The MG-850HD is a novel concept a relatively lightweight 3-LCD projector with 720p resolution and an iPhone/Pod/Pad dock.
Whilst it is never going to be as light to carry as some of the Pico projectors out there it is certainly portable and with a light output of 2800 lumens it literally outshines the Pico competition. This is particular noticeable in daylight scenarios where Pico projectors would be completely washed out the MG-850HD still shines through.
Unlike many projectors the MG-850HD has built in speakers. Whilst not perhaps audiophile these are perfectly adequate for presentations and are better than some iPod docks I’ve heard. Although rated at only 10W they seem to go pretty loud.
Whilst the iPhone dock is obviously a key selling point the MG-850HD there is plenty of other connectivity on board including HDMI, VGA and component along with both USB A and B ports for displaying from storage devices. I noticed that some other reviews have bemoaned the lack of a VGA port – I can only assume they failed to discover it hidden behind its rubber flap. To be fair it is a little confusing that the VGA and HDMI inputs are in completely different areas of the projector. Looking at the external build whilst plastic it does seem well put together with nice touches like the built in carry handle. All adjustments are manual with levelling done by adjusting the feet. I found the ratchet front foot a little awkward but not a show-stopper.
Focus and zoom are also manual but relatively easy. The Keystone adjustment was a little strange with the lever on top the projector seeming to cause wide movement and leaving the image surrounded by a white rectangular glow. I’m not generally a believer in Keystone adjustment and particularly in this case it is probably worth leaving well alone and just ensuring the projector is properly aligned.
Once focussed the image quality from an HDMI source was sharp and although perhaps not quite so detailed in colour as some of the more expensive projectors in Epson’s range, perfectly adequate for presentations and showing off the family photos. It is also great for playing movies as long as you don’t expect to play HD content on a really large screen as then the lack of 1080p becomes more obvious. It is however much better than a lot of projectors in its price-band and the fact that it uses LCD rather than the more common DLP technology avoids the latter notorious rainbow effect colour banding. It is very bright and this is possibly at the cost of decent black levels which did seem a little washed out.
The iPhone/Pad/Pod dock works very well and is neatly tucked away at the back of the device for transit where it pops out at a light press. Docking an iPad felt very secure and connection was positive.
Once docked the MG-850HD presents a menu allowing you to access Videos, Music and Photos + More
Videos and Music allow you to explore the contents of your iOS device and play selected content from the menu using the projector’s small but more than adequate remote.
Photos and more switches to a mode where the projector becomes an external screen in iOS applications that support this feature. This includes the built in Photos and YouTube(whilst it is still part of iOS) applications. It should be noted that Screen Mirroring is not supported from the dock although you could use the HDMI port.
One nice thing is that although you do have to select the source for playback in this mode from the iPhone or iPad once playing you can use the Play/Pause forward and back buttons on the projectors remote control. This is again great for the family slide show. I did have one glitch where I had a video in amongst my pictures. The playback stopped after the Video and I had to reselect the slideshow on the iPhone.
One really unusual and convenient feature of the MG-850HD’s remote is the Coffee-Cup button. This doesn’t actually cause the projector to make a cup of coffee but does allow you to get up safely to do so. Pressing this button pauses playback and causes the projector to project a bright white screen giving adequate light to move around a darkened room.
In conclusion if you are an iOS device user and can see a use for projecting from that device then the MG-850HD is a very good option. Using it reminded me of the slide projectors I grew up gathering around and it certainly has the same sort of social interaction they invoked. Obviously the ease of use and quality is much improved from those days and the MG-850HD is a really easy and convenient way to share your memories.
It is really good reasonably low cost general purpose projector and has all the connections you are likely to need. The built in speakers are a bonus for the uses it is likely to be put to and the display quality is amongst the best in its class. Discerning video users will appreciate the lack of rainbow effects from using LCD rather than DLP for projection.
A few minor foibles, such as the Keystone and the video slideshow irritation prevent us from giving it a general highly recommended and for non-iPad/IPhone users there are cheaper options but for iPhone/iPad users we would have no hesitation in recommending this really novel, convenient and great performing device.
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"GBP","currency_symbol":"\u00a3","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_subtitle":null,"currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}