The Vankyo Leisure 430W Pro projector offers several improvements compared to its older sibling, the OG 430 model. These changes included better native resolution, modern WiFi screen sharing, higher contrast, and more. Being able to now have an internal 720p HD resolution over the original 480p will provide a great boost in clarity. Screen sharing new videos you recorded on your phone or funny pictures you took might make for some fun social gatherings.
This big list of newly added features help make this newer model a smarter buying decision. That’s not to say that this is guaranteed to be the best model for you though. Everyone has different needs from a projector and it’s important to get something that suits your individual requirements. You should make a list of a few of your most essential “wants” in a projector. Ask yourself, what kind of connectivity will you be needing? Where do you plan on using the projector? Do you need it to be portable? I’ll review the various features below and try to go into detail whenever I use any technical terms.
Devices Supported
Knowing about all the capabilities of your projector will allow you to enjoy owning the machine even more. The Vankyo 430W supports both old and new devices. This means you’ll be able to use the projector with a huge range of content.
The most popular is the HDMI port, this is what almost everything uses nowadays. You can use this port to watch movies or TV from a Blu-ray player, HDMI TV box, and media stick. If you love playing video games or have family that does, they’ll be able to plug in all modern consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, XBOX One S/X. and XBOX Series S/X.
There’s an SD card slot and a USB port that can be used to playback movies. Just put some videos onto a flash drive or SD card and the projector can play them directly without the need of an additional device. Be aware, not all codecs and formats are compatible, check the format list in the summary section below.
For older devices, there’s also an RCA/Composite video port and a VGA computer port. The RCA/Composite input will handle most things that don’t have an HDMI port. Something like an old DVD player or older gaming console. The VGA input can be used to mirror the image of your computer if it lacks an HDMI port.
Resolution
The term resolution can mean different things depending on which phrase you’re using. If you read specifications that say a projector “supports 1080p”, that means it’s capable of taking in a full HD source, and displaying it. However, “native resolution” is another term you should look for, as this is what actually determines how sharp and clear your image will be. It’s basically the internal resolution the projector is running at.
This 430W Pro model natively produces a 720p HD picture. In comparison, the older 430 model was only native 480p, so the overall image will be crisper, and you’ll see more fine detail. For example, things like: blades of grass, fabrics, distant objects will all be more defined. Resolution is important for all modern media including movies, TV, and video games. If you care about pristine clarity definitely try to get the highest “native” resolution possible. Here’s a YouTube video you can quickly view to see an example of the picture quality, but be aware that it is in Japanese.
Contrast & Brightness
Here’s where you’ll find some more improvements in this model. The contrast and brightness ratings usually work together to provide a bright picture with vivid colors under ideal conditions. Generally, you’ll want to get a projector with solid numbers in these categories.
On average, most movie theaters typically have around a 500:1 contrast ratio. The contrast determines the intensity of colors. Having bigger numbers typically means that the image will look less washed out and grey. The Vankyo 430W has a contrast ratio of 4000:1, which is twice the amount of the older version.
Brightness is equally as important, perhaps even more so. A projector will always look its best when you can limit outside light. However, some people would like to use their machine during the day. I found some information from the Vankyo company stating this model was around 4500 lux lumens. I’m not sure how accurate that is nor if the amount has been upgraded recently for this year.
WiFi Enabled
Do you love the idea of sharing content from your smartphone or tablet right to your projector? Normally, you need to get a separate cable to plug into your phone and projector, just to mirror your screen. The 430W is WiFi capable though, which means you can wirelessly stream freely without the need of any additional cables. Examples of some stuff you might want to share would be photos, videos, apps, and games.
If someone can join your secure WiFi router, they’ll be able to log into the projector to share as well. This way you can securely allow only specific people to join in. I should note that any media with a copyright may not work due to media/app companies blocking access. This is only an issue when you’re mirroring from your phone or tablet. You can easily just use an Amazon FireStick, or something similar like a Roku stick, to stream video from: Netflix, Hulu, and other networks.
Audio & Speakers
The Vankyo Leisure 430W projector has a very compact design and measures about 8.9 x 6.9 x 3.5 inches (22.5 x 17.5 x 9cm). This size doesn’t give much room for large speakers and most of the internal space is used for electronics and airflow. The projector does pump out surprisingly adequate sound that should suffice many situations.
If you’d like to take your home cinema experience to the next level, I’d highly suggest you add some external speakers to the machine. There’s a dedicated 3.5mm audio port on the projector that can be used with many computer speakers or a sound bar you may already have available.
Throw Distance & Keystone
Projectors are pretty straightforward to use but there are a few very important steps you’ll need to take once you unbox your machine. The term “keystone” refers to the picture alignment. There are two rotatable dials on top of the machine, one of them will adjust the image to be squarely aligned to your wall, this is the keystone control.
The other dial controls the image focus. If you don’t adjust this dial the picture may look blurry. Be sure to adjust both of these dials every time you move your projector from one room to another. Changing the distance of the projector will require readjustments.
“Throw distance” determines how big of a screen you’ll get at specific distances. The minimum useable distance is 4.92 feet (1.5m) which will give you a 40″ screen. At about 9.8 feet (3m) you’ll see an 80″ screen. Finally, at the max distance of 28.2 feet (8.6m) it will display a picture that’s 236″ big.
Summary
Native Resolution: 1280×720 (Supports 1080p)
Contrast: 4000:1
Keystone: ±15 degrees
Brightness: 4500~ lux lumens
Lamp Life: up to 55,000 hours
Item Dimensions: 8.86 x 6.89 x 3.54 inches (22.5×17.5x9cm)
Item Weight: 2.9lbs (1.31kg)
Available Ports: HDMI x1, USB x1, SD Card, RCA/AV, VGA
Supported Formats: AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, MOV, RMVB, 3GP, MPEG1, MPEG2, H.264, XVID
Included: remote, HDMI cable, RCA/AV adapter, carrying case, power cable
Conclusion
The Vankyo 430W Pro has a lot of improvements in many aspects over the original 430 model. In fact, there’s almost no reason to consider the previous model anymore in my opinion unless there’s a heavy discount. The increase in native resolution will give you a sharper image overall. There’s also the increased contrast ratio which will make colors more strikingly vibrant. If you love the idea of screen sharing content from your smart device, this model comes equipped with WiFi capabilities as well.
Another thing to note, this projector utilizes LED technology to give you incredibly long lasting lamp life of up to 55K hours. This is a huge difference compared to replaceable bulb models which may only last 2.5-5K hours before needing to be replaced. It could save you some money in the long run by not having to be buying new bulb/lamps every year.
The projector supports almost any media device you would want to enjoy using thanks to the HDMI, RCA/AV, and VGA ports. All of these features and specifications work together to provide you with a versatile machine. If you’re interested in considering an alternative projector that offers even more improvements, check out the Vankyo 530W. It’s a native 1080p model with even further component upgrades. Either way, the 430W is a great starting point if this is your first projector. The closest similar choice would perhaps be the Vankyo 470 which you could also read about and compare.
Vankyo 430W Projector Offers
If you’re also looking for any deals I’d suggest you visit the links below to check on the latest prices and offers. Sometimes there are coupons you can apply from Vankyo so be sure to add the projector to your shopping cart! This will ensure you can see a complete total with any discounts applied.
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