Review: Moto Insta-Share Projector for Moto Z

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

After receiving the Moto Mod accessories to test with my Moto Z and my Moto Z Play (review coming soon!), the Insta-Share Projector was the one I was least enthusiastic about. Once I tried it, however, it became the one I used the most.

One of the more intriguing Moto Mod attachments for the Moto Z and Moto Z Play smartphones was the Lenovo-made Insta-Share Projector which snaps into the back of these devices to create an instant home theatre projector experience.

I'm a big fan of projectors, I savour movies from my collection on 720P HD Viewsonic projector. I use a tiny ASUS S1 Pocket Projector as the TV in my room and take it with me when travelling. I've also used and enjoyed the Celluon PicoAir wireless pico projector.

That said, i was skeptical of the Insta-Share Projector for the Moto Z. When this was demoed to me a month ago, we were in a rather bright room which made the projected image look muddy and unclear. I didn't have much confidence that it woulf be anything remarkable. I was wrong.

After receiving the Moto Mod accessories to test with my Moto Z and my Moto Z Play (review coming soon!), the Insta-Share Projector was the one I was least enthusiastic about. Once I tried it, however, it became the one I used the most.

The projector snaps on effortlessly to the back of your Moto Z. It has a built-in kickstand to angle the image properly. While you need to focus the image manually on a screen or wall, the Insta-Share automatically corrects the Keystone. I found it to be great for catching up on TV shows using the CTV Go app on the Moto Z, I marathoned Netflix's Luke Cage with the Insta-Share, and also watched various podcasts as well as tech launch events while working on my computer. The audio from the Moto Z and Moto Z Play was loud enough although there's always the option of using a Bluetooth speaker or line-out.

Once you get used to turning your phone into a big screen TV, which is what the Moto Z and Moto Z Plus can become with the Insta-Share Projector, it is quite a remarkable feeling.

Moto Z Plus and the Insta-Share Projector made watching the 2016 Presidential Debate while ia possibility for me.

The Insta-Share projector, which charges via USB Type-C, just like the Moto Z family, has an hour's worth of battery life so it doesn't deplete the phone's juice. It has a 854x480 WVGA (480p), resolution which is less than HD but I find it is good enought for most shows and videos, plus this projector is rated for 10,000 hours which is impressive. While Lenovo claims it can, "Instantly turn any flat surface into a 70" big screen on the fly," the optimal screen size for me was around 40-50" before things get too blown out. 

So, who is this projector for? Families that travel a lot and who like to carry or stream their own shows, user's with limited dorm or office space who want to run presentations from their mobile device, anyone who travels for a living and wants to watch recorded or saved movies or video as well as artists who like projecting images on canvas or another surface to paint over. 

Hits:

- A Moto Mod pico projector that works as advertised

- Has one hour of battery life independent of the Moto Z

- Well-designed and built

- Easy to use

Misses:

- Costs $299, which is what larger, more capable projectors go for

- 50 lumens isn't that bright

The Verdict:

While it isn't for everybody, the Insta-Share Projector brings Lenovo's love of projectors to the mobile space and makes the Moto Z and the Moto Z Play a capable hub for presentations, watching streaming videos, movies and shows on almost any available surface. Ease of use is top notch, build quality is above average and the plug and play convenience of this Moto Mod can't be beat.

Rating: 4 out of 5