Review: The ViewSonic M1 Mini Plus Projector Is a Smart Learning Tool

Going the (Short) Distance with the ViewSonic M1 Mini Plus Projector

Those who use portable projectors — unlike wall or ceiling-mounted projectors designed for fixed environments such as conference rooms or theaters — may not have the luxury of knowing where their next presentation will take place. If they’re lucky, it might be in a regular classroom, but it might also be in a large meeting room, outdoors or even in a building’s common area.

So-called short-throw projectors such as the ViewSonic M1 Plus were created with suboptimal environments in mind. Their lenses and internal components are made to be placed very close to a surface and still produce a large, bright image. That way, even in a small room, you can easily put the device on a table and create a large image on a nearby wall just a few feet away.

The ViewSonic M1 Mini Plus has an adjustable stand for even more versatility. For example, it’s extremely easy to throw an image from the projector onto a ceiling, letting the automatic keystone correction configure the makeshift screen into a perfect rectangle.

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But what about size? In my tests, the ratio of viewing size to projector distance was impressive. At just 25 inches, which is the minimum supported setup distance, you can still project a nearly 30-inch image. Placing the projector 43 inches away creates a 40-inch viewable area in a widescreen configuration.

With a 40-inch viewable area, 120 lumens is more than sufficient to project a clear and readable image in bright rooms. At that distance, even the corners of the image are clear and not washed out, even in daylight.

With enough space, you can enlarge the image; however, doing so will require that you dim the lights to prevent image washout, especially at the edges. With the projector 5 feet from a surface, you can project a 60-inch image that’s clear in a dim environment.

The maximum distance that you can set the M1 from a viewing surface is about 83 inches, producing an incredible 80-inch viewing area. This requires a fully darkened room — but if you are able to fully block out all other light, you can enjoy a theaterlike experience from this tiny projector.