Despite its compact size, the ETOE Dolphin boasts a very solid technical specification
The ETOE Dolphin projector presents itself as an ultra-portable “pocket cinema”. Its cylindrical design, 11.4 cm high and 10 cm in diameter, evokes a small speaker or a soda can, with a small leather carrying strap on top for moving it around. The build quality inspires confidence: the matte black metal chassis is enhanced with a gold rim around the lens, a detail that is both aesthetic and reveals its high-end positioning.
The image is generated by a 0.23″ Texas Instruments DLP chip displaying a native Full HD 1080p resolution (1920×1080 pixels). It can decode videos up to 4K UHD, but this is software support: 4K content will be played and then resized to 1080p, its actual display definition. In terms of brightness, the Dolphin delivers 500 ANSI lumens, which is respectable for a battery-powered pico projector. In a dark environment, it can project a bright and contrasty image up to a diagonal of 150″ without too much difficulty. On the other hand, it will require almost complete darkness: at 500 ANSI, the images will tend to be washed out if the room is lit. The projector integrates an LED lamp advertised for 30,000 hours of use, guaranteeing a long life and minimal maintenance (no bulbs to replace).
The contrast ratio is around 1000:1 – a modest value compared to large home theater projectors, but consistent for a portable model. The 1.22:1 projection ratio means that at a distance of 2m, the image diagonal is approximately 65″. More specifically, the image can vary from 40″ to 150″ diagonally depending on the distance. A digital zoom allows you to reduce the image without moving the device, which is useful for adjusting the size of the projected screen to the available space.
Under the hood, the Dolphin runs Google TV 3.0 certified by Google, which gives it the functionality of a true smart TV. The platform is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor (MediaTek MT9630 SoC) supported by 2 GB of RAM. Internal storage is announced at 16 GB, of which approximately 8 GB can actually be used to install applications or temporarily store offline content. This configuration, without being powerful, is well optimized and largely sufficient to smoothly run the Google TV interface and streaming applications.
It has a 10,000 mAh battery, which gives it an average battery life of around 2.5 hours of continuous video playback. This is enough to watch a standard feature film without interruption, provided you lower the brightness a little if necessary. The projector charges via USB-C with PD (Power Delivery) fast charging, and can also work connected to a power bank, which allows you to extend its use far from any outlet.
The big advantage of the integrated system is its official compatibility with Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+ and others: the projector has Widevine L1 certification, essential for displaying HD content from VoD services.
With more than 8,000 applications available on the Google TV Play Store, you can also add Plex, VLC, MyCanal, Spotify, Molotov or even Android games. Thanks to the built-in Chromecast, it's also possible to cast the screen of an Android smartphone or Chromebook directly to the projector. Apple users aren't left out: AirPlay is supported for streaming from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Connectivity is comprehensive: dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) for stable streaming, Bluetooth 5.1 for connecting headphones, speakers, or wireless controllers. The Dolphin also offers HDMI 2.1, a USB-A port for playing files, a USB-C port for power (or power bank operation), and a 3.5 mm jack output.
But one of its greatest assets remains the integrated audio system. Two 5W stereo speakers deliver surprisingly powerful, balanced, and immersive sound, more than enough for a medium-sized room. It can also be used as a standalone Bluetooth speaker: a mode allows you to turn off the projection part to use only the audio, with a battery life that then goes up to 6 hours. During video projections, even without an external speaker, the sound is ample enough to avoid the use of an additional speaker, which reinforces the "all-in-one" aspect.
Handling, ergonomics and image quality
Upon opening the box, the ETOE Dolphin impresses with its miniaturization. It comes with a sleek, well-padded carrying case, literally fitting in the palm of your hand. At around 680g, it's lightweight yet feels sturdy. It also includes a USB-C cable, a fast charger, a Bluetooth remote control with a built-in microphone, and a cleaning cloth.
Once placed on a table or screwed onto a tripod (thanks to its standard screw thread), the Dolphin is ready to use in seconds. You turn it on with a long press, and the Google TV interface appears very quickly. The remote control is smooth, well-designed, and communicates via Bluetooth, allowing you to point it anywhere (practical for ceiling projections).
The projector manages autofocus using a ToF sensor: as soon as it is moved, the image automatically refocuses. It's amazingly fast and very precise, even at varying distances. If necessary, a button allows you to restart the autofocus or adjust manually.
Automatic keystone correction is also enabled by default: it straightens the image if the projector is placed at an angle. In most cases (moderate angle, short to medium distance), this works very well. If you push the tilt too far or project from very far away, the system can show its limitations: slightly blurred edges or residual distortion. Fortunately, a 4-point manual correction is also available in the settings to fine-tune the framing.
Once installed, you can project an image between 40 and 150 inches. At 2 meters, you get a diagonal of around 65 inches, which is already a nice surface. The digital zoom allows you to adjust without having to physically move the device, which is very practical when space is limited.
In real-life conditions, the rendering is very convincing. In a dark environment, the Full HD image is sharp, the colors are balanced, and the contrasts are quite respectable for a portable LED projector. On HDR content, we note improved color dynamics, without excessive saturation.
The grid effect (the famous “screen door effect”) is almost non-existent thanks to DLP technology: even in large images, the pixels are not visible to the naked eye at a normal viewing distance. The image maintains a beautiful homogeneity, and films such as cartoons or YouTube videos play perfectly.
Brightness obviously remains the Dolphin’s weak point: its 500 ANSI lumens are enough for projection in the dark or at dusk, but as soon as a lamp is left on or daylight enters the room, the colors lose their punch and the blacks become grayish. So it's clearly not a projector to use in broad daylight!
For casual gamers, the Dolphin does pretty well. You can connect a game console (like a Nintendo Switch, PS5, or Xbox) via the HDMI 2.1 port, and play in 1080p at 60 Hz. The colors are faithful, the movements are fluid, and games like Mario Kart, FIFA, or Animal Crossing are quite enjoyable to play, especially in large format.
The response time is not officially specified, but it is estimated at around 50 to 60 ms, which is good for single-player or casual gaming. It won't be the ideal tool for competitive FPS, but for family or leisure use, it holds up. You can even connect a Bluetooth controller to play some Android games directly via Google TV.
The Dolphin handles streaming content from smartphones or PCs very well thanks to built-in Chromecast, AirPlay for Apple devices, or even Miracast. You can easily display a video, a slideshow, or even full screen mirroring for an impromptu meeting or a viewing session.
For local playback, it accepts many formats via USB drive (videos, music, photos, etc.), but does not have a microSD port, which could have added a bit of flexibility. It can play MP4, MKV, AVI, JPG, MP3, etc., with or without subtitles depending on the player used (VLC or other).
Where to buy it?
The ETOE Dolphin is available at Geekbuying for 469 euros with the code DOLPHIN!
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