ASUS ZenBeam E2 Mini LED Portable Projector: features, specs and who it suits

The ASUS ZenBeam E2 is a small LED projector with a built-in battery and speaker. It is meant for people who want a bigger picture than a phone or tablet screen can give, without setting up a full home-theatre projector, a power cable and separate speakers. Here is what its specifications mean and where a projector like this fits.

What the image looks like

ASUS says the E2 projects an image of up to 100 inches (about 2.5 m) diagonally. The native resolution is WVGA, 854 x 480 pixels. That is lower than Full HD, and on a very large image the pixels become easier to see. The listing also says the projector accepts FHD content, which typically means it takes a 1080p signal and scales it down to its own panel.

Resolution matters less for social media clips, livestreams and casual video than for text-heavy work such as spreadsheets. Most people sit at a normal distance from the image, and smaller sizes look sharper than the full 100 inches.

What 300 LED lumens means in practice

Brightness is quoted here as 300 LED lumens, with a light source ASUS rates at 30,000 hours. LED lumens are a different measure from the ANSI lumens on larger business projectors, so the two numbers can't be compared directly. In general, a projector in this class works best in a dim or dark room. In daylight the picture looks washed out, and a smaller image is brighter and easier to see than a large one.

An LED source also means no lamp to replace, which is part of why the rated life is so long.

Battery, speaker and power bank use

The built-in battery runs video playback for up to four hours, according to ASUS. That covers most films, though real running time usually depends on brightness settings and what you are playing. The 5-watt speaker uses ASUS Sonic Master tuning. A speaker that size is fine for a small group in a quiet space, and an external speaker is the usual choice for a bigger outdoor gathering.

The E2 can also charge other devices through its USB Type-A port, so it can act as a small power bank.

Connecting your devices

There are three ways in:

• HDMI for laptops, streaming sticks and game consoles.
• USB for playing media directly, and for power output.
• Wi-Fi mirroring for Android, iOS and Windows 10 or later devices.

ASUS also describes an automatic portrait mode. When you turn the projector to vertical, it removes the black sidebars so phone-style video fills the image.

Size and portability

The projector measures about 4.3 x 1.6 x 4.2 inches (roughly 11 x 4 x 11 cm) and weighs 0.9 lb (about 0.4 kg). It fits in a bag, and it suits travel, camping trips and a spare-room movie night.

Who it suits

It suits people who want a projector they can carry and set up in a minute, such as students, travellers and families who like backyard film evenings. It is less suited to a bright living room or a permanent home-cinema setup.

What to check before you buy

• Room light: can you darken the space where you'll use it?
• Image size and distance: check the throw distance in the manual for the picture size you want.
• Your devices: confirm that your phone or laptop supports the wireless mirroring and has the right cable if you plan to use HDMI.
• Surface: a plain light wall works, but a screen gives a cleaner picture.
• Sound: decide whether the 5W speaker is enough or whether you'll add your own.
• What's in the box: check which cables and accessories are included.

The short version

• A pocket-sized LED projector from ASUS, about 0.9 lb.
• Up to 100-inch image at 854 x 480, rated 300 LED lumens.
• Up to four hours of playback on the built-in battery.
• HDMI, USB and wireless mirroring, plus a 5W speaker.
• Works best in dim light.

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