I recently moved to a new apartment, and unfortunately, the television didn’t make the cut during the amicable roommate split. While my studio isn’t as cramped as my previous living situations, fitting a bulky TV into the living area still felt impractical to me.
In my search for a suitable alternative, a startup called Lumi Labs reached out about testing its new portable projector, the Lumi Max. From the moment I unboxed it, I was impressed by how far projectors have come since my college days, when I struggled with a dingy one passed down from a friend that projected grainy video onto my dorm wall.
One of the things I appreciate about the Lumi Max is its compact design. It stands vertically, making it perfect for small spaces; it can easily rest on a shelf or be tucked away when not in use. Weighing in at just over 4 pounds, it’s noticeably lighter than many other projectors on the market. The founders are avid camping enthusiasts, so it’s designed to fit snugly in backpacks, making it convenient to travel and set up in outdoor settings. Plus, it comes with a carrying case.
The standout feature of the Lumi Max, which became available earlier this month, is its partnership with Google. The projector runs on Google TV by default, providing access to over 10,000 apps, more than 700,000 movies and TV shows, and over 800 free live TV channels out of t …