This Budget Projector surprised me.
Updated: Oct 14
Overview:
I've been using the LifeLong PixelBeam Smart projector for a while now, and it's priced at just under 10k. This is quite a budget entry when compared to high-end options like those from Epson or BenQ, most commonly found in corporate or institutional environments. Epson's home projector range starts at 20-30k itself, so does the LifeLong really provide the same quality at half the cost?
Continue reading to find out.
What's in the Box:
PixelBeam Projector Box Projector Angle View Projector Remote Control
The box itself is well-designed and strong enough to hold the projector securely during transportation. Inside the box, you will find:
The projector itself
A remote control with 2 AAA batteries
AC power cord
Projector:
Projector Front View Projector Rear View
If we look at the projector's spec sheet and advertising, it says it supports native 1080p resolution, while supporting 4K playback probably via downscaling. The projector includes input ports, which are HDMI and USB-A, while a 3.5mm jack provides audio output. There is also a built-in 5W speaker, which is mostly the one you'd be using over headphones; however, it depends on the use case. It also has a 3.5mm jack AV out, but there is no cable supplied, so if you want to use the RCA output, you'd have to buy a cable separately.
The projector's tilt angle can be adjusted by a screw-type shaft, which feels less premium compared to the push mechanism shaft on the Epson PowerLite (mostly used in colleges). The power button is located on the back, which can be used to switch it on or off. It has a cooling fan on the right side to cool off the projection lamp. The lens and the camera sensors are on the front side.
My Review:
Picture Quality:
Picture Quality Sample 1 Picture Quality Sample 2
The picture quality is much better than I expected; it offers, if not better, the same results as I've observed from an institute-level Epson projector. The sharpness is quite good. The projector can automatically adjust focus and keystone (making sure the output remains a rectangle, even if the projector isn't parallel to the projecting surface), which saves a lot of time and makes it easy for first-time users.
Picture Quality Sample 3 Picture Quality Sample 4
However, the auto keystone feature does reduce sharpness and introduce blur, at least if the projector isn't parallel to the projecting surface like a wall. To ensure maximum quality output, ensure that the projector is parallel. You can also use the remote control to make minor focus adjustments, and if you want full customizability, the UI allows manual keystone settings too.
The size of the projected screen can go up to 150 inches; however, since my room is quite small, I often keep it to about 55 inches or so. So yes, it is like having a 55-inch TV on a budget.
Audio Quality:
If the picture is good, you expect the audio to be too, and as a home projector, it does not disappoint. The 5W speaker is loud enough for a small to medium-sized room, with minimal external noise. I use it for watching football and sometimes cricket matches, and the commentary and ambient sounds are quite clear.
Although if you'd prefer better sound quality, you can connect your own sound system or a dedicated speaker using the AUX output or using Bluetooth. It's fully up to you, but the built-in speaker provides a decent, ready-to-use option.
Connectivity:
It supports Wi-Fi, though we don't know which generation, and the same goes for Bluetooth; I don't think they have mentioned it anywhere. However, it does have dual-band Wi-Fi, meaning it can connect to both 2.4 and 5GHz signals. As far as my experience is concerned, it works well. I haven't experienced any major stutters or issues due to network connectivity. I don't often use the Bluetooth on this, but it does let you connect accessories like speakers and other items.
You can use the USB-A port to connect something like a flash drive, or even a mouse or keyboard; it supports those natively. It supports screen sharing functionality, both via Miracast (Windows, Android) and AirPlay (iOS). The apps for this have already been pre-installed. I have tried Miracast, and it works fairly well.
Software Experience:
Home Screen My apps Screen
I think this is probably the most important aspect of any digital entertainment device. I've seen TVs worth Rs 40,000 have the most laggy UI, combined with poor hardware, leading to a bad experience. This projector runs on its own skin, which is based on Android 9.0, released back in 2018. The processor is probably a quad-core ARM-A53, judging by the A53*4 in the about section. This processor dates back to 2012; however, it has been commonly used in budget streaming devices.
It has just 1GB of RAM combined with 8GB of internal storage, whose exact specifics are unknown. Now, I'll be honest, the specs may not look promising, but for this device, they're perfect. Plus, the software isn't loaded with unnecessary jargon; it's quite light. It has its own home dashboard, featuring tabs like Search, Home, Apps, Video, Music, and Settings.
It actually has 2 settings pages, one being directly accessible by a remote click. One features only basic settings, while the other one acts as the dashboard, though the dashboard links to the common settings. If we talk about app support, there is absolutely no need to worry. It does have its own app store, which has the most popular apps, like Netflix and Disney.
Google Play Store Software and Hardware Information
But regional apps like Fancode are missing, though that isn't a problem since it comes loaded with Google Play Store (it must, as they're using Android). You can download any app you wish from the Play Store, provided it's supported (most are), but you must log in to a Google Account to use it. I suggest creating a new one for it (for privacy).
So overall, I pretty much liked the software experience. It's not buttery smooth, but it's fast enough for you to enjoy using it and not get fed up.
Conclusion:
Overall, I feel this projector is worth it for the price. Although I don't know how, and you might have noticed the lines in the photos I put up, those appeared quite unexpectedly. I often handled it properly; despite that, those lines appeared. I don't know if I can get it fixed, but for now, I don't find them disturbing. So yes, I think it can be fixed, so I may contact Lifelong in the future for this.
For now, this projector is out of stock on Amazon. I'm not sure if they sell this anymore, but I feel this is a good deal for the price. They also have another projector called the Light Beam, which has a different design, though it's only 720p native compared to the 1080p here. So yes, this is my take on this projector. I hope you enjoyed reading this review. Do follow along to read more.
This is Noah for ByteSync Network, signing out.
12.10.2026
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