Teardown: $15 Brookstone pocket projector - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 03:43:13 am
content: I recently got two $15 Brookstone pocket projectors. While image quality obviously isn't going to be great (about VHS quality), it is more than good enough for quick info displays similar to those projector clocks. If using with a Raspberry Pi, set the resolution to 640x480 so the text is readable. The teardown was very surprising - a very good build quality and an unexpectedly large copper heatsink for a $15 device.

author: kalel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 05:09:43 am
content: $15? Even projectors on Ali/eBay with 320xSomething cost more.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 06:25:12 am
content: https://slickdeals.net/f/10675184-brookstone-keychain-projector-black-15-free-s-h-on-75Not surprisingly, it didn't take very long to sell out.

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 07:49:59 am
content: http://www.brookstone.com/pd/brookstone-keychain-projector/317994p.htmlStill on sale at $14.99 here

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 04:42:55 pm
content: Thanks, Mike! It is a 320x240 projector with micro-HDMI input (only). Seems like at least $15 (+ $5 shipping) worth of fun.How did you do the cabling to Raspberry Pi?Did you measure the power consumption?

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 10:49:57 pm
content: The correct HDMI cable is included. Power usage is about 600mA when fully charged or 900mA when charging.

author: nidlaX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 11:27:41 pm
content: I was on the fence about this one, thanks for the teardown! Concerns about text legibility made me skip this deal.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2017, 11:41:29 pm
content: Wow, that looks really good for the money. I've no conceivable use for this that I can think of, but I'm still tempted to get one.Quote from: NiHaoMike on November 04, 2017, 03:43:13 amI hadn't really realised how far we've come in everyday image quality until I recently dug out a VHS tape off-air recording from the August 1999 UK total eclipse. Goodness me, it looked shoddy compared to what I now watch every day.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 04:33:21 pm
content: Quote from: TopLoser on November 04, 2017, 07:49:59 amTurns out they are just kidding about that"Thank you for your recent order 654***** with Brookstone. We are very sorry, but the item(s) you ordered listed below are no longer available.Item: 317994 - KEYCHAIN PROJECTOR BLACK"

author: kalel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 06:28:10 pm
content: There are similar projectors from China (about $30, not $15!), obviously at 320/x you will have problems with almost any usage. I'm not at all sure about a possible purpose. Some mention "games" (some probably have even built in emulators), so maybe emulator games for those consoles that are up to that resolution originally. Even that would probably look much better on a smaller screen or higher resolution projector with up-scaling algorithms (won't be original, but can be easier to look at).So I'm curious, does anyone have an idea of a suitable purpose for such low resolution projectors? Something where the low resolution is not a deal breaker.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 11:11:17 pm
content: I was thinking of a more elaborate version of those projector clocks.

author: kalel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 11:16:00 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on November 05, 2017, 11:11:17 pmThat's a decent idea. It could display anything you like. Other than clock and/or weather station, maybe a simple music spectral analyzer as well (no fancy 3D or high res effects).