Dream Home Theater Achieved! | LUMOS RAY Projector Review

As a binge-watcher, nothing can beat the experience of watching your favorite movies and series on a big screen. But considering what happened in the past couple of years, lots of people are still hesitant to go to the malls and watch in movie theaters simply because health is important.

While there are people who love and enjoy going to movie theaters to watch the newest movies, I do enjoy watching movies indoors. I prefer binge-watching at home, where I can watch with my pajamas on while drinking coffee and lying down in bed comfortably. That's why as a movie lover who loves to watch at home, it is my dream to have a home cinema theater.

The last time I went to the cinema was in June 2019 (gosh, it's almost 3 years ago), when I watched MIB INTERNATIONAL starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. That was not followed because I was busy with work, and the pandemic happened. Experiencing the quarantine fueled my "Home Cinema Theater" dream.

I love watching movies, but I'm not that updated with the new ones, that is because I prefer watching old movies. My favorite genre is Horror and Thriller, and I also love Psychological-Thriller with unpredictable plot twists as I enjoy the thrill of thinking and analyzing the movie. I enjoy watching movies no matter what device I use, but the experience will be more enjoyable if I can watch it on a bigger screen, and when I say bigger, I mean BIIIGGGEEERRR! But considering how expensive projectors are in the market, and as a practical person when it comes to spending, I didn't buy any projectors. Yes, I know there is a "cheaper" price online, but will you buy an uncompetitive brand just because it is cheaper? No! Quality is important!

That is why I'm very lucky to have a LUMOS RAY Projector!

I am so excited to share with you the things I love about my LUMOS RAY SMART, but before that, let's talk about the product first.

"LUMOS" is the brand name - a Singaporean brand that produces a quality yet affordable Projector. They only ship in Singapore and Malaysia, but due to rave reviews from our fellow Filipino overseas, they decided to expand their market in the Philippines.

"RAY" is the name of the unit, which is the projector, that's why it is called LUMOS RAY, and it has two variants; LUMOS RAY and RAY Smart.

LUMOS RAY is the regular one without Android OS and in-built apps. For you to use it, just like the old and classic type of projectors, you need to connect it through a device using cables (which is kinda messy to look at if the cables are not organized) to project it on a bigger screen.

On the other hand, RAY Smart is the version that is WIFI and Plug & Play ready! And take note, it runs an Android OS 9.0 version AND with in-built apps (which we will talk about in a bit).

Let's now go to the inclusion of the box.

The box contains (photo below, from left to right):

* Power cord

* HDMI cable

* AV cable

* Remote (needs 2x triple-A batteries)

FYI, this projector needs to be plugged in for it to work - it is not wireless.

With its inclusion, you don't have to spend money on cables as they already provided you with these. The only thing you need to buy (only if you don't have extra), is the battery for the remote - you need two pieces of triple-A batteries. Aside from that, no need to spend, unless, necessary.

Since we're talking about the cables and cords, let's see the back of the projector where all the ports are located.

In the upper part, you can see the ports (from left to right):

* Headset/Earphone (if you don't want to disturb people, or if you want to hear the audio alone)

* Audio Video

* HDMI

* USB

* TF (memory card slot)

In the lower part, you can see the power port where the power cable should be plugged in.

At the top of the unit, you can see the power on/off button.

Note: When plugged in, the power button is color red which means it is on its standby mode. When you press it to use, the color will be changed to blue.

NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EXCITING PART!

Considering the price of this projector, you will not believe how powerful this is. And these are the things I love about it!

1. PREMIUM AND ELEGANT LOOK

With its Black & White color, this projector can blend everywhere! The design is very modern, with a sleek look, and everything is perfectly placed in its designated place. And aside from its sophisticated look, LUMOS RAY is very handy as it also comes with a handle.

You can bring it everywhere and it looks like a fashionable bag at a first glance. You will not believe that it is a projector if you will not take a look at it thoroughly. Great, isn't it?!

2. MASSIVE SCREEN + HD RESOLUTION

I mentioned earlier that my dream is to have a home cinema theater. Not as big as the one that we see in the theater ('coz yeah, that is on another level), but bigger than the devices we usually use like smartphones, laptops, 43 inches, or much bigger smart TVs (which is VERY EXPENSIVE) - just the right size! And with LUMOS RAY Projector, my dream came true!

In just a short throw of 3 meters in distance, it can project up to a 100-inches screen. And it can be maximized up to 150-175 inches.

It has great visual clarity with its 720p HD clear resolution and it is 1080p Blu-Ray Supported.

One of many reasons why the LUMOS RAY Projector stands out from the crowd is because it has 3000 Lumens while others have 1000 Lumens only. This feature makes the colors more vivid in darkness and not grainy or washed out.

(It is recommended to use it in the dark with a smooth white wall, or a white sheet/blanket for the best experience)

3. IN-BUILT DOLBY AUDIO

A great sound system is a perfect partner for a massive screen. But it is not a problem with LUMOS RAY because it comes with a built-in speaker powered by Dolby Audio that completes your cinematic experience at home!

(COULD I BE MORE EXCITED?!)

4. IN-BUILT APPS

The running Android OS of this projector is 9.0. With that said, it comes with a lot of in-built apps, including the most-used apps for watching which are YouTube and Netflix!

Aside from these installed apps, you can still download more through Google Playstore. Just simply log in to your account, and after that, you can now download more applications.

5. WIRELESS MIRROR CASTING

If you want to take a break from watching your favorite movies and/or series and want to show something from your smartphone on a bigger screen, you can use mirror casting. It is wireless! So no need to plug any cables.

This feature is mostly used for mobile games, Spotify, or even a Zoom call meeting.

Mirror casting is very easy. All you need to do is to connect the projector and your smartphone to the same WIFI connection and go to the respective application.

For Android devices, use Miracast.

For Apple devices, use Airscreen.

(I NOW ENJOY PLAYING MOBILE GAMES ON ANOTHER LEVEL!)

Aside from using it as a watching device, you can also use it for photography. So for creative people out there, you can maximize the use of this projector!

Okay, now, let's talk about the...

6. PRICE

The LUMOS RAY is priced at ₱8,999 and the RAY Smart is ₱11,999. It also comes with a 1-year local warranty.

Some of you might say, "Oh, I thought it's cheaper". Okay, let me explain it. Considering the quality it can give, this is cheaper than the usual price we see in the market which is ₱20,000 or more. Imagine with only ₱11,999, you can now have a home theater!

* FINAL THOUGHTS *

I remember when I was a kid, I used to have a list of my "Things I Want in my Future House", and having my own cinema theater is included on that list, and it has never gotten off ever since. While growing up, I enjoy watching House Tours on YouTube, and I always envy those people who have their Cinema Theaters at home. Until LUMOS RAY Projector came and made my dream come true.

As a practical spender, I always think before buying - asking myself things like "is it worth it?", "how long it can last?", "Can everyone use it?", and more, before buying it. Hence, I never spend too much on things I don't find important or necessary. But LUMOS RAY is different.

Considering the quality and the experience it brings, it is worth it to have a LUMOS RAY Projector. Personally, it surprised me and even exceeded my expectations. It is indeed small but powerful. And I'm not the only one who's enjoying it, my family is as well. Every night is movie date night!

I highly recommend LUMOS RAY to everyone who wants to have their own Home Cinema Theater. Worth the shot!

REMINDERS:

LUMOS currently ships only to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Buy and order (only) directly at their website at www.lumosprojector.ph/

Visit them at:

* Website

* Facebook

* Instagram

Thank you for reading! Keep exploring! :)