In this fast-paced technological era, people are enjoying the transformations and joys brought about by advancements in technology. Particularly in home entertainment, the TV is no longer the sole star of the show. New and innovative devices are being introduced, offering users more options. Among these, the micro smart Projector stands out as the biggest rival to traditional TVs today. Unlike conventional bulky projectors, these compact and portable devices come equipped with mobile and computer-optimized operating systems. All you need to do is connect to Wi-Fi to enjoy a vast array of videos on the big screen.
Looking at the current micro-intelligent projection market, there are numerous brands, with varying product positioning and pricing. The primary competition lies within the 3,000 yuan price range. This is where consumer affordability meets the optimal production costs for manufacturers. But how do you choose among so many brands? Today, I’ll compare two prominent smart projectors: the Microwhale F1 and the Polar Meter Z5. The former, a young and innovative brand that began as an internet TV company, contrasts with the latter, a powerhouse in the country’s micro-intelligent projection industry.
First, let's consider the packaging. Both products are highly considerate. The Microwhale F1 features a sleek gray square box with minimalistic strokes outlining the product’s design, aligning perfectly with the "glacier ash" theme. The Z5, following its brand's previous style, uses a black square box with a rendered image of the Z5 on the front, presenting a striking deep black aesthetic.
For accessories, both products offer the standard set: host, power adapter, remote control, and instructions. Extra parts aren’t typically practical, as they don’t add much to the user experience. Instead, the focus is on enhancing the machine itself.
Given their high lumens, power consumption is naturally high, so larger power adapters have been chosen to ensure better and safer power output.
The remote control is undoubtedly the most frequently used accessory. From a design perspective, both projectors use a black color scheme and minimalist button layout for ease of use. However, when considering the overall experience, despite the Z5's slimmer profile, I prefer the lightweight Microwhale F1, which fits better in the hand. Additionally, their respective mobile apps can replace the remote control, proving handy when the remote is misplaced.
From an appearance standpoint, both products exude a metallic charm, brimming with futuristic tech appeal. In terms of design, differing concepts result in the Microwhale F1 being half the thickness of the Z5, making it easier to handle with one hand, whereas the Z5 requires two hands.
Both the top sections of the Microwhale F1 and the Z5 feature brushed finishes, creating a visually appealing texture. Notably, the Microwhale F1 uses a metal brushed material, while the Z5 employs plastic. However, both devices’ bodies are crafted from high-quality aluminum alloys.
As products designed for home use, both the Microwhale F1 and the Z5 follow a Scandinavian design style, blending seamlessly into most households. Simple yet refined, they serve not only as entertainment terminals but also as decorative pieces in the home environment. While the Z5’s silver-black model has a distinct personality, it might clash with certain decor styles. Conversely, the Microwhale F1’s glacier gray color complements various home settings.
Regarding buttons, the Microwhale F1 includes only a power button and a focus button, making it straightforward and easy to use. However, the lack of practicality in the focus button is somewhat disappointing. The Z5, on the other hand, offers more buttons: power, audio mode, play/pause, track change, and volume control. This complexity suits users who enjoy listening to music. The volume touch bar on the Z5 also features cool lighting effects, adding a touch of style.
When it comes to heat dissipation and noise levels, both products utilize dual-fan cooling, effectively reducing these issues. After prolonged operation, the Microwhale F1’s smart dual-air cooling technology adjusts fan speeds intelligently based on brightness, ensuring better heat dissipation and quieter operation.
In terms of expansion ports, the Microwhale F1 includes power interfaces, USB 3.0, HDMI, and headphone jacks, meeting daily needs adequately. The Z5’s interface is more extensive, including all of F1’s ports plus additional USB, HDMI, and two network interfaces, offering greater utility.
On the underside, both products feature non-slip treatments for stability. Additionally, the Microwhale F1 includes a 1/4-inch screw swivel interface, supporting most brackets and tripods on the market. The Z5 lacks this interface, requiring a special adapter plate for bracket attachment, which is more cumbersome.
Now, let’s discuss the most crucial aspect: the performance of the two products' actual screen displays. Generally, in the 3,000 yuan range for smart projectors, lumens usually fall between 300-700, allowing for decent night viewing but posing challenges during daylight. The Microwhale F1 boasts up to 1200 ANSI lumens, while the Z5 has 1000 ANSI lumens, showcasing their excellent cost-performance ratio. Higher brightness improves projection quality, but overall picture performance depends on imaging technology and color tuning.
Let’s start by examining the advantages of high lumens. Regular projectors with lower lumens suffer from washed-out screens in bright environments, significantly degrading viewing quality. Only in dim settings can normal scenes be experienced. As brightness increases, resistance to ambient light strengthens. Products exceeding 1000 ANSI lumens generally perform well even during the day. However, achieving TV-like clarity in daylight remains nearly impossible due to differences in technology. Observing the effects of turning lights on and off, the advantage of ultra-high lumens becomes evident. Under over 100-watt fluorescent lights, both the Microwhale F1 on the left and the Z5 on the right display clearly, though the experience improves further in darkness.
Here, we’ll use several sets of 4K photos for a real comparison.
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In the first group, using a sunset photo, the sky is breathtaking with deep blue and fiery clouds. From the real shots, the Microwhale F1’s 1200 ANSI lumens is visibly brighter than the Z5’s 1000 ANSI lumens. Moreover, F1’s saturation and contrast performance surpasses Z5, particularly in color tuning. Z5 tends to have a slightly greenish tone, which might not be noticeable alone but becomes apparent when compared. In my opinion, F1’s performance is more visually pleasing.
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Without large blue elements, both products exhibit excellent screen performance, yet closer inspection reveals that the Microwhale F1 maintains higher brightness and saturation than the Z5.
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In this group featuring a photo of the Lingoulida Goddess, F1’s image is brighter and more vibrant, pleasing the eyes. Z5 appears dimmer with a severe color cast.
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When comparing photos with white and black elements, the results aren’t surprising. The Microwhale F1 outperforms the Z5 in multiple aspects.
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Even with a separate camera, the Microwhale F1 maintains excellent performance, further amplifying the Z5’s color cast issue.
Of course, this doesn't mean Z5 isn’t good. Its performance as a same-price leader is commendable. However, the Microwhale F1’s performance truly amazed me.
The operating system is essential for any smart product. Without a system, there’s no intelligence. Both products come with custom systems based on deep Android optimizations: Microwhale F1 has WUI2.0, and Z5 has GMUI3.0.
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Comparing the boot times of the two products, Z5 boots faster than Microwhale F1. This could be due to component advantages or optimizations. However, Z5 is accompanied by boot ads, while F1 starts with a simple dark blue screen.
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In terms of UI experience, both models feature the latest UI versions. The Microwhale F1’s WUI2.0 sees minor changes, retaining the classic waterfall flow design with improved icon aesthetics and faster fluency. It also reduces the learning curve for existing users. The GMUI3.0 of the Z5 undergoes a significant overhaul, resembling a new operating system. While more comprehensive, it risks alienating older users.
To prevent monotony, both products offer different themed interfaces: Microwhale F1 has deep-sea blue and glacier gray, while Z5 defaults to blue and Chinese-style themes.
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On the networking front, both products support 2.4G/5G networks, ensuring optimal connectivity in various environments. As for entering Wi-Fi passwords, the Microwhale F1’s full keyboard versus the Z5’s keyboard—personal preference plays a role here.
Content is the core of internet TV. Without robust content support, it’s challenging to win over critical users. The Microwhale has a solid foundation in its TV lineup, with F1 integrating massive content from Chinese Culture, Tencent Video, Mango TV, TVB, and more, along with its own VR channels, documentaries, and children’s channels. Additionally, purchasing a machine grants a platinum membership, eliminating ads. Moreover, Microwhale’s video resources sync with Douban ratings and reviews, providing valuable viewing suggestions.
In contrast, the Polar Meter Z5’s content is less impressive. While it adds the iQiyi platform to its original Mango TV content, the richness falls short of Microwhale F1. Notably, Z5’s UI design shortcuts by directly using the iQiyi interface.
The intelligent voice function is a breakthrough in user experience. Direct voice searches outperform repetitive key inputs. Both devices offer excellent intelligent voice capabilities, with search engines performing well. However, the Microwhale F1 has advantages in functionality, such as supporting various dialects, sending messages via voice, and converting speakers into audio modes.
Through my comparative analysis, I believe everyone now understands the Microwhale F1 and the Polar Meter Z5. I’ve reached a conclusion: both products have unique designs and high value, with a Nordic style easily integrating into homes. In terms of screen casting, both the 1200 ANSI lumens of the Microwhale F1 and the 1000 ANSI lumens of the Z5 perform excellently. The ultra-high brightness is cost-effective, but if we delve deeper, the Microwhale F1 excels in color performance, especially addressing the excessive blue tones in Z5. However, Z5 has advantages in expandability and trapezoidal correction. Regarding content, the Microwhale F1 holds an absolute edge due to its TV lineage. Currently, the Microwhale F1 is priced at 2,999 yuan on JD.com, while the Z5 is 3,299 yuan. Which do you prefer?
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