LUMOS AURO V2 Home Cinema Projector Review | TechManPat

Design, setup and software

The Lumos Auro V2 is a 1080p short throw projector that can produce an image of up to 300 inches. It includes automatic focus and automatic keystone correction, which adjust the image when the projector is moved. These features work reasonably well at startup, although the corners can appear dimmer than the centre and manual sharpening may still be required.

The projector uses a Linux-based system rather than Android. Its built-in app selection is therefore limited to the services supported by Lumos, including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Plex. Navigation is generally smooth when browsing Netflix and YouTube, although returning to the dashboard occasionally caused a lengthy slowdown or temporary lock-up.

Device mirroring is another useful feature. Mirroring a phone or tablet worked well enough to be a practical use case, particularly when displaying content from a mobile device.

Picture quality and brightness

For films, the Auro V2 produced an enjoyable image, even when the room was not completely dark. However, its 1080p resolution becomes a limitation as the picture gets larger. Pixels become increasingly visible, and sharpness is not strong enough for a consistently clear image beyond approximately 70 inches. The review found that keeping the image below 80 inches produced the best overall experience in a dark room.

The projector is marketed with a claimed brightness of 6,000 lumens. The review notes that this figure does not describe the useful brightness reaching the screen. Using a light meter, the projector produced approximately 290 lux at the centre of a 2.28 square metre image, equating to roughly 661 lumens in that particular test. This is a rough measurement, and brightness changes with projection distance and image size.

Moving the projector further away creates a larger image but reduces brightness. As a result, the projector needs low or no ambient light to produce its clearest picture. Bright windows and other strong light sources will make the image more difficult to view.

Gaming and audio performance

The Auro V2 accepts HDMI sources, including a PlayStation 5, Nintendo consoles and Xbox systems. It can be enjoyable for party games and large-screen casual play, but it is not particularly well suited to gaming. Dark scenes in Elden Ring appeared somewhat ghosted, and the projector is primarily designed around movie viewing rather than gaming performance.

Audio comes from two 5-watt speakers, with a visible subwoofer diaphragm and Dolby audio support. The speakers can reach a useful volume and worked well for music videos and casual viewing. Fan noise is more noticeable in a small room, especially when a film contains quiet dialogue or other low-volume scenes. A headphone output is available, and connecting the projector to speakers positioned elsewhere could help reduce the impact of the fan noise.

Value and recommendation

At approximately $600 Australian, the Lumos Auro V2 offers a compact way to create a large image, with built-in audio, mainstream streaming apps and enough inputs for common home entertainment devices. Its short throw design may suit smaller homes where space is limited.

The main compromises are the limited 1080p sharpness at larger sizes, the modest measured screen brightness compared with the 6,000-lumen marketing claim, occasional software slowdowns and weaker gaming performance. The projector is also competing with cheaper 1080p models and similarly priced products advertised as 4K, although the review cautions that many low-cost projectors make misleading resolution and brightness claims.