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AAXA P7+ Projector Review

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Philip Boyle
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The new AAXA P7+ is small but displays a stunning picture for its size.

The new AAXA P7+ is one of the latest ultra-portable LED DLP, ultra-portable with built-in battery projectors the company introduced in 2023. The P7+ with solar charger sells for an MSRP of $389 and is available from the company's web store and from major online resellers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo, to name a few.

On the outside, the P7+ looks like a typical AAXA projector sharing a similar size, feature set, and design language with AXXA projectors such as the P400 that we recently reviewed. Click on the model number/link to see our full review of the P400.

I've reviewed multiple AAXA projectors over the past few years, and they deliver regarding hardware and software implementation. The preproduction unit had a few third-party app issues, but honestly, this is not a deal breaker for me, and it should not be for you. Here's why.

Most users are likely to be casting content from Android or iOS. Also, for around $20, you can buy any number of smart media sticks from Walmart, Amazon, and even Google, plug them into the projector's HDMI input and gain access to a world of apps and functionality.

Let's look at why the AAXA P7+ is worth your consideration.

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 AAXA P7+ Specs
Price$389 MSRP
TechnologyLED DLP
Displayed ResolutionNative Full HD
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)550 LED Lumens
Light Source RGB LED
Contrast2,000:1 Dynamic
Zoom Lens RatioFixed Lens
Vertical TiltYes
Dimensions3.87" W x 2.25" H x 3.87" D
Weight1.17 lbs

 

Overview

The AAXA P7+ is an Android 10, LED-powered, smart DLP projector capable of displaying a native 1,920 x 1,080p image at a maximum screen size of 200 inches diagonally, according to the company's website.

The AAXA P7 is available in three different packages/configurations. AAXA sells the P7 as a standalone projector with a built-in battery. AAXA offers the P7+ with added Wi-Fi 5 connectivity and Android 10 smart capabilities. Lastly, AAXA offers the P7+ with all the features above and an included fold-up solar charger allowing users to charge the projector using sunlight when a power outlet is unavailable.

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LED lights are bright, efficient, and long-lasting.

Projectors' RGB LED light sources have dramatically improved over the past several years. New and improved LED light sources allow projectors to display brighter, more colorful images. I've recently reviewed home theater projectors with LED light sources capable of generating 3,000 plus ANSI lumens of brightness. AAXA looks to have doubled the light output of the P7+ to 550 LED lumens of brightness, almost double that of the equivalent previous model.

The P7+'s LEDs are incredibly efficient and require only 35 watts running on a 12 V power adapter. It is one of the big reasons this projector can easily be charged from the solar charging panel included in this package.

The P7+ LED light source is rated to deliver 550 LED lumens for up to 30,000 hours. The LED light source's long life means you can watch content eight hours a day for over ten years. Also, LED light sources tend to make images look brighter than their measured ANSI lumen brightness.

The P7+ Mini Projector is one of the newest generations of solid-state mini projectors introduced by AAXA. With its size, the P7+ easily works in various environments like the home for movies and casual gaming. The P7+ also suits business and education environments.

AAXA P8 DLP
Texas Instruments DLP technology is the most used imager in video projection products.

The P7+ uses a native 1920×1080 (Full HD) Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) DLP imager. The P7+ uses the newest 5th Generation Texas Instruments imager.

The AAXA P7+ has some additional advantages when it comes to the way it creates images. The projector's new 5th Gen Texas Instruments imager doesn't use pixel-shifting technology to create a Full HD image. This is great because some people can see shifting artifacts, but with the P7+, you won't have that problem.

DLP projectors like this one don't have convergence issues. This means the images will stay sharp and clear without needing to be aligned occasionally.

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AAXA_P7+ Powered by Android OS 10.

The AAXA P7+ features a native Android 10.0-based operating system allowing users to stream video content, mirror wired and wired smartphones, and view and edit presentations and documents. The P7+ does include several built-in streaming apps, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

The AAXA P7+ does not support the Google Play app store, so users must find apps at alternative app stores like the Aptoide TV application store. One of the most significant benefits of 3rd party Android marketplaces is they provide a way to find apps and games with no geo-restrictions.

However, apps installed from 3rd party marketplaces have a higher failure-to-run rate than apps installed from Google Play, so be sure to verify installs will run.

Also, be aware that applications that many streaming video applications will not run on this projector because of DMCA copyright restrictions.

The AAXA P7+ features a built-in media player that directly plays videos, pictures, and music from a USB stick or micro-SD/TF card. This is a convenient feature for consumers who want to take advantage of the P7+ portability, which is likely one of the main reasons some would be interested in a projector of this type. Formats supported by the media player include MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, JPG, AVI, BMP, GIF, and TXT.

The projector includes built-in 2-watt stereo speakers and a built-in media player that plays various audio files. The P7+ supports both Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth connectivity. It can be used as a standalone Bluetooth speaker if you can get it working consistently.

The AAXA P7+ weighs just 1.17 lbs and measures 3.87 in x 3.87 in x 2.25 inches, making the P7+ a true pocket projector.

AAXA P7 Model Comparison
ModelAAXA P7AAXA P7+AAXA P7+ (with solar charger) 
Price$ 331$335$389 
ResolutionFull HDFull HDFull HD 
Light SourceRGB LEDRGB LEDRGB LED 
Brightness600 LED lumens550 LED lumens550 LED lumens 
Dynamic Contrast2,000:12,000:12,000:1 
ZoomFixedFixedFixed 
Built-in BatteryNoYesYes 
Solar ChargerOptionalOptionalIncluded 
Device0.33" DMD (1920 x 1080)0.33" DMD (1920 x 1080)0.33" DMD (1920 x 1080) 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • Technology - Single DLP Chipset (0.33" Texas Instruments DMD)
  • 550 LED Lumens of rated brightness
  • Included external solar charging panel
  • WiFi and Bluetooth
  • Built-in Chrome web browser
  • Lasts up to 30,000 hours in ECO mode
  • Media Player for PC-Free presenting and playback
  • Included app reads MS Office, PPT, and Excel documents
  • Simple Menus – Easy navigation with simple options
  • Built-In 2-Watt Speaker
  • Transportable – 1.17 lbs
  • $389 MSRP includes the solar charger

HARDWARE

CHASSIS

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The projector housing is predominantly black and dark gray plastic. The AAXA P7+ weighs just 1.17 lbs and measures 3.87 in x 3.87 in x 2.25 inches. This makes the P7+ an incredibly light and small transportable projector that can easily be taken anywhere.

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INPUTS AND CONNECTIONS

Looking from the front of the projector, the lens assembly is on the front left side of the P7+.

On the left side of the chassis (from the front to the rear) is a recessed reset button, the manual focus wheel. Next is the projector's TF card slot for Mini-SD, a 3.5mm headphone output, a USB-C port, and the power on/off switch.

On the back panel of the projector are a single USB Type-A port, an HDMI port, the DC input, and a single speaker.

On the right side of the chassis are two exhaust vents.

The bottom of the AAXA P7+ has a threaded ¼" tripod input for attaching a compatible tripod or light stand. AAXA includes a pocket tripod in the box.

THE CONTROL PANEL

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The AAXA P7+ control panel is located on the top of the projector and is touch sensitive.

Like almost all AAXA projectors, the control panel is on the top of the projector and comprises 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; a Menu and a 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. This makes the projector almost impossible to control without mistakes in the dark. I wish AAXA would at least put a touch-activated backlight under this panel.

SOLAR CHARGER

Access to a solar charger for a portable video projector is an interesting feature to add with specific benefits for the road warrior or traveling consumer. On the surface, having a solar charger included with the projector is very cool, but is it a big benefit? Maybe.

The solar charger included with the AAXA P7+ could be useful, especially in specific situations. An example AAXA gives is camping. You can charge the projector during the day and watch movies at night.

Using the solar charger to keep the battery topped off is another benefit when using the projector to charge compatible USB devices via the USB Type-A 5V output.

Eco-friendly consumers will appreciate having an external solar charger because it reduces environmental impact. And everyone will benefit from not worrying about finding power outlets because the solar charger can function as a daytime power source.

So even though it doesn't run the projector directly, the solar charger is definitely a uniquely beneficial tool.

THE LENS

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The lens on the AAXA P7+ does not come with a cover but it is recessed to keep it from being damaged.

The projection lens on the AAXA P7+ is manual focus with a 1.2:1 throw ratio. AAXA says it can project an image from 16-200 inches at a 16:9 aspect ratio. In my testing, I found 80 inches to be the maximum size that a movie or TV image looked good to my eye. Other types of content, such as animation and PowerPoint or text documents, looked fine at a larger size because of their high contrast.

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.

This fixed lens has no zooming capabilities, typical of the small LED projectors in this class. The theory is this type of projector can easily be moved closer or farther away from your screen surface.

AAXA does include digital keystone adjustment. We highly recommend squaring the image manually because these digital corrections can negatively impact overall image quality, specifically brightness.

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REMOTE

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The AAXA P7+ uses the standard wafer remote found on almost all other AAXA projectors.

The AAXA P7+ comes with a simple remote control similar in size to a credit card. It has all the essential buttons to operate the projector, including dedicated ones for keystone correction. However, it's important to know that the projector only has one remote sensor on the rear of its body and needs a clear line of sight to function properly.

MENUS

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The P7+ menus are easy to navigate. The Main menu is your direct access to the projector’s media player. You can choose from these options: Videos, Music, Photos, and Brightness.

The Setting and Inputs menus are also located on the Main menu screen. Users can select and adjust Picture, Sound, Basic Options, and Text settings from here. There are also additional menus that are easy to navigate. Though the parameters are simple, you can customize the picture and color, which I consider a selling point of the AAXA P7+. The projector can display content from a USB or TF card for Photo, Video, and Music content.

Overall, the menu layout is easy to understand, providing the flexibility to customize the picture and sound quality of the P7+ as well as control the brightness level.

PERFORMANCE

PICTURE QUALITY

Because of its small size, built-in battery, and portable solar charger, the AAXA P7+ is the perfect projector for the road warrior. It has the overall picture quality needed to get the job done, whether a movie while camping or in a hotel room, a Powerpoint presentation at a business meeting, or TV in the kids’ bedroom. The picture quality is fine for all of these and other on-the-go uses.

One of the great things about the AAXA P7+ is its native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080p with no pixel shifting. You will not see any pixelization on anything up to about a 100-inch diagonal image due to the new native 1080p DLP imager.

The image is bright for the projector's size, specifications, and price range. I didn't have problems viewing presentations or watching videos in darker environments. I preferred P7+ in the STANDARD brightness mode and STANDARD video effect to achieve the best results when watching movies in a light-controlled space. I strongly recommend keeping the projector's light settings to the BOOST mode for other environments with uncontrolled ambient light.

COLOR

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The color performance of the AAXA P7+ is dependent on a few factors. First is the size of the image being projected. Since this is a compact, portable projector designed for on-the-go use, it's not extremely bright. Aim for an image size no larger than 80 inches diagonally for better color performance.

Second, keep in mind the amount of light in the room. Too much ambient light will wash out the image, affecting color vibrancy. To get the best color experience from this projector, watch it in a dark room.

In animated content, colors tend to pop and look great on the AAXA P7+, but vibrant colors are more limited for television or film content. Unfortunately, AAXA doesn't provide many color controls on the P7+. It only has the option to adjust the projector's color temperature with three settings: Cool, Medium, and Warm.

BRIGHTNESS

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AAXA claims that the P7+ has a brightness of 550 LED lumens. However, using LED lumens as a projector rating metric is not helpful. It's like flipping a coin to decide which projector to buy based on lumens output. In contrast, Projector Reviews uses

AAXA claims that the P7+ has a brightness of 550 LED lumens. However, using LED lumens as a projector rating metric is not helpful. It's like flipping a coin to decide which projector to buy based on lumens output. In contrast, Projector Reviews uses ANSI lumens as a performance metric because it's a well-established standard for measuring projector brightness worldwide.

Now, let's talk about the P7+ brightness settings. The projector offers ECO mode, STANDARD mode, and BOOST mode. The difference in brightness between ECO and STANDARD modes is quite noticeable, but there's only a slight increase in brightness when using the BOOST mode.

To measure the brightness, I set the projector to BOOST mode, its brightest mode. I then took 3-4 readings about 15-20% out from the center of the lens.

The P7+ measured 390 ANSI lumens in the projector's BOOST mode. I measured all three brightness modes; my measurements are below.

AAXA P7+ Projector Settings Brightness

Image Mode Brightness Measured (ANSI Lumens)
ECO 166
STANDARD 335
BOOST 390
 

BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL

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The P7+ projector is said to have a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,000:1. When I used it with a white screen in a dark room, I could still make out what was supposed to be black, so the contrast was good enough. The contrast performance is average, but considering how and where this projector will be used, most people won't have any problems with it. The black levels may appear more gray than black, but you can still see some details in the darker parts, which is pretty decent for a projector of this design and price.

SOUND QUALITY

The AAXA P7+ comes with a built-in set of 2-watt stereo speakers that put out decent sound, especially in the mid and high frequencies. It's loud enough for a small group of people to hear comfortably. However, if you plan to show movies or have a bigger audience, I recommend using an external speaker via the projector’s 3.5 mm audio jack or Bluetooth connections. It is interesting that AAXA has put stereo speakers in this projector. Unfortunately, the speakers are so close together that there is little to no discernible stereo imaging.

AUDIBLE NOISE

The noise from the fan in the P7+ surprised me, especially for an LED projector. The fan noise is noticeable in ECO mode. It increased when I set the brightness to BOOST mode. The noise level is above average, but it should not be a deal breaker considering where and how this projector is designed to be used. This projector puts out a lot of heat, so the fans are critical to keeping the projector cool and in good working order.

VIDEO CASTING

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The P7+ includes a dedicated application that allows casting from both Android and iOS devices. For example, content that is not copy-protected can easily be cast from a YouTube application on an iPhone or iPad in the exact same way it is always done. On the projector, select the MIRRORING button from the main screen. Then select Android or iOS. While playing a video on your phone or tablet, tap the cast icon in the top right corner of the video window and select the AAXA projectors ID. From that point, the projector will launch the A7+ YouTube application and start playing your content. It is pretty much identical.

Not every application installed on the p7+ supports casting. Netflix content is copy-protected, therefor the casting function will not work on this projector.

One of the big benefits of having many Android applications supported on the P7+ is that users can access and play copy-protected directly on the projector from an installed Android application.

Setting up the casting function should be easy, even for someone who is not tech-savvy.

I did experience some lag and buffering but reduced this by adjusting the resolution of cast content to standard definition. I think this projector's casting experience will outweigh any minor hiccups the user may experience.

Should the user find the number of supported applications too limited or OS-based features not robust for them, there are many streaming sticks starting at $20 that support libraries of applications and functionality that can easily be plugged into the P7+.

SUMMARY

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The AAXA P7+ provides native 1080p, RGB LED color and enough brightness to get the job done.

The AAXA P7+ is the latest in the company’s line of portable projectors. The P7+ is a bright projector for its size. In my testing, the AAXA P7+ measured 390 ANSI lumens, which is impressive but comes at a cost. The P7+ runs hot. Like many other AAXA LED projectors I have reviewed, the P7+ performed acceptably in rooms with some uncontrolled ambient light. However, for the best experience, users should attempt to make the room as dark as possible.

AAXA has significantly improved image quality by making the P7+’s DLP imager a native Full HD (1,920 x 1,080p) sensor. The image that this native Full HD sensor produces is incredibly sharp, with none of the pixelization that can be seen on many PICO DLP projectors.

AAXA lists this projector's maximum recommended throw size as up to 200 inches diagonal. In my testing, video content like movies and TV lost too much clarity and color after 80 inches. High-contrast content like animation or presentations holds up very well when projected at larger sizes.

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The P7+ has just about every input and connection, both hard-wired and wireless, a user needs, including TF cards, USB, HDMI, WiFi, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The P7+ has a built-in rechargeable battery that will run for 90 minutes at the projector's maximum brightness and longer if placed in ECO mode. Be mindful that anything less than the Boost mode will be harder for people to see in rooms with uncontrolled light sources.

The included solar panel charger is an interesting addition by AAXA. This device is for charging only and cannot be used while the projector is turned on. The solar charger is great for campers who don’t have access to power. These users can charge the projector up during the day and use it to watch movies at night. The solar charger could also be useful for road warriors who lose their AC adaptor and want to charge the projector during the day.

 

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I was satisfied with the sound performance of the P7+. The 2-watt speaker didn't produce a very loud sound, but it was good enough for a small room or casual viewing with a small audience. I recommend that users connect an external speaker using the included 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth wireless connectivity for larger venues.

The P7 series runs on Android OS 10, providing users with a rather large library of Android applications, at least ones that are not dependent on Google Play Services. I had some issues with the projector's user interface and some of the pre-installed streaming applications. I talked to AAXA, and they assure me that they are working to address these issues that are typically related to application updates. The important takeaway is that as these issues come up, the AAXA engineering team is working to resolve each of them quickly. Also, there is always the option of adding a very affordable Android TV streaming stick that sells for around $20.

 

PROS

  • 30,000-Hour LED light source
  • 390 measured ANSI lumens
  • Manual focus via focus wheel
  • Picture quality is very good and consistent with previous specced AAXA pico projectors
  • A wide range of inputs, including USB Type-C and Type-A connections
  • The rechargeable battery lasts 150 minutes in ECO mode
  • Full HD resolution means the text is clear and easy to read from a distance
  • Android 10 OS provides access to third-party Android app stores
  • The onboard media player plays a wide range of audio and video content
  • $389 MSRP
  • Built-in stereo speaker
  • Ultra-Compact design
  • Includes a solar charger

CONS

  • No Google Play store access
  • Some preinstalled apps are not fully functional
  • Fan noise louder than expected
  • The projector produces a lot of heat
  • The remote is small and only infrared, not Bluetooth.

AAXA P7+ SMART LED PROJECTOR REVIEW – SPECIFICATIONS

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Full Specifications
Projector ModelP7+
Price$389 MSRP
Imager TypeDLP
Displayed Resolution1920 x 1080 pixels (1080p)
Native Resolution1920 x 1080 pixels (1080p)
Brightness390 ANSI lumens (Measured)
Light Source TypeRGB LED
Light Source Life30,000 hours
Contrast Ratio2,000:1
Zoom Lens RatioFixed
Power Zoom/FocusNo (Manual Focus)
Lens ShiftNo
Interchangeable LensNo
Ultra-Short ThrowNo
Native Aspect Ratio16:9
Built-in Rechargable Battery150 minutes run time (ECO mode)
DVI or HDMIYes
3DNo
Blu-Ray 3DNo
Speakers2-Watt Stereo
Noise Level (-dB)38
Low Lag GamingNo
Smart FunctionalityYes
BusinessYes
ClassroomYes
PortableYes
Special FeaturesInlcuded solar charger, Native 1080p DLP imager
NetworkingWireless
Dimensions (HxWxD)3.87” x 3.87” x 2.25”
Weight1.17 lbs
Warranty1-year parts and labor

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