Optoma Photon Life PH31 review

Full review

The Photon Life PH31 takes a different route from the tiny Google TV projectors it sits beside. It has no operating system of its own, so you plug in a streaming stick or games console and get on with it. In return the brightness is much higher: Optoma states 1,500 ISO lumens, several times what the smallest portable models manage, and that makes a real difference in a lounge with some ambient light.

The RGB LED light source is rated for up to 30,000 hours and avoids lamp replacements. Picture resolution is native 1080p, and Optoma highlights wide DCI-P3 colour for a more natural look than typical office-style projectors.

Setup is easy, with auto focus and keystone correction, but the throw ratio of 1.5 to 1.65:1 means a 100 inch picture needs the projector about two to three metres from the screen, which rules out very small rooms. A single HDMI 1.4a port, a USB-A socket for power and an audio-out jack cover the basics but little more.

The built-in 5 W speaker is adequate for news and casual viewing, and most buyers will connect external audio. Optoma does not publish an input-lag figure, so we cannot rate it for competitive gaming. For a straightforward bright projector with a fixed home it is a sound choice.