iJoy Phone Projector Honest Review – Legit or Scam | Read this before you buy

How To Set up iJoy Phone Projector For iPhone & Android?

If you’re looking for an affordable mini projector under $50, you may have come across the iJoy Phone Projector. It promises to provide big-screen entertainment in a compact design, but is it really worth the money? Or is it just another cheap gadget that doesn’t deliver? In this honest review, we’ll go over the pros, cons, setup process, and the biggest issues with the iJoy Phone Projector. Before you hit that “Buy Now” button, read this first!

Pros of the iJoy Phone Projector

Let’s start with the positives: ✔ Big Picture Size – One of the best things about this projector is that it can display a fairly large image. You can also adjust the focus using a manual handle, which is a nice touch for a budget projector. ✔ Portable and Power Bank Compatible – The small size makes it easy to carry around, and you can even power it using a power bank, making it a convenient option for outdoor or travel use. ✔ Basic Media Playback – The menu allows you to play movies, music, ebooks, and media files directly from a USB or SD card. If you already have your files downloaded, it may work for you. While these features are decent for the price, the real problems begin when you actually try to use the projector with your phone.

The Major Downsides of the iJoy Phone Projector

Now, let’s talk about the biggest issues with this device.

1. Difficult & Frustrating Setup

❌ Connecting a Phone Doesn’t Work Easily – Unlike modern projectors that offer simple plug-and-play functionality, the iJoy projector is complicated to set up. When you first turn it on, the menu only shows options to open movies, music, ebooks, and media files—but there’s no direct way to mirror your phone screen. Even if you connect your iPhone or Android via cable, it won’t work immediately. This is where things get frustrating. To get screen mirroring to work, you need to:

1. Go to the “Wired Screen” Menu
2. Scan a QR Code (which must be perfectly in focus)
3. Download a Third-Party App

2. The Required App is Unreliable

❌ To mirror your phone screen, you must install an app by scanning the QR code in the projector’s menu. However, the app may not even work. For iPhone Users: The app I downloaded didn’t open at all, so I had to manually search the App Store and found an alternative called Drone Screen (which has terrible reviews). For Android Users: While the app may work, expect frequent disconnections and lagging issues. Even after successfully installing the app, you must approve the connection in the “Wired Screen” menu again before the projector can start mirroring your phone. Overall, the process is unnecessarily complicated, and the app is unreliable.

3. Poor Image Quality & Resolution Issues

❌ The biggest disappointment with the iJoy Phone Projector is its terrible mirroring quality. Once you finally manage to connect your phone, you’ll notice: The image is blurry – Even adjusting the focus doesn’t make the text clear. Mirrored content looks shrunk – Instead of a full-screen display, the projected image is small and low quality. Text is illegible – If you try to watch YouTube, Netflix, or browse the web, the text will be so pixelated that you can barely read it. Example: When I mirrored a YouTube video, the comments and descriptions were completely unreadable due to poor resolution and compression issues. For a movie or cartoon, this might still be usable—but for anything requiring sharp text or detail, this projector fails miserably.

4. Frequent Disconnections & Lagging

❌ Even when you manage to connect, the connection drops frequently. ❌ The app freezes or crashes often. ❌ Resolution settings don’t work, so you’re stuck with a bad image. Simply put: using this projector is a hassle, not a convenience.

5. Not a True Smart Projector

❌ Unlike other budget projectors in this price range, the iJoy Phone Projector doesn’t have built-in apps like: ❌ Netflix, YouTube, or Prime Video ❌ Bluetooth or WiFi support ❌ HDMI input for a direct connection Instead, it relies on a buggy third-party app that makes screen mirroring frustrating.

Final Verdict: Is the iJoy Phone Projector Worth It?

No, it’s not worth it. While the iJoy Phone Projector is cheap and portable, it has too many issues to be a reliable choice.

Pros:

✔ Affordable (Under $50) ✔ Portable & can be used with a power bank ✔ Big screen size

Cons:

❌ Difficult setup & unreliable app ❌ Poor image quality & blurry text ❌ Frequent disconnections & app crashes ❌ Lack of real smart features (No Netflix, YouTube, WiFi, Bluetooth)

Better Alternative?

If you’re looking for a cheap projector that actually works, I recommend checking out other projectors in the $50-$70 range on Amazon. Some models offer: ✅ Built-in streaming apps (Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video) ✅ Better resolution (720p or 1080p) ✅ HDMI & USB support ✅ Easier phone screen mirroring Bottom Line: If you just want a toy-like projector for a casual movie night with downloaded files, this might work. But if you need a reliable, high-quality projector, avoid the iJoy Phone Projector. My Recommendation: Spend a little extra and get a better alternative for a much better experience!