Xiaomi and LeTV have not yet made a move. Can the existing micro-projection products replace traditional TVs?

In the technology circle, too many companies have set their sights on the living room entertainment terminal - TV. Whether it is a box, smart TV, game console, or VR, manufacturers hope to use these products to subvert the traditional TV form. Two years ago, the new concept of "smart micro projector" began to enter the consumer market. The idea of ​​projector with TV box was initially just a toy for a few digital experts to try out.

A few years have passed. With the emergence of more and more micro-projection products and many related companies obtaining huge amounts of financing, the domestic micro-projection market has become hot. Today, has it really become a disruptive product that challenges traditional televisions?

The mixed micro-projection market

The current domestic micro-projector market is very similar to the early days of smart phones, VR and other fields. Since BAT, Xiaomi, LeTV and other large technology companies have not entered the market, most of the products on the market are produced by small and medium-sized manufacturers, but there are also some traditional brands that are well-known to users, such as BenQ, Haier, and ZTE.

After observation, it was found that there are currently more than 200 micro-projector products on sale on e-commerce websites, with prices ranging from a few hundred yuan to tens of thousands of yuan, but mainly concentrated around 3,000 yuan, and most of the manufacturers are concentrated in Shenzhen.

The reason for the large price difference of this type of product is mainly concentrated in the technology. There are two styles of micro projectors on the market. One is the LCoS technology commonly used in entry-level products, which is very cheap, with a resolution of only 800x600 and a brightness of less than 100 lumens. The other mainstream model generally chooses DLP technology, which is a miniaturized high-definition projection technology that can help compact small projectors achieve higher image effects.

What are the configurations of mainstream micro-projection devices? Take the newly launched Licai Cloud Projector S series as an example. Its brightness has been upgraded to 1300 lumens, the standard resolution is 1280x720, it is compatible with the 4K standard, the contrast ratio is 1000:1, the projection screen size is between 10-200 inches, it supports voice control, it has a built-in 12000 mAh large-capacity TV, and its small size allows for mobile use.

In addition, content is also an important indicator for users to consider when choosing a micro-projector. The S new series of products have 100,000 movies and TV shows built in, and users can also play other content through the data interface. In addition to the movie function, it also has built-in games, shopping and other additional functions. Overall, the main differences between the micro-projection devices are still in technology. In terms of content, mainstream products have been supported by the license holders, and the differences are not big. Miscellaneous products do not have licenses, and the built-in resources are mostly pirated.

It’s too early to disrupt TV

Although there are no phenomenal products in the micro-projector market yet, it is understood that Xiaomi and LeTV's micro-projector products are already in the development process, and both parties will choose to disrupt the market at the right time.

At present, the price of mainstream micro-projection equipment is about 3,000 yuan, while the price of Internet TV is also very low. A 48-inch Xiaomi TV 3s is only 1,999 yuan, and some Internet brands have even launched smart TVs priced less than 1,000 yuan. Before Xiaomi and LeTV had pushed down the price of the micro-projection market, the price of micro-projection products was not very attractive to consumers.

In addition, picture quality and lack of brightness in light are also a major fatal flaw of micro-projector products. Although the existing smart micro-projectors have greatly improved in brightness, they still cannot get rid of the problem of lack of brightness in light. If users want to watch TV during the day, they need to close the doors and windows, draw the curtains, and create a dark projection environment. All these affect the user experience of the product.

At present, the only factors that enable micro-projection products to defeat traditional TVs are the flexible size changes and portability. Although smart micro-projectors have their advantages, it is still difficult to subvert TVs with these advantages alone.

Although the emerging product of smart micro-projector has broad development prospects, it is difficult to completely replace the household demand of TV in the short term. There are still many technologies to be improved in smart micro-projector itself, such as brightness, control, resolution, etc. Before Xiaomi, LeTV and other companies that are good at price war disrupt the market, there is not much time left for micro-projector manufacturers to seize the market.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.