HP mp2210

The HP mp2210 is based on the same general design as the other three projectors in this roundup, but it looks a bit different than the others, with a jet black color scheme and a gray stripe around the edges. At 2.46 pounds, this is the heaviest unit of the group, by a slim margin.

With one touch, users can quickly switch to Presentation (for PowerPoints) or Video mode (for watching DVDs), and the mp2210 is smart enough to automatically choose the best settings for slideshow graphics or video.

The mp2210 did quite well in our performance tests, being above average in brightness for this group. On the other hand, it had the lowest contrast ratio, but at 590:1 it is superior to the vast majority of projectors on the market. We noted an average total warm-up and cool-down time of 1 minute and 51 seconds, but there was quite a bit of variation in these numbers. Sometimes the cool-down time was remarkably short at only 13 seconds.

Despite being exceptionally tiny, the credit card-sized remote for this projector manages to incorporate some mouse emulation features for presenters. Unfortunately, the remote uses membrane buttons which are hard to press and make mouse movements difficult.

The mp2210’s carrying case is divided into two components: one for the projector and the other for the cables. The two-part design allows for easy storage in an overstuffed travel bag, but unlike the case for the NEC LT20, the two cases cannot be zippered together for general-purpose toting. The projector case resembles a bucket, with no padding and no handle.

The HP mp2210 sells for $1,499 and includes a one-year limited warranty with 24/7 phone support. Lamps are rated to last 3,000 hours in Normal mode and 4,000 hours in Low-Power mode.

This projector is worth a look because of its great remote, high brightness, and ease of use. However, compared to its competition, the HP m2210 isn’t quite as strong.