AAXA M8 Smart Portable Projector Review

A powerful portable PICO projector with ultra-efficient RGB lasers and DLP optics.

The AAXA M8 is a compact, portable RGB laser-powered DLP projector capable of displaying images up to 200 inches in size with a displayed resolution of 1,920 x 1,080p. It boasts an impressive 1,200 laser lumens of brightness and a dynamic contrast ratio of 2000:1. The RGB laser light engine is designed for long-term reliability, offering a maintenance-free experience with a laser light source rated for up to 30,000 hours of use.

Powered by a built-in 15,000 mAh lithium-ion battery, the M8 provides up to 2.5 hours of cordless operation in ECO mode or 1.5 hours at full brightness, making it an ideal projector for on-the-go use.

The AAXA M8 projector has many useful features for entertainment enthusiasts and business professionals who want a reliable, portable solution. From hosting a movie night to delivering a presentation, the M8 is a great tool for any environment. It is available at an MSRP of $419 at AAXA’s corporate store and authorized retailers like Amazon.

AAXA has a history of producing affordable and portable projection solutions, and the M8 looks to continue that trend, promising bright images, 1080p (displayed) resolution, and a host of features designed for both on-the-go presentations and casual home theater. But does it deliver on its promise?

In this review, we'll dive into the AAXA M8, examining its image quality, brightness, feature set, and overall usability to see if it earns a spot among the best portable projectors. We'll put it through its paces to help you decide if the M8 is the right projector for your needs.

Suggested Retail Price: $419

Ratings Based On Comparable Models

Brightness

Color Reproduction

Contrast

Sound Quality

Pros

+ Bright For its Size

+ Light and Compact

+ Good Battery Life

Cons

- Poor Contrast

- Sluggish Menu System

- Mediocre Sound Quality

Buy Now On Amazon - Projector Reviews Images

If you are interested in purchasing any of the products mentioned in this video, we always appreciate it if you use one of the links in the description because Projector Reviews earns a small commission on the sale at no cost to you.

Overview

AAXA claims the M8 can produce a maximum of 1,200 laser lumens. There are measurement standards from ISO, ANSI, CVIA, and others. For consistency, we at Projector Reviews rate brightness using ANSI lumens, the most widely adopted brightness measurement system. However, the industry is slowly shifting from ANSI to ISO.

The AAXA M8 does not measure 1,200 ANSI lumens. I’ll go into this in more detail in the PERFORMANCE BRIGHTNESS section of this review. I can confirm that the M8 is a decent and, more importantly, competitively bright projector, especially considering its small size. AAXA produces this brightness level through their innovative RGB (red, green, and blue) laser light source. The M8’s solid-state light source means no color wheel is used on this projector, so there is no rainbow effect. The AAXA M8’s lasers are durable and virtually maintenance-free, a great feature for a portable projector. AAXA estimates the laser light source used in the M8L will last up to 30,000 hours in ECO mode.

Texas Instrument's DLP technology produces an exceptionally bright and colorful image

The M8L displays content at Full HD (1,920×1,080p) using a 0.23” Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) DLP imager from Texas Instruments with a 4-axis actuator & FPGA to achieve the on-screen image. The DLP chip in the M8 performs very well, displaying a sharp image on-screen with no noticeable smearing or shifting artifacts. AAXA has a long history of using shifting technology and TI DLP chips in their projectors. Combining this with a DLP that does not display any convergence issues, the images the M8 projects on-screen look very good.

Like the previous AAXA projectors we’ve reviewed, the M8 does not use Android TV or Google TV. Still, it is an Android-based operating system, so it is compatible with many Android applications that can be accessed via the installed AAXA custom app store. The AAXA M8L has the WPS application suite and can display documents, spreadsheets, and presentation files.

The M8's portability makes it useful for professional road warriors who need a powerful little projector for presentations on the go. It can also be easily moved from room to room, making it perfect for meeting rooms and classrooms without a permanently installed projector.

Once you get to where you are going, the AAXA M8 has a range of new convenience features, making setting up the projector fast and painless.

Whale Os (based on Android) provides access a select number of the popular streaming services and apps.

The M8 has a built-in 15,000 mAh battery that can last up to 2.5 hours of use (in ECO mode). AAXA has included horizontal and vertical keystone adjustments and a very easy-to-use corner adjustment tool, allowing you to square the projected image to your screen easily. AAXA also features an e-Focus adjustment.

Additionally, the AAXA M8 has a built-in media player to play back content like presentations, photo slideshows, music, or external video from a USB flash drive, USB hard drive, or TF-card. The M8’s internal media player can read and display the following file formats: MP3 / WMA / OGG / WAV / AVI / MP4 / JPG / GIF/PDF / DOC / XLS / PPT.

AAXA Model Comparison
M8 UST	P6 Ultimate	LED PICO+ Max
$529 (MSRP)	$369 MSRP	$188 MSRP
1100 Lumen	1100 LED Lumens	100 LED Lumens
RGB Laser	LED	LED
Full HD (1920 x 1080)	Full HD (1920 x 1080)	Full HD (1920 x 1080)
4-Watt Stereo	5-Watt Mono	1-Watt Mono
Whale OS (Android Based)	Whale OS (Android Based)	Whale OS (Android Based)
Up to 250"	Up to 200"	Up to 120"
Wall Power Only	6-Hour Battery (Eco)	2-Hour Battery (Eco)

DESIGN

The AAXA M8's design closely resembles its predecessor, the M7. It measures 5.75 in x 5.75 in x 1.75 in and weighs 1.84 lbs. Like almost all AAXA projectors, the control panel is on the top of the projector and uses capacitive touch controls. The controls are simple and easy to figure out. Visual icons mark them for Up, Down, Left, and Right; Volume Up and Down; Menu and Back button; and the Enter button labeled "OK" in the middle.

Like previous models I've reviewed, AAXA did not use any raised elements to allow you to identify each control button or even feel if you are on a button. Unfortunately, this makes the projector almost impossible to control without mistakes in the dark.

The AAXA M8 features multiple inputs on the side panels and a control panel on top.

Looking from the front of the projector, the lens assembly is on the front right side of the M8. Next to the lens is the sensor array, which is designed to detect if an object crosses in front of the projector and is used for the projector's quick focus functionality.

Ventilation and one of the projector's two speakers are on the left side of the chassis. On the projector's right side are the TF card slot, the power light, the HDMI and USB ports, a headphone jack, and a recessed reset button. The second of the projector’s two speakers is also located here.

On the rear are a DC port, a USB Type-C port, focus adjustment, a power switch, and the projector's single IR port for remote control operation. AAXA has also included a ¼ inch tripod mount on the bottom of the projector.

The included remote is nice. It is slimmer than the typical Android TV or FireTV remote control but shares a similar yet not identical layout. It is a massive improvement from the older credit card-style remote found on many AAXA projectors. This remote is still only IR (Infrared), requiring a line of sight to the only remote sensor on the back of the projector. This is awkward if you are sitting anywhere but behind the projector, and even when you are, you still need to point the remote at the projector's back panel.

While there is no dedicated Home button on the remote, and you might think you have to back out of an app or menu one step at a time, I found that by long-pressing the Back key, you will be taken directly to the projector’s main menu screen regardless of where you began backing out.

The AAXA includes a 1.2:1 Zoom feature that allows the image to zoom in and out digitally. AAXA says it can project an image from 12 to 250 inches at a 16:9 aspect ratio. In my testing, I easily projected images that filled my 120-inch screen with entertainment and business content, from movies to PowerPoint and text documents.

The lens is recessed, making it relatively safe from scratches. It does not come with a lens cap, but the deep setback means it shouldn't require much cleaning. A periodic wipe with a microfiber lens cloth should do the trick. The projector can be mounted on a table top or upside down from above and from the rear of the screen.

Throw Distance for a 16:9 Screen
20 inches	19" (48 cm)
50 inches	48" (122 cm)
80 inches	76" (193 cm)
100 inches	96" (244 cm)
120 inches	115" (292 cm)
150 inches	144" (366 cm)
200 inches	192" (488 cm)

AAXA includes manual and automatic keystone and multi-point geometric adjustments, facilitating quick setups. However, manual screen alignment is recommended for optimal image quality. Whether automatic or manual, keystone correction can compromise image fidelity, making manually squaring the projector to the screen worthwhile for the most accurate and cinematic picture. That being said, I tested the keystone features because, for many users, their easy set-up benefits outweigh any loss in picture quality. I could not even get the Auto Keystone function to work correctly. However, the horizontal and vertical keystone correction and four corner adjustment worked very well

PERFORMANCE

Picture Quality

The AAXA M8L produces slightly oversaturated colors.

Out of the box, the M8 colors tend to be oversaturated, especially the reds. It’s very noticeable in all content displayed on the device, most notably when looking at the installed applications with red icons. They practically glowed. Even after I turned the projector’s color saturation down to zero, they were still very dynamic. Depending on the content, this can greatly impact your viewing experience. With high-contrast content like animation or games, this oversaturation can be fine, but when watching movies and television shows, it can be too much. Dark scenes with bright image components, like fire, made skin tones look unnatural. The projector's RGB laser light source displayed some specular artifacting, especially in redder colors, but it wasn’t terrible, and I could quickly look past it.

There are five picture modes: STANDARD, LIGHT, SOFT, GAME, and PERSONAL. The PERSONAL mode is the only one in which image parameters like color and contrast can be adjusted. The STANDARD mode offered the best overall performance, but all the modes were highly saturated.

STANDARD and MILD are good for regular HDTV viewing. The overall color temperature is cool in all the projector’s modes, even when set to the WARM color temperature setting. This is likely because AAXA is trying to squeeze every bit of brightness out of this projector, so they are heavily accentuating the blue part of the light spectrum. This means the images can look very bright and lively right away. While some people might enjoy this vibrant look, I preferred to adjust the settings in the PERSONAL mode to try and achieve more natural-looking colors. This didn't always work.

For those who want to adjust things like BRIGHTNESS and CONTRAST to optimize the M8L to their room, several free test patterns are available on Murideo’s website and YouTube channel. Check out our YouTube video on utilizing several of these test patterns on the Projector Review YouTube channel.

Here are links to several free test patterns on the Murideo website and their YouTube channel. Murideo also has detailed written instructions for using its test patterns in the resource section of its website. Also, check out our YouTube video on utilizing several test patterns called Optimize The Image of a Projector or TV Using Free Murideo Test Patterns.

The AAXA ML8's laser light source produced an acceptably bright image on an 80" screen

As I wrote in this introduction, AAXA lists the M8’s maximum brightness as 1,200 laser lumens. I don’t know what a “laser” lumen is, and since we measure brightness in ANSI, it does not matter. I can tell you that the brightest measurement I could get from the M8 using the projector’s out-of-the-box settings was 608 ANSI lumens in the projector's BOOST mode. Be aware that BOOST mode is only available when the projector runs off the external power brick and does not use the internal battery. The projector is bright enough to use when some lights are on in the room. With this unit's features and price, 600 ANSI lumens is impressive for a PICO projector.

AAXA recommends screen sizes between 12 and 250 inches diagonally. With the lights off, I filled my 120-inch screen with an acceptable picture. However, if you use the projector in a room with uncontrolled ambient light sources, I would reduce the screen size to around 80 inches to get the best overall color and brightness.

ALL MODES IN BOOST

STANDARD	337 lumens
LIGHT	608 lumens
SOFT	241 lumens
GAIN	230 lumens
PERSONAL	347 lumens

The AAXA's black level and shadow detail were not the best of the recent batch of portable DLP projectors I've reviewed
.

AAXA lists the M8's contrast as 2,000:1 (Dynamic), which is not much. However, users purchasing projectors at this price point and use case are usually more concerned about color and brightness than contrast. So, blacks will actually be more gray unless you give up most of the details in the dark areas. Black-level performance was consistent with almost every AAXA projector I’ve reviewed at this price point and feature set.

Smart Features

The M8 supports many popular streaming services through its curated app store. AAXA informed me they have done this to provide applications with the best chance of installing correctly and running well on the projector. I tested some of the most popular applications used on Android-based projectors with mixed results.

Ten of the 15 commonly used applications I attempted to install from the app store failed. The apps that failed to install were Sony LIV, Pluto TV, USA, PBS, Crunchyroll, Tubi, SmartTube, Peacock, The CW, and Paramount+. AAXA's idea of limiting their app store to ones they feel have the best chance of working is a good idea, and I applaud them for their efforts. However, based on my experience, their solution needs work.

Smart features, streaming apps and projector adjustments can be quickly accessed from the AAXA menu system

Sound Quality

The AAXA M8 has a 4-watt internal stereo sound system that gets moderately loud depending on the content you watch. For instance, while watching Marvel's Deadpool and Wolverine with the audio level set at maximum, I still could not clearly hear the dialogue several times. The projector’s loud fan noise added to the problem. When the projector was in BOOST mode, there were times when the fan noise eclipsed the movie's dialogue.

SUMMARY

The AAXA M8 is an ultracompact portable projector that, for the most part, stands out from its competitors. Its features list is impressive. However, if AAXA added Google TV or even the older Android TV OS to this projector, it would stand out even more, and its operation would be smoother and more reliable.

Despite this, at a $419 MSRP, this projector is a bargain. The AAXA M8 offers advanced technology, user-friendly features, and an affordable retail price, making it a strong contender for home and mobile business users. The M8L is one of those rare projectors that is more than capable of playing in both markets.

The AAXA is small, measuring only 5.7 x 5.7 inches and weighing only 1.84 pounds, so it is easy to transport in a backpack, briefcase, or purse. The built-in battery can provide up to 2.5 hours of ECO use or 1.5 hours of STANDARD brightness. The BOOST mode is unavailable when the projector is powered by its internal rechargeable battery. The projector’s integrated ¼-inch tripod mount allowed me to connect a tabletop tripod and swivel the projector. This projector was easy to set up, even in some of the most challenging locations.

It allows you to project images on walls, ceilings, or angled surfaces without complex setups. This includes inverting the projector and displaying content on the ceiling or from the rear of the screen.

The M8’s triple laser (RGB) light source eliminates the rainbow effect commonly associated with DLP projectors. However, I did notice a small amount of laser speckle, often found on many different brands and projector models that use RGB laser light sources.

If you are interested in purchasing this projector, please support Projector Reviews.com by utilizing the link below.

The projector is built on an Android version so users can install a curated selection of Android applications from the included app store in the projector's menus. My experience with successfully installing applications from the market was mixed, so check that an app installs and runs correctly.

The AAXA M8’s quick setup features, portability, and brightness make it ideal for entertainment and business users. It’s great for bedroom displays, family movie nights in the backyard, casual gaming, or use in a meeting room or classroom. At its price point, there isn’t a single portable projector currently available that offers all the features and performance the AAXA M8 does. While it is not a perfect projector, the M8’s impressive specs and multiple features make it well worth considering if you are in the market for a portable projector solution.

AAXA M8 - Specifications

Full Specifications
Projector Model	M8
Price	$419 MSRP
Imager Type	023-Inch DLP
Displayed Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Native Resolution
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	1200 Laser lumens
Light Source Type	RGB Laser
Light Source Life	20,000+ hours
Contrast Ratio	5,000:1 (Dynamic)
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed
Power Zoom/Focus	Yes - Focus
Lens Shift	No
Interchangeable Lens	No
Ultra Short Throw	No
Native Aspect Ratio	16:9 (Widescreen)
HDR	No
3D	No
Speakers	4 watts X 2
Noise Level (-db)	30 dB
Low Lag Gaming	No
Smart Functionality	Whale Os (Based on Android 9)
Business/Classroom	Yes
Portable	Yes
Special Features	Auto Focus/Keystone Correction, 15,000 mAh Battery
Networking	Wi-Fi
Dimensions (WxDxH)	(W x D x H) 5.75 in x 5.75 in x 1.75 inches
Weight	1.81 lbs
Warranty	1-year limited

AAXA M8 Smart Portable Projector Review

Table of Contents

Overview

DESIGN

PERFORMANCE

Picture Quality

Smart Features

Sound Quality

SUMMARY

AAXA M8 - Specifications

Quick Links

Reviews

Other Information