JMGO N1 Ultra 4K Laser Projector Review

With its N1 Ultra 4K Laser Projector, JMGO has crafted a bundle of specs which, at least on paper, seem incredibly impressive, especially considering the price that early bird Kickstarter backers can pre-order it for. Of course, specs on paper and early bird pricing is only one side of the coin. Here are my thoughts on the new JMGO 4K projector after a month of use, as well as my recommendation on whether or not it’s worth a buy for its RRP.

Open it up

The box contains the projector itself, a decent-quality remote control, quick start guide, power cable, power adapter, and an Allen wrench. It’s everything users need and the box itself can be reused as a little case for storage and travel, which is neat.

Setting up the N1 Ultra is simple enough, especially thanks to the integrated gimbal design. For those, like me, who aren’t able to mount a projector permanently to the ceiling, being able to tune the swivel and tilt of the N1 Ulta comes in clutch when angling it from a table or stand.

When it’s powered on, the N1 Ultra is impressively quiet. Throughout my month of usage, I was constantly surprised by just how quiet the fan inside this projector is. It’s very quiet indeed, even during hotter evenings and prolonged use.

The adventure begins

I managed to download most of the apps I use to consume movies and TV, aside from Netflix. This is a common issue with the majority of projectors on the market, but it’s still disappointing to see. Hopefully this can one day be rectified.

Until then, the best workaround is to plug in an Amazon Fire TV Stick or comparable product. It’s a fine solution, but an additional purchase, and having the stick poking out of the rear isn’t a great look.

The generous I/O also lets me plug in my PS5 console, meaning I can switch between gaming and movie-watching without the need to change over the cables. Games play great on the N1 Ultra, largely due to the low input response time. I played Call of Duty: Warzone 2 with zero issues, and the game felt as responsive as ever.

In addition to the fantastic image quality, the N1 Ultra kicks out impressive sound, especially given its relatively small size. While most users will combine a projector with dedicated speakers, it’s good to know the N1 Ultra can stand alone when needed.

Big wins and interesting losses

The main highlights of the JMGO N1 Ultra are the overall image quality, especially when it comes to colors; rapid focus with keystone, which rarely has you waiting around; and excellent gaming capabilities, with low input lag. The speakers are great, too, and it’s nice to be able to watch movies on the ceiling with the huge supported tilt.

The lowlights of the JMGO N1 Ultra are where things get a bit more interesting. Sure, there’s the expected lack of Netflix support, but there is the bigger issue of the overall brightness. JMGO is targeting 4,000 ANSI Lumens, but I’m only measuring 2,500 as a best-case scenario. While yes, it does still look fantastic, it’s not quite as good as I was hoping.

Perhaps it’s down to my unit or maybe my testing doesn’t match that of JMGO’s, but I’m confident that 2,500 ANSI Lumens is what my N1 Ultra is capable of outputting at maximum brightness and in the best conditions.

For those who manage to snag the N1 Ultra for an early bird Kickstarter price, that Lumens count might still be worth the investment. However, at the MSRP of $2,299 and with a one-year warranty, I’d personally find it a lot more difficult to part with that cash.

N1 Ultra 4K Laser Projector provided by JMGO.