How Asus Turned A Latte Coffee Cup Into A ZenBeam Speaker & Projector
At CES 2021, Asus unveiled a new portable projector-cum-Bluetooth-speaker inspired by a 16oz coffee cup. The ZenBeam Latte L1 has a mug-shaped design that makes it easy to carry around and is compact so as to take up minimal space. It was recognized with a CES 2021 Innovation Award, which honors "outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products."
Portable Bluetooth speakers are, of course, widely available from a whole host of manufacturers. Consumers are less familiar with portable projectors, but they have become increasingly popular as they have reduced in size and cost while their quality has improved. The ZenBeam Latte L1 is by no means the first projector to combine the two functionalities, but it has been designed with its dual-use front and center, to be compact, and to be aesthetically pleasing.
Asus says it created the ZenBeam Latte L1 to ease the tension of families having to share TVs or computers on which to watch movies or shows, play games, and listen to music. It can be grabbed and easily pointed at a pale, blank wall in any room, needing a minimum 40-inch throw. Its maximum 120-inch throw, meanwhile, will provide a 720p image that is 120 inches across and kicks out at 300-LED-lumens. A fabric outer mesh gives it a warm aesthetic in keeping with intended use around the home.
The ZenBeam Latte L1 has support for Aptoide TV, which is an app store for Android-based media-streaming devices with apps like YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, Plex, and Kodi. In addition, users can project a wirelessly mirrored mobile phone screen. Asus says its 6,000 mAh battery will give three hours of projection in the device's Eco mode or up to 12 hours of audio as a 10-watt Harman Kardon Bluetooth speaker.
There are three sound modes to suit the projector's intended uses: movie, music, and gaming. In addition, it has a kickstand so that it can be angled upwards and a tripod screw mount on the bottom should it need to be elevated. There's also a snazzy little carry pouch should users want to take the projector away with them. The ZenBeam Latte L1 supports iOS, Android, and Windows 10 and will retail at $399 when it is released in May, which is pretty reasonable for what it offers.