Formovie Xming Episode One Projector Review

Small but powerful LCD 1080P projector featuring Google TV OS with a certified Netflix application.

The Formovie Xming Episode One is a very tiny LED-powered projector that uses an LCD imager instead of a DLP chip. This ultra-portable Full HD (1,920 x 1,080p) projector produces about 150 ISO (Not ANSI) lumens of brightness with a 1,500:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

The Xming Episode One is rated to project an image from 40 to 120 Inches on a 16:9 screen. Formovie has included a 6-watt (3W x2) Dolby audio sound system that boasts a surprisingly robust audio system with 6-watt Dolby Audio speakers that deliver clear and remarkably loud sound despite the projector's compact size,

One of the most exciting features of the Formovie Xming Episode One is a fully integrated Google TV OS with access to over 10,000 applications, including a fully certified Netflix app. This means you get the most functionality and reliability out of the application compared to a non-certified version of the Netflix application.

Even though Episode One is a small projector, don't let its diminutive size fool you. The Formovie Xming Episode One packs a powerful punch, offering impressive features and performance in an incredibly portable and user-friendly package. Episode One by Formovie packs a remarkable amount of technology in an incredibly small package that is easy to set up and use.

The Formovie Xming Episode One LCD projector is available online from Formovie, Amazon, and other authorized dealers for an MSRP of $299 but is often available for under $200, making it one of the most affordable 1080p native Google TV projectors on the market today.

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Formovie Xming Episode One
Price	$299
Technology	LCD
Displayed Resolution	1,920 x 1,080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	150 ISO Lumens
Light Source	LED
Contrast	1500:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed
Lens Shift	None
Lamp Life	20,000 Hrs
Sound System	3-watt x2
Weight	2.7 lbs (1.25 kg)
Warranty	Two (2) Year

PROS

Very lightweight and easy to transport
Powered by Google TV with all the platform benefits, including a Netflix-certified application
Easy setup with a range of AUTO modes
Offers decent contrast compared to other projectors in this price and class
The sealed LED light source's 20,000 hours of light source life makes this durable for on-the-go use.
The 6-watt stereo sound system is loud enough to fill a small to medium space, with limited distortion at maximum levels.

CONS

It cannot be used for daytime or lights on viewing
No height adjustment or built-in stand
Menus are sluggish and feel underpowered
No internal battery or USB battery bank compatibility
Standard throw distance is limited, requiring just under ten feet to throw a 120-inch image

OVERVIEW

A best value for a projector with Google TV OS fully integrated.

The demand for portable projectors is booming, representing thirty-eight percent of global projector sales. This growing demand for easy-to-use projectors will continue driving the category's growth over the next ten years. Advancements in key electronic devices and leading technology also contribute to the rising global demand for portable projection products.

Research shows that the right combination of convenience and performance is fueling the growth of the portable projection category. This projector provides the right combination of smart setup and powerful and reliable entertainment features consumers want.

The Formovie Xming Episode One offers consumers a fully integrated Google TV OS for a seamless and convenient streaming experience. The Formovie Xming Episode One provides access to a vast library of over 10,000 streaming applications, including more streaming media, productivity, and gaming apps than any other projector OS platform.

Features such as voice control make navigation of the projector's menus and applications easy, with personalized recommendations based on user viewing habits across the most commonly used applications. Offering a fully integrated Google TV OS experience eliminates the need for additional streaming devices, simplifying setup and providing a more streamlined user experience.

Additionally, projectors built on Google TV benefit from regular software updates, ensuring access to the latest features and security enhancements. Google TV OS brings full compatibility with the Google Play store, which means choice and security with no need to risk sideloading potentially corrupt or incompatible applications from third-party app stores. This means that the Xming Episode One works better and offers a more secure experience than projectors that don’t use Google TV and, worse, require third-party app stores and side loading. Even when a third-party app market provides a desired application, like Netflix, there’s no way to know if it will work until the time is taken to download and run it. Then, even if it installs and runs, it can have limited features and performance, like low-resolution streaming or lack of HDR compatibility.

The Formovie Xming Episode One is a smart projector. The onboard Google TV OS provides users with a curated viewing experience. It allows them to search across favorite applications and get smart recommendations for movies and shows to watch from Google based on their viewing habits and preferences. In addition, Episode One offers extensive auto setup modes that make getting the projector up and running a snap. AUTO modes include keystone, focus, bump correction, and obstacle avoidance.

If a seamless streaming experience, ease of use, and access to a wide range of compatible apps are priorities, the Formovie Xming Episode One with a fully integrated Google TV OS is an excellent option.

The Xming Episode One offers a range of auto setup modes, including the AUTO KEYSTONE CORRECTION feature, perfectly aligning the projected image in 6 seconds or less, regardless of the projector's placement. In addition, the AUTO FOCUS feature delivers sharp visuals instantly. The Xming Episode One even identifies and avoids obstacles that can interrupt and shrink the projected image, making it fit perfectly in the available free space on your wall.

The Xming Episode One can offer these simple-to-use yet powerful features because the company has integrated a range of highly sensitive screen sensors into the projector. These constantly monitor the displayed image in real time, correcting for bumps and then moderately or significantly changing the projector position relative to the screen.

The Xming Episode One features a 6-watt Dolby Audio-powered stereo sound system that produces excellent sound, especially considering this projector's diminutive size. The stereo speakers can get reasonably loud with minimal added distortion. The onboard sound makes watching a movie or playing a game more enjoyable than the typical mono speakers often found on projectors in this price range.

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This projector includes HDMI 2.1 and USB Type-A 2.0 inputs. It is fully compatible with modern gaming consoles and computers. Episode One features a Bluetooth 5.0 connection that allows it to function as an external wireless speaker from any compatible device or external Bluetooth headphones, receivers, or speakers. The Bluetooth 5.0 specification eliminates any delay or distortion that may occur when connecting via Bluetooth models with older standards.

The Xming Episode One also features a dual-band Wi-Fi connection, providing 2.4 and 5 GHz connectivity. Formovie sells two projectors on the Xming line, Episode One and Page One. Check out the detailed comparison in the chart below for more specifics.

HARDWARE

CHASSIS

The Formovie Xming Episode One is a fairly small portable projector that measures (WxHxD) 4.8” x 6.8” x 5.5” inches (122 x 175 x 141 mm) and weighs 2.7 lbs (1.25 kg). The projector has no adjustable feet, just four rubber bumps on the bottom. There is no built-in kickstand for tilting. Formovie includes a built-in ¼ inch female threaded adaptor, so it can be attached to a tabletop tripod, providing the ability to tilt the projector.

The Formovie Xming Episode One has one HDMI, USB connection, and 3.5mm headphone out.

The Formovie Xming Episode One features a 1.2:1 fixed lens and can diagonally project an image between 40 and 120 inches, although Formovie suggests that 100 inches is the optimum maximum size. Considering the projector's lower brightness and my testing, I agree. I found anything over 80 inches too bright with too much contrast and color sacrifice. To project a 120-inch image, the projector must be positioned 9.8 feet from the screen. The projected image looks sharp with no significant chromatic aberration or artifacts due to the lens until you get about 85% from the center of the screen, which is excellent for a portable projector in this unit's class and price.

Formovie’s AUTOMATIC CORRECTION & FOCUS technology does an excellent job simplifying setup within its limits. Generally, the larger the screen size being projected, the less accurate the projector's AUTO KEYSTONE correction features tend to be. However, screen size had little impact on this projector's AUTO FOCUS feature.

The Episode One includes a typical Google TV-style remote control with a D-Pad for navigation and a center “enter” button. The remote also contains two shortcuts for the Netflix and YouTube applications.

MENUS

The Formovie Xming Episode One features a well-organized and intuitive Google TV OS menu system that is easy to navigate and offers a robust range of features accessible via the projector's menus. Google TV OS includes full access to the Google Play app store, image adjustments, sound adjustments, and more.

Google TV OS boasts a user-friendly interface that simplifies the streaming experience. Its standout features include a comprehensive content discovery platform that unifies movies and shows from various streaming services, eliminating the need to navigate individual apps.

Voice search capabilities allow for effortless content discovery and control. At the same time, the integrated Google Assistant enables seamless smart home integration. The platform also supports personalized profiles for each family member, ensuring tailored recommendations and viewing experiences.

Formovie has included an amazing array of features normally not found on a portable projector, including the ability to adjust all aspects of the projector's image, from geometric correction and focus to picture quality and sound. Formovie has also included the ability to adjust the projected image using a color management system and 11-point gamma adjustment normally found on much more expensive projectors.

All these features are fantastic but are underserved by the projector's sluggish menu performance. Navigating the Google TV OS can sometimes be choppy.

PERFORMANCE

The screen used for testing in this review is a Da-Lite 110-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio Tensioned Designer Contour Electrol screen system using the company's ultra-white HD Progressive 1.1 screen surface designed for high-resolution video up to 16K.

The Tensioned Designer Contour Electrol screen system is excellent for use in environments where a traditional behind-wall installation is difficult. It offers all the benefits of an electric screen but with the flexibility of wire-free installation. The screen has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery-powered motor that Da-Lite calls Agility.

COLOR REPRODUCTION

COLOR

Like most LCD-based projectors I’ve tested, the colors on the Episode One run slightly cool, but far less than any other LCD projector I’ve reviewed. It’s impressive how well-tuned the projector's color looks out of the box. Indeed, I would consider color performance a strength of the Formovie Episode One. As can be seen in the slideshow above, the saturation runs from neutral to slightly oversaturated without crossing the line into nuclear reds and greens found on many DLP projectors. The colors displayed by this LED LCD light engine are far better than most in this price range.

The Formovie Xming Episode One has six preset picture modes for both SDR and HDR content. These are USER, STANDARD, VIVID, SPORT, MOVIE and GAME. All the color modes run a little cool, but not to the point that I had a problem with it. With the projector's limited brightness, tuning the projector from the factory to highlight blues gives the watcher the perception of a brighter picture. Formovie has done an excellent job with the projector's factory tuning. The STANDARD and GAME modes were the best for watching movies and television content, followed by the MOVIE mode. The color saturation of MOVIE mode was not as good as STANDARD and GAME.

Like its bigger brother, the Xming Page One, this projector offers a Color Management System (CMS) and 11-Point GAMMA adjustment like those typically found on much more expensive, brighter projectors.

BRIGHTNESS

Formovie lists the Xming Episode One brightness at 150 ISO lumens. Currently, we measure projector brightness in ANSI lumens here at Projector Reviews. The USER mode was the brightest out of the projector preset picture modes, measuring 208 ANSI lumens, 58 lumens brighter than the manufacturer's brightness rating. The projector works best in a room without ambient light sources.

Formovie Xming Episode One Brightness Measurements
Picture Mode	Brightness Measured (ANSI Lumens)
User	208 ANSI Lumens
Standard	208 ANSI Lumens
Vivid	206 ANSI Lumens
Sport	205 ANSI Lumens
Movie	185 ANSI Lumens
Game	184 ANSI Lumens

BLACK LEVEL & SHADOW DETAIL

The Xming Episode One’s relatively low brightness is very noticeable when viewing darker content. I strongly recommend turning up the projector’s GAMMA or BLACK LEVEL settings. This will cause the blacks in the projector to become even more gray, but it will expose more details in the darker areas of the displayed image.

HDR

HDR10's benefits are often diminished for low-lumen projectors. Most HDR content is mastered for displays producing around 1,000 nits range. For dimmer projectors, tone mapping can pick up some slack for lower brightness. The Formovie Xming Episode One is not a bright projector and does not offer the tone-mapping performance you would typically find in a more expensive projector. This projector performs better in displaying SDR content. HDR content can even look worse than SDR sometimes, particularly regarding black-level performance. Unfortunately, HDR cannot be toggled on or off using the projector's built-in Google TV OS. I was forced to switch to an external device to turn off the HDR to do a comparison.

SMART FEATURES

The Formovie Xming Episode One runs on the latest Google TV OS and provides access to over 10,000 applications, including all the most popular streaming apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and many others. Google TV eliminates the need for a separate streaming device because it already has the most content-rich and secure streaming platform. The Google TV interface is user-friendly and will appear familiar to anyone with any Android device experience.

Google TV makes navigation and content discovery straightforward. Google Assistant is also integrated, enabling voice control for searching content, adjusting settings, and even controlling other smart home devices. This hands-free control adds convenience and a modern touch. Built-in Chromecast functionality allows for easy wireless screen mirroring from smartphones, tablets, and laptops, making sharing photos, videos, and presentations on the big screen simple. This is particularly useful for casual sharing or impromptu gatherings.

The projector also supports smart setup features like automatic keystone correction and autofocus, significantly simplifying setup. These features automatically adjust the image geometry and focus, ensuring a clear and properly aligned picture even if the projector isn't perfectly positioned. This minimizes manual adjustments and makes achieving a great picture quickly easy.

The projector's UI and application navigation can sometimes feel sluggish and choppy, especially when trying to move quickly through a menu. If anything is going on in the background, like an app update, this will also negatively impact menu navigation. On the plus side, I did not experience any application crashes or unwanted restarts. One of the biggest benefits of Google TV is access to the Google Play store and the almost ubiquitous compatibility of all the applications found there. This is a marked improvement over projectors that don’t support Google TV and require a third-party app store and side-loading to install applications.

I had no issue casting content from YouTube or YouTube Music. I could also cast from multiple applications, like Netflix and others. The projector does not natively support AirPlay or AirPlay2, but a wide range of applications can be downloaded from the Google Play store that allows casting via AirPlay if you wish.

This projector's compact and portable design and its smart features make it a versatile entertainment solution suitable for various settings, from home movie nights to on-the-go viewing.

SOUND

Sound quality is another strong feature of the Formovie Xming Episode One. The projector offers excellent sound quality, producing sound usually only found on larger and more expensive projectors. Episode One only shows its flaws when the volume is turned up around the maximum level where it starts to distort. The built-in stereo speakers produce clear dialogue and sound effects, particularly in the mid and high ranges, and they can reach a reasonable volume level suitable for small to medium-sized rooms.

Dolby Audio support further enhances the audio experience with virtual surround sound effects. Episode One offers Dolby Audio Processing sound presets that can be found in the projector's SOUND menu. There are seven sound modes. The seventh mode is listed as CUSTOM, but there is no way to adjust any EQ, so I don’t see how it’s custom.

However, the biggest weakness in this projector’s sound is the limited bass response, meaning deep sounds lack impact. Still, the speakers create a surprisingly wide and immersive soundstage. This level of sound performance is acceptable for casual viewing and watching movies or TV shows in smaller spaces without external speakers.

The Xming Episode One does offer support for Audio Return Channel (ARC) functionality. If a more cinematic or immersive audio experience is desired, especially for action movies or music with strong bass, consider connecting the projector to ARC-capable external audio like a soundbar or receiver.

This projector produces clear sound with minimal distortion except for maximum volume and balanced highs and mids. The only drawback is the projector's bass performance.

SUMMARY

The Formovie Xming Episode One is a compact, portable projector offering a compelling blend of features and value. The projector displays a sharp 1080p image that is perfect for the kid's room, your bedroom, or for use on the go at a friend's house for movies and gaming.

Episode One’s fully integrated Google TV operating system is a huge win and a key feature that makes this projector an easy recommendation for me. Google TV OS provides access to over 10,000 applications in the Google Play store, including a certified Netflix application that offers the best user experience in a portable version of this popular streaming application. Netflix works well on this projector.

The Xming Episode One’s Google TV OS is smart enough to make recommendations across various applications, not just one. The projector uses smart sensors and software to easily square and focus the projected image. Episode One can even detect objects in the way and frame an unobstructed image. It will also correct the displayed image geometry and automatically refocus should something bump the projector out of position.

Episode One also offers surprisingly good sound, with excellent mids and highs and an amazing soundstage enhanced by Dolby Audio processing. However, its limitations include a less-than-impressive bass response. To help with this, Formovie has included ARC, Bluetooth, and analog audio connections, allowing the projector to be connected to an external audio source easily.

The Xming Episode One delivers a solid Full HD viewing experience at its price point and compares favorably with many higher-priced portable projectors, making it a good choice for casual movie watching, gaming, and presentations where portability and ease of use are prioritized.

The projector does have some weaknesses. The projector's limited brightness means you will want to use this device in a space with limited to no uncontrolled ambient light sources. This limited brightness also results in the projector's HDR performance being less than stellar compared to SDR. This is irritating because you can’t turn HDR off when using internal streaming applications. The projector's low 150 ISO lumens brightness also means that black levels and contrast on this projector are not the best. You can crank up the projector's black level or GAMMA adjustments to increase dark area detail, but this will make already, at best, dark gray (blacks) even lighter. Poor contrast and black-level performance are common in ultra-small portable projectors like the Xming Episode One.

The Formovie Xming Episode One is a small-sized, easy-to-transport, full-featured, all-in-one solution for those seeking a solid and reliable portable projector. This projector will work for a bedroom or backyard projection, even as a portable business presentation projector, as long as the room's lighting is controlled. Compared to other portable projectors in its price range, the Formovie Xming Episode One, while not perfect, is an absolute standout when it comes to advanced features, reliability, and all-around value.

formovie xming episode one - SPECIFICATIONS

Full Specifications
Projector Model	Foremovie Xming Episode One
Price (MSRP)	$299
Imager Type	LCD
Displayed Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Native Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	150 ISO lumens
Light Source Type	LED
Light Source Life	20,000 hours
Contrast Ratio	1500:1 (Native)
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed
Power Zoom/Focus	Focus Only
Lens Shift	N/A
Interchangeable Lens	No
Ultra-Short Throw	No
Native Aspect Ratio	16:9
HDTV/4K	720P/1080i/1080P/4K (Displays 1080p)
DVI or HDMI	HDMI
3D	No
Blu-Ray 3D	No
Speakers	6 watt (3 Watts x2)
Noise Level (-db)
Low Lag Gaming	No
Smart Functionality	Google TV OS
Business	No
Classroom	No
Portable	Yes
Special Features	Bluetooth speaker mode, Google TV OS
Networking	Yes
Dimensions (HxWxD)	(WxHxD) 4.8” x 6.8” x 5.5” inches (122 x 175 x 141 mm)
Weight	2.7 lbs (1.25 kg)
Warranty	2 year limited