Review: Kodak Luma 500

Portable projectors have finally entered the age of “smart” in a meaningful way, and the Kodak Luma 500 Full HD Ultra Smart Pico Projector is one of the more interesting newcomers to that class. Big names have traditionally stayed out of the budget/portable space, sticking to higher-tier gear, so seeing Kodak (now licensing its brand via C+A Global) put its stamp on a pico projector with integrated Google TV is an encouraging sign for anyone looking for performance in a small form factor.

Features

The Luma 500 runs Google TV 11.0 natively, which means access to thousands of apps, user profiles, recommendations, voice search via Google Assistant, and Chromecast built-in. It feels much closer to a smart TV experience than many projector UIs you get at this price. Additionally, streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and beyond, are built in as well, eliminating the need for an external streaming stick. Also, you can cast from your phone or tablet and have it show up seamlessly on the big screen.

With native 1080p resolution and support for 4K input, this portable projector is meant primarily for dim interiors and nighttime viewing with its ~150 ANSI lumens. In daylight or even moderately lit rooms, it will look washed-out compared to full-size projectors with 500–1,000+ lumens. Contrast and color are acceptable for casual viewing, but don’t expect deep blacks or rich cinematic punch you’d experience with a higher-tier professional projector.

The unit’s battery offers around two hours of playback, depending on use, and recharges in a reasonable amount of time. The Luma 500 features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, USB, and a 3.5 mm audio out to connect headphones or an external sound system.

Our Testing Experience

TWICE had the opportunity to test out the Kodak Luma 500 both indoors and outdoors over the summer, and we were pleased with how portable and convenient it was, as well as how this portable projector allowed us to add summer fun to our evenings.

Unpacking the Luma 500, we were immediately impressed with how compact the projector is. Not even the thickness of a hardback best-seller, the projector was easy to set up, connect to our network, and once it was dark enough outside, produced great images as we watched modern and classic shows like Brooklyn 99 and The Princess Bride. Having Google TV built in was convenient, and it was nice not having to connect a separate streaming device to the projector to access our streaming services.

The included tabletop tripod worked well, and you can always attach the Luma 500 to another sturdier tripod if needed. The autofocus and automated keystone took a lot of the guesswork out of placement, and we didn’t need to micro-adjust the tripod much or angle the projector to get a rectangle instead of a trapezoid. We were successful mirroring from a laptop through an HDMI cable, as well as using the Luma 500’s wireless options.

While the Kodak Luma 500 can project in 4K, much of that quality depends on your screen, so you may not get the expected super-sharp image if you are projecting onto a wall or a low-end screen. It was convenient to be able to put the projector in our backpack, without taking up too much space – even with its cords and a mid-sized Bluetooth speaker.

Being able to use a portable projector for gaming is one of the perks of a projector this size, and the Luma 500 is perfect for getting together with friends to battle it out, as long as you are in a room dark enough to take advantage of the native 1080p and 4K/HDR+ support. We found the Luma 500 to be satisfactorily responsive during gaming sessions, although our Mario Kart and Smash Bros. skills refused to improve. While we had fun playing, for hardcore gaming needs we recommend a dedicated gaming monitor over a portable projector.

It was enjoyable to be able to take the projector to another location, set it up wirelessly, and play or watch within a few minutes, and our fellow testers remarked on how nice it was to watch most movies without having to plug it in. For movies longer than 120 minutes or for those late-night series binges, we highly recommend keeping the Luma 500 plugged in to maintain power levels–nothing’s more frustrating with a portable projector than running out of power right at the end of an intense movie or while gaming.

We found the audio to be alright in close quarters, particularly projecting in an RV or bedroom, but we recommend connecting to either wired or Bluetooth speakers/headphones for movie-quality sound. Our tests with the voice-enabled remote were nothing spectacular, but it performed as expected.

Verdict

While the Kodak Luma 500 doesn’t reinvent projection, it does refine the idea of a smart, portable projector and is a small, flexible projector for dark rooms, backyard nights, or travel. Google TV built-in is a legitimate convenience, the pixel count delivers usable clarity, and the physical compactness is genuinely appealing. If your environment is controlled (meaning dim or dark), and your priority is easy streaming without extra boxes, the Luma 500 is worth a look.

See also: Review: Everblog E1 Calendar