Another month, another subscription box review!  This month we have another box from Japan Crate… the Umai Crate, a pack full of ramen and noodles to enjoy, straight from Japan.  But is this box worth the price and the wait?

Like the Doki Doki Box I reviewed, all of these items are shipped from Japan, which means the items will have quite a long shipping time.  While the Doki Doki Box took about six weeks to get to me without interruption, the Umai Crate took about eight weeks, as it was stopped by U.S. inspections.  This is no fault of Japan Crate themselves, and when I contacted customer service to report that my box had not come in (it arrived a day after I sent the e-mail), they were courteous and more than willing to ship a replacement or offer a refund.  There are subscription services out there that have poor customer service and make it difficult if problems arise, so it is great that Japan Crate is not one of them.

Let’s get to the details of the Umai Box itself.  Each month’s Umai box comes with five (out of a choice of seven) noodle packs to try, with an additional non food item, generally related to cooking or eating the noodles.  The Umai Crate does not account for any dietary restrictions or allergies (understandably), so there might be some packs people with certain allergies can’t eat.  For example, this particular box had a lot of noodle packs with fish ingredients in them, which would be a problem with vegetarians and those with allergies to fish.

Now, as stated, these items come straight from Japan, and as such reading the labels and brands of these noodle packs is impossible unless you know the language.  I don’t, so I’ll be using the handy guide that comes included with the Umai Crate in order to provide accurate information about these products.  Without further ado:

Yamadai Tenobe Somen

While somen are traditionally served cold, this noodle bowl serves them up piping hot! [This bowl comes] with a broth rich in the flavors of sardine, flying fish, shiitake and four different types of soup kelp.

This was delicious!  The broth was tangy and very good, and the noodles soaked in the flavor of the flavor back well.  I’d be excited if I could order these elsewhere, but international shipping is always a bit expensive.

Ace Soup Harusame Kakitama

These vermicelli noodles are not only delicious, but they’re also lower in sodium!  The scallop based broth can be enhanced with a few pieces of crab and fresh veggies!

This is my first time seeing clear noodles!  I was a bit shocked at first, I thought I messed up cooking the noodles, but that’s how they were suppose to be!  After getting over the initial shock the noodles were very good, and the broth complemented them well.

Itsuki Mini Nyumen

Itsuki Mini Nyumen has a super delicious broth featuring Hidaka Kombu [note: a type of seaweed].  It also has a nice, round flavor from the shiitake and citrus.

This was a decent bowl of noodles, but like the description says, the broth steals the show here.  The noodles don’t really soak up the taste of the great broth, and while that doesn’t make it bland or terrible, it does leave a bit to be desired.

Maru-Chan Tempura Soda

This buckwheat noodle dish is similar to Kanto region dishes with the broth being balanced between soy sauce and sugar.

The broth in this one was quite tasty, as were the brown noodles!  The buckwheat noodles seemed to have a bit of sweetness to them, but the broth was the real winner here.  I was worried that the mixture of soy sauce and sugar wouldn’t be that great, but it turned out better than expected.

Fujiwara Shizimi Salt Ramen

The ramen in this dish are made using flour from the Hakkaido region.  While it is a salt ramen, this one is not vegetarian [as] it includes fish and clam in the broth!

This packet was… odd.  Not bad, but it was an unusual set of flavors.  The broth tasted like a fishy chicken noodle soup, and the noodles were also a bit unusual in their texture.  It certainly wasn’t bad, but not the type that I’d go out and buy if I could easily.

Non food item: Soup Ladle

This is a nice silicone soup ladle.  The ladle part is a bit small, so I’m not sure if I’ll actually use it often, but I’m not one to complain about more kitchen utensils.

When I first ordered the Umai Crate, I was worried it would be full of ramen packs that I could easily buy at a local Asian mart at the fraction of the price.  Thankfully, though, this box was full of unique items that I’ve never got to try before.  Of course, given with any type of food subscription box, your mile will vary wildly on how much you like the items within–if you’re not a fan of fish or fish ingredients, then you wouldn’t have liked the box I received.  On top of that, $25 for five ramen packs is a tough deal to sell, though the allure of foreign products does help this a bit.  If you’re looking for something a bit different and don’t mind waiting a while for the crate to ship, then the Umai Crate is a fun box to try.

Umai Crate Subscription Review

I used to be a “gym girl” before the pandemic, but since 2020 I’ve been slowly building up my own home gym, with everything I could possibly need to do my strength training workouts at home. My black and pink basement gym, sometimes lovingly referred to as my “dunGYM” (dungeon + gym) is truly my happy place, and the commute down the stairs is certainly better than driving across town to get my lifting in.

My second happy place is my pop-up camper, which despite being an amazing place to spend summers on the road with my family, doesn’t have many fitness amenities. Here’s where the Yaheetech Adjustable 40lbs Dumbbell Set comes in. I have always been curious about the popular Bowflex SelectTech adjustable dumbbells for traveling, but have not been interested in spending over $350-$400 for them. The Yaheetech set I tried out is similar in specs, but is currently priced at $210 on Amazon. Cheap? No, but if one set of weights could save me the hassle of packing 4-5 sets of metal dumbbells when we travel, it might be worth it!

How They Work(out)

The Yaheetech adjustable dumbbells are super easy to use. They can be set to 12 different weights between 3lbs and 40lbs. To set the weight you want, you place the dumbbell on the storage tray, turn the dial to the weight you need, and lift the dumbbell off of the tray. It’s basically releasing and/or picking up smaller plate weights to get to your desired pound selection. It literally took me 2-3 seconds per dumbbell to do this process.

When you want to change the weight for a different exercise, you have to put the dumbbell back on the tray, move the dial to the new weight selection, and then pick them up again. Overall, not as fast as having a bunch of dumbbells laid out, but it really didn’t slow me down too much at all.

Because the dumbbells are designed to hold up to 40 pounds of plates, they are fairly large in size. When I’m using regular dumbbells, 10s, 12s, 15s, 20s are quite a bit smaller in my hands. This is probably not much of an issue for a larger person, but as a fairly petite female, they felt a little bulky during lighter weight moves like lateral raises, bicep curls, and upright rows.

Not gonna lie, I was slightly nervous to try any exercises where the dumbbells were moving over my face, but after shaking the dumbbell around many times to make sure it wasn’t going to release any plates, I did successfully perform pullovers without any incident! The locking mechanism felt solid and secure, which is obviously pretty important (especially when you’re setting these to the higher 30+ lbs).

Value Gainz

At $210, are the Yaheetech adjustable dumbbells a better value than buying a standard dumbbell set? These adjustable dumbbells cover 12 weights. My current rack consists of 5s, 8s, 10s, 12s, 15s, 20s, 25s, 30s, 40s, and 50s (10 sets) and it most definitely cost a lot more than $200 to collect them all; the rack to hold them probably cost close to $200 on its own. So if you’re starting from scratch, the adjustable set is a good value. I also like that the adjustable dumbbells include weight intervals in between some of my regular dumbbells. For example, for some moves it can be a big jump going from 30s to 40s, so having a 36lb option is pretty cool.

I haven’t had a chance to use the Bowflex SelectTech adjustable dumbbells to compare, but they look very similar (down to the black and red color scheme). The biggest difference is the Bowflex version goes up to 52.5lbs, and covers 15 total weights. Bowflex is also close to double the price, so there’s that.

Final Weigh-In

Overall, the Yaheetech 40lbs Adjustable Dumbbell Set is a great value if you’re looking to get started with lifting, have a small space, or need a good solution for road tripping/camping with weights. As you can see from the photo below, the adjustable dumbbells take up a lot less space than a standard weight rack, so if you don’t have a dedicated dunGYM like me, they could be a great option.

Yaheetech Adjustable 40lbs Dumbbell Set Review: Are They a Worthy Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dupe?

We’ve had the longest, snowiest Minnesota winter in recent memory. I figured maybe if I put out some patio furniture, spring would take hint and make an appearance! I decided to try this Yaheetech 3-Piece Outdoor Patio Bistro Set from Amazon (MSRP $220).

We have a corner lot on a hill with a small, narrow backyard that has always been hard to buy outdoor furniture for; everything is always too big and clunky looking for the space. I was hopeful this set would give at least the two adults in our family a nice little spot to relax while watching the kids jump (/wrestle each other) on the trampoline.

So did it do the trick? Would it make our little backyard patio more comfortable and usher in a new season of sunshine and warmth? Let’s take a look.

Packaging/Unboxing

You never really know what you’re gonna get when you order furniture online. Sometimes you get a bunch of boxes, sometimes you get just one. In this case, the Yaheetech Patio Set arrived in one big square box.

The set appeared to be at least somewhat assembled when it arrived, which was a nice surprise.

Assembly

Assembly was also surprisingly easy. The table came ready to go, and the chairs really just needed the legs to be screwed on. The instructions were simple and the whole thing took less than half and hour to put together.

Quality

Honestly I’m very pleased with this set, especially for the price. It’s cute and it’s sturdy. My husband is 6’10” and nearly 300 pounds (so yes, an actual giant) and he can sit on the chairs just fine. He didn’t feel like he was going to break them, and trust me, he has felt like was going to break chairs before.

The cushions seem to have some sort of water repellent on them which is a plus. Of course we got rain the day after we put the new chairs outside, but the next morning it was easy to sort of “push” the water off the cushions. My only complaint is that they are white; no matter how much stain repellent you add, there’s no way they will stay white for long with 3 kids!

The table is also small but sturdy. It’s not big enough to hold much, but it could certainly handle a couple of beers which is all anyone really needs, right?

Overall Thoughts

This is a great little patio set for under $200 (it’s currently $156 after a “clippable” coupon on Amazon). The design in trendy and cute, and it’s neutral enough to go with really any design scheme. It would look really nice on a front porch or apartment balcony–any space where you just don’t have a lot of room, but need somewhere to sit and hang out.

Now I’m gonna go plop down in one of my cute new chairs and I’m not getting up until warm weather is here and here to stay.

Yaheetech Patio Bistro Set Review

There was once a brief moment in time I found myself half-seriously entertaining the idea of buying a Dyson hair dryer for $500. When you have thick, frizzy, naturally wavy hair that takes forever to dry, the idea of being able to style it faster will make you think crazy thoughts I guess. As cool as those Dysons look, spending that much money on a hair tool is just out of the question for most people.

Thankfully, we’ve reached the point where there are less expensive options out there…”dupes” as TikTok might call them. I recently tried one of them, the Tensky Ionic Hair Dryer w/ Brushless Motor & LCD Intelligent Display. Priced at $175, it’s still not cheap, but it’s about half the price of even the least expensive Dyson brand dryers.

Is it worth it? Would it tame my hair better and faster than my trusty $20 hair dryer from Target? Let’s find out.

Unboxing

We all know if you want to make something feel “premium”, you package it like an Apple product. The Tensky Dryer comes in a box that looks like it could contain a really big iPhone. It looks and feels very nice.

Design

When I first picked up the Tensky, I was surprised at how lightweight it is. Like it really weighs next to nothing. It’s a nice shape–a lot smaller than my old hair dryer but not too small where it would be hard to hold onto.

There are three buttons: one that turns it on and off, one to adjust the heat, and one to adjust the speed. There are three heat settings (cool air, 120 degrees and 175 degrees) and two speed settings (high and low). There’s a digital display that makes it easy to see where all these settings are at.

The dryer also comes with a magnetic nozzle attachment. I’m gonna be honest and admit I’m not sure when you should/should not use it, so I just kept it on the whole time.

According to the manual, the Tensky has “wind speed” of up to 23m/s (2x faster than traditional hairdryers); they claim it should take 3-5 minutes to dry a head of hair. I was skeptical, but here we go.

First Use

First thing I noticed is how quiet this dryer is. Definitely less shrill sounding than a normal hair dryer, if that makes sense.

I started with the 175 (highest) heat setting because I wanted to see how fast I could get my hair dried with this thing. Somewhat weirdly (but very pleasantly) it never felt very hot on my head. This is a huge complaint of my normal hair dryer–how it feels like it’s scalding my scalp! According to the manual, the Tensky Dryer has a microprocessor that “monitors the air temperature 100 times per second and makes small adjustments” to avoid heat damage. I have no idea how to tell if this was in fact happening, but I did notice my head never got hot.

I didn’t set a timer (I probably should have), but I think my hair took more like 5-7 minutes to dry. I have a lot of it. I could tell it was faster than normal–usually it takes me 10 minutes or so.

Results

It wasn’t a huge super dramatic difference from my normal hair dryer job, but my hair did look straighter and less frizzy after using the Tensky. My goal right now is to use my straightener as little as possible (so as not to damage my hair), and I think this will help make that possible.

I’ll still need to go over some spots, particularly on the back of my head, with a straightener, but you can see there’s a surprising lack of flyaways to contend with.

Overall Thoughts

Will this hair dryer change my life? I mean, probably not. Will it improve my hair styling routine? For sure! Is it as good as a Dyson? That I can’t really say, but I’d have to imagine it’s pretty close.

Tensky Ionic Hair Dryer Review

There are a lot of things I buy online, but furniture usually isn’t one of them. It’s really difficult to know what you’re going to get based solely on a picture. We buy a lot of cheap furniture from IKEA (not investing in anything “heirloom” until my kids are a little less destructive!), and even though everything there comes in a box unassembled, you can still see (and touch!) a sample in the store before you buy. How sturdy/not sturdy it is, the actual color, these things will not be a surprise once it’s all put together.

That said, I decided to live on the wild side and give a furniture piece from Amazon a try–the Yaheetech 8 Tier Kitchen Storage Baker’s Rack ($160). Oddly enough, it’s actually not for my kitchen. I’ve been looking for a storage solution for our mudroom and this thing looked like it would be great for organizing all the random little stuff that accumulates and piles up in this space.

Assembly

Like IKEA furniture, the Yaheetech Storage Rack came in a giant cardboard box from Amazon, totally unassembled. It was heavy, but not so heavy that I couldn’t drag it from the front door down to the mudroom by myself. Inside were smaller boxes and bags of parts and an instruction booklet. The different bags and boxes were all labeled with letters that corresponded to the instructions.

The instructions were fairly easy to follow. They reminded me a lot of LEGO building instructions actually. If you’ve put together a big LEGO set before, you could definitely handle this thing. The grammar of the written instructions wasn’t the best, but the illustrations were mostly clear enough to follow on their own.

The whole thing took two, maybe two and a half hours to put together. Time consuming, but not too painful.

Build Quality

Overall, for $160, this Yaheetech Storage Rack is pretty nice. It’s not as sturdy as real wood, but for engineered laminate, it feels solid. I’d liken the overall sturdiness to something you’d get at Target or IKEA–it moves around some when you shake it, but definitely doesn’t feel like it’s going to break or topple over.

The piece has sort of an “industrial feel” so maybe this was intentional, but there are a couple details that give away the price point of this piece. One is that you can see the screws from the outside in some places. Is this a big deal for a mudroom? Definitely not. But if it was going in a nice kitchen or dining room, you might want something that looks a bit more finished.

Functionality

This storage rack holds a lot of stuff! It’s a neat storage solution if you need something for a wide range of item sizes. I was able to put bigger things like paper towels, toilet paper and cleaning supplies on the bottom, and smaller things like sunscreen, bike tools, flashlights, and hockey pucks on the higher shelves. There’s a pull-out bin that worked perfectly for all our assorted safety pads that always end up strewn all over the mudroom.

This storage rack also came with a bunch of metal hooks which worked well for hanging bike helmets on.

Overall Thoughts

For under $200, I’m happy with this piece of furniture. It’s big, it’s pretty sturdy, and it does what I wanted it to do–hold a lot of random stuff in our entryway. Not super fancy, but it’s functional.

Would I buy furniture from Amazon again? This experience definitely made me more likely to take the gamble.

Yaheetech Storage Rack Review

I’ve had an older Portal model for a couple years–one of those early COVID purchases to make it easier for my kids to connect with the grandparents virtually. It works just fine, but one thing that has always bothered me is that is pretty much stuck where it’s plugged in, in our case, the kitchen counter. Now, I’m not saying my kitchen isn’t always 100% spotless, but hypothetically if it wasn’t wasn’t always 100% spotless, I don’t love having it show up in the background of every video call we make.

Enter Portal Go. The newest, biggest version of Portal is meant to be carried around from room to room, allowing you to video chat from wherever you want. The design is clever in that the screen looks like an iPad, but the back is essentially a built-in tablet stand. Just plop it down and “go”.

So is it worth spending $200 for yet another video calling device? My opinion is yes, quite possibly, but with one big gripe. I’ll get to that in a second.

First, the good stuff. The best thing about Portal Go is its size and portability. At 10.1″, it’s close to the exact same size as the 10.2″ iPad. When I first opened the box, I was surprised at how pretty it was. The design is sleek, and looks nice sitting on the counter, but it also looks and feels solid enough that I’d trust my kids to carry it around (and not break it).

It comes with a charging dock that sort of clicks in and hides under the base. According to the specs, the internal battery can last up to 5 hours of video calling. I did not test this but I can tell you that my daughter was able to sneak away to watch YouTube on it for a solid hour and the battery only went down to 93%.

Another positive about Portal Go is the camera. Like previous Portal models, it automatically pans and zooms as you move and adjusts to your lighting. At 12 megapixels, Portal Go’s camera produces video that’s crisp and clear; certainly a lot nicer than the built-in camera on most laptops! You can choose from a decent variety of backgrounds if you’re using it for professional calls, and a lot of stupid silly filters if you’re…not.

Here’s where my biggest problem with Portal Go comes into play: there’s no way to use it with Facebook Messenger Kids. Being a Facebook device I was sure I was just not finding the right place to add my kids’ Messenger accounts, but nope, you can’t use any Portal devices with Messenger Kids.

The whole design of Portal Go is overtly kid-friendly, yet they can’t use it to video chat with their friends? It doesn’t make sense to me. Hopefully they rethink this and come out with an update to allow parent-managed Messenger Kids accounts to be used with Portal Go. Facebook, if you’re listening (I know you always are), please make it happen!

If it could be used with Messenger Kids, Portal Go would be a home run for our family. I love that it can essentially function as a tablet, video calling device, and smart speaker all in one. Bonus is that it becomes an HD digital photo frame as it charges (you can sync it to display pictures from your Instagram feed, pretty slick!).

Portal Go retails for $200, but we’ve already seen it as low as $150. My guess is we might see it drop to $100 around Black Friday. At that price, I’d buy another one. You can find the latest sale price in our deal feed here.

Portal Go Review

Over the past few years, video chat has become a significantly more important part of our daily lives, namely for anyone working or going to school remotely during the pandemic. Over time, Meta has rolled out support in the Portal community for popular apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, which has increased the popularity of the video chatting devices.

The Portal TV is the only product in the lineup that doesn’t include a screen. It requires the use of a television or computer monitor to work. It’s much like a standalone webcam that you would purchase for a desktop computer.

Build / Design

In the box, you will find the Portal TV, a remote control, the A/C adaptor and an leaflet (that directs you to an online setup page). Oddly, there’s no HDMI cable included in the box; strange for a device that requires an HDMI connection to work. You will either need to have a spare HDMI cable or purchase one at checkout.

The size reminds me a bit of the Xbox Kinect that came with the Xbox One several years ago. On the bottom, you will find a stand that can be used for placement underneath your TV. It angles upward, ideal for placement on a TV stand. You can also place it on top of your TV, using the folding stand and the secondary folding clamp at the front of the device.

The Portal TV does support a couple upgrades over the standalone Portal devices. The first is a 120 degree field of view vs. a 114 field of view on the standalone, ideal for large rooms of people. The second is an eight-field microphone array versus the 4-field on the other devices; again ideal for large rooms of people.

For those with high wall mounted televisions with no TV stand, placement becomes more difficult. There’s no clamp to fix the device at the bottom of your TV. It would be a matter of placing it on a nearby piece of furniture and running the HDMI cable from the TV to the device.

If you are concerned about privacy, there’s a physical shutter to cover up the camera lens. There’s also a button to turn off the microphone (located on the right side opposite of the camera lens). If that’s not enough, you could simply unplug the Portal TV from the HDMI port on your television and only use it when you plan a video call.

On the back of the device, you will find the power plug, an HDMI port and a USB-C connection. Interestingly, the USB-C port can be used for a connection to a computer monitor. The Portal community also discovered it can be used with USB-C to Ethernet dongles, providing an option for a direct, wired connection rather than having to rely on the Wi-Fi.

The remote control (which is small enough to lose easily) comes with the 2 AAA batteries required for use. There is a direction pad at the top with a select button in the middle, volume up / down buttons, a home button, a back button, a play / pause button and a voice control button. There’s also 3 dedicated buttons for apps; specifically Netflix, Prime Video and Facebook Watch. The power button at the bottom seems more like a sleep mode.

Setup / Performance

The initial setup is very smooth. You select a language, connect up to your Wi-Fi network (have your password handy), then the Portal TV starts automatically downloading /installing software updates. The whole process took about 15 minutes to complete (the majority waiting for the updates to install). It will require a device restart after the update is installed.

At this point, you can connect the device to your Facebook, WhatsApp or Workplace accounts to get started. You can select favorites to appear on your call list and select specific accounts that you don’t want to be able to call you. You can also setup the Facebook and Alexa voice assistants, ideal if you lose the remote and want to just say who to call.

By default, apps like Netflix and Prime Video are pre-installed. Others such as Zoom, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, Plex, SlingTV and Tidal can be found on the app store. That being said, the App Store pales in comparison to smart TV or apps found on Roku / Amazon Tv devices.

There’s also a photo app (for viewing Facebook photo albums) and a photo booth app (for taking pictures). The Story Time app is also pre-installed, a fun way to tell stories when you video chat with kids.

I tested a few video calls with both Messenger, WhatsApp and Zoom. Messenger was notably more polished than the other two apps, but the other two were perfectly fine for casual or work calls. Similar to other Portal devices, the camera software automatically follows you around the room. It can get confused with multiple people in the room or pets zipping through, but it’s stable for the most part. Of course, video quality is somewhat dependent on your bandwidth and the bandwidth of the person you are calling.

I tested a few of the video apps and didn’t find any major issues. Netflix and Prime Video were both smooth; easy to sign up and video performance was similar to the apps already built into my TV. That being said, I don’t know why I would specifically use the Portal TV apps unless I had a non-Smart TV. There’s no reason to use a secondary app for streaming video if those apps are already in your TV’s interface. Of course, on the standalone Portal devices, it totally makes sense to use for streaming.

Should You Buy it?

The Portal TV is best suited for groups of people that want to chat in the same space on a video call. While the standalone Portal devices are great for 1-on-1 chat, having a wide angle view of a room is ideal for two or more people. Additionally, the larger amount of screen space on your television is ideal when chatting with up to eight other callers on Facebook Messenger (Four on WhatsApp).

If that’s what you need, the Portal TV is a good, relatively inexpensive (when on sale) way to bring video chat into any room that has a television. It can also be more relaxing to lounge on a couch and chat rather than sit at your desk using a traditional webcam; effectively the same argument gamers use when discussing console versus PC.

We’ve seen the Portal TV as low as $49, which is a fairly frequent sale. We have also seen bundle deals both offered online and at warehouse clubs. that can bring the per unit pricing even low, perhaps ideal when outfitting multiple televisions in your home with a camera. You can find the latest sale price in our deal feed here.

Portal TV Review

Portability, portability, portability. That’s the core advantage of the Wemax Go Advanced 300 laser 1080p projector. At less than 1-inch thick and less than 2 pounds in weight, this is one of the most compact projectors I’ve seen with ALPD laser technology. The projector is recommended for screen sizes from 40″ up to 120″.

Regarding specs, the Wemax Go Advanced 300 uses a Amlogic T972-H 4-core, 1.96GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and a 16GB eMMC storage drive (9.5GB free at initial setup). It’s rated at 600 ANSI lumens and has a 500:1 contrast ratio, supports HDR 10, has Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s compatible with Miracast, Airplay, DLNA, and Huawei Cast+ (no Chromecast).

Build / Design

In the box, you will find the projector itself (measuring roughly 1″ by 8.5″ by 4.5″), the USB-C power cord w/ power brick, the remote control (the two required AAA batteries are not included), and a quick start guide. On the back of the projector, you will find the USB-C in for power, a 3.5mm headphones jack (or to connect an external speaker via wired), a USB 2.0 port and a HDMI 2.0 input.

I love the sleek metal design of the projector. There’s a sliding door on the front of the projector that covers the lens. That also doubles as the power-on function (there’s no power-on button). There are four rubber grip feet on the bottom to prevent sliding as well as a sturdy front leg that can be flipped down to display content as an angle. There’s also venting on nearly all sides of the projector.

The fan noise for the projector is rated at 30dB in movie mode (although it’s not much more in other modes, under 38dB). There are two speakers built into the unit, 2 watts each.

Setup

The Wemax Go Advanced 300 runs a proprietary version of Android called FengOS. If you are familiar with the setup process for an Android (version 9) device, you could be confused at first since there’s no direct Google Play store access (outside of the Firefox web browser). Instead, there’s the Aptoide TV app to find, install and use apps.

The initial setup process took a few minutes. The projector finds the remote control, pairs it and brings up auto focus correction screen to start. That’s an ideal feature for anyone on the go. You can also project from an angle, using the 4-point keystone correction tool (automatic correction). I tested it at several angles and never had an issue getting a clear, focused image.

After the auto-adjustment, the FengOS interface loads up. You can rerun the auto-focus at any time in the top menu as well as the 4-point keystone correction. The device will also detect when the image is being displayed at a new location and run the auto-focus toll automatically.

On the lower main menu, you will find a file manager (to access local storage or files via USB), input selections (to switch to the USB or HDMI port), cast projection (Android or iOS device mirroring), a Bluetooth speaker option (turns the projector into a BT speaker) and a Settings section.

There’s a ton of options in settings. Under system, you can name the device and change the auto-play function (auto-plays input source at boot). The security section can limit what Android apps can be installed. The energy saving section has options for the screensaver and wallpaper (a good feature when leaving the projector on for an extended time).

Under video, you have several options for preset image modes as well as a custom option to fine tune the settings. Under projection settings, you can set it up for mirrored, flipped or mirrored & flipped (depends on your setup). You also have access to fine tuning all the screen alignment / zoom / focus options.

Regarding setup for apps, Aptoide TV is an extremely poor substitute for Google Play. Here’s an example. I installed the HBO MAX app via Aptoide TV. I launch it and HBO wants me to download the latest version of the app, which is impossible from the Aptoide TV app. I load up Firefox to do it now, which forwards me to the Google Play store. Now I have to login to Google Play. I try that, attempt to download and it can’t install.

And that’s not even the most frustrating experience. There are apps in Aptoide TV that require you to use the painfully slow mouse mode. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to name a couple. You have to use the directional buttons on the remote to slowly move the mouse cursor around (or connect a BT mouse).

My advice? Ditch the entire Aptoide TV user-unfriendly interface and plug in a $25 Roku or Fire TV stick into the HDMI port. Both of those interfaces are light years ahead of what’s being offered here within FengOS.

Performance

As mentioned earlier, the Wemax Go Advanced 300 is rated 600 ANSI lumens. If you are unfamiliar with the term, ANSI is a measurement of the overall amount of light output from a projector. The higher the value, the brighter the picture. Lots of compact, travel projectors are in the 200 to 500 ANSI range.

For real world applications, this means you have more flexibility in when you can use the projector. For instance, if you are showing a movie outside, you could start the film as the sun was setting rather than having to wait for complete darkness. That being said, 600 ANSI lumens still isn’t enough for medium light, so you will still have to close the blinds / curtains if using in a home / office or wait for dusk.

On picture quality, I was thoroughly impressed with the ALPD laser tech. It’s not 4K, but 1080p looks sharp and clear. You can also play 4K content (downscaled to 1080p). The color is excellent, likely due to the brightness levels and HDR 10; extremely accurate compared to my Samsung Q80.

I did a few tests on some of my favorite colorful films (Atomic Blonde, La La Land, How to Train Your Dragon) and the color accuracy was excellent. Of course, you have to make sure you are projecting on the proper background. A projector screen for laser projectors is ideal, but a white wall certainly works in a pinch.

The auto-keystone function and auto-focusing function is perfect for the average user, but anyone that wanted a deep level of manual control could be disappointed. You would need to upgrade to a more advanced projector for that, like the WeMax Nova. However, I doubt that will be a complaint from most users,.

The speaker quality is roughly the same as listening to audio via your smartphone speakers, definitely not ideal if you have a large group of people. It’s fine for dialogue, but loud action scenes are going push the built-in speakers to it’s limits. You are much better off connecting an external speaker via the 3.5mm jack or using a Bluetooth speaker system / headphones.

Testing

I tested the internal 39 Wh battery from a full charge to losing power completely. It lasted roughly 83 minutes of constant projection before turning off the 1st time and 77 minutes the 2nd time. Be aware that running off the battery defaults to the power saving mode, thus you are going to see a decrease in the overall brightness level. When the projector is plugged in, it defaults to the standard video mode.

I also tested connecting a power bank to the projector and that also works just fine. If you don’t have access to a AC power source handy, connecting to a power bank will extend your usage time. Of course, that’s another device you will have to haul around in your laptop bag / backpack.

I tested loading up a bunch of movies on a 500GB external drive, popped that into the USB port, and queued those up using VLC. No issues at all. I’d also recommend that option for anyone that’s going to a truly remote location where Wi-Fi or cellular service will be spotty.

Sadly, there’s no Chromecast streaming here. I did test the iOS mirroring with an iPad and iPhone. It worked fine, but stopped mirroring when I attempted to launch Netflix. It is ideal for mirroring web interfaces, especially during a presentation.

The FengOS (Android 9.0) interface is definitely snappy, due to the excellent internal specs on the hardware. You can hop around the interface quickly and jump from different apps / inputs. Regarding apps that did work, YouTube worked perfectly. VLC was great as well.

As mentioned previously, you certainly aren’t locked into Android. I tried both a Roku stick and a Fire TV stick via the HDMI port, each worked like a charm. You will have to remember to bring that extra remote control when traveling though. If I had to add anything the hardware, a 2nd HMDI port would be useful. If I had to add anything to the software, it would be an app store that wasn’t so gosh darn frustrating.

Regarding gaming, I would not use this projector for anything other than casual gaming due to the high input lag. I tried Halo Infinite and Hades, but the lag between the controller movements and what was showing up on the projected image screen was evident in comparison to my main gaming setup (LG C1).

Perhaps Wemax can add a lower lag Game mode with a firmware update in the future. Oddly enough, there’s a game mode in the sound settings, but nothing in the video settings. Of course, if you prefer to play limited action, slower paced games, the input lag probably won’t bother you that much.

Should You Buy It?

I would say the Wemax Go Advanced 300 is definitely more for the business professional than regular consumers. From a business perspective, if you need a portable projector for workplace presentations, this projector should 100% be on your shortlist.

The performance is outstanding considering the size and would allow you to travel with everything you need in a single laptop bag. It’s also incredibly fast to get setup with the auto setup function, just a couple minutes from start to presentation. Mirroring also works as advertised. As mentioned before, you can run it off a power bank, ideal if in an area without power.

One note, if you work in the event space, I’m less inclined to recommend this projector due to the lack of a tripod mount. However, if you have access to a small stand, the projector would be easy to hide in the space (you will need separate speakers for an event though, you can connect up to two BT devices).

From an movie / TV watching consumer perspective, the video quality of the projector is excellent, but I would only pick it up if you plan on going with an alternative streaming stick for the video apps. This version of Android is too frustrating to use for entertainment apps.

The MSRP for the Wemax Go Advanced 300 is $1198, however it launched via crowd-funding significantly under that price. We haven’t seen any discounts on the projector beyond that initial discount. It’s still relatively new though, just officially released during early May 2022.

WEMAX Go Advanced 300 Review

Looking to upgrade that older 1080p projector with a new 4K model? Perhaps you are building a movie room in your basement and need something to really impress your guests? Does the idea of installing a projector seem too complicated? Meet the WeMax Nova 4K projector, an ultra short throw projector that can display a sharp 4K image 80 to 150-inches in size and can be installed in minutes.

Build / Design

Compact, compact, compact. The Nova measures roughly 18 inches long, 12 inches wide and just under 4 inches tall. It fits in nicely with all your other set-top boxes in the home theater setup. Along the sides, you will finds scroll dials to adjust the feet on the front of the projector, ideal if you need to project at an angle. The shape of the projector reminds me a bit of the final revision of the Xbox One hardware.

On the top, you will find a manual power button and the laser projection system (ALPD). The 2100 ANSI lumen bulb in the projector is rated for 25,000 hours. There’ also a sensor system built into the top of the system, specifically designed to shut down the last when detecting any movement. This is designed as a safety feature to avoid damaging eyes.

On the front of the Nova, a grill hides the built-in speaker system. Using a Dolby Audio processor (and DTS decoder), it’s higher end than the majority of speakers in television, but not quite a mid-range sound bar. There are two full range 10W drivers and two 5W tweeters. On the bottom, you will find mounting holes for ceiling mounting via a bracket (not required).

On the back, you will find the power connection port (one power cord, no brick required), three HDMI 2.0 ports (included 1 ARC on HDMI 3), 1 3.5mm composite video port, 1 RJ-45 Ethernet port (if you prefer over Wi-Fi), 1 3.5mm headphone jack, and 1 Digital S/PDIF optical jack. There’ also a USB 2.0 port on the rear as well as 1 USB port the side of the Nova, ideal for plugging in an expansion hard drive.

Speaking of storage, the Nova comes with a 32GB storage drive, which has about 26GB free after the initial updates. Other hardware stats include 2GB of RAM (ideal for smooth Android usage), Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity and Wi-Fi connectivity for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz systems.

Setup

Ultra short throw projectors are perfect for anyone who have traditionally avoided projectors. It’s absolutely simple to install. You can place it 10 inches from the wall on your TV stand, preferably pointed at a screen, and you are essentially done. You don’t have to mount it a specific distance away from the screen. You don’t have to mount it to a ceiling bracket. You also don’t have to put up with people who walk in front of the projector when entering or coming into your movie room.

The Nova is no different. I placed it on my TV stand, plugged it in and had a massive image just moments after unpacking. That being said, Wemax does include options in the menu for other placements, including a ceiling mount. But the vast majority of users will likely just place it directly in front of the wall.

The initial setup runs you through linking the included remote (requires two AAA batteries not included) via Bluetooth (no line of sight required), connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi network and downloading the latest updates for Android. My update was less than a gig of data. If you have the option, I recommend using the Ethernet port on the back of the projector and avoiding any possible issues with Android wireless connectivity.

Initially, the software walks you through auto-adjusting the focus and auto-adjusting the keystone (how the corners of the image line up with your projector screen). Wemax gives you the option of adjusting via a 4-point keystone (just adjusting the corners) as well as a fine-tuning mode, an 8-point adjustment option for manual tweaking.

If you like tweaking the image quality, there are a number of preset viewing modes like Movie, Vivid, and Sports as well as a custom mode to manually adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, hue, and color temperature. It also has a digital noise reduction option. Incidentally, if you connect a game console like the PS5 or a computer, the Nova has a Game mode (with faster response time) and a monitor mode.

Setting up Android 9.0 is quite simple as well. After the updates, you have the option of installing additional apps. The main Android menu will always be your starting point when turning on the projector.

One annoyance, the hardware doesn’t remember if you were watching something via a HDMI port the last time it was active. You always have to go to the inputs section at the top of the Android screen, then select your HDMI port in the settings. Many new TVs will remember the last HDMI port that was active or even auto-load to a newly turned on device. A dedicated input button on the remote would have helped here.

Performance / Testing

As mentioned earlier, the Nova is rated 2100 ANSI lumens. If you are unfamiliar with the term, ANSI is a measurement of the overall amount of light output from a projector. The higher the value, the brighter the picture.

The picture quality is absolutely stunning, especially in a low light room. But even in a medium light room, you are still going to have solid image quality. Ideally, you want to display this image on an ALR projection screen. You can typically find those screens online, ranging from $250 up to $2,000. Keep in mind this is DLP tech, if you are sensitive to the rainbow effect. I didn’t have any issues though.

In complete darkness with projection screen, this projector is really going to perform well during dark scenes in films. I tried out some scenes from Pan’s Labyrinth, Gravity, and Dunkirk, all which this projector nailed in a completely dark room. I also did a few tests on some of my favorite colorful films (Grand Budapest Hotel, La La Land, Coraline) and the color accuracy was 100% there. And I was using the standard movie mode picture setting (no additional tweaking). HDR10 content looked fantastic! (Does not support HLG HDR or 3D content)

Regarding Android performance, I’m happy to report the interface is snappy and responsive, much like high end 4K televisions from Samsung or Sony. It’s super easy to jump from app to app, download new apps or simply move around in the settings. I’ve tested too many devices in which the processor / RAM slow down Android to the point of being borderline unusable. This is not the case with the Nova. Voice commands work well using the included remote as well.

Regarding gaming, this is a fantastic projector for casual gaming, but not necessarily for competitive gaming. The gaming mode reduces response time to about 40ms, which is fantastic for racing games like Forza or Mario Kart or adventure games, RPGs, and other types of single player games. And a 150-inch screen is pretty epic for split-screen games with friends.

However, it’s not ideal for twitchy, first-person multiplayer shooters when cutting down response time can be the difference between winning or losing a match. It’s also not necessarily ideal for the PS5 / Xbox Series X due to the lack of HDMI 2.1 / 120Hz mode. You would be better off on an LG OLED to get those features.

As for the sound performance, connecting to an external set of speakers or soundbar via HDMI ARC is still the superior option. While the speakers are better than the vast majority of televisions, it certainly doesn’t compare to a full surround sound system. However, I did like the option to turn off the projector and continue to use the sound system as a Bluetooth speaker. You can find this option in the menu when turning off the Nova.

I tested both movies / TV shows on the internal hard drive as well as plugging in a 64GB thumb drive in the side USB port. No issues with either option and VLC was able to handle any file I threw at it. Another use for USB, a mouse & keyboard. You can simply plug in a USB BT dongle to one of the ports and you are ready to roll. This is ideal for using Android to browse the web or make faster YouTube searches by simply typing in titles of videos.

One clear limitation to Android 9.0 is the absence of Netflix. However, any app you can’t get on Android can easily be found on a streaming stick (Fire TV, Roku) or any gaming console. And with 3 HDMI ports, you will likely have room.

I did try testing out some streams of 4K content on YouTube, Netflix and a few other streaming networks using a PS5. It just works, no issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. Plus you have the option of a hardwired Ethernet. I had no issues using Chromecast for streaming and it was just as fast as a current gen Samsung / Sony TV. I also tested out a couple UHD discs using a Sony UBP-X800M2 and had no issues with HDR10 content.

Regarding fan noise, it’s minimal, even after extended use. You may notice it during low volume quiet scenes in movies and TV shows, but it’s much quieter than many traditional projectors I’ve tried. Additionally, you could easily add some sound dampening material in the vicinity of the device to cut down on fan noise (as long as you have proper ventilation).

Should You Buy It?

If you are in the market for a short throw laser projector, the Wemax Nova should be at the top of your list. It’s dead simple to setup, it’s bright enough to use in a low-to-medium light room, the 4K image quality is fantastic (especially HDR10 content), the Android platform is responsive, and it has more than enough tweaking options for the average user.

At a $2,700 MSRP, this certainly isn’t a casual purchase. That being said, we’ve seen the price drop as low as $1,900 using coupons. Hypothetically, if you got that sales price, you could pick up a $500 screen and have a stellar home theater setup (at least the video part) that would impress pretty much any guest.

Wemax Nova 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector Review

In a world with near limitless entertainment options as well as screens in our home to display that entertainment, there are products that are designed to take a bit of that comfort with us on the road. WEMAX is attempting to do just that with the compact, 1080p DICE projector; a device that can be used without a power source (after fully charged) in any remote location.

Imagine going camping, throwing up a sheet over a couple trees and streaming your favorite movie (up to 120 inches in size) simply by connecting the projector to your phone (when setup as a mobile hotspot). Or perhaps you want to show old home movies at a relative’s house that has older televisions and video tech. At less than 5 pounds, this projector is easy to pack in a suitcase and take with you on the go.

It also feels like a great option in the business space as well. I could imagine that someone like an event planner would love to have a bright, compact projector to display video / photos at a wedding or similar event. Flipping back to consumers, it also feels great for anyone that wants to game with friends and needs a huge screen to display their PS5 / Series X games.

Build / Design

In the box, you will find the projector itself (measuring roughly 6″ by 6″ by 5″), the power cord w/ power brick, the remote control (the two required AAA batteries are not included), a quick start guide and a cloth to wipe down the lens. On the back of the projector, you will find the DC in for power, a 3.5mm headphones jack (or to connect an external speaker), a USB 2.0 port and a HDMI input.

One additional feature that I liked, there’s a threaded screw hole on the bottom designed for mounting on a tripod; a great idea for gaining height when projecting. There’s also a brown strap on the top that lets you easily relocate the projector without having to pick up the hardware (which is ideal when running for hours due to heat).

I love the industrial, metal design of the projector. It’s just plain solid. There’s tons of heat dissipation areas in the form of miniature holes along the sides and back. There are four rubber feet on the bottom to provide a nice cushion when you set it down. The strap on the top is attached via large, metal rivets on the sides. It’s a sleek looking machine and, amazingly, not much larger than a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo.

Setup

If you have ever been through the setup process for an Android (version 9) device, you are going to be right at home setting up the Dice. The actual initial setup process took about 10 minutes, much of that related to downloading and installing the initial software update.

I was impressed with the auto focus function at start, an ideal feature for a projector that’s intended to go mobile and travel with you. You can also project from an angle up to 45 degrees off center, using the 4-point keystone correction tool (automatic correction). I tested it a few times and never had an issue getting a clear, focused image that displayed natural images.

You will have to pair the remote with the projector, but it’s a quick process that had me up and running in 30 seconds. Beyond that, you will need to install common entertainment apps within the Google interface like HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ etc…

Fair warning, Netflix is not included as an option (nor can it be cast via Chromecast), but nothing is stopping you from plugging a $25 Roku or Fire TV stick into the HDMI port to gain access to Netflix. That’s also a great solution if you simply dislike the Android interface (or are more comfortable on another platform).

I did have a minor issue with Android not bring able to connect to my home Wi-Fi network during the initial setup process, but once I entered the login details and skipped past the “Can’t connect” screen, Android auto-logged me into the network. I haven’t had a problem since. Again, you won’t have this problem if using a separate streaming stick.

Performance

The DICE is rated 700 ANSI lumens. If you are unfamiliar with the term, ANSI is a measurement of the overall amount of light output from a projector. The higher the value, the brighter the picture. For the size of this projector and the price point, it’s extremely competitive compared to alternatives like the Nebula. Lots of compact, travel projectors are in the 200 to 500 ANSI range.

For real world applications, this means you have more flexibility in when you can use the projector. For instance, if you are showing a movie outside, you could start the film as the sun was setting rather than having to wait for complete darkness. That being said, 700 ANSI lumens still isn’t enough for medium light, so you will still have to close the blinds / curtains if using in a home or wait for dusk.

On picture quality, I was thoroughly impressed with the DLP tech. It’s not 4K, but 1080p looks sharp and clear. The color is excellent, likely due to the brightness levels; extremely accurate compared to my Samsung Q80. I did a few tests on some of my favorite colorful films (Grand Budapest Hotel, La La Land, Coraline) and the color accuracy was absolutely there. Of course, you have to make sure you are projecting on a white background. A projector screen is ideal, but a white wall certainly works in a pinch.

While I think the auto-keystone function and auto-focusing function is perfect for the average user, anyone that wanted a deep level of manual control will be disappointed. I don’t think that will be a huge complaint from most users, but folks that like to get into slight, technical corrections will be disappointed.

The speaker quality is certainly better than listening to audio via your smartphone speakers, but it’s not ideal if you have a large group. It’s fine for dialogue, but sweeping musical numbers or loud action scenes are going push the built-in speaker to it’s limits. You are much better off connecting an external speaker via the 3.5mm jack or using Bluetooth.

Testing

I tested the 16,000 mAh battery from a full charge to losing power completely and the manufacturer’s estimate was dead on. It lasted roughly 3 hours and 7 minutes of constant video projection before turning off the 1st time and 3 hours and 13 minutes the 2nd time; plenty of time for most movies (outside of a Lord of the Rings marathon)

Be aware that running off the battery defaults to eco mode over performance mode, thus you are going to see a decrease in the overall brightness level. Turning it up will impact the length of time the battery charge will last. When the DICE is plugged in, it defaults to performance mode.

I tested the device charging feature, via the USB port. It just works, plug and play. Granted, you will drain the battery and lose video projection time, but it’s an awesome feature if you are desperate for a quick charge (or are perhaps need juice while streaming a TV show or movie from your device). No USB-C here charging, of course.

I tested loading up a bunch of movies on a 64GB thumb drive, popped that into the USB port, and queued those up using VLC (available on the Google Play store). No issues at all. I’d also recommend that option for anyone that’s going to a truly remote location where Wi-Fi or cellular service will be spotty.

I tested Chromecast streaming using multiple apps. It works well, but be aware it’s going to take slightly longer to get going when starting a video. I was noticing roughly an additional 15-20 seconds waiting for videos to start compared to streaming to a separate Chromecast device or streaming to a Sony TV using Android. After it gets going, it’s an identical experience to the those other devices.

Personally, I found the Android 9.0 interface to be hit or miss. YouTube worked perfectly, for instance. Loading up other apps was a bit of a chore. Disney+ was solid, Hulu was lagging, Peacock was super slow. Google Voice Assistant works just fine (there’s a button on the remote for it).

As mentioned previously, you certainly aren’t locked into Android. I tried both a Roku stick and a Fire TV stick via the HDMI port, each worked like a charm. You will have to remember to bring that extra remote control when traveling though.

If I had to add anything the hardware, a S/PDIF optical out would have been nice for more advanced speaker systems or perhaps a USB-C port for charging newer devices. Maybe a 2nd HMDI port. If I had to add anything to the software, it would be a more stable Android interface & Netflix support within Android.

Should You Buy It?

If you are looking for a compact, bright projector for travel, the WEMAX DICE should be at the top of your shopping list. It’s a user friendly projector that’s easy to get up and running, plays pretty much anything you can throw at it, gives you maximum flexibility in where you can use it and provides a greater level of brightness than competitors at this price point.

If you are going to take this device on the go, you may want to consider investing in a small, hard-shell case, like Pelican cases with foam inserts to project the projector lens. There are cheaper options from Amazon Basics as well.

You can read more reviews of the WEMAX DICE projector here on Amazon. The MSRP for the DICE is $700, but you can normally find sales in the $500 – $600 range. The last deal post on the DICE projector on Ben’s Bargains was $403.

WEMAX DICE 1080P Portable Projector Review