I replaced my bedroom TV with this $170 Roku projector and dont regret it

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I wanted Aurzen’s D1R Cube Roku TV projector for one specific thing: outdoor movie nights. I have a backyard patio and a fireplace, complete with a cozy couch for my family to sit on outside. The only thing missing from this setup is a bright, loud projector.

I can picture us huddled under a blanket, watching an old favorite like Jaws beneath the stars. The only problem? Currently, where I live, it’s 5 degrees Fahrenheit outside, with three feet of snow. My backyard cinema dream will have to wait until next summer.

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In the meantime, I figured I could still get the projector and set it up somewhere to see how well it works and sounds. That’s when an idea hit me… my child’s bedroom. I could put it in there to test, and honestly, it might be the second-best use case for it.

She doesn’t have a TV in her room, and I’ve intentionally kept it that way. This projector might be a good alternative, though. It’s more special, more fun, and less like another screen bolted to the wall. When it’s on, it’s an in-home theater. When it’s off, it disappears.

Fast, familiar, and bright

The interface is exactly what you’d expect from a Roku TV, which also means there’s no learning curve, especially important when a kid will be the primary user, at least for now. I have four Roku TVs in my home, so my daughter is already familiar with Roku and how to use the remote. That means she can find and open Disney+, Netflix, and YouTube Kids without needing me to play tech support.

No external streaming stick. No guessing which HDMI input does what. No need to redownload my favorite streaming services.

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The projector is super quiet and throws a crisp, bright image directly onto her wall. Her room is all white, which helps, as I don’t need to set up a screen. However, it’s naturally a bit darker than other rooms in my house because it has only one window and a slanted ceiling from the roofline. Even during the day, I don’t need to close the curtains for her to use this projector. That really surprised me.

For those who want to know the display specs, the Aurzen D1R Cube Roku TV projector has a 1080p native resolution and 330 ANSI lumens. I haven’t tested it in a sun-soaked room, but in a space like my daughter’s room, it holds up far better than I expected.

Something else I appreciate is how fast the interface feels. It’s just like using Roku on a TV. Snappy, responsive, and no lag. I haven’t connected a game console to it yet, but that’s the next thing I want to try. My daughter loves using my old N64, so I think it could be fun to hook that up one night. And because it’s a projector, it feels different than a TV. Bigger. More playful. More like an event.

For kids, especially, that novelty goes a long way.

Compact, sleek, and easy

Physically, this projector is compact and minimalist in design. It features a clean, modern design with a compact, boxy case and rounded edges. The white, textured front panel centers a large lens, while a fabric speaker grille wraps around the side.

I really like the look of it and appreciate that it isn’t black. Many home entertainment devices still default to dark finishes, which I find dated. My parents had an all-black stereo setup with a matching TV, receivers, and speakers. Very 90s.

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What really sets this projector apart, though, is that it’s lightweight, fully enclosed, and easy to move from room to room. That portability is something my parents definitely didn’t have with their wall-to-wall home theater setup, and it’s what makes this projector so appealing. It’s also what will eventually make backyard movie nights possible for my family once winter loosens its grip.

The sealed optical engine is another nice touch, especially for something that’s meant to be moved around often. There is a lower chance of dust getting trapped, which means less maintenance and, hopefully, fewer long-term image issues.

The remote is the standard Roku remote, which again means you can pick it up and start watching content right away if you’re familiar with Roku. I do wish it included a voice button for my daughter to push and announce what she wants to watch. But I had a spare Roku Voice Remote lying around, so I just swapped them with no issues. You can also use the Roku app on your phone.

Zoom and audio gripes

The projector automatically handles focus and keystone correction every time it powers on, and it does a genuinely good job.

I don’t have to manually tweak clarity or alignment, even when it’s placed at a slight angle. My one real usability gripe is that it doesn’t remember my zoom preference. I prefer zoom the image out to 40 inches so it doesn’t take up her entire bedroom wall. There’s a door, a dresser, and other obstructions, so I want the picture to stay on one completely flat section of wall.

Every time the projector powers on, however, I have to manually adjust the zoom. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s noticeable, especially since everything else feels so automated and polished. It also means my daughter can’t do this herself, since you have to dive into settings to adjust it. She doesn’t mind watching it with a 150-inch image, even if it blankets everything. It just bugs me.

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Another small issue I have is the sound. It features 10W Dolby Audio-certified speakers, but they won’t replace a soundbar. In my living room, I use a full Roku sound system with wireless speakers and a subwoofer, so I’m used to a much bigger audio experience. Compared with that, the projector’s built-in speakers don’t quite measure up. That said, they’re plenty loud for a child’s room.

To clarify, the audio is generally good. I’ve even had to ask my daughter to turn it down because I can hear it blaring throughout the upstairs when I’m trying to write, and it’s distracting. Dialogue is clear, and the sound is loud and full without being tinny.

It’s just not the kind of immersive sound system you might have in your living room. I’m also a little cautious about outdoor use. Environmental noise can diminish audio quality, and since I’m hard of hearing, volume and clarity matter more to me than most.

I suspect I’ll want to pair a Bluetooth speaker or soundbar, but the projector supports both easily.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I got the Aurzen D1R Cube Roku TV projector for outdoor movie nights, but it’s quickly become one of the best screen experiences in my house, especially for my kid. It’s fast, simple, bright, loud enough, and far more fun than a traditional TV.

While I wish it remembered its zoom settings, and I’m still reserving judgment on outdoor audio performance, those feel like minor trade-offs for how easy and enjoyable this projector is to use. When summer finally returns, it’ll head outside where it was meant to be, and I can always connect a soundbar if needed. Until then, it’s earning its keep in my daughter’s room.

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There are plenty of affordable projectors with streaming capabilities, but this Roku projector genuinely stands out. It offers all my favorite services, with fast and reliable performance. Since we already use Roku in our house, it integrates nicely. I love the ecosystem consistency.

It’s also on sale for $169.99 (with the $10 off on-page Amazon coupon), which feels very well-priced. That’s a 38% drop, placing it firmly in budget-projector territory without the usual compromises, such as clunky software or weak brightness.

For a native 1080p projector with built-in Roku, auto focus, and keystone, and a sealed optical engine, it’s a low-stakes upgrade that delivers real, everyday value.