Until now, projectors have always been associated with movie theaters or boring presentations, so trying out a budget home theater system was a completely new experience. In this review, I will share my first impressions of the ETOE Seal Pro, evaluate its ease of use, and finally find out how it is superior or inferior to its competitor, the Wambo Mozart Pro.

Unboxing

Modern home projectors often feature minimalist designs focused on simplicity and functionality, and the ETOE Seal Pro is no exception. Everything is kept simple, including the packaging – you’ll find only the essentials: a remote control, power cord, and user manual. No unnecessary accessories – just what you need to get started right away.

It should be noted that the remote control does not come with batteries, so you will have to purchase them separately. And there is no need to worry about safety during transportation - even if the package suffers a few minor bumps during the journey, the projector is well protected. It is surrounded by a sturdy cardboard box, and the thick foam layer inside reliably absorbs any possible shocks.

First impressions

The ETOE Seal Pro has a solid construction and, despite its all-plastic body, it looks and feels premium. Four rubber feet ensure stability on surfaces, while a built-in internal thread allows for easy mounting to a tripod or ceiling - a great design solution for flexible integration.

The projector itself is about the size of a shoebox, so it blends in easily with your home environment. Of course, it's important to position it properly, as a sticker on the top warns that you need to leave at least 30cm of free space in front and behind the projector to ensure proper cooling.

As a result, it cannot be placed close to the wall. The projector itself weighs 4.7 kg, and a plastic handle is installed on top of it, which gives the impression of strength and reliability, facilitates transportation, making it easy and convenient to carry the projector.

Design

The projector has a minimalist, modern design that combines functionality and aesthetics. The compact plastic body with a matte finish, clean lines and subtle curves give it a minimalist charm that fits perfectly into any home interior.

Features of use

Right out of the box, the projector features automatic calibration that quickly and efficiently adjusts brightness, viewing angle, and size. The calibration process typically takes no more than a few seconds, so you can start enjoying high-quality images right away.

This feature makes it much easier to use the device and allows you to easily go straight to projection without having to worry about complicated settings. However, there are many image projection settings that allow you to adjust the image, its position, size and other parameters as needed.

There is also an option to disable all auto-calibration features and calibrate everything yourself as needed. This speeds up the projector's startup speed in cases where it will not be moved or moved frequently.

While the projector itself has fully functional control buttons on the top of the housing, the included remote control provides a much more pleasant user experience. When you turn on the device, Google TV with the Android 11 operating system appears on the screen, which ensures smooth operation and a wide selection of apps.

The remote itself is ergonomic and easy to use, supports Google Assistant voice control, and has dedicated buttons that allow instant access to Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video platforms.

The integrated Chromecast allows you to cast from your Android or iPhone device using the Google Home app. HDMI, USB and AUX ports on the back allow you to expand your usage options. Thanks to these ports, you can view images and photos from a USB flash drive, and connect to a computer for video and external speakers via HDMI and AUX.

Video quality

The manufacturer claims that the projector can reach 1000 ANSI lumens of brightness and supports 1080p resolution and is capable of processing 4k resolution. However, the best image quality is obtained only in the dark. In daylight or a brightly lit room, the image displayed becomes barely visible, so I would personally use the projector only at night, in a room without windows and lighting or with curtains that well block out light.

During my testing, the best balance was achieved at a distance of approximately 2.3 m, when the projection diagonal is 2.2 meters. The largest image was achieved at a distance of 4.4 m, where the screen size reaches 4.5 meters diagonally, but from this distance the image loses detail and sharpness. I also noticed that the image is slightly faded at the edges of the projection. Although the device adjusts most settings automatically, the user is given enough options for manual image adjustment.

You can adjust the tint, screen size, and position, but the angle adjustment function is only automatic, which can be a drawback in certain situations. There is also a separate image focus button on the remote control. However, I would like the stepper motor in the lens focus inside the projector to make finer adjustments, as it is often half a step short of ideal image resolution.

Color rendering

While the projector's colors may initially appear a bit pale, the image detail helps maintain high quality. In testing various video materials, frames are reproduced very brightly, but sometimes there is a lack of sharpness in frames that have darker colors contrasting with lighter ones.

Darker scenes often look a bit washed out due to the somewhat limited color gamut. Also, shadows look a bit lighter than they should be. Overall, I would like the colors to be richer and more vibrant in darker shots.

When your phone's screen is projected onto a projector, the image quality is slightly reduced, but the performance remains extremely fast. With Google Chromecast, both devices must be connected to the same WiFi network to ensure smooth screen sharing without lag or interruptions. Whether using pre-installed apps to watch movies, or playing content from a USB stick or via an HDMI cable, the image quality remains good.

Sound quality

The device has two 10W speakers on the sides, which provide quite good sound quality for both movies and music. However, when the volume is turned up, the sound becomes a bit flatter and more uniform, it is harder to distinguish higher sound frequencies, and the overall quality loses some balance. The listening experience can be customized to your personal needs - choose from preset sound modes or use the graphic equalizer to create the desired sound.

The projector offers a wide range of audio connectivity options, avoiding the drawbacks of built-in speakers. It supports Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to connect external devices wirelessly. There is also a 3.5mm AUX output and an HDMI port, ensuring even greater compatibility with a variety of sound systems. These additional features significantly enhance the user experience, whether watching movies, playing games or listening to music.

Comparison with Wanbo Mozart 1 Pro

There is no shortage of various models on the market, but in the under 300 EUR category, the Eteo Seal Pro and Wanbo Mozart 1 Pro deserve special attention. Both projectors are very similar in their specifications, so I decided to take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Although the ETOE Seal Pro has a brightness of 1000 ANSI lumens, and the Mozart 1 Pro has 900 ANSI lumens, I didn't notice a significant difference in the dark. Both projectors have poor daylight brightness, but the image is visible if it is not in direct sunlight. 

I will mention that the Seal Pro's image was slightly better visible in daylight. However, I would only use both projectors at night or in a room with good light isolation, where their image quality reaches its highest level.

Both projectors deliver sharp, detailed images, but there are some notable differences. The Seal Pro's colors sometimes appear a little less saturated and can be slightly muted, while the Mozart 1 Pro delivers brighter, more vibrant hues. The Mozart 1 Pro also offers a fold-out stand and finer focus adjustments, allowing for more precise image adjustments.

These two projectors are Netflix certified, but their operating systems are different: ETOE Seal Pro runs on Google TV, while Mozart 1 Pro runs on Android TV 11. The Seal Pro takes a little longer to turn on, while Mozart 1 Pro has smoother operation and faster system startup. Both devices have app browsers, which provide a wider selection of apps to download. You can freely find your favorite video and movie platforms such as Go3, Apple TV, PLEX TV, etc.

Both Wanbo and ETEO projectors have similar dimensions, weight, and mounting options, but the ETOE Seal Pro stands out with its built-in handle that makes the device easier to transport.

In terms of sound quality, the Mozart 1 Pro projector has a more advanced sound system. Its built-in speakers can play louder, and the sound itself is clearer. In addition, the bass in this model is less muffled and the sound is cleaner than the ETEO Seal Pro. Therefore, for those who value better and more balanced sound, the Mozart 1 Pro will be a better choice.

As for the remote controls, the Mozart 1 Pro has separate focus adjustment and mute buttons, which are missing from the Etoe Seal Pro remote. However, the Seal Pro projector has several control buttons on the body. This allows you to use all the functions even if the remote is discharged or lost. When using the Mozart 1 Pro, the delay in pressing the remote was felt more often than with the Seal Pro. This was noticeable when both remotes were tested with the projectors from different angles and distances.

When neither projector is being used for movies or music, their cooling systems make a noticeable noise. In testing, the Seal Pro seemed to be slightly louder, but the difference is not very noticeable. In quieter movie scenes, some noise will be heard with both projectors.

Verdict

The ETOE Seal Pro leaves a good impression with its build quality, performance, especially considering its portability. When choosing a projector, in addition to image and sound quality, design, operating system and, of course, price are also important, which often becomes a decisive factor.

If your budget is under €300, this model might be worth considering. However, the similarly priced Wanbo Mozart 1 Pro has a more pleasing display, smoother operating system, and better sound quality, so it would be my personal favorite.