In a market flooded with portable projectors, the ASUS Zenbeam L2 Portable LED Projector stands out as a compact powerhouse, promising high-quality projection in a small package. Designed for versatility and convenience, it caters to both personal and professional needs, whether for impromptu movie nights or on-the-fly presentations.

Design and Build Quality
The Zenbeam L2 portable LED projector offers portability with its sleek, minimalist design, and lightweight construction. Encased in a robust aluminium chassis, it feels very durable while remaining highly portable, weighing just under 2 kg. Its compact dimensions make it easy to slip into a bag or backpack, ensuring hassle-free transport for users on the move.

Connectivity
Despite its diminutive size, the Zenbeam L2 boasts an impressive array of connectivity options, ensuring seamless compatibility with a wide range of devices. Equipped with one HDMI port, two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and one earphone jack, along with wireless mirroring capabilities through the built-in support for Chromecast, it accommodates diverse input sources, from laptops and smartphones to gaming consoles and media players.

You also get a free Android-certified TV Box 12.0. Simply place it in the upper case and you are good to go. This comprehensive connectivity suite underscores the Zenbeam L2’s adaptability, making it suitable for both personal entertainment and professional presentations.

Performance
At the heart of the Zenbeam L2 lies its projection prowess, delivering vibrant visuals and crisp image quality that belie its compact form factor. With a native resolution of 1080p and support for 4K content, it produces sharp, detailed images with accurate colours and impressive brightness. The short-throw lens on this projector projects a 40-inch image from one meter, and up to a 120-inch image at three meters.

The LED light source offers a brightness of 960 LED lumens, ensuring consistent performance over extended periods and minimising maintenance requirements. The Zenbeam L2’s projection capabilities extend beyond mere image quality, with support for geometric correction, auto obstacle avoidance, and autofocus functionality. These features enable hassle-free setup and adjustment, ensuring optimal image alignment without the need for manual tweaking.

Whether projecting onto a wall or screen, you can expect distortion-free images with minimal effort. The ZenBeam L2 features integrated light wall functionality, offering 26 built-in content options to transform any wall into a vibrant virtual window. With colourful effects, it adds a cosy ambience to any room, providing natural-looking light and playful designs for a personalised touch.

Complementing its impressive visual capabilities, the Zenbeam L2 delivers good audio through its built-in speaker system which is rated at 10W. While not intended to replace dedicated audio solutions, the onboard speakers produce a clear, well-balanced sound that enhances the overall viewing experience. For added convenience, users can also connect external speakers or headphones via Bluetooth or the earphone port, ensuring flexibility in audio output options.

Battery Life
One of the Zenbeam L2’s standout features is its built-in 65Wh rechargeable battery, offering up to 3.5 hours of projection time on a single charge. This feature grants users the freedom to project content without being tethered to a power outlet, making it ideal for outdoor gatherings, impromptu movie nights, or business presentations on the go. Additionally, the projector’s energy-efficient design ensures prolonged battery life, further extending its utility in various scenarios.

Conclusion
The ASUS Zenbeam L2 projector encapsulates the essence of portable projection, combining compact design, versatile connectivity, and impressive performance into a single package. Whether for entertainment or professional use, its robust feature set and intuitive functionality make it a compelling choice for users seeking on-the-go projection solutions.

While it may not boast the sheer brightness of larger projectors, its blend of portability and performance makes it a standout option in the portable projector market. For enthusiasts of big-screen experiences seeking the freedom to enjoy them anywhere, the ASUS ZenBeam L2 LED portable projector proves to be a reliable and enjoyable companion.

Price: AED 2600 approx.

Photography by Ryan Chris

BenQ has launched its new series of portable projectors in the UAE market, the ceiling projectors. These projectors redefine home entertainment, offering Full HD 1080p ceiling projection and an inbuilt Android TV with Netflix. Drawing on years of leadership in DLP projection technology, BenQ’s ceiling projectors guarantee top-notch audiovisual quality with the acclaimed CinematicColor expertise.

The GV31 model stands out with its Full HD 1080p resolution, rotating angle projection design, autofocus, and auto vertical keystone. These features allow for stunningly immersive projections on the ceiling or other unique spaces at home, providing maximum comfort. Each projector in the ceiling series comes with rich integrated audio, with the GV31 model featuring up to 16W 270-degree 2.1-channel sound with extended bass. Additionally, the GV31 can function as a wireless speaker, offering up to 3 hours of video playback or 6 hours of music on a single charge.

BenQ’s ceiling projectors promise an immersive experience in any space, perfect for streaming shows, movies, or even supersized video games. They come with fully certified Android TV, including Netflix, for integrated all-in-one entertainment anytime, anywhere. Featuring modern USB-C connectivity for content transmission, DisplayPort output (DP Alt Mode), and power delivery (PD inputs and outputs), BenQ’s ceiling projectors offer new possibilities for enhancing your quality of life. With limitless projection angles and Android TV, these projectors provide the most comfortable streaming experiences, whether on the bedroom ceiling, in a cosy corner, or anywhere at home.

“The GV31 model of our new series is designed to offer an unprecedented viewing experience. With its unique ceiling projection capability, certified Android TV, and superior audiovisual performance, BenQ’s ceiling projectors are set to transform how UAE residents enjoy their favourite content at home,” said Manish Bakshi, Managing Director of BenQ Middle East.

BenQ’s innovative projectors are redefining the way we experience visual content. With a comprehensive range of options, including smart projectors for businesses, interactive series for education, and home cinema projectors, BenQ caters to a wide variety of needs. Their projectors are designed to deliver immersive experiences, whether it’s for movie streaming, gaming, or professional presentations.

The driver-free wireless projection feature allows seamless idea sharing from multiple devices, fostering collaboration and efficiency. With a commitment to providing true-to-life pictures, flexible installation, and reliability, BenQ continues to lead the way in digital lifestyle devices. As we move into an increasingly digital world, these advanced projectors by BenQ are set to transform viewing experiences, setting new standards in the industry.

A mix of Acer products received the 2023 Good Design Awards, headlined by its sustainability-focused products in the Acer ebii e-bike and several devices from the eco-conscious Vero line which include monitors, a set of peripherals, and an energy-saving projector. Awards were also handed to the Acer TravelMate P6 14 business laptop, Predator Triton 17 X gaming laptop, Acer Aspire S Series all-in-one desktop, Acer Revo Box mini-PC, and the Acer Connect Enduro M3 Mobile Wi-Fi. This year’s list of winning products highlights the company’s design innovation in serving multiple segments and lifestyles.

Since 1957, the Good Design Awards from Japan has sought to recognize companies and creators who develop “empowering designs” that bring about social contributions and push the boundaries of design possibilities. This year’s entries were assessed by a jury of experts based on the criteria of human, industrial, social, and time perspectives. The chosen winners have embodied this year’s theme of “design and outcomes”, emphasizing the creators’ diverse perspectives and growing awareness of various issues through their ideas and the actions done for their works to take shape.

Acer’s Good Design Award 2023 Winners

• Acer ebii e-Bike: Designed to provide urban commuters with a convenient, safe, and greener transportation option, the Acer ebii e-bike leverages AI-driven technology that adapts to power usage, riding conditions, and user preferences for effortless riding. Its long-lasting, swappable, and portable battery can be fast charged up to 100% power in just 2.5 hours to support worry-free journeys throughout the day. It also features a sturdy aluminium alloy frame and single-fork design, marked by smooth edges and a white matte finish, giving the Acer ebii’s clean and modern appearance. The ebike’s airless tires made from closed-loop recyclable materials are also flat-free and help minimize carbon footprint in the environment.

• Acer Vero B277U D3 Monitor: Made ideal for professional workers and teleconferencing, it showcases a WQHD resolution, AI noise-cancelling capabilities, a 5M-IR webcam, and a range of colour-enhancing technologies. To further uplift viewing experiences, the Acer Vero B277U D3 monitor’s flexible ErgoStand design lets users adjust tilt, swivel, pivot, and height with ease and is equipped with eye protection features such as Acer VisionCare 2.0 and TÜV/EyeSafe certification. The eco-display is also made with 85% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials and 5% ocean-bound plastic (OBP), is shipped with 100% recyclable packaging, and comes with loads of energy-efficient certifications such as TCO and ENERGY STAR, and EPEAT registration.

• Acer Vero B278K Monitor: To further support the growing needs of business and the remote work culture, the Acer Vero B278K commercial monitor features a 4K UHD display, built-in 5M-IR webcam and microphone that can detect multiple voices all at once, and a docking display to help minimize the need for external devices and workspace clutter. Providing added protection and flexibility for users, the monitor is equipped with Acer’s Vision Care 3.0 which helps reduce eye strain, multi-stream technology with ZeroFrame design, and daisy chain feature allowing it to connect multiple monitors side-by-side for extended viewing. The Acer Vero B278K monitor also utilizes recycled materials in its components and packaging and has earned its own share of eco-friendly certifications.

• Acer Vero XL2530 Projector: The Acer Vero XL2530 projector is great for environment-conscious consumers looking for a high-performance, yet low-maintenance projection solution. Its mercury-free light source does not require any replacements and offers up to a 30,000-hour lifespan from its high-efficiency laser light technology. With an IP6X protection-rated optical engine and 360-degree projection capabilities, the Acer Vero XL2530 gives added flexibility for various purposes within different environments. The projector’s space-saving exterior is also composed of 50% PCR plastic and 100% recyclable paper packaging, ultimately reducing overall cost and environmental impact.

• Acer Vero Peripherals Combo Set: A set of sustainable wireless peripherals composed of a keyboard and mouse, the devices are constructed from 65% PCR plastic and include OBP components, presenting an attractive earthy look and feel while leaving a lighter touch on the environment. Professionals and everyday users can maximise the keyboard’s silent switches when typing and the mouse’s 10-meter operating range, making it easy to work from any location or surrounding. What sets it apart is that they are made with one of the highest percentages of recycled plastics in the industry, combining practicality, sustainability, and ergonomic product designs in these eco-conscious devices.

• Acer TravelMate P6 14 Laptop: Users can enjoy elevated viewing experiences on the business laptop’s large 2.8K OLED display with 100% DCI-P3 colour space coverage. The thin-and-light device is packed with an FHD IR webcam, upward-facing speakers, and Acer’s AI-powered technology specialized for high-quality videoconferencing. Workers stay connected to fast internet speeds with Wi-Fi 6E and 5G wireless connectivity and a 65 W fast-charging battery. The secure-cored PC protects sensitive data with security features such as IR facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, user sensing technology, and Privacy Panel. The TravelMate P6 14 also keeps sustainability in mind as it incorporates PCR and OBP plastic, uses 100% recyclable packaging, and comes with military-grade durability, EPEAT registration, and TCO certification.

• Predator Triton 17 X Gaming Laptop: A 17-inch gaming laptop tailored for hardcore gamers and content creators who value performance, durability, reliability, and aesthetics all in one device. Its metal CNC unibody chassis is crafted to maintain a sleek and sophisticated look while housing an advanced cooling system with Acer’s 5th Gen Aeroblade 3D fans, vapour chamber, Vortex flow technology, and liquid metal thermal grease on the CPU. The laptop features a large WQXGA mini-LED display with a 250 Hz refresh rate and meets DisplayHDR requirements to offer wider viewing angles, higher resolutions, and improved multi-tasking capabilities. The Predator Triton 17 X’s screen is also Eyesafe Certified to help minimize blue light exposure when gaming or creating.

• Acer Aspire S All-in-one Desktop PC: Crafted to enhance everyday productivity and minimize workspace clutter with its slim and modern aluminium body design. Users can enjoy brilliant images when working or browsing on the Acer Aspire S AIO’s near-borderless WQHD IPS ergonomic display, with surround sound audio capabilities for truly immersive viewing. The addition of a magnetically mounted 1440p QHD webcam with ring light helps capture the best images and videos, while the options for an active stylus pen and detachable OceanGlass touchpad, made from ocean-bound plastic, further support user experiences and Acer’s mission of minimizing its carbon footprint within its product portfolio.

• Acer Revo Box Mini PC: The Acer Revo has been revamped to deliver upgraded performance in a more compact and versatile form factor. The mini-PC’s design allows it to be easily set up with an option for Acer’s patented rotatable VESA mount and adapter holder, helping save valuable desk space within homes or office work setups. Powered by the latest processors and large memory storage, the Acer Revo Box is capable of handling demanding applications with ease and possesses multiple display support (up to 3) along with a wide range of port options for added convenience.

• Acer Connect Enduro M3: The mobile hotspot device’s rugged yet sleek exterior features elevated lines on the chassis for added grip and is made from high-grade materials that conform with military-grade standards and IP54 protection rating, making it the perfect connectivity companion to stay online no matter the location or environment. The intuitive touchscreen shows simplified menu options and a QR code that makes it easier to set up hotspot connections. With vSim technology embedded, users can connect to over 200 5G network carriers across 135+ countries around the world without the need for any SIM card. It also carries a high-capacity 6500 mAh battery that can double as a power bank, making it a handy mobile device for fast internet and portable charging.