I recently had the chance to try out TCL’s projector A1S, and I must say, I’m really impressed with what this little thing can do. The idea behind the A1S is to provide a portable, budget-friendly way to bring the big-screen experience to your living room, bedroom, backyard, or anywhere with a darker space and a blank wall or screen.
The A1S has native 1080p Full HD resolution, 600 lm of brightness, and supports 4K content and HDR 10 Plus. It also features Google TV built-in, autofocus, auto keystone correction, Dolby audio, and dual 8 W speakers, all packed in a sleek portable design. TCL is known for its TVs, and they’ve brought a lot of their display experience into this projector.
Unboxing and Setup
Inside the box with the A1S, you get everything you need to get started, including a power cable, remote and batteries, some documentation, and the projector itself. The setup process is super simple: you plug it in, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, sign in to Google TV, and from there, you have access to all of your favorite streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus, and much more.
The A1S also has Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in, so you can use voice controls or cast content directly from your phone. A big pain point with setting up projectors is almost always aligning it to your screen or wall, but the A1S has autofocus and auto keystone correction, which makes it easy to get a sharp and properly aligned image.
I tested the A1S on a few different screens, and it did a great job aligning itself on the first try each time. You do have the ability to manually correct things, but the auto feature does a surprisingly great job, especially for a budget projector.
Image Quality
The A1S has native 1080p full HD resolution, but it also supports 4K content, so everything is sharp, crisp, and detailed, especially when you’re projecting somewhere between 45 to 150 inches. I tested this thing in virtually every scenario that you could imagine on a 100-in screen, and in the right environment, it looks really, really good.
Colors are vibrant, contrast is solid, and TCL’s True Hue technology helps give the picture a more natural look instead of feeling overly washed out or overly processed. It also supports HDR 10 plus, which helps bring out more detail in darker scenes. Brightness is rated at 600 ISO lumens, which isn’t the brightest, but it works well for something this size.
This is not a projector that I would use in a bright room during the middle of the day or if I have all of the lights on, as the image is going to lose a lot of its punch. However, when you dim the lights, use it at night, or set it up in a darker room, that’s where the A1S really comes alive.
Gaming Performance
I’ve been gaming on projectors exclusively for over a decade now, and I was surprised by the A1S’s performance. Gone are the days of lag being an issue for gaming on projectors, and apparently, this now includes budget ones. I’ve been gaming on this little projector, and it’s way better than I expected.
The A1S is not going to replace a high-end gaming monitor, but for casual gaming, party get-togethers, and cozy big-screen sessions, it is a really fun upgrade. The projector uses TCL’s Ever Clear Sealed Optical Engine, which is designed to help protect the internal components from dust and keep the image clean over time.
This is a really nice long-term feature, especially if you plan on moving it around or using it in different rooms. The A1S also has a super clean compact design, which makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is another area where the TCL A1S punches well above what I expected. A lot of portable projectors have speakers that are technically there, but you immediately want to connect something else. With the A1S, I didn’t ever feel that way.
The projector has dual 8-W speakers with Dolby audio, so the sound is loud, clear, and full enough for everyday use. There are also multiple EQ modes, and the projector can optimize audio depending on what you’re watching or listening to. Whether it’s movies, games, or music, this thing handles a lot of it internally.
You do have to bump it up if you want to match the vibe of the large screen, but the A1S can really thump. I did a quick sound test, and the speakers sounded great, with clear and loud audio that’s perfect for a portable projector.
Final Thoughts — Price & Value
I really like the A1S, and I think it’s a great value for its price point. It’s a fun, practical projector to use, and it’s easy to set up. The A1S gives you a huge screen with built-in Google TV, solid image quality, surprisingly good sound, all packed in a portable design that looks incredible.
The biggest thing to know is brightness: this is not made for bright rooms with tons of light. However, for movie nights, bedroom setups, backyard get-togethers, casual gaming on a big screen, this projector makes a lot of sense. The A1S is available on Amazon and other online retailers, and I think it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for an affordable way to get that big screen experience anytime, anywhere.
