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KODAK Luma 500 Projector

$699.99 at Amazon.com

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SUMMARY: The Kodak Luma 500 is a palm-sized, transportable projector aimed at casual entertainment. While marketed as a Full HD portable cinema with integrated Google TV and a built-in battery, actual performance shows its brightness is low, requiring dark environments for optimal viewing. Its image quality lives up to 1080p claims, though audio is modest and features like lens zoom or shift are absent. Overall, it serves well for occasional movie nights but is limited for daytime use or intensive gaming.

Best Used For: Home theater setups in dark rooms

Released: 2025

Brand: KODAK

Specification	Details
Brightness	~150 ANSI Lumens
Resolution	Native 1080P, Supports 4K (downscale to 1080P)
Contrast Ratio	~400:1
Throw Ratio	1.2:1
Min/Max Throw Distance	0.13m-3.8m
Lamp Life	30000 hours
Connectivity	Wi‑Fi (dual‑band), Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, USB, 3.5 mm jack
Keystone Correction	Auto (4-corner) + Manual
Zoom Lens	fixed lens
Input Lag	~30ms at 60 Hz
Audio Output	Dual 1.5 W speakers with Dolby Audio
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Weight (kg)	0.55 kg
Lens Shift	not available
Controller Type	Remote, App, Voice (Google Assistant)
Noise Level (dB)	not specified
Size of Projection	Up to 150 inches diagonal

Highlights

The Kodak Luma Mini Projector presents itself as a compact, portable entertainment solution designed primarily for travelers or casual home users. Highlighted by a sleek, minimalist design, it emphasizes portability with a lightweight build, weighing approximately 0.55 kg (1.2 lbs). This compact form factor makes it ideal for users looking for an easily transportable projector for occasional use.

One of the main advertised features is its native 1080p (1920×1080) resolution. Reality checks from reliable sources confirm this claim, noting that the device indeed delivers genuine Full HD resolution through its DLP chipset. It also advertises “4K input support”, meaning the projector accepts a 4K signal; however, it immediately downscales any input to its native 1080p resolution. Therefore, despite the marketing, it does not offer true 4K detail and functions purely as a 1080p projector with 4K passthrough capability.

Advertised brightness is 150–160 ANSI lumens, verified independently at roughly 150 ANSI lumens. This brightness level limits the projector’s usability significantly, as independent tests indicate it performs best in dark, controlled lighting environments. Ambient light dramatically reduces image clarity and visibility, making it suitable primarily for evening use or in very dimly lit rooms.

The contrast ratio is advertised as around 400:1, which reality checks confirm. While this figure is notably low compared to high-end projectors, it meets basic expectations for casual viewing. Users should expect moderate black levels and somewhat washed-out colors, especially in scenes with darker content.

The Kodak Luma 500 has a confirmed throw ratio of approximately 1.2:1, accurately allowing a projection size up to 150 inches at a maximum distance of roughly 3.8 meters (12.5 feet). Real-world tests support these numbers, though image quality noticeably diminishes at maximum size, especially in terms of sharpness and brightness.

Connectivity options match advertisements accurately, featuring dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, USB 2.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This diverse connectivity ensures ease of use with various devices, whether streaming from smartphones or connecting external storage. Integrated Google TV 11.0 and Netflix Certification allow users direct access to streaming content without external devices, adding genuine convenience.

Audio quality is managed by two integrated 1.5W speakers with Dolby Audio. Verified user experiences suggest that these speakers offer decent clarity and are acceptable for small rooms or casual use. However, the audio output lacks depth and volume for immersive movie-watching experiences, thus external audio setups are highly recommended for improved audio quality.

Keystone correction is advertised accurately, offering both automatic (4-corner) and manual adjustments. Independent tests validate this capability, noting that the auto-correction performs well, quickly adjusting to maintain a rectangular image, reducing setup time significantly.

Input lag is marketed at roughly 30 milliseconds (at 60Hz). Real-world tests confirm this specification, making it acceptable for casual gaming but insufficient for competitive or fast-paced gaming scenarios. Gamers requiring faster response times will find limitations here.

The advertised LED lamp life of 30,000 hours is credible and aligns well with typical LED projector expectations. While actual longevity tests are rare, general industry experiences with LED projectors support this figure, indicating a long-term, maintenance-free projection experience.

Notably absent from its feature set are lens zoom and lens shift. This limitation restricts flexible positioning since the image size is determined strictly by distance alone. Users must physically relocate the projector to adjust the screen size.

While the noise level (dB rating) of the Kodak Luma 500 has not been officially stated or independently measured by trusted sources, informal user feedback indicates the fan noise is present but tolerable. This absence of verified noise ratings means noise-sensitive users may find this omission concerning.

Among additional features, the Kodak Luma 500’s built-in 10,500 mAh battery provides around 2 hours of runtime, suitable for short viewing sessions on-the-go. This battery life has been confirmed through real-world use and matches advertised claims.

Overall, the Kodak Luma 500 Projector positions itself clearly as a portable entertainment device for casual users who primarily use it in controlled, low-light environments. Its strong points—such as genuine 1080p resolution, easy connectivity, built-in streaming capabilities via Google TV 11.0, and portability—are confirmed by independent sources. However, inherent limitations, particularly regarding brightness, audio performance, and absence of advanced lens adjustments, emphasize that this product best suits users with realistic expectations who prioritize portability and convenience over top-tier audiovisual performance.

Amazon Price History

Date	Price (USD)
2025-07-07	699.99
2025-07-15	699.99
2025-07-18	699.99

Since 2025-07-07

Auto Product Comparison

Product	KODAK Luma 500 Projector	ViewSonic PX700HDH Projector	GooDee GD500 Projector	Salange P92MAX Projector
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Price	$699.99 at Amazon.com	$599.99 at Amazon.com	$49.99 at Amazon.com	$159.99 ~~$219.99~~ at Amazon.com
Brand	KODAK	ViewSonic	GooDee	Salange
Check Details		Check Details	Check Details	Check Details
Brightness	~150 ANSI Lumens	3700 ANSI Lumens (advertised)	<300 ANSI Lumens	200 ANSI Lumens
Resolution	Native 1080P, Supports 4K (downscale to 1080P)	Native 1080P	Native 1920 x 1080 (1080p), supports 4K compressed	1920 x 1080 (1080p), 4K supported
Contrast Ratio	~400:1	22000:1 (dynamic)	5000:1 (advertised)	10000:1 (advertised)
Throw Ratio	1.2:1	1.49:1-1.64:1	1.4	1.25:1
Min/Max Throw Distance	0.13m-3.8m	1m-10.96m (30-300 inches)	4.3 to 16.4 feet	1.2-2.5m (40-120 inches)
Lamp Life	30000 hours	6,000 hours (Normal), 20,000 hours (SuperEco)	20000 hours	30000 hours
Connectivity	Wi‑Fi (dual‑band), Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, USB, 3.5 mm jack	2x HDMI 1.4, 1x USB 2.0 Type A (5V/1.5A), 1x 3.5mm Audio Out, 1x RS232	HDMI, USB, AV, 3.5mm, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2	HDMI in, Mini Jack, Audio out, USB in & Bluetooth 5.2
Keystone Correction	Auto (4-corner) + Manual	Vertical (±40°)	Auto keystone	Auto keystone ±45° (vertical and horizontal)
Zoom Lens	fixed lens	1.1x optical zoom	50%–100% zoom	No optical zoom
Input Lag	~30ms at 60 Hz	16ms	Not specified	Not specified
Audio Output	Dual 1.5 W speakers with Dolby Audio	10W built-in speaker	2 x 5W speakers, Bluetooth	3.5mm audio out, Bluetooth 5.2
Aspect Ratio	16:9	16:9	16:9	16:9
Weight (kg)	0.55 kg	2.4 kg	1 kg	~1.5 kg
Lens Shift	not available	Not available	Not available	Not available
Controller Type	Remote, App, Voice (Google Assistant)	remote control	Remote Control	Remote control
Noise Level (dB)	not specified	31dB (Normal), 27dB (Eco)	35 dB	Not specified
Size of Projection	Up to 150 inches diagonal	30" to 300"	30-300 inches	Up to 300 inches (40-120 inches recommended)
Connectivity	Wi‑Fi (dual‑band), Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, USB, 3.5 mm jack	2x HDMI 1.4, 1x USB 2.0 Type A (5V/1.5A), 1x 3.5mm Audio Out, 1x RS232	HDMI, USB, AV, 3.5mm, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2	HDMI in, Mini Jack, Audio out, USB in & Bluetooth 5.2