The AAXA P7 LED Projector is a mini-projector with some great features but also noteworthy issues. The build quality, and certainly sound quality, fall a bit short of some of the better mini projectors we tested, and the price certainly doesn’t make it a bargain. Yet, the easy setup process and truly compact size may justify the price under some circumstances.

Design: Not so novel

On some level, the body of the AAXA P7 LED Projector reminded me of the Acer C202i. It’s compact and minimalistic but in a way that ultimately shows limits in its capabilities. There’s easy access to USB and HDMI ports. There’s a built-in speaker, as well as a headphone jack for a more intimate audio experience, which, frankly, given the quality of the speakers, can prove critical—but I’ll discuss that more later. And it has a rechargeable battery that only runs for 90 minutes, which isn’t so impressive.

Setup Process: Relatively easy to use and carry around

The AAXA P7 LED Projector is really easy to set up because it functions across HDMI or USB. Installing software is not a concern. I suggest charging the device before trying to use it, and I recommend placing the device flat rather than on the included tripod because the tripod is unstable. In my testing process, I found that the projector itself was much larger and sturdier than the tripod, which would cause it to tip over constantly and bang up the AAXA P7.

Image Quality: Decent

If you were hoping to get a picture quality similar to that of what you see in a modern HDTV, the P7 LED Projector comes close. It’s bright and contains a good amount of contrast, so the colors appear vibrant. Its projection size ranges from 16 to 120 inches and it’s rated for an overall pretty standard number (30,000 hours) of LED life with 600 lumens.

Sound Quality: Connect to an external speaker

Onboard audio isn’t this projector’s greatest feature, you should plan to connect the projector to a separate audio output, particularly in large rooms or when sound is essential to the viewing experience. No one likes muffled audio.

Price: Not the most reasonable

At $399, the AAXA P7 LED Projector is far from a steal. While it offers portability, decent image quality and—at the very least—the possibility for good sound quality by connecting to an external speaker, there are better options out there for the price. The AAXA P7 feels cheaply made, which really makes this product just an okay projector for the price. When a person drops nearly $400 on equipment, it’s not unreasonable to expect an accessory as basic as a tripod to be stable, and for the projector itself to feel sturdy enough to withstand heavy use. The AAXA P7 meets neither of these basic expectations. To further put this into perspective, you might check out the Anker Nebula Capsule II, which for $160 more, offers Bluetooth and a far sturdier build.

AAXA P7 LED Projector vs. Acer C202i

The AAXA P7 LED Projector might be worth the price to a specific buyer. However, it won’t beat out other solutions on sound or image quality for those who aren’t picky cinema viewers and who aren’t fazed by the price tag.