I replaced my bedroom TV with a $180 Roku projector — and I’m not going back

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i wanted Orzen’s D1R Cube Roku TV Projector For a specific thing: outdoor movie nights. I have a backyard patio and a fireplace, along with a comfortable sofa for my family to sit on outside. The only thing missing from this setup is a bright, loud projector.

I can imagine us hiding under a blanket watching an old favorite jaws under the stars. the only problem? Currently, where I live, the temperature outside is 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and there is three feet of snow. My backyard cinema dream will have to wait until next summer.

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In the meantime, I figured I might still get the projector and set it up somewhere to see how well it works and sounds. Then an idea came to my mind… my child’s bedroom. I might put it out there for testing, and honestly that might be the second best use case for it.

There is no TV in her room and I have deliberately kept it that way. However, this projector can be a good option. It’s more special, more fun, and less like any other screen on the wall. When it’s on, it’s an in-home theater. When it turns off, it disappears.

fast, familiar and bright

The interface is exactly what you’d expect from a Roku TV, which also means there’s no learning curve, especially important if a child will be the primary user, at least for now. I have four Roku TVs in our house, so my daughter is already familiar with Roku and how to use the remote. This means she can find and open Disney+, Netflix, and YouTube Kids without needing my technical assistance.

No external streaming stick. No guessing which HDMI input does what. No need to download my favorite streaming services again.

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The projector is extremely quiet and throws a clear, bright image directly onto the wall. Her room is all white, which helps because I don’t have to put up a screen. However, it’s naturally a little darker than the other rooms in my house because it only has one window and a slanted ceiling. Even during the day, I don’t need to close the curtains to use this projector. This really surprised me.

For those who want to know the display specs, the Orzen D1R Cube Roku TV Projector has a 1080p native resolution and 330 ANSI lumens. I haven’t tested it in a sunny room, but in a place like my daughter’s room, it works much better than I expected.

Another thing I appreciate is how fast the interface feels. It’s just like using Roku on a TV. Fast, responsive, and no lag. I haven’t connected a game console to it yet, but that’s the next thing I want to try. My daughter loves using my old N64, so I think it might be fun to add it together one night. And because it’s a projector, it sounds different than a TV. Big. More playful. More like an event.

Especially for kids, that novelty goes a long way.

compact, sleek and easy

Physically, this projector is compact and minimalist in design. It has a clean, modern design with a compact, boxy case and rounded edges. The white, textured front panel has a large lens in the center, while a fabric speaker grille wraps around the edge.

I really like the look of it and I appreciate that it’s not black. Many home entertainment devices still default to a dark finish, which feels dated to me. My parents had an all-black stereo setup with a matching TV, receiver, and speakers. Very 90’s.

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However, what really sets this projector apart is that it is lightweight, fully enclosed, and easy to move from room to room. That portability is something my parents definitely didn’t have with their wall-to-wall home theater setup, and that’s what makes this projector so attractive. It’s also the thing that will finally make backyard movie nights possible for my family when winter’s grip loosens.

The sealed optical engine is another nice touch, especially for something that needs to be moved around often. There’s less chance of dust getting trapped, which means less maintenance and, hopefully, less long-term image problems.

The remote is the standard Roku remote, meaning if you’re familiar with Roku you can pick it up and start watching content right away. I wish it included a voice button for my daughter so she can push and announce what she wants to see. but i had an extra item roku voice remote Had it lying around, so I replaced them without any problems. You can also use the Roku app on your phone.

zoom and hold audio

The projector handles focus and keystone correction automatically every time it’s turned on, and it works really well.

I don’t have to manually change the clarity or alignment, even if it’s placed at a slight angle. My one real usability problem is that it doesn’t remember my zoom preferences. I like to zoom out the image to 40 inches so it doesn’t take up her entire bedroom wall. There’s a door, a dresser, and other obstructions, so I want the picture to be on a completely flat section of the wall.

However, I have to manually adjust the zoom whenever the projector is turned on. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worth noting, especially since everything else feels so automated and polished. This also means my daughter can’t do this herself, as you have to go into the settings to adjust it. He doesn’t mind seeing it with a 150-inch image, even if it covers up everything. It just bothers me.

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Another small problem I have is the sound. It has 10W Dolby Audio-certified speakers, but they won’t replace a soundbar. In my living room, I use a full Roku sound system with wireless speakers and a subwoofer, so I’m accustomed to a much bigger audio experience. In comparison, the projector’s built-in speakers aren’t quite as good. That said, they’re too loud for kids’ rooms.

To clarify, the audio is generally good. I even had to ask my daughter to turn it off because I can hear it upstairs when I’m trying to write and it gets distracting. Dialogue is clear, and the sound is loud and full without being tinny.

This is not the kind of immersive sound system you might have in your living room. I’m also a little cautious about external use. Environmental noise can degrade audio quality, and since I’m hard of hearing, sound and clarity matter more to me than to other people.

I doubt I’ll want to add Bluetooth speakers or a soundbar, but the projector easily supports both.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

i got it Orzen D1R Cube Roku TV Projector for outdoor movie nights, but it has become one of the best screen experiences in my house, especially for my toddler. It’s faster, simpler, brighter, significantly louder and far more fun than traditional TV.

Although I wish it remembered its zoom settings, and I’m still reserving judgment on outdoor audio performance, it seems like a minor compromise for how easy and enjoyable this projector is to use. When summer finally returns, it will go out where it’s supposed to be, and I can always connect a soundbar if necessary. Until then, it’s earning its keep in my daughter’s room.

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There are plenty of affordable projectors available with streaming capabilities, but this Roku projector really stands out. It offers all my favorite services with fast and reliable performance. Since we already use Roku in our home, it integrates well. I like the sustainability of the ecosystem.

It’s also on sale for $180, which seems like a great price. That’s a notable drop from $250, putting it firmly in budget-projector territory without the usual compromises, like clunky software or weak brightness.

For a native 1080p projector with built-in Roku, auto focus and keystone, and a sealed optical engine, this is a low-risk upgrade that offers real, everyday value.