The Yaber V12 is an incredibly full-featured entry-level projector that visually hits above its weight class and is one of the best sub $400 Full HD projectors I've recently reviewed. I can only imagine how well this projector would perform if it had a more powerful LED light source. This may be something we'll see in another model from Yaber. Considering the projector's features and specifications, the V12 is a fantastic first projector for a bedroom or backyard. The V12 creates a pleasant image in a light-controlled space and can easily fill an 80-inch screen. Keeping the screen size around 80 inches also means you can have some mild uncontrolled light like that from a window or table lamp.
The projector is incredibly easy to set up, including a gimbal-like stand and features like Auto Focus. For those who feel uncomfortable squaring a projector and want to avoid asking your kids to do it, the V12 comes with both auto and manual horizontal and vertical keystone functionality.
The V12 is a smart projector, far smarter than the $300 price point, which makes this projector a great value. The OS looks similar to Android TV with native applications for popular streaming applications like Netflix and Amazon Prime. According to Yaber, this projector will support applications like Hulu and Disney+ through the onboard application store, and the documentation claims that the OS offers access to 7,000 applications ranging from video streaming to games and productivity apps. I had issues with the app store freezing and forcing me to restart, which was irritating but not really a huge deal because I could easily hook up a $20 Google TV HDMI streaming device.
The V12 features a full range of inputs from two HDMI connections and two USB ports for playing video to a compatible USB device formatted in FAT32 or NTSC via the device's onboard media player.
The V12 uses a single LCD with an LED light source that provides decent, not great, onscreen color, which is better than I expected for this projector's $300 price point. The color is not fantastic, but it does a better job than many similarly priced projectors I've reviewed. My only color complaint is that the image is slightly blue-green.
The projector can display above-average blacks, but they tend to be just a little crushed, impacting the detail in darker areas of the picture.
The projector's 20-watt sound system may not be incredibly immersive. Still, it gets loud and comes with various presets that offer variable EQ curves that accentuate the highs and other presets that boost mid-range frequencies. Three other presets start boosting the bottom end, with the MOVIE mode booming too much for my tastes. But, hey, you or your kids may be thrilled with the boom. What I like about the sound of the Yabor V12 is that it can get loud without distorting.
I wish the projector's light source could produce a higher output, but if you stick to an 80-inch screen or less, the light source delivers a good-looking image that would be great for the living room, kid's room, bedroom, or backyard for a family movie night. If you want to go bigger, you can. Yaber claims users can project up to a 200-inch image. Just be aware that your already limited brightness will take a significant hit the larger you go.
The Yaber V12 is a remarkable deal, offering easy setup, smart features, and picture quality far exceeding its price point. This projector is perfect for your bedroom, the kid's room, the backyard, or anywhere you can plug it into power. This projector is a great beginner or second projector solution for an incredibly competitive price.
XGIMI MoGo 2 $399 MSRP
The XGIMI MoGo 2 projector is priced at a $399 MSRP. This portable smart projector features Full HD (1080p) resolution, 400 ISO lumens brightness, and a built-in audio system.
From a brightness standpoint, the Yaber V12 offers a brighter picture, with 700 ANSI lumens of manufacturer-rated brightness. Both the Yaber and the XGIMI use an LED light source that promises a life of 25,000 hours.
Where the Yaber light source is brighter than the XGIMI, the XGIMI uses a DLP imager, which, compared to the Yabers LCD imager, provides richer color and better contrast, which should be noticeable, especially when used in spaces where you don’t have total control of ambient light.
Both projectors offer 1080p resolution and have convenient features like auto-alignment for quick setup and auto-focus capabilities.
The Yaber and the XGIMI offer smart operating systems with access to dedicated app stores and native applications like Netflix and Prime Video. Yabers Linux-based OS is well laid out and offers a range of applications, from entertainment to game-based products. While Yaber has done a commendable job at offering a smart OS with an application infrastructure that works, I have to give the edge to XGIMI because they are using Android TV OS version 11. Compared to Linux, Android TV OS offers direct access to a much larger ecosystem of proven streaming platforms, including Netflix and Hulu, as well as gaming and productivity applications.
Both projectors feature decent onboard sound and Bluetooth functionality, allowing the projectors to connect external Bluetooth devices to be used as Bluetooth speakers.
The XGIMI is smaller than the Yaber V12, making it slightly easier to move from room to room, but the Yaber offers a detachable stand that can tilt the projector up and down and provides gimbal-like functionality.
The XGIMI offers HDR support, whereas the Yaber V12 does not. Both projectors have an MSRP under $400 and can sell for around $300 online.
