Image used with permission of the copyright holder. The ZTE Spro 2 is one of those unusual hybrid devices that just made sense – it combined a projector with a 4G LTE hotspot, an incredible battery and a touchscreen, making it a super fun all-rounder. However, at ZTE, bigger is better when it comes to the Spro range, and it has also introduced the Spro Plus.
If the Spro 2 was a smartphone in disguise, the Spro Plus is a tablet. On the front is a massive 8.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, ensuring it keeps up with all the high-end tablets out there. The big difference between it and others is that it has a projector built into an oversized body. The Spro 2 made do with an LED flashlight, but the Spro Plus uses a brighter 500 lumen laser to project its image, resulting in better aspect ratio and improved visibility regardless of room conditions.
How big is the projected screen? ZTE says it’s 80 inches wide from about 3 feet away, with a 720p resolution. Sound can be provided by the Spro Plus itself, using an audio system developed by JBL that plays through a pair of 4-watt speakers. The Spro Plus is powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM. It comes installed with a custom version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and full access to the Google Play Store. This means you can download Netflix (or the streaming media app of your choice) and throw the image on a handy screen or wall.
To do this, you will need a data connection. The Spro Plus comes in either a Wi-Fi or 4G LTE model, so there’s no need to use up your phone’s data allowance. Media doesn’t have to be streamed either, as the Spro Plus has 32GB of internal storage plus a MicroSD card expansion slot, so it’s ready for an additional 128GB. Finally, its 12,100 mAh battery means you won’t even need a wall outlet to project your movie; it will provide up to four hours of use before it runs out.
Although it seems to project well, the entire projector seems to run incredibly hot. Although the demo units have been on and plugged in for a while, I still haven’t enjoyed that kind of warmth while using the display. There was also significant lag when simply switching between home screens, and while ZTE says it’s running a custom version of Marshmallow, all demo devices were running Android 4.4. It is not clear if they are simply updated yet.
The stand on the bottom of the projector felt a bit flimsy and didn’t really offer the best support, as you needed good balance to keep the device upright. Even then, it was hardly pointed more than it was straight. On the other hand, the tripod was quite decent and well designed, offering relatively strong support for the projector.
Fortunately, the projection seemed to be the best part of the device. I was impressed with its clarity and color balance in low light at its projected size.
ZTE is promoting the Spro Plus to business users, and has included voice control via a Harman-made microphone, as well as support for a USB camera for conference calls. The Wi-Fi version of the Spro Plus will be sold globally through ZTE’s website before the summer, with the 4G LTE model joining it a little later. The Spro 2 was sold through AT&T and Verizon, so there’s a chance the Spro Plus will get a network version in the future. The all-important price hasn’t been announced, but with the Spro 2 costing more than $500, don’t expect it to be cheap.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn