TL;DR: The Magcubic HY300 Pro+ mini projector at $51 offers decent build quality and features but skip due to low brightness for practical viewing.
What are the key specifications?
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Magcubic HY300 Pro+ |
| Brightness | 290 ANSI Lumens |
| Native Resolution | 1280×720P |
| Decoding Support | Up to 8K |
| OS | Android 14 |
| Processor | Allwinner H726 |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 (Dual Band) |
| Bluetooth | BT 5.0 |
| Projection Size | 40~130 inches |
| Price | $50.89 (sale price) |
What happened when I bought this cheap projector?
I've been wanting a big-screen experience in my bedroom for a while now. A TV felt too bulky for the space, and proper projectors were way out of budget. Then I stumbled upon the Magcubic HY300 Pro+ on AliExpress — originally $106, marked down 52% to just $50.89. With over 36,000 units sold and a 98% satisfaction rating, I figured it was worth the gamble.
Shipping took about two weeks to Korea. The packaging was surprisingly solid — inside the box was the projector, a remote control, charging cable, tripod mount, and a manual.
What's included and how does it look?
The first thing that struck me was how tiny this thing is. It genuinely fits in the palm of your hand. Despite the small size, it has a satisfying weight to it — doesn't feel cheap at all. The matte finish and clean rectangular design look pretty decent, honestly.
The remote connects via Bluetooth, which means you don't need to point it directly at the projector. Responsiveness was better than expected for this price range.
How good is the image quality really?
Let's set expectations right: this is a $51 projector with native 720P resolution. It's not going to compete with your 4K TV. That said, in a dark room projecting 80~100 inches, the picture quality is surprisingly watchable.
At 290 ANSI lumens, it's perfectly usable in a completely dark room. Any ambient light, though, and the image starts washing out noticeably. Daytime use without blackout curtains? Forget about it. But that's true for projectors costing three times as much in this lumen range.
Colors are decent out of the box. The movie mode adds a warmer tone that works really well for Netflix binges. Text readability is fine at 80 inches but gets a bit fuzzy if you push it to 120+.
Does Android 14 make it worth buying?
This is where the HY300 Pro really shines. Having Android 14 built in means you get Google Play Store access right out of the box. YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video — just download and go. No Chromecast, no Fire Stick, no extra cables.
The Allwinner H726 processor handles streaming apps smoothly. I played 4K YouTube videos without any stuttering. Yes, the output is 720P, but feeding it higher-resolution sources does result in a noticeably sharper image thanks to downscaling.
WiFi 6 dual-band support is a huge deal at this price point. I connected to my 5GHz network and streaming was rock solid — no buffering, no drops. My previous cheap projector only had 2.4GHz WiFi and it was a constant frustration.
The only downside is limited internal storage. You'll want to stick to streaming apps rather than downloading content locally.
How well do WiFi and Bluetooth work?
WiFi 6 on a $51 projector still blows my mind. The dual-band support means you can use the faster 5GHz band for streaming while keeping your other devices on 2.4GHz. Connection stability has been excellent over the past few weeks.
Bluetooth 5.0 is essential here because — let me be frank — the built-in speaker isn't great. More on that below. But BT 5.0 means you can pair it with wireless speakers or headphones with minimal latency.
Phone mirroring works too. Android phones connect wirelessly out of the box, and iPhones can use AirPlay. The mirroring quality was decent for casual use.
How bad are the built-in speakers?
I'll be straight with you: the built-in speaker is the weakest part of this projector. It gets the job done for casual YouTube videos, but for movies, it sounds hollow and tinny. There's very little bass and the volume ceiling is lower than I'd like.
The good news is that Bluetooth speaker pairing works flawlessly. I connected my portable JBL speaker and the experience transformed completely. Audio delay was negligible — no noticeable lip-sync issues. If you're buying this projector, budget an extra $20~30 for a decent Bluetooth speaker.
How big can the screen get?
At about 2~3 meters from the wall, you get a comfortable 80~100 inch image. The auto keystone correction is genuinely impressive — I placed the projector off to the side and it automatically adjusted the image to be rectangular. It's not perfect, but it's way better than manual adjustment.
There's a standard tripod mount on the bottom, so you can use any camera tripod. Ceiling mount is supported too with image flip. The compact size makes it genuinely portable — I've taken it camping twice already and it was the highlight of the trip.
How does it compare to expensive projectors?
Let's be real: a $51 projector is not going to match an Epson or BenQ unit that costs $800+. Brightness, resolution, color accuracy, contrast ratio — expensive projectors win on every metric.
But that's missing the point. This projector lets you create a 100-inch cinema experience for the price of a nice dinner. It runs Android 14 natively, connects to WiFi 6, and fits in your backpack. For casual movie nights, gaming on a big screen, or camping entertainment, it punches way above its weight.
If you need a projector for presentations or a bright living room, look elsewhere. If you want a fun, affordable big-screen experience in a dark room, this delivers.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Incredible value at under $51
- Android 14 with Google Play Store built in
- WiFi 6 dual-band for reliable streaming
- Ultra-compact and portable design
- Auto keystone correction works well
- Bluetooth 5.0 for external audio
- Over 36,000 sold with 98% satisfaction
Cons
- Built-in speaker is underwhelming
- Struggles in any ambient light
- Native 720P resolution has its limits
- Limited onboard storage
- Gets warm during extended use
Who should consider buying this projector?
- Budget-conscious movie lovers who want a big screen
- College students or renters who can't mount a TV
- Campers and outdoor movie enthusiasts
- Parents wanting a screen for kids' rooms
- Anyone curious about projectors without a big investment
Skip this if you're a videophile who demands perfect color accuracy, or if your room gets a lot of natural light. In those cases, save up for something with at least 1000+ ANSI lumens and native 1080P.
Final Verdict
For $51, the Magcubic HY300 Pro+ is genuinely hard to beat. It has real limitations — the speaker, the brightness, the resolution — but within its intended use case (dark room, casual viewing, portability), it delivers an experience that feels like it should cost much more. The Android 14 and WiFi 6 combo is the cherry on top. I use mine every night before bed, and it's become one of my favorite impulse purchases.
Got questions? Drop them in the comments!
👉 Buy on AliExpress at the Best Price This post contains AliExpress affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. All opinions are based on my personal experience with the product.
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