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PICO Projector Review...Is It Worth The Money?
This PICO projector review answers your questions and will finally remove the sitting on the fence of indecision feeling.
This is a professional product review I have completed on my own. It is not sponsored and is completely unbiased. The purpose?
When I was searching for a projector for decorating my sugar cookies, I was so frustrated. I did not have a clue on what to look for. There was no guidance online, only sites that were trying their best to make a buck. While writing this, I did a search and see there still is not a true professional PICO + projector review that covers everything.
So, here it is…
This is the PICO we will be discussing:
- [3x Brighter] 2024 Max Version is brighter at 100 LED Lumens, High Definition 1080p HD (1920x1080) Native Resolution, Vibrant Color Technology with 25,000 hour LEDs
- [Ultra Portable with Battery] 2.7 Hour Built-in Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery that can be charged via supplied charging cable
- Wireless Smartphone Connection
- For Personal Media Sharing with friends and family, USB Plug 'n Play instant set up; Apple Mac and PC Compatible. mini-HDMI to HDMI cable is included as an accessory...
Please take note that there are 2 PICO + projectors:
1080p (3 x brighter=resolution of the projected image=sharper and larger)
and
720p (dimmer, smaller and not a sharp image, but cheaper)
The highlights of what I'll cover:
-pros and cons
-who this product is for, why, and benefits
-key features
-pricing
-the company behind the projector
-what others are saying about it
-WeCookier’s overall rating
PICO Projector Review: The Pros And Cons
Let’s divulge into some features I especially appreciate about the PICO + projector and what could be better.
What I Like…
-price
PICO + keeps their prices highly competitive. Which is saying something for a quality machine. This is a real selling point compared to other projectors like the KODAK Luma and especially the AKASO. I mention those because these 3 projectors are rated the highest on Amazon. I wrote a comparison page on the 3 for further reading here: Best Cookie Projector
-easy to set up and use
The PICO + is easy to set up and simple to use. I appreciate this as I am not a real techie person. I had it up and running in about 10 minutes.
-Bluetooth
Bluetooth is important to many of us as it usually makes our lives easier. Bluetooth capability shows that the company stays up-to-date. Their Bluetooth version came out in 2024. I kept seeing that Amazon had a message that they were out of stock and did not know if they would be selling them again. All of a sudden, they would. The off and on lasted for a while. I then emailed AAXA Technologies and they responded almost immediately. The answer…
They told me that this PICO + is very popular and sells out fast. But also, that they kept updating the projector to make it the best possible. This brings me to...
-company and customer service
So, I appreciate the fact the company acts fast to answer and stays up on software enhancements.
I will interject here that another plus for me is that the PICO + is produced in California, whereas the AKASO and KODAK are produced in China. That may or may not matter to you.
-lumens (brightness)
Brightness is key to being happy with a projector. The PICO + has 25,000 hours of 100 LED lumens. What does that mean? VERY bright! So, this one ‘outshines’ the 50 Ansi lumens of the AKASO and the 60 Ansi lumens of the KODAK Luma.
-clarity
When I project it on my wall, there is no problem with it being blurry or pixilated at a very large size.
-attaches to any cell phone holder
There is a mounting device on the back that allows you to screw it into a holder. Any cell phone holder with a clamp style works perfectly as well.
This is what I feel could be better...
Tinny sounding
I enjoy listening to music and podcasts while I work on decorating sugar cookies. Note that the speaker does not give a nice full sound. It is not a bother for me, as I have other avenues to enjoy music and podcasts.
I racked my brain to come up with more cons, but that is all I could come up with.
PICO Projector Review: Who It’s For, Why, and Benefits
I am giving this review on the perspective of a cookie decorator. I have found it increased the sales of cookies, as it gives the ability for congruency in writing and drawing images. It helps take an ordinary cookie to new heights. My customers have truly appreciated this. Thus, I have been able to charge more.
Decorated cookies using the PICO +...
deep mauve anniversary cookies
As a professional cake decorator as well, my business has benefited from the PICO +. It enables me to draw exact photos, images, and logos. Incredible.
Cake decorated with the aid of the PICO +...
The spider on the cake was traced using the PICO + projector
birthday message done with the projectorThis little hand-held machine is for all artists. I am also a calligrapher of 40+ years. It saves me time and hassle. How? I no longer have to spend hours marking and drawing all of the slanted and spaced lines. Now I can shoot an image of the lines on my workspace and not have all of the erasing of the lines after the ink dries. Time-saver!
day image
night image with no lights
wedding place cards using a guideline template with the projectorTeachers and speakers benefit as well. They are the perfect size to slip inside a desk drawer and pull out as needed. It allows a generous projection size. Like I mentioned above, casting it on a wall shows a clear reflection. The brightness is unbeatable. Clarity equals the brightness, which is great for speakers who give presentations with slides or PowerPoint.
This projector far exceeds what you may expect. It catapults movie night to the next level. Though, as mentioned, when you watch video you will need to plug in an external speaker to get the full benefit of sound.
PICO Projector Review: The Features That Benefit
My favorite features of the projector itself, should I say benefits, are these:
-bluetooth. No messy cords = a happy cookier.
-ease of use. It’s a breeze to use. No fuss. Just turn it on. It remembers your settings.
-menus and settings. The PICO + offers a good selection of menus and settings for different needs. Simply navigate with the buttons to go where you want. You can even grab your images from a USB flash drive. The buttons let you turn the projection for different angles. Change the coloring and light too. You are also able to ‘tune in’ the image/movie to get it sharper.
If you are wondering about the compatibility, yes, it is for iPhone or Android.
-brightness. I like the fact that I do not have to shut off the overhead light in my work room when projecting onto cookies. Yes, the Pico + 1080p is that bright.
-size. Being just taller than the original pocket size PICO, it is likened to the size of a cell phone, but a little bit thicker, it does not require much space. I use it with a desktop holder, the clamp holder on my ring light, and a gooseneck cell phone clamp holder. I appreciate that it can be interchanged like this.
PICO Projector Review: The All-important Question. Pricing
I have already touched on the pricing for the PICO +. At the time of writing this, Amazon has customer stars at 4.7. Pretty good, huh? To compare, both the AKASO and the KODAK Luma holds a 4.2.
Because I am an Amazon Affiliate, we have certain rules to abide. One being, we cannot disclose prices. Bummer, I know! But here are the links to all 3 projectors in this review. It is always wise to read others’ reviews too. I list these because they seem to be the most popular amongst cookie artists.
- [3x Brighter] 2024 Max Version is brighter at 100 LED Lumens, High Definition 1080p HD (1920x1080) Native Resolution, Vibrant Color Technology with 25,000 hour LEDs
- [Ultra Portable with Battery] 2.7 Hour Built-in Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery that can be charged via supplied charging cable
- Wireless Smartphone Connection
- For Personal Media Sharing with friends and family, USB Plug 'n Play instant set up; Apple Mac and PC Compatible. mini-HDMI to HDMI cable is included as an accessory...
-For Projection Needs From Cookie Decorating to Movies: Pocket projector produces clear, bright video/imaging for entertainment/office and creative use.
-Multiple Wired & Wireless Connectivity Methods: Pico projector has a built-in Micro USB/USB/HDMI/AV/Micro SD port and comes with HDMI & Micro USB cables
-Perfect for watching HD movies, photo sharing, playing games, or cookie/cake decorating
-Powers via rechargeable battery for up to 2.5 Hrs. Come with remote control and tripod
-From smartphones to big screens
-Comes w/ HDMI & Micro USB Cables for Hookup to Camera, Storage Drive, PC, Laptop
-60 Ansi lumen brightness LED Lamp
-Powers Via Rechargeable Battery Up to 2.5 Hrs.
For a deep dive into comparing these top 3 cookie projectors, have a look at this page:
Pico Projector Review: The Company Behind PICO
I though it would be good to do some ground work to enlighten you on the company who produces the PICO +. Sometimes knowing that can help to make a decision.
AAXA Technologies Inc. was founded in 2008. Headquartered in the United States AtIrvine, California, they manufacture the Pico, mini, micro and mobile projectors utilizing state-of-the-art LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon). This technology provides the sharpest and brightest images in a tiny space as possible.
Pico Projector Review: What Others Are Saying
After the many hours I have put in on using the PICO +, I read through all of the reviews of their customers I could find. I thought it enhanced this PICO projector review page for you. I have summed them up on the main points that could help to see if this projector is a good fit for you or not.
I took the time to read 250+ customer reviews on different sites. I summed up the main points, good and bad...
5 STARS
-very responsive email support
-price
-Bluetooth
-small and light
-bright
-spreadsheets look good
-portable
-quality
-mirroring
-time-saver/game-changer
4 STARS
-setting buttons on PICO instead of a remote
3 STARS
-very tinny speaker, need external speaker
-not compatible with Google Pixel 5a
- battery last about 2 hours
2 STARS
-does not sync sound or apps
-need Miracast NOT Chromecast to be compatible
-long charging time (up to 4 hours)
-low volume
PICO Projector Review: WeCookier’s Scorecard
My personal scorecard taking into account my own experience coupled with customer reviews:
PICO Projector Review: Summation/Final Thoughts
I warned you that the PICO Projector Review was going to be exhaustive! That's a good thing for you.
I will now sum up my overall thoughts.
The PICO + has been a wonderful machine for me. I had the first PICO. It still works amazing 5 years later. It never once had a glitch. The newer PICO + is a dream with it's Bluetooth capability. I treasure it and would be lost without it. The only thing that stands out as a negative for me is the terrible sound, and it's relatively low. It's not a big deal for me as I can use another output.
As a whole, what I understand from reviews is this. It is a quality, small, and compact projector, perfect for cookie decorators and artists. 80% of all the reviews I read were written by cookie decorators. So yes, it thrives in the cookie community! Most touch on the ease of setting it up, for not being very tech-savvy themselves. They enjoy the brightness and clarity, along with the mirroring on from their devices. However, you need to make sure your device/s are Miracast. Also, make sure your device is compatible.
It seems like the thread that runs through most reviews amounts to low battery life. Mine lasts 3 hours. The write-up on Amazon shows 2.7 hours. Others say not near that long. So it varies evidently. I do see that most said this reviewing the 720p style.
I will add that it will not charge if you are using it. However, if you keep it plugged in while working, you'll always have it ready. Same with watching a movie.
Wow! That was a lot to cover. But I sincerely hope this review helped you.
- [3x Brighter] 2024 Max Version is brighter at 100 LED Lumens, High Definition 1080p HD (1920x1080) Native Resolution, Vibrant Color Technology with 25,000 hour LEDs
- [Ultra Portable with Battery] 2.7 Hour Built-in Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery that can be charged via supplied charging cable
- Wireless Smartphone Connection
- For Personal Media Sharing with friends and family, USB Plug 'n Play instant set up; Apple Mac and PC Compatible. mini-HDMI to HDMI cable is included as an accessory...
Here is more information about mini projectors. Tap on the images:
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