3M PocketProjector MP180 review

Despite these niggles, it’s hard not to be impressed by the MP180. Although it has a native resolution of 800×600, it can accept an input of up to 1,280×800, compressing it. We found that image quality was ample for presentations and even films looked good when projected to a size of around 28in. With the lights out, colours were deep and rich, and contrast was surprisingly good; skin and other natural tones looked realistic and animated films were bursting with colour.

There’s a pair of internal speakers that are fine for operating system sounds, but for music or films it’s probably a good idea to connect a set of external speakers to the 3.5mm audio output. There’s also an optional cable (£35 from www.personalprojector.co.uk) for attaching Apple products, such as iPods or iPhones, directly. There’s no remote control, though, so you’ll have to use the touchscreen, and this is tricky to use without shifting the projector around.

The MP180 is a useful product for travellers wishing to lighten their luggage. Its versatility means all you really need to carry is your files on a microSD card and the projector, although the two hours of battery life mean that carrying the power supply around with you is a good idea. The only problem arises when your audience also need the lights on to take notes. However, the Samsung SP-H03 pocket projector has the same battery life, can also read from flash drives, and costs over £100 less.