A 4K Projector That Actually Cares About Gaming
The Dangbei DBOX02 Pro is a 4K projector that wants to be the center of your living room gaming and movie setup. Instead of just being a basic movie beamer, it is tuned for gaming with high refresh rates, low input lag, and bright output that can fight off daylight.
This cube shaped projector has a smooth glossy front, mostly matte black body, and soft rounded edges that give it a modern look with a bit of retro charm. It sits in a stand that grips it on both sides and lets you rotate it a full 360 degrees and tilt 120 degrees for ceiling projection. That means you can aim it at a wall or the ceiling without stacking books or messing with tiny adjustable feet.
The real magic is Dangbei’s InstanPro AI auto keystone and focus system. As you move or rotate the projector, the image automatically corrects and refocuses in real time. You do not need to fight with manual keystone controls every time you nudge it. For anyone who shifts their setup between gaming, movies, and different walls, that alone is a huge quality of life upgrade.
On the spec sheet, the DBOX02 Pro is clearly built with gamers in mind. It uses DLP projection with a native 3840 x 2160 resolution and supports up to 240 Hz refresh rate at 1080p. At full 4K resolution you can run up to 120 Hz over HDMI 2.1, which is ideal if you have a high end gaming PC or current gen console. Brightness comes in at 2000 ISO lumens, which is enough to keep the picture visible in bright rooms, not just in a dark cave.
Connectivity is solid for a living room gaming setup. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports, one with eARC for sending audio to an external receiver or soundbar, plus a USB 2.0 port, LAN, dual band Wi Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. Inside are 2 x 12 W Harman Kardon speakers, which are loud enough that you do not need a separate audio system right away. It runs Google TV, so streaming apps and smart features are built in.
Performance For PC And Console Gamers
If you are wondering how it actually performs for gaming, the DBOX02 Pro holds its own against some of the best gaming projectors on the market. The key things gamers care about are refresh rate, input lag, and image clarity, and it scores well on all three.
With HDMI 2.1 support you can drive 4K at 120 Hz, which is more than enough for most PC and console players today. If your rig is pushing serious frame rates at 1080p, you can drop the resolution and unlock up to 240 Hz. That makes it a great match for a high powered gaming PC where you want both huge screen size and smooth motion.
Input lag in gaming mode comes in around 10 to 20 ms. That will not satisfy pro esports players who chase 4 ms response times on specialized short throw gaming projectors like the BenQ TK700STi, but for most gamers it feels very responsive. Fast paced shooters, racing games, and action titles are all very playable without feeling like you are fighting the controls.
The auto keystone system still works in gaming mode, which is a nice touch. Many gaming projectors disable keystone adjustments to reduce lag. Here you can keep your flexible mounting and still enjoy a good gaming experience, though any keystone correction always adds a tiny bit of processing.
Image quality is where the DBOX02 Pro really feels like a home cinema machine as well as a gaming display. Colors are rich and punchy, and the 4K resolution keeps games and movies sharp even at very large screen sizes. Black levels are not true cinema grade, but that is common for gaming projectors. The big win is brightness. With 2000 ISO lumens and a strong high performance mode, it stands up surprisingly well in bright rooms. Direct sunlight will push it to its limits and ramp up fan noise, but you generally do not need to run it that hard.
For sound, the integrated Harman Kardon speakers do a better job than most built in projector audio. They are loud, reasonably clear, and have enough body to make games and movies enjoyable without external speakers. If you want more, the eARC HDMI port and analog audio out make it easy to hook up a more serious sound system.
Setup, Living Room Use, And Who It Is For
The DBOX02 Pro is not a short throw projector, so you cannot just drop it on a TV stand a few inches from the wall. To get a 150 inch image you need around 4 meters of distance, and up to 300 inches needs about 8 meters. That means it works best if you have a longer living room or the option to ceiling mount or place it far back in the room.
The upside is that once you find the right spot, the auto keystone and focus make it incredibly easy to live with. You can rotate it, tilt it for ceiling projection, or shift between walls and it will quickly realign the picture. For anyone who does not want to spend time fiddling with setup before every game session, this is a big win.
The projector is not tiny or ultra portable. At around 4.8 kg it is easy enough to move around your home, but it is not the kind of thing you throw in a backpack for a quick LAN or movie night elsewhere. It is better thought of as a semi permanent living room or dedicated gaming room display.
Google TV powers the interface, so you get all the usual apps and recommendations plus a few ads on the home screen. Navigation is mostly straightforward, though there are some quirks. Gaming mode is only available when an HDMI device is connected, and finding that setting once you are in HDMI mode is less intuitive than it should be. You have to use a specific side button on the remote, which you will probably get used to after a few sessions.
There are some extra touches such as eye protection features, HDMI CEC so devices can wake the projector and vice versa, and even a dust removal mode that blasts air to clear the vents. You probably will not use every feature, but they add to the feeling that this is a well rounded home entertainment device, not just a bare bones projector.
Overall, the Dangbei DBOX02 Pro is a compelling option if you want a huge, bright 4K screen that can handle both serious gaming and day to day streaming. It costs less than many 4K projectors with similar brightness and resolution, yet still brings 120 Hz 4K, up to 240 Hz at 1080p, and input lag low enough for almost any non pro gamer.
If you have the room to place it far enough from your wall or do a ceiling mount, and you like the idea of turning your living room into a flexible 150 to 300 inch gaming arena, this projector delivers. For PC and console gamers who want a cinema sized screen without sacrificing responsiveness, the DBOX02 Pro earns a strong recommendation.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-monitors/dangbei-dbox02-pro-review/
