The Wanbo X5 Pro is a 1080p projector that uses a single TFT LCD panel with an LED light source. It has a fixed lens with powered focus, digital zoom, and horizontal and vertical digital keystone, with a listed 1.25:1 throw ratio. For smart features, it runs Android 11 OS with apps and Google Assistant support, and for audio, it has dual 6W speakers. Connectivity includes HDMI 2.0, 2 USB ports, a 3.5mm audio out, and built-in Wi-Fi.
Our Verdict
The Wanbo X5 Pro is a passable option for movies in a dark room. It delivers fairly deep blacks, but it isn't bright enough to hold up well in rooms with ambient light, and the image shows noticeable corner vignetting. Its color gamut is also limited, with poor coverage of both Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020, and its image is very inaccurate out of the box, with little improvement after calibration.
Excellent contrast.
Fully featured projector with a smart OS.
Dim projector.
Has some noticeable vignetting and a yellow tint.
Very inaccurate out-of-the-box and can't really be calibrated.
Narrow color gamut in Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020.
The Wanbo X5 Pro is disappointing for gaming. It's versatile due to downscaling 4k inputs to 1080p, but its input lag is very high, and it is too sluggish for most game titles. The unit outputs a 1080p @ 120Hz image, but it frameskips, effectively making it a 60Hz projector. As for image quality, it does have excellent contrast, so it looks pretty good in dim rooms. Avoid turning on any lights, though, as they're not bright enough to deal with. It's also very inaccurate out of the box, and it can't really be improved through calibration.
Excellent contrast.
Fully featured projector with a smart OS.
Dim projector.
Has some noticeable vignetting and a yellow tint.
Very inaccurate out-of-the-box and can't really be calibrated.
Narrow color gamut in Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020.
High input lag at any resolution.
Frame skips at 1080p @ 120Hz.
The Wanbo X5 Pro is dim, so make sure to turn off any lights to get the most out of it. Its uniformity is decent, but there's noticeable vignetting alongside a yellow tint.
Dim projector.
Has some noticeable vignetting and a yellow tint.
The Wanbo X5 Pro has excellent contrast. It's especially proficient in brighter scenes, with good separation between elements. It's not quite as good in the darkest scenes compared to some of the best projectors out there, but overall, it delivers a pleasant viewing experience in dark rooms.
Excellent contrast.
Contrast is less impressive in darker scenes.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Wanbo X5 Pro 2025 is the upgraded version of the base Wanbo X5. Both are 1080p LCD projectors with similar advertised brightness, but the X5 Pro adds Google TV support, a shorter throw ratio, and horizontal as well as vertical keystone correction, while the base X5 is a simpler model with a longer throw and more limited keystone adjustment.
| Model | Resolution / Light Source | Brightness | Smart Platform | Throw Ratio / Image Size | Keystone | Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanbo X5 | 1080p / LED LCD | 1100 ANSI lumens | Android 9.0 | 1.50:1 / 39.93" - 149.98" | Vertical only | 2 x 5W |
| Wanbo X5 Pro | 1080p / LED LCD | 1100 ANSI lumens | Android 11 / Google TV | 1.25:1 / 39.98" - 180.09" | Horizontal & vertical | 2 x 6W |
Our unit was manufactured in China. You can see a photo of its label here.
Popular Projector Comparisons
The Wanbo X5 Pro 2025 is a cheap projector that performs quite well in a dark room due to its excellent contrast. It competes most directly with the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3), which generally projects a slightly higher quality image, but at the cost of a much noisier fan and a barebones smart OS; the Wanbo is thus a good alternative if you prefer its versatility and silence. Still, other products, like the Dangbei Atom or the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF21, offer even more versatility thanks to their brighter, more colorful images, but they're also usually more expensive.
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 Wanbo X5 Pro and NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) are nearly identical, but there are some minute differences. For sheer image quality the NexiGo has a small edge due to its slightly better brightness, contrast, and color gamut. While both units are very inaccurate out-of-the-box, the NexiGo can be vastly improved through calibration, while the Wanbo can't. Still, the Wanbo is noticeably quieter under load, making it a better pick for quiet bedrooms. It also comes with a full smart OS with apps, while the NexiGo is barebones and really requires an external dongle for full smart functionality.
The Dangbei Atom and Wanbo X5 Pro trade blows, each with their own strengths. The Dangbei is more versatile due to its smaller size, higher peak brightness, wider color gamut and ease of calibration. Still, for completely dark rooms the Wanbo has the edge due to its vastly superior contrast.
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF21 and the Wanbo X5 Pro have different strengths. The Wanbo is a dark room workhorse due to its excellent contrast; the Epson's contrast is poor in comparison, with visibly raised blacks. Nevertheless, the Epson has a wider color gamut, and the unit is extremely accurate out-of-the-box; in comparison the Wanbo is very inaccurate, and can't really be improved through calibration.
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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