Review: 
Philips NeoPix750 Smart Projector – Bringing The Cinema Experience Home

Philips, in partnership with Screeneo Innovation, introduces the budget-friendly NeoPix 750 Smart Home projector to its lineup of awe-inspiring products.

Once upon a time, Home Projectors were only affordable to a select few. At eye-watering and wallet-busting prices, those who could say they “Had done well in life…” were the sole customers of such tech. As is the case with new technology and gadgets, the cost of ownership has come down over time, with more affordable models being launched recently. Read on to learn about my affair with this gorgeous projector from Philips…

There’s something primordial about folk gathering together in a social setting and having a good time. I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of cave paintings depicting such a scene (or was it an episode of The Flintstones?) Anyway, whether you’re cuddling up on a sofa with a partner or enjoying a movie night with friends, what better way to while away a few hours than by enjoying big-screen entertainment in the comfort of your own home? I was excited beyond words when I got my hands on the Philips NeoPix 750 Smart, but it wasn’t all plain sailing…

In the box

When I opened the box, I was greeted with the sight of the projector. I lifted it out of the well-designed box and my initial observation was how sleek and light it felt. The Quick Start Guide was also in the box so I began to read about how to set it up. I soon became perplexed as the Quick Start Guide indicated that the contents of the box were to also include power cables, a remote controller and batteries. I examined the projector. Maybe it was all cleverly concealed inside like some kit Ethan Hunt might use in Mission Impossible? No. There were seemingly no other compartments in the box, as is common with many devices. I became confused and frustrated. This wasn’t how I expected my affair to begin! After an exchange of emails, I learned that the “missing” items were located under the base of the box. Aha, A secret compartment! As the items hardly weighed anything, there was nothing to indicate the box had a false base. I think a hole, tab or printed instructions on the base may have helped avoid my consternation.

Finally, content with the knowledge that I had everything, I began to set it up.

Setting up

The NeoPix 750 Smart is equipped with a selection of buttons and connector ports on the back. There is the ON/OFF button, IR sensor, A 5V2A Power Out USB port, an HDMI port, USB-C port and a port for a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Quick Start Guide clearly shows a list of various devices that can be connected to the projector, such as phones, tablets, computers, DVD/VCR, game consoles, smart sticks, headphones and speakers, along with which port to use. I connected my MacBook.

Features

I had some old, sentimental files on my laptop that I wanted to have a look at. Sadly, the Quick Start Guide fell short of guidance on this which meant I had to troubleshoot it on my own.

I switched it on, the cooling fans began to gently whirr and I was greeted with what I recognised as a very blurry image of the Philips logo, followed by a screen with what appeared to be Device Settings, I couldn’t tell as the image was so blurry. At 14 feet, did I place the projector too close to the wall? It felt ironic that any instructions to correct the focus may only be accessible via the Device Settings which I couldn’t see to begin with! I figured there had to be another solution. I remember when I was little, I had a telescope which could be focused by turning the lens. I tried turning the lens of the projector. It didn’t move, so I applied a bit more pressure to persuade it to move, being mindful that I didn’t want to break it! After a few tense moments, I was rewarded as the lens rotated, and the image finally became clear. Phew! Although it was still daylight outside and the window had no curtains, I could still see the Device Settings. This is down to the intensity of the 700 lumens the projector lamp emanates. In fact, the lamp itself is worthy of mention. Being a high-quality LED system, Philips say that it could last up to an amazing 30000 hours. In the past, a short lamp life blighted the lives of home projector owners. However, with an average use of 4 hours per day, owners of this projector could enjoy prolonged use for up to 20 years (with eco-credentials to match!)

One anomaly I did notice, however, was the uneven heat dissipation from the cooling vents on either side of the projector. After a couple of hours of use, one side seemed warmer than the other, but this didn’t impact the enjoyment factor of this projector. I also noticed a faint hint of some ghosting when reading white text on a dark background, but this was hardly noticeable and shouldn’t put anyone off considering this purchase.

One of the stand-out features of the NeoPix 750 is that it is pre-installed with leading entertainment apps like YouTube, Apple TV, Disney+, Netflix and Prime Video, to name just a few. All this means is that once you have connected the projector with your Wi-Fi settings, there is no need to have a laptop or computer tethered to it, as was the case in the old days.

The projector has Wi-Fi screen mirroring and I had selected the USB port as the Input Source, but I couldn’t understand why my laptop screen wasn’t being projected onto the wall. In previous monitor reviews I’ve done, the new device appeared automatically in the Display Settings on my laptop. A message appeared on the wall alerting me to update the Firmware. Following this, I restarted my laptop and the NPX750, went to Display Settings once again and saw a new button with the + symbol on it. I clicked on it and selected NPX750. A couple of seconds passed…and HEY PRESTO! My laptop screen was projected on the wall. I was finally ready to “Rock & Roll”.

I played around with the device settings. Setting my location etc… Navigating the Settings with the remote controller wasn’t as intuitive as I had hoped but I eventually got the hang of it.

I launched YouTube to experiment with a variety of visual imagery. I watched action movie scenes, colourful animations, nature documentaries etc… My mind was blown not only by the huge 120” image size but also by the mighty impressive sound produced by the 2x7W speakers of the NPX750. I momentarily increased the volume on my laptop and the projector to the max, and it felt like the room had begun to vibrate. Needless to say, complaints ensued. Haha. By connecting external speakers to the projector (with USB/ Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack), I’m guessing that you could, if you so desired,  let your entire neighbourhood enjoy the musical score of your favourite movie!

On a serious note though, with an offering of true Full HD 1080p, the image quality is very good on the NPX750. To set it up to your desired preferences, every device setting can be customised. With deep shadows, bright highlights and a vibrant spectrum of hues and tones, viewers are treated with a very “close to” cinematic experience. I did feel that the colours produced by the projector didn’t quite “pop” as they did on my laptop. This could be down to the fact that laptop screens are lit from behind and the wall I was projecting onto was a magnolia/off-white colour. With a white wall or Projector Screen, I’m sure the image quality would be more impressive.

The projector is designed with a height-adjustable screw on the base and is ready to be mounted onto a ceiling bracket if your media room, living room, boardroom, bedroom (or partner) allows it.

Sum up

It has been a pleasure to review the Philips NeoPix750 Smart projector. This is an affair that I would have loved to continue enjoying the pleasure of. As with many relationships, it began with a bit of turbulence, but with time, I have grown to love it. With 120” TVs selling for over four figures, the NPX750 represents excellent value for money at an expected price of £349GBP.

Perhaps we should learn from our ancestors and enjoy life once again with social gatherings, plenty of food & drink and an epic movie. The perennial problem, however, will remain… sweet or salted popcorn?

More information and cost

Due for launch in mid-November 2024, further details and a full list of specifications can be found on the Philips website, here:

https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/NPX750_INT/neopix-750-home-projector