Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi standard supported by the projector.
Wi-Fi is known mainly as a method of wirelessly connecting to the Internet and local networks. In addition, more recently, this technology has also been used for direct connections between wireless devices. Accordingly, the methods of using Wi-Fi in projectors may also be different. Thus, some models are capable of connecting to local networks to work with content via DLNA (see above); in others, such a connection is used for control from a computer or other network device; in others, a “remote control” like a smartphone or tablet can connect directly via Wi-Fi.
As for Wi-Fi versions, the most popular options in modern technology - Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) - are quite compatible with each other, and the difference between them in this case is not critical. Therefore, you don’t need to pay much attention to these details when choosing.
There are also
Wi-Fi ready projectors, which do not have Wi-Fi out of the box, but when connecting the appropriate adapter (purchased separately) are capable of a wireless connection.
Built-in memory
The amount of built-in memory installed in the projector.
The presence of a built-in storage allows user to store various content — especially video and photos — in the projector and view it directly without connecting external devices. In addition, in Android devices (see above), the same storage is used to install additional software.
When evaluating the amount of available memory, it is worth remembering that part of it will inevitably be occupied by software firmware. Some projector models have an alternative to built-in storage in the form of a memory card slot (see below).
USB 2.0
The number of USB 2.0 ports provided by the projector.
Do not confuse these connectors with USB slave (see "Management ports") — in this case we are talking about
USB ports for various peripherals. Most often, these ports are used for direct playback of content from flash drives and other storages (for example, external HDDs). At the same time, we note that video viewing is not available in some projectors (only photos), in others a very limited set of formats may be supported. However, a direct connection is often more convenient than viewing through a computer or other device. The USB ports can also be used for other purposes, such as updating firmware, transferring files between a flash drive and the projector's built-in storage, or even for keyboards/mouses (in Android devices, see above).
The USB 2.0 standard itself is considered obsolete, but it is quite enough for projectors, and newer peripherals are fully compatible with such connectors. At the same time, you rarely have to connect more than one external device to the projector at a time, so there are few models with more than one USB 2.0.
Power source
The type of power supply that is available in the projector is not limited to mains power only. Portable models have
the presence of a battery, which makes it not only compact for transportation, but also allows you to project a display (from phone or other source) wherever you are.
Battery capacity
The capacity of the battery that the projector is equipped with allows to determine the duration of the device.
Theoretically, a larger battery can provide a longer time on a single charge. However, keep in mind that this time also depends on the power consumption of the device — and it is determined by the modes and settings used. In addition, the actual battery capacity is determined not only by ampere-hours, but also by its nominal voltage. Therefore, only projectors with the same battery voltage and similar operating specifications can be compared by ampere-hours; and it is best to evaluate battery life by the directly claimed operating time.
Operating time
The maximum operating time that the projector can run on battery. It is worth considering that manufacturers in most cases indicate the value at the minimum brightness settings, when using the device in the optimal (and even more so in the maximum) mode, this figure will be less.
