The $399.99 Yaber Pico T1 has designs on being a brighter, higher-resolution (and more-expensive) alternative to the Kodak Luma 75, our current top pick for a pocket projector that you can carry as effortlessly as a cell phone. However, in order to pack a rated 110 ANSI lumens and 960-by-540-pixel resolution (one quarter of 1080p) into a projector about the size of a phone, the Pico T1 has no internal battery, instead relying on its included external power bank. Whether you'll think having the two pieces separated is a good idea or not will likely depend on how you plan to use the projector most often: with the battery, or plugged in.
Picking Up the Pico's Pieces
For a 5-ounce portable projector, the Pico T1 comes with a lot of individual bits. All are neatly packed in variety of small pockets and restraining straps inside a soft carrying case that measures roughly 2.25 by 7.8 by 6 inches (HWD) and weighs about 2.8 pounds, with everything included. In addition to the 0.5-by-3.0-by-5.9-inch projector and slightly narrower but thicker 9.5-ounce battery, the pieces include a small remote control, and a lightweight desktop tripod with a magnetic mount (in the form of a roughly 1.25-inch-diameter flat surface) to hold the T1 in place. Also in the package are a small AC charger with a USB-C connector (suitable for powering the projector or charging the battery), and three cables (USB-C-to-C, USB-A-to-C, and HDMI-to-mini-HDMI).
Setup is hindered by a lack of instructions. The quick-start guide—the closest thing to a manual that's included with the projector—shows how to connect the AC charger or battery to power the T1, and it has a diagram that points out the controls on both the projector and remote. However, I had to puzzle out how to charge the battery on my own. I felt comfortable experimenting with how to connect it to AC power from the three choices available—the two supplied USB cables or its own captive USB-C cable. But when I've paid for a product, I like to know in advance that when I'm connecting to a power outlet, I won't be frying something. (So you know: Using the included charger and the USB-C-to-C cable worked nicely.)