroring? A7: It supports screen mirroring through iOS Cast and Android Cast.

Q8: Is there a built-in battery in the PR550? A8: No, the PR550 does not have a built-in battery.

Q9: Can I download additional apps on the PR550? A9: Yes, you can download additional apps from the Google Play Store.

Q10: How big can the projected screen size get? A10: The maximum screen size is 120 inches at 4 meters distance.