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A Solid Budget Smart Projector Option Just Fell Under $150

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with HAPPRUN. If you’ve been thinking about building a simple, all-in-one home theater, a smart projector is one of the easiest ways to do it. The HAPPRUN 4K Google TV Projector packs streaming, 4K content support, and Dolby Audio into a single compact unit, so you […]

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with HAPPRUN.

If you’ve been thinking about building a simple, all-in-one home theater, a smart projector is one of the easiest ways to do it. The HAPPRUN 4K Google TV Projector packs streaming, 4K content support, and Dolby Audio into a single compact unit, so you just plug it in, sign in, and start watching. It’s currently on sale for $149.99, down from $197.99, which makes it a very tempting option for movie nights and gaming sessions.

This HAPPRUN projector comes with Google TV built in, which means you get the same kind of interface you’d find on modern smart TVs. Your usual apps are there, so you can stream from Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and more without having to plug in an extra streaming stick. Since it’s officially licensed, everything plays nicely with the Google ecosystem, and you can expect a familiar layout and navigation.

On the image side, it supports 4K content and is designed for big screen viewing in a living room, bedroom, or dedicated movie space. It also includes electric focus and auto vertical keystone, so you don’t have to spend much time dialing in the picture. You place it, power it on, and let it correct for angle and sharpness with a few quick adjustments.

Audio is handled by Dolby Audio, which gives you cleaner sound than the usual tiny projector speakers. You can still pair it with an external speaker or sound bar if you want a bigger audio setup, but the built-in sound is more than fine for casual viewing.

A lot of budget projectors look good on paper but fall down on smart features or ease of use. This one stands out because it behaves more like a smart TV that happens to project, not just a bare projector that needs add-ons. Electric focus and auto keystone also remove a lot of the usual friction that comes with setting up a projector each time.

At $149.99, you’re getting a complete entertainment hub that can live in a living room, move to a bedroom, or head outside for a backyard movie night. If you’re in an apartment or dorm, it’s an especially appealing alternative to a big, heavy TV.

The HAPPRUN 4K Google TV Projector at $149.99 is a strong pick if you want a big screen experience without building a complicated system. With Google TV built in, Dolby Audio on board, and smart features like electric focus and auto vertical keystone, it’s ready to become the center of a simple and surprisingly capable home theater.

Amazon has unveiled a new Alexa lineup featuring the Echo Show 16, Echo Time smart clock, and Alexa Photo Frame. Two speakers join them: an upgraded Echo Dot with a built-in smart home hub and the Echo Studio with Home Camera, which lets Alexa+ see its surroundings. Both are available now for $99.99 and $249.99, respectively.

The Echo Dot does more than play music

Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.

Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV

Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.

The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.