TCL’s funky Rubik Cube-style PlayCube projector is now available to buy in the U.K. as the leading model in a three-strong lineup of portable, big picture beamers.
The TCL PlayCube wowed attendees at CES 2025 in January when the company first showcased the device, thanks to its novel design, which allows it to be twisted to project images onto a wall or ceiling at a wide range of angles.
While box-shaped projectors aren’t anything new, the TCL Playcube is different because it has two separate sections, with one part containing the laser-based projection system and the other, smaller part carrying the audio hardware and battery. The two sections are joined by a hinge, which can be swiveled around by more than 90-degrees, making for flexible placement without the need for a gimbal or anything similar.
The PlayCube has since launched in the U.S. in September, and also made another appearance at the IFA 2025 show in Berlin that month, and now finally it’s available to buy here for £799.
The price is not that bad for what’s on offer. TCL is making a strong debut in the portable projector niche with the PlayCube, which is both small and portable, weighing less than 1.4 kg, and a battery that can run for up to three hours. Because it has a battery, it’s truly wireless, making it far more portable than many other models that claim to be so, but require a power connection. It runs Google TV which means Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ etc are all available for streaming, and it has WiFi connectivity.
Features include automatic screen alignment and instant autofocus, plus auto keystone correction, ensuring that it’s fairly simple to set up. Just plonk it down, twist it to get the picture lined up onto the surface and the PlayCube will do the rest, ensuring the image has perfect geometry. The device also supports fast charging, with TCL saying just 30 minutes is all it takes.
Another positive is the PlayCube’s brightness, which is rated at 750 ISO lumens, which should ensure the images look really intense when viewing at night time, and still watchable during daytime hours. That said, it’s probably not going to look so great if you push the image up to its maximum 150-inch size if it’s not dark yet. TCL also points to 124% coverage of the Rec 709 SDR colour gamut. It supports 4K content, though maximum resolution is capped at Full HD. It has a 5-watt audio system and Dolby Digital Plus is included too.
We did mention that the TCL PlayCube is just one of a trio of new portable projectors, and that’s not a lie. While the PlayCube is the top-of-the-range model, the other two may also be worth a look. Sitting in the middle of the range is the new TCL Projector A1S, and it also has a very eye-catching design with its tower-like shape and a built-in “Versagrip” handle. The handle can be pushed down through the bottom to act like a kind of stand, which raises the projector’s angle so it can beam images more accurately. However, it lacks a built-in battery, meaning you’ll always need a power supply.
It costs a very reasonable £369, and in terms of its specifications, it has 600 ISO lumens brightness and can generate Full HD images of up to 150-inches. There’s an integrated 16-watt audio system – making it much louder than the PlayCube – which also means it can double as a fantastic Bluetooth speaker. There’s also a “reactive mood lighting system” that will generate various colours in synchronisation with whatever music is being played.
Finally, the most affordable of the three is the TCL Projector C1, which costs just £249 and is the smallest and lightest of all. It has an ever so slightly more compact tower shape and it comes with an integrated battery, making it just as portable as the PlayCube. It throws out Full HD pictures and supports 4K content, and there’s a rotating gimbal stand/carry handle to support flexible placement. Auto-image adjustment features are present too, so it will automatically focus the picture and get the right shape.
As for sound, this should be pretty decent with its integrated 8-watt speaker system, but the sacrifice comes in terms of the picture itself. Its brightness is substantially lower than the other two at just 230 ISO lumens, and its picture size maxes out at 120-inches.
