Tech review: Dangbei MP1 Max brings 4K clarity to your home theater or backyard movie night

Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service on Nov 12, 2025

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I really wish I had room in my house for a proper home theater, but my wife and I live in a smallish place without an open expanse of wall to put up a big screen.

So if I want to use a projector for movie nights or to watch a big game, I have to pull out a portable screen and set up a projector.

Lately I’ve been testing out a very bright and very sharp 4K laser projector from Dangbei called the MP1 Max, which retails for $1,999 but can usually be had at a lower price if you look around (try us.dangbei.com or Amazon).

The MP1 Max is a true self-contained home theater, but it is also portable.

It ships in a molded Styrofoam carrying case about the size of a portable typewriter.

Hardware specs

The triple laser LED projection system has a brightness of 3,100 lumens and a 4K resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. The MP1 Max is built on a 360-degree rotating and tilting stand, which is perfect for easy positioning on a wall or even your ceiling. (Yes, projecting on a bedroom ceiling for in-bed watching is a thing.)

The high lumen rating means you can still see a clear and bright image even in a room with uncovered windows.

The projector can provide an image from 40 inches to 300 inches, but Dangbei says the image will be better if you stay under 150 inches. The larger you make the image, the darker you need to make the room. To help with the math, 150 inches is a 13-foot diagonal image.

If you like gaming, the MP1 Max has a 240Hz refresh rate (at 1,080P), which means better responsiveness and less lag while playing games.

The MP1 Max also has a built-in sound system with two 12-watt speakers with Dolby DTS that sound surprisingly great. The sound can also be routed through a 3.5mm headphone jack or wirelessly through Bluetooth.

Video inputs for the MP1 Max include two HDMI ports (one with ARC) and you can also cast video from a phone, tablet or computer if you’re on the same network.

Speaking of network, the projector has Wi-Fi 6, and you can use Ethernet through a USB-A to Ethernet adapter.

Software specs

The heart of the MP1 Max is the Google TV operating system, which includes a licensed Netflix app. Google TV also includes apps for Apple TV, Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube and YouTube TV, DirectTV Stream and thousands of other apps.

The on-board speakers make the MP1 Max a great choice to take to the backyard for outdoor movie night. Just string an extension cord out to your back yard and connect the projector to your home’s Wi-Fi or the hotspot on your phone and you’re all set for watching any online streaming service you like

You can cast video or mirror your screen from Windows, Macintosh, iOS or Android as long as you’re on the same network.

Setup

The MP1 Max uses artificial intelligence to help you get the best picture for your particular situation.

During the setup you will go through auto-focus, auto keystone correction, screen fit and obstacle avoidance. The projector is also watching to see if you are passing through the image and if it senses your eyes looking at the light, it’ll dim things down to project your eyes.

The entire show is run from the included slim remote control with buttons to quickly launch Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube. There’s also a microphone in the remote where you can control the Google TV OS with your voice.

In use

I found the MP1 Max easy to set up and use. The longest part was getting it powered up and on my Wi-Fi network and then having to sign into all my subscription services.

It has the brightness and resolution to be your main TV in a home theater, but it’s also portable enough to toss in the car and take it on the road.

The projector weighs a little over 12 pounds, so you’re not just tossing it in your backpack, but the carrying case makes toting it around a bit easier.

If you will be setting up a proper home theater, you’ll want to think about a separate sound system. Having built-in speakers is great for a meeting or backyard movies, but you’ll want the sound coming from the screen when you’re watching movies at home. A surround system would really pair well with the MP1 Max.

I was completely impressed with the quality of the video from all sources.

I’m convinced one of my future houses will have a room big enough for a home theater, but until then a projector like the MP1 Max does its job beautifully and then packs away neatly.