The TCL C1 is a compact 1080p LED smart projector designed for quick, casual big-screen viewing without needing extra gear. It runs Google TV and supports casting, so you can stream directly from built-in apps or throw content up from your phone, and its auto focus and auto keystone help you get a squared-up picture fast when you move it between rooms. Connectivity is simple with a single HDMI2.0 input, a USB port for media playback, and a 3.5 mm audio out if you want to hook up external speakers, while the built-in speaker covers basic standalone use.
Our Verdict
The TCL C1 projector is disappointing for movies. It's terribly dim, so it can only truly be used in a completely dark room. It's also extremely inaccurate out of the box, with a very narrow color gamut, so it's far from vibrant. While you can improve it through calibration, there is little to be done to improve its color accuracy. Thankfully, it does have excellent contrast, but only due to how dim the projector is.
Excellent contrast.
Fully-featured smart unit, with native Netflix.
Terribly dim projector.
Extremely inaccurate out of the box.
While you can improve its accuracy through calibration, it's still only alright afterwards.
Very narrow color gamut, even in Rec. 709.
The corners of the image are visibly darker than the center.
The TCL C1 projector is a poor choice for gaming. It tops out at 1080p @ 60Hz, and it has high input lag at every resolution, so it's not a good experience for anything but slow turn-based titles. It has meandering image quality, with a dim and inaccurate image out of the box. It's not colorful at all, and while it has excellent contrast, that's really only due to how dim the projector is.
Excellent contrast.
Terribly dim projector.
Extremely inaccurate out of the box.
Very narrow color gamut, even in Rec. 709.
The corners of the image are visibly darker than the center.
Tops out at 1080p @ 60Hz, with high input lag.
The TCL C1 projector is terribly dim and can only truly be used in an entirely dim room. Its brightness uniformity is alright, but its corners are noticeably darker than the center.
Terribly dim projector.
The corners of the image are visibly darker than the center.
The TCL C1 projector has excellent contrast, but only because of how dim it is, which gives it a very solid black floor. This means that in a dark room, which is where you should be using the unit due to its very low peak brightness, it delivers a pleasant experience.
Excellent contrast.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The TCL C1 smart projector doesn't have any variants.
Our unit was manufactured in Vietnam.
Popular Projector Comparisons
The TCL C1 is an extremely cheap projector with excellent contrast, but it's a rather poor product overall. It's extremely dim, has a narrow color gamut, and is terribly inaccurate out of the box. It's also a poor choice for gaming due to its high input lag. Even its high contrast comes with a caveat, as it's only excellent due to how dim the unit is. That said, it's very inexpensive, but for its price, you could get the vastly superior NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3). The C1 just isn't worth it for most users.
Check out our recommendations for the best cheap projectors and the best home projectors. If you'd prefer to shop solely for another product in the same price range, look up the best projectors under $500 instead.
The TCL C1 is slightly better than the Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen, but the Samsung is smaller and more portable. Still, the TCL's contrast is much better, so it looks better in dark rooms. Accuracy purists will, however, prefer the Samsung, as it's far more accurate out of the box, and it's easier to calibrate.
The NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is better than the TCL C1. The NexiGo is brighter, so it's a bit more versatile when it comes to room conditions. It also has slightly better contrast, and it's more meaningful on the NexiGo due to its higher peak brightness. While neither unit is accurate out of the box, the NexiGo is a bit more so, and it's also easier to calibrate. Similarly, neither product is solid for gaming, but in a pinch, the NexiGo does a better job due to its lower input lag. The TCL is slightly more portable due to its smaller size and weight alongside its swivel stand, and it's also quieter under operation than the NexiGo, but overall, the PJ40 is the better product.
We've independently bought and tested over 75 projectors and published detailed results for each, so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab, so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodologies are also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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