After testing the Google TV projector, I may never buy another TV

I’ve been a fan of portable projectors since I first started testing the XGIMI MoGo Pro in 2019. Back then, it was a nice addition to my home broadcast as a portable TV that I could take to the balcony or bedroom without having to lug around a huge TV. Over the years, I’ve used Android TV and then Google TV projectors in various capacities, from my kitchen to my outdoor deck. My end the projector replaced my Samsung Frame TV Pro the screen died and I was without the TV for several weeks before it was repaired.

When I moved into my new home, I went out of my way to find a TV that didn’t look like a giant black box permanently occupying visual space in my living room. I’ve had my eye on the Samsung Frame TV and its various competitors from Hisense and TCL. But I knew it was the one when Samsung announced the Frame Pro, with its brighter and more contrasty Neo QLED panel, wireless box connectivity, and faster processor.

I had to pay a lot of money to hide the TV on my wall, and even then, due to Samsung’s really bad software and lack of proper settings and options, I find myself turning off the frame feature 70% of the time. Even though I paid for the privilege of avoiding it, I’m back to the big black rectangle.

By design, the projector is exactly the opposite. It sits on a media console if it’s an ultra-short-throw model, or next to a couch if it’s a regular laser projector, and doesn’t command any wall real estate. I could even put a painting in there, have some decorations or bookshelves, and optionally install a white screen on the ceiling. This is the visual freedom that a projector can give me.

Putting aside my personal pedantic aversion to big black boxes, I’ve spent years enjoying the freedom of carrying my TV around.

Mostly mine Google TV projectors have been portable models with a built-in battery, which means I can easily walk up and down the three floors of my house with my entire TV – including streamer, speaker and power. I go from watching YouTube videos on my white kitchen cabinets on the first floor, to projecting my Pixel 10 Pro’s screen on the wall of my first floor office, to streaming movies on the sloped ceiling of my second floor bedroom without breaking a sweat. I don’t need to think about speakers, power supply or connecting everything via HDMI. Everything is in one unit.

Inexpensive(er) projectors like the XGIMI Vibe One I’m currently using are ideal for intermittent use in living rooms, bedrooms, offices, as well as outdoor movie nights, or even hanging out at friends’ places or Airbnbs. But when I tested my first ultra-short-throw projector, I realized that they can also be “serious” TVs that are easier to move around the house than a 65-inch or larger panel.

Speaking of moving them, projectors are also easier to “set up” anywhere due to their design. I didn’t like the eight large holes we had to drill to install the Samsung Frame Pro, nor did I like the fact that the power cord was visible for a year until we found a solution to run it through the wall behind the TV.

To make matters worse, when the Frame Pro’s panel died, Samsung France required me to take the TV off the wall to initiate a repair request, so my husband and I had to figure out how to take it apart without breaking it or giving Samsung any reason to blame us for the dead panel. As TV sets get bigger and bigger, they become more difficult to set up, especially if someone like me isn’t comfortable handling large and heavy electronics. The projector avoids all these. Even the heaviest ones weigh around 10kg (22lbs) and are easy to move, unplug and service.

In addition, they offer you all the advantages and freedoms that a regular television cannot. Sloping walls and ceilings? The projector doesn’t care. No walls or ceiling? Use a white curtain or rollable white screen. afraid of the safety of your baby who falls next to the big TV on the stand (for renters who can’t hang a TV on the wall)? The projector prevents this. Isn’t there an easy or sexy way to bypass all the wires and cables? Most Google TV projectors only need one power cable.

In addition, like some projectors XGIMI Mogo 4, it even comes with its own floor stands, while most other models at least have a built-in tilt stand. So, all the headaches of installing a TV with a projector are gone.

In my home, I chose the 65-inch Frame Pro because it was the largest logical size to fit the wall I wanted the TV on. A 75 inch TV would be a bit big for my space. But if I had a projector, I could easily adjust the distance to get a 73-inch wall-to-wall projection without adding a pound to my setup.

Even better, the same projector on a different wall or ceiling can extend 100 inches or more, as in the image above. This is a convenience and advantage that no other TV I have bought will offer me.

When I can’t find a large enough space on my walls or ceilings, I still have an option. projection of the image onto white curtains or get a rolling white screen. My bedroom walls aren’t fully furnished yet, so I’m using them for projection. But when I install some cabinets or shelves, I have to use the ceiling again or a large white curtain.

With Google TV support waning among many TV manufacturers, it’s surprising to see the platform remain so popular and nearly universal among projectors. XGIMI, TCL, Dangbei, Epson, and many other brands make great projectors built into Google TV – no need for a separate Google TV Streamer or streaming stick. Just turn it on and all my apps and services, all my videos and all my content are there for me to enjoy. I love it!

In terms of service, I honestly don’t need much. YouTube, local Canal Plus app, Plex, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and Spotify app. Any other TV platform can provide this, but Google TV gives more than these apps. It’s a Chromecast target, so I can cast directly from my phone to the projector. I can use the Google Home app to turn on the projector or navigate with the on-screen remote. And my entire Google Home setup is also accessible from the smart home dashboard.

All of this ensures that my experience remains as seamless as it is with the Google TV Streamer currently connected to the Samsung Frame Pro. But if I choose a projector as my main TV, I won’t need it. I just have to make sure the updates stay on time, but that hasn’t been a problem on Google TV like it has on Android TV.

Look, I’m aware of that switching from a TV to a projector is not an easy decision. Of course, there are downsides to consider, such as having to work with ambient light and accept darkness for the highest quality image, obvious drops in contrast and image quality, worst speakers when I don’t plug in a soundbar, and a constant fan hum.

However, some of the best ultra-short-throw projectors today have solved most of these problems, and I’m sure newer models will continue to improve on this. Sure, they’re expensive, but so are the best TVs, especially if you want one that you can easily disguise on your wall, like the Samsung Frame Pro.

So when it comes time to buy a new TV, whether we want something more powerful than our current setup in the bedroom or living room, I’ll be looking at a projector rather than a regular TV. Less headache overall.