Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Elephas mini projectors. If you’ve encountered this brand and are eager to learn more, you’re definitely in the right place. In this article, we’ll explore the range of Elephas projector models, compare their features, and help you choose which one may fit your needs and budget. We’ll delve into key specifications such as display resolutions and connectivity options, providing valuable insights into the Elephas model lineup.
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Elephas A1
The Elephas A1 projector offers portable entertainment that fits into a pocket or backpack. Measuring a mere 5.82 x 3.85 x 0.82 inches and powered by an internal battery makes this model super convenient to use no matter where you are.
Media Compatibility
Despite its compact size, this projector offers some impressive versatility. With a projection distance ranging from 1.09 feet to 10.93 feet, you can easily adapt it to your surroundings. Want a snug 38-inch image for a cozy setup? Place it 3.28 feet from your wall. Craving a more cinematic experience? Pull it back to 6.56 feet for a captivating 76-inch display. The closer it is to a wall, the brighter the image can appear.
There’s an HDMI port included, which is what you’ll use to plug most of your devices into. This model is also able to handle playback of a variety of media formats via a USB drive including: jpg, png, mp3, mp4, avi, xvid, and divx encodings.
Wireless & Battery-powered
Connectivity supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks, offering wired or wireless screen casting options (excluding through USB-C). The built-in 7000mAh rechargeable battery ensures up to 2 1/2 hours of playtime, and you can prolong it further by connecting an external battery. Two battery life/brightness modes are available: high (1h 50m) and normal (2h 30m). Select whichever fits your current viewing preference.
Brightness & Setup
Setting up the Elephas A1 is a breeze thanks to its automatic vertical keystone correction, accommodating angles of 40 or 45 degrees (varies by source). Be aware, it’s only a vertical correction, so the projector will need to be perpendicular to your wall. There’s a manual focus feature that will allow you to fine-tune your image for optimal clarity.
I’m unsure about the native resolution of the projector. However, I assume it’s rendering at 800×480, so I’ll tentatively go with that, it’s a pretty common resolution for these types of mini projectors. Though it will take in 1080p sources, just know it’ll be blurrier than buying a native 1080p model.
Beyond entertainment, this projector shines for anyone interested in creative endeavors, such as for cookie or cake decorating. With 200 ANSI brightness, visuals work best in a darkened room, as with most projectors but especially with these dimmer LED-based models. The 3W speaker does an adequate job for its size. You could always use the 3.5mm headphone jack to output audio to external speakers or something. There is Bluetooth support but I’ve read that some users have had some issues connecting wireless external speakers.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the Elephas A1 projector is a compact and versatile choice for portable media viewing. This model would be good for someone that’s often using their projector in multiple locations, perhaps away from home, and so you may need a battery-powered projector.
It could also be a nice choice if you’re looking for a projector specifically for art projects. If you decorate baked goods or want to trace an image onto a wall as a guide to paint, you’d technically be able to do that with this model depending on the lighting conditions. It also works at a minimum distance of 1.09 feet according to the company, which would be great for decorating smaller things on a table.
Elephas W13
The Elephas W13 projector provides a good balance of performance while being very budget-friendly. With its sleek design and user-friendly interface, it delivers an immersive experience for both casual viewers and enthusiasts. But how are the specifications and features?
Resolution & Picture
This model features a native resolution of 720p based on information from the Elephas company, providing a bit clearer picture compared to the A1 model. Its throw distance is adjustable between 2.6 to 14.5 feet, offering flexibility when setting up your projection. Additionally, the projector boasts a long lamp life of up to 50,000 hours since it’s LED-based, ensuring extended usage. Just like the A1, the W13 does support 1080p input sources from media and games. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any information about the ANSI lumens rating, they only provide a specification of 7500 lumens.
It’s important to note that there are possibly two different models of the W13 on Amazon. One version is from 2020 released as a 480p projector and a newer version from 2022 that’s supposed to render at 720p. The 720p info is what Elephas stated in a Q&A post. I’m not sure whether both Amazon listings are selling the latest 720p version, but I’ll only be linking to the newer listing, just in case.
Connectivity
As far as connectivity goes, there’s a variety of options available to cater to different needs. The W13 features one HDMI port, which is the most commonly used connection for modern devices like laptops, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. Additionally, it includes two USB ports for connecting flash drives. The projector is equipped with an AV port and adapter, suitable for connecting older DVD players or classic video game consoles. Furthermore, it has a VGA port, allowing you to display content from ancient computers. These connectivity options ensure compatibility with a wide range of devices for a seamless user experience.
This projector offers both wired and wireless options for screen sharing from your smartphone or tablet. It comes with a 5-watt speaker that provides decent audio quality. You can use the 3.5mm audio out port to enhance the audio capabilities or consider purchasing an additional accessory called an “audio extractor” to split the audio out to other types of systems. It’s also worth noting that this model does support Bluetooth but it may be a bit finicky at times.
Who Is This For?
The Elephas W13 projector is an affordable option designed for a broad audience. It could be a great choice for those who want to explore projector usage without a substantial investment. With support for various media devices, it’s super versatile for beginners who may be unsure about projectors. It’s also an economical solution for creating an additional screen for kids or movie nights.
Elephas YG280
The Elephas YG280 projector, with its basic features and compact dimensions measuring just 5 x 3.6 x 2.16 inches, appears to be marketed as a product for a younger audience. Its mini size and portability make it a suitable choice for kids’ entertainment. But have there been too many concessions made for this model to hit its appealingly low price point?
Image Appearance
According to the Elephas chart, it seems like you’ll have a 60” image size when the projector is sitting about 6 1/2 feet away from the wall. This model is LED-based so the lamp isn’t overly bright, which means the picture will look a bit faded when there’s ambient light in your room. One of the major possible downsides though is that the native resolution might only be 480×272! But at this price it shouldn’t be too much of a shocker that some specifications will be lower.
There is a dedicated focus dial you can use on the side of the projector to make it as clear as possible. There just really aren’t too many frills in terms of the picture aspect. The company also recommends you use the machine to display an image between 25 inches and 60 inches in size. I’m not sure whether that’s due to the brightness of the bulb or the optics but it’s something important to point out here.
Functionality
I would say the functionality is at least pretty decent since the projector does support a pretty big variety of devices. There’s one HDMI port, as expected, to enjoy the majority of your newest media. It should be easy to set the machine up and plug in a streaming stick such as a Roku device to play cartoons or animation movies.
There’s also an AV/Composite port and adapter for older DVD players or old gaming consoles. Aside from those inputs, you also have a USB port and a headphone jack on the back. These should allow you to plug most things in, just in terms of port compatibility. Even the physical buttons found on top of the projector are very simplistic. This makes the machine relatively easy to use but I’ve read there can be a delay between button presses and that sort of thing.
Is This For You?
For most people, I’d probably recommend the W13 or BL128 model over the YG280. It doesn’t quite hit the same low price but you get more performance for your money. I think it’d give a better value overall for the majority of users. But if you need a thrifty projector to just be used as a way to play videos for kids, this might be a totally fine model for you.
Elephas BL128
The BL128 is another Elephas mini projector, with dimensions measuring just 6 x 4.4 x 2.4 inches. This size makes it incredibly easy to transport wherever you go with minimal hassle. If you’re wondering how this model stacks up against the Elephas W13, we’ll be going over that information below to explain which one may be better for you. This seems doubly important since they’re both positioned around the same price.
Image Appearance
From the information I’ve found, the BL128 is a native 720p projector, which will give you a clearer picture over a 480p machine. As usual the projector can display 1080p sources from videos or games as well. The company has stated that the latest version is now the BL128 3.0, which has various improvements over versions 1.0 and 2.0, naturally. The color gamut for example now covers up to 91% of the NTSC color range. This will give you more accurate visuals compared to a projector with worse color coverage.
I haven’t found any ANSI lumen rating, but the W13 says it’s 7500 lux lumens and 200 ANSI lumens, so perhaps the BL128 is close to that or slightly above with its 8000 lux lumens. There is a focus ring you can use to adjust the sharpness of the picture. You’ll need to do this with any projector, especially whenever you place the machine in a new spot since the distance to the wall may change. You also have some keystone correction, which is adjusting the angle of the picture. However, the angle is a bit limited, so I’d recommend just align it with your wall as much as possible instead of relying on the keystone.
Features
This model seems to have most of the same physical connection options as the W13. One HDMI port, A/V, 2x USB, an audio out, MicroSD, and VGA. It’s important to note that it seems like this projector cannot playback video files from a USB flash drive. I guess the ports could be used to provide power to your media streaming devices such as an Amazon Fire TV stick. But I don’t think they’ll provide power when the machine is turned off, so your streaming device will need to boot up before it’s able to be used.
There also isn’t any wireless functionality here, no Bluetooth and no WiFi screen sharing. This might be a disappointment to some people that expect this feature on modern projectors, to others it probably won’t matter. On the audio side, it seems to pump out some decently loud sounds from its internal speaker. You’ll likely want to plug in some external speakers using the audio out port though for an improved cinema experience.
Should You Buy It?
The product information says it comes with a carrying bag and a tripod, which adds a bit of value to the projector. But the tripod appears to be a little flimsy, so it might be better to just place the projector on a stable flat surface. The Elephas BL128 supports a good amount of media via its connectivity and provides some decent performance for the price.
The BL128 is smaller than the W13 and the picture quality might be a slight bit better. It does lack wireless features but it’ll be up to you whether that matters or not. If you’ll just be using the HDMI, AV, or VGA ports you could definitely give this model a chance.
Which Elephas Projector Should You Choose?
There are some other Elephas projector models but most seem to be out of stock or discontinued. I’d say the best candidate is either the W13 or the BL128 models. This is depending on what you’re looking for and how you’ll be using your projector. I guess I would say the W13 is probably what I’d recommend between these two by a small margin. Based on the pros and cons, most people seem a little happier with the W13 overall and it edges out by offering some extra features not found on the BL128. However, if you don’t need those additional features, you could go for the BL128.
