Emotn N1 Projector: In Review

As we mentioned in a previous article (seen here), the Emotn N1 Projector caught our interest. Since then, we’ve gotten a review loaner in, and we’ve been spending some time with it, and are ready to give you our take on it.

What do you get with the Emotn N1?

In short, the Emotn N1 is a compact, all-in-one projector. By that, we mean you don’t need to plug in any other devices (as it has Netflix, Prime, and YouTube built in) or even hook up a speaker to it, as it’s got two 5W speakers built into it. Sure, those aren’t going to replicate movie theater sound, but it’s hard to argue with a projector you plug into the wall, power up, and off you go.

Now, that said, you ARE able to connector other things in. It’s got an USB and HDMI ports (handy for plugging in and powering a streaming dongle), an ethernet port if you don’t want to go wireless, and a line out for connecting to a sound system. Also of note, you can connect to a bluetooth speaker or soundbar, and you can also mirror things from your phone (much more simply with an Android than iOS).

How easy is it to get movie night going?

As we mentioned above, the Emotn N1 just requires the one plug. When you start it up for the first time, you’ll need to get it on your wifi, and setup any additional bluetooth connections you may want. Past that, log in to your streaming services and you’re off to the races. After that initial setup, we could get something up and going in a few minutes.

How does it perform?

The weather wasn’t quite cooperating for us to test this outside, so we kept it to our inside testing. The first thing we did was get it on a tripod and put it up in one of the kids rooms. There, we’ve got angled ceilings, so we tend to pitch to project up there, and everyone can lay on the floor or a bed. Angled as it was, autofocus worked fine, but auto-keystone adjustment wasn’t working, so we adjust that manually. Once that was set, we relied on the built-in speakers, and it worked fine in that smaller space to watch some shows.

For our other setup, we put a sheet up on the wall in our front room, tied the Emotn N1 into our regular soundbar (using bluetooth), and got things setup. Again, we relied on the tripod to get the correct height, and here, we found both auto-focus and auto-keystone adjustment worked perfectly. The picture was bright and crisp (even when the room wasn’t completely dark), and the sound definitely benefitted from being connected to the soundbar.

Is the Emotn N1 quiet?

That’s a big question for a projector. In order to push a crisp image, they’re relying on very bright bulbs that push a lot of heat out. This means a fan to move that heat out, which can tend to be noisy, between the smaller fan diameter and velocity it’s trying to reach. Well, here, you can tell the fan is going when there’s nothing playing (sound-wise) but it’s not distracting, especially once you turn up the volume. We’re guessing with the taller case, they were able to fit a larger fan, and perhaps even manage airflow a bit better to help cut down on that noise.

Would we improve anything on the Emotn N1?

There is one small suggestion we’ve got for this compact projector – some sort of a protection for the lens. Given it’s size, it’s going to be carried around the house, or even brought along to other locations to setup a movie night or whatever. It can easily fit in a backpack, as it’s just an elongated cube. That said, the lens has no cover, which means you’ve got to be careful how it goes in the bag, and think about what else you might pack around it. Some sort of cover – either one that slides out of the way or just pops on/off – would really help the projector last a good long time, particularly if you’re going to be moving it around.

Is the Emotn N1 worth it?

And by “it”, we mean the price that you’re paying. At the moment – on Amazon – you can get it for $399.99 which is discounted from the $599.99 MSRP. Additionally, there’s a $50 coupon on Amazon knocking it down a bit more. So, again we ask, is it worth it? If you’ve already got a recent projector, probably not. However, if you’ve only got a TV setup – and particularly if you don’t have any streaming dongles, like a Roku – then yes, this would be a great one to pick up. With Netflix, Prime, and YouTube built in, it lifts the need to connect in something else, and just makes for a super simple setup. If you want something for backyard movies this summer, the Emotn N1 should make you – and your movie goers – quite happy. emotn.com

Tech Specs from Emotn

• Display
  • Display Technology: LCD
  • Brightness (ANSI Lumens): 500
  • Light Source: LED
  • Light Source Lifespan: 30,000 Hours
  • Resolution: 1080P (1920×1080 FHD)
  • Supported Formats: HDR 10
• Projection
  • Throw Ratio: 1.25:1
  • Image Size: 60″~120″
  • Auto Focus: Yes, ToF Laser Auto Focus
  • Auto Keystone Adjustment: Yes, ±20 Degrees Auto Keystone Correction
  • Manual Keystone Adjustment: Yes
• Audio
  • Speaker: 2 x 5W
  • Dolby Digital: Yes
  • Dolby Digital Plus: Yes
• System
  • RAM: 1GB DDR3
  • Storage: 8GB eMMC5.1
  • Operating System: Linux
  • Content: Official License from Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, etc
• Connectivity
  • Input
    • USB2.0 x 1
    • HDMI IN x 1
    • DC-IN x 1
    • LAN x 1
  • Output: Line-out x 1
  • WiFi: 2.4G/5G, 2T2R, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0/BLE
• Environment
  • Operating Temperature: 5°C~35°C
  • Power Consumption: 110W
  • Noise: <26dB @25°C
• Accessories
  • Power Plug: 120W (19V/6.32A)
  • AC cord x1
  • Bluetooth Remote Control x1
  • User Manual x1
• Dimensions / Weight 7.174.927.56 inches / 4.24 Lb