Roku is regarded as one of the best alternatives to Android and Google TV, but while it’s available on all manner of TVs, it’s harder to find such a device that gives you cinematic-size big screen pictures.
Well, that used to be the case, but the Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1 Cube is here to change that, bringing the Roku TV platform to an entirely new kind of device.
Roku says it’s the first ever Roku TV projector and it’s hard to argue with that claim given that it comes from the company itself. While it has been possible to get a Roku TV experience by plugging in one of its handy Roku streaming sticks into a projection device, this is the first projector that runs the operating system natively.
It’s a notable milestone because Roku remains the number one TV operating system in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and such brand awareness will likely help to make the Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1 Cube a popular product.
What helps make the case for this device is its combination of low price and decent specifications for such an affordable model. It costs just $199.99 on Amazon, which works out at around £149.
The projector is apparently designed to be used both indoors and outdoors, although it doesn’t come with an internal battery, so you’ll still need a way to connect it to a power source, which may well involve the use of an extension cord. The unit is said to be dust-proof and come with sealed optics, but it doesn’t appear to be water-resistant, so you probably don’t want to go setting it up outside in the rain.
That said, it’s reasonably capable for such a low cost device, with 1080p Full HD images with a maximum brightness of 330 ANSI lumens. It can beam pictures of between 40-inches and 150-inches diagonally, and the audio emanates from a pair of 5-watt speakers.
In terms of connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2, so you’ll be able to stream content from Netflix, YouTube and all of the other streaming apps that come with the Roku TV platform. It can also access more than 500 live TV channels, as well as “Roku Originals”. There are HDMI and USB connectors, a 3.5mm audio connector and AirPlay compatibility. It can integrate with Roku’s mobile application too, allowing it to control various smart home gadgets.
Setting up should be fairly simple too, with smart features such as automatic focus and automatic keystone correction making it essentially a plug-and-play experience. Just set it back as far away from the projection surface as required to get the picture size you desire.
Admittedly, the Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1 Cube cannot compete with more expensive and professional projectors like Xgimi’s Titan and Horizon 20 Max, Valerion's stunning VisionMaster Max or Anker's crazy Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro party speaker/projector combo, but then it’s not really supposed to.
Rather, it’s competing at the lower-end of the market against portable models such as the Xgimi MoGo Pro 3 and Samsung’s The Freestyle 2, where the combination of low price and Roku OS makes it a very compelling alternative, even if it doesn’t come with a battery.
