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Kodak Luma 500 Review | 84 Data compared

Avg. price:~£510Native panel resolution:1920x1080ANSI lumens:150Throw ratio:1.2:1Lamp life:30000 hours

Kodak Luma 500 Review: Compare 84 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Projectors category and whether it is worth buying.

Kodak Luma 500
6.5/10

Overall score

Score
6.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the projector's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best projectors on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
Score components

90%

6.3

Technical score

10%

8.3

User score

â–¼Worse than 55% of projectors
6.9

Value for money

Value for money
6.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the projector's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a projector with a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 66% of models
Score components

70%

6.5

Overall score

30%

7.8

Price

â–²Better than 66%
6.3

Technical score

Technical score
6.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Projectors category across these key areas: Image Quality, Projection & Lens, HDMI & Gaming, Connectivity, Audio & Features, Design & Power.
When it matters
When you want to compare projectors based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

42%

5.4

Image Quality

22%

6.5

Projection & Lens

12%

7.1

HDMI & Gaming

10%

7.3

Audio & Features

8%

7.1

Connectivity

6%

7.5

Design & Power

â–¼Worse than 58%
8.3

User score

User score
8.3/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the projector.
When it matters
When you want to know how a projector performs in real use and how reliable it remains over time according to user feedback.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 74% of models
Score components

70%

9.0

User ratings

30%

6.6

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
â–²Better than 74%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of projector Kodak Luma 500

Technical score
Technical score
6.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Projectors category across these key areas: Image Quality, Projection & Lens, HDMI & Gaming, Connectivity, Audio & Features, Design & Power.
When it matters
When you want to compare projectors based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components:

42%

5.4

Image Quality

22%

6.5

Projection & Lens

12%

7.1

HDMI & Gaming

10%

7.3

Audio & Features

8%

7.1

Connectivity

6%

7.5

Design & Power

6.3
User score
User score
8.3/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the projector.
When it matters
When you want to know how a projector performs in real use and how reliable it remains over time according to user feedback.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 74% of models
Score components

70%

9.0

User ratings

30%

6.6

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
8.3
Popularity
Popularity
6.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the projector.
When it matters
When you prefer to buy a product chosen and reviewed by many other consumers.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 61% of models
Popularity:
Kodak Luma 500 has a popularity score of 6.6 points, which is higher than 61.4% of projectors.
6.6
Value for money
Value for money
6.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the projector's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a projector with a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 66% of models
Score components:

70%

6.5

Overall score

30%

7.8

Price

6.9
ANSI lumens
150
Market range: <250 – >4k
This projector reaches 150 ANSI lumens, dimmer than 97.2% of projectors and equal to 0.9% of projectors.
Contrast ratio
400:1
This projector has a contrast ratio of 400:1, lower than 97.1% of projectors and equal to 1.8% of projectors.
Native panel resolution
1920x1080
This projector uses a native resolution of 1920x1080, higher than 26.2% of projectors and equal to 59.7% of projectors.
Output Resolution
1920x1080
This projector supports output resolution up to 1920x1080, higher than 24.9% of projectors and equal to 41% of projectors.
Supports 4K input.
Projection technology
DLP
Show more
Throw ratio
1.2:1
Min throw distance
0.125 m
Market range: <0.5 m – >2 m
This projector needs a minimum throw distance of 0.125 m, shorter than 96.9% of projectors.
Max projection size
150 inch
Market range: <100 inch – >300 inch
This projector supports projection sizes up to 150 inch, smaller than 67.7% of projectors and equal to 10% of projectors.
Zoom ratio
N/A
Motorized zoom
no
This projector does not have motorized zoom. 16.3% of projectors have motorized zoom.
Show more
Input lag
21.7 ms
Market range: <8 ms – >68 ms
This projector has input lag of 21.7 ms, lower than 59.1% of projectors.
At 1080P/60Hz.
Auto low latency mode (ALLM)
no
This projector does not support ALLM. 17.2% of projectors support ALLM.
Variable refresh rate (VRR)
no
This projector does not support VRR. 1.6% of projectors support VRR.
HDMI version
2.1
This projector supports HDMI 2.1, more modern than 82.3% of projectors and equal to 17.7% of projectors.
Max HDMI bandwidth
18 Gbps
Market range: <10 Gbps – >50 Gbps
This projector supports HDMI bandwidth up to 18 Gbps, higher than 47.7% of projectors and equal to 40.1% of projectors.
Show more
N. of HDMI ports
1
Market range: <1 – >6
This projector has 1 HDMI port/s, fewer than 55.1% of projectors and equal to 41.6% of projectors.
Wi-Fi connectivity
yes
This projector supports Wi-Fi. 47.2% of projectors support Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
This projector supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), more modern than 55.1% of projectors and equal to 29.4% of projectors.
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This projector supports Bluetooth. 49.6% of projectors support Bluetooth.
Bluetooth version
5
This projector supports Bluetooth 5, more modern than 63% of projectors and equal to 17.7% of projectors.
Show more
Smart TV features
yes
This projector has smart TV features. 56.4% of projectors have smart TV features.
Operating system
Google TV
Android OS
no
This projector does not run Android OS. 18.8% of projectors run Android OS.
Dedicated smartphone app
no
This projector does not come with a dedicated smartphone app. 35.2% of projectors come with a dedicated smartphone app.
Remote control
yes
This projector includes a remote control. 1.6% of projectors include a remote control.
Show more
Light source type
led
This projector uses led light source technology, more advanced than 33.1% of projectors and equal to 39% of projectors.
Laser Light Source
no
This projector does not use a laser light source. 28.1% of projectors use a laser light source.
Lamp life
30,000 hours
Market range: <5k hours – >30k hours
This projector offers lamp life of 30,000 hours, shorter than 69.1% of projectors and equal to 25.3% of projectors.
Lamp life (eco mode)
?
Operating power consumption
36 W
Market range: <50 W – >400 W
This projector uses 36 W of power, less than 96% of projectors and equal to 0.1% of projectors.
Maximum power-on rating.
Show more

Kodak Luma 500 vs the average projector

246810TotalImage QualityProjection & LensHDMI & GamingConnectivityAudio & FeaturesDesign & Power
  • Advanced focus control
    This projector offers Advanced focus control than the average projector (auto-focus vs manual). The average projector uses manual focus control.
    Manual remote fine-tuning available.
    auto-focus vs manual
  • Supports HDR10+
    This projector supports HDR10+, while the average projector does not. 15.7% of projectors support HDR10+.
    HDR10+ decoding supported.
  • 0.9 m shorter throw distance
    This projector has a lower throw distance than the average projector (0.1 m vs 1 m). The average projector has 1.025 m of throw distance.
    0.125 m vs 1.025 m
  • Supports pixel shifting
    This projector supports pixel shifting, while the average projector does not. 28.4% of projectors support pixel shifting.
    Via XPR technology.
  • Supports HDMI ARC
    This projector supports HDMI ARC, while the average projector does not. 36% of projectors support HDMI ARC.
  • Built-in smart TV features
    This projector has built-in smart TV features, while the average projector does not. 43.7% of projectors have built-in smart TV features.
  • 10 degrees greater vertical keystone correction
    This projector offers more vertical keystone correction than the average projector (40 degrees degrees vs 30 degrees degrees). The average projector offers 30 degrees degrees of vertical keystone correction.
    40 degrees vs 30 degrees
  • Built-in stereo speakers
    This projector has stereo speakers, while the average projector does not. 48.9% of projectors have stereo speakers.
  • Supports HDR10+
    This projector supports HDR10+, while the average projector does not. 15.7% of projectors support HDR10+.
    HDR10+ decoding supported.
  • Supports pixel shifting
    This projector supports pixel shifting, while the average projector does not. 28.4% of projectors support pixel shifting.
    Via XPR technology.
  • Advanced focus control
    This projector offers Advanced focus control than the average projector (auto-focus vs manual). The average projector uses manual focus control.
    Manual remote fine-tuning available.
    auto-focus vs manual
  • 0.9 m shorter throw distance
    This projector has a lower throw distance than the average projector (0.1 m vs 1 m). The average projector has 1.025 m of throw distance.
    0.125 m vs 1.025 m
  • 10 degrees greater vertical keystone correction
    This projector offers more vertical keystone correction than the average projector (40 degrees degrees vs 30 degrees degrees). The average projector offers 30 degrees degrees of vertical keystone correction.
    40 degrees vs 30 degrees
  • Motorized focus
    This projector supports motorized focus, while the average projector does not. 47.2% of projectors support motorized focus.
  • Modern HDMI standard
    This projector offers Modern HDMI standard than the average projector (2.1 vs 2). The average projector supports HDMI 2.0.
    2.1 vs 2.0
  • 5.3 ms lower input lag
    This projector has a lower input lag than the average projector (21.7 ms vs 27 ms). The average projector has 27 ms of input lag.
    At 1080P/60Hz.
    21.7 ms vs 27 ms
  • Supports HDMI ARC
    This projector supports HDMI ARC, while the average projector does not. 36% of projectors support HDMI ARC.
  • Built-in Chromecast
    This projector supports built-in Chromecast, while the average projector does not. 26% of projectors support built-in Chromecast.
  • Supports AirPlay
    This projector supports AirPlay, while the average projector does not. 40% of projectors support AirPlay.
    AirPlay 2 supported.
  • Built-in smart TV features
    This projector has built-in smart TV features, while the average projector does not. 43.7% of projectors have built-in smart TV features.
  • Built-in stereo speakers
    This projector has stereo speakers, while the average projector does not. 48.9% of projectors have stereo speakers.
  • Supports voice commands
    This projector supports voice commands, while the average projector does not. 36.3% of projectors support voice commands.
    Google Assistant via remote.
  • 10,000 hours longer lamp life
    This projector has a higher lamp life than the average projector (30,000 hours vs 20,000 hours). The average projector has 20,000 hours of lamp life.
    30,000 hours vs 20,000 hours
  • 199 W lower power use
    This projector uses less power than the average projector (36 W vs 235 W). The average projector uses 235 W of power.
    Maximum power-on rating.
    36 W vs 235 W
  • 82.5% lighter weight
    This projector is lighter than the average projector (0.5 kg vs 3.1 kg). The average projector weighs 3.1 kg.
    0.544 kg vs 3.1 kg
  • 168 mm narrower width
    This projector is narrower than the average projector (132 mm vs 300 mm). The average projector has a width of 300 mm.
    132 mm vs 300 mm
  • 93 mm lower height
    This projector is shorter than the average projector (34 mm vs 127 mm). The average projector has a height of 127 mm.
    34 mm vs 127 mm
  • 111 mm thinner body
    This projector is thinner than the average projector (34 mm vs 145 mm). The average projector has a thickness of 145 mm.
    34 mm vs 145 mm
  • 93.2% dimmer image
    This projector has lower ANSI lumens than the average projector (150 vs 2,200). The average projector has 2,200 ANSI lumens.
    150 vs 2,200
  • Lower contrast ratio
    This projector has a lower contrast ratio than the average projector (400:1 vs 10000:1). The average projector has 10000:1 of contrast ratio.
    400:1 vs 10,000:1
  • 2 bit lower color depth
    This projector has a lower color depth than the average projector (8 bit vs 10 bit). The average projector has 10 bit of color depth.
    8 bit vs 10 bit
  • 1 fewer HDMI ports
    This projector has fewer HDMI ports than the average projector (1 vs 2). The average projector has 2 HDMI ports.
    1 vs 2
  • Basic light source
    This projector has Basic light source than the average projector (led vs laser). The average projector uses a laser light source.
    led vs laser
  • 96.5 inch smaller image size
    This projector has a lower projection size than the average projector (150 inch vs 246.5 inch). The average projector has 246.5 inch of projection size.
    150 inch vs 246.5 inch
  • 29.4% lower refresh rate
    This projector has a lower refresh rate than the average projector (60 Hz vs 85 Hz). The average projector has 85 Hz of refresh rate.
    60 Hz vs 85 Hz
  • Limited HDMI format
    This projector supports a less capable max HDMI input format than the average projector (4K/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz). The average projector supports a max HDMI input format of 4K/120Hz.
    4K/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz
  • 93.2% dimmer image
    This projector has lower ANSI lumens than the average projector (150 vs 2,200). The average projector has 2,200 ANSI lumens.
    150 vs 2,200
  • Lower contrast ratio
    This projector has a lower contrast ratio than the average projector (400:1 vs 10000:1). The average projector has 10000:1 of contrast ratio.
    400:1 vs 10,000:1
  • 2 bit lower color depth
    This projector has a lower color depth than the average projector (8 bit vs 10 bit). The average projector has 10 bit of color depth.
    8 bit vs 10 bit
  • 29.4% lower refresh rate
    This projector has a lower refresh rate than the average projector (60 Hz vs 85 Hz). The average projector has 85 Hz of refresh rate.
    60 Hz vs 85 Hz
  • No 3D support
    This projector does not support 3D playback, while the average projector does. 55% of projectors support 3D playback.
  • 0.24 inch smaller DMD chip
    This projector has a lower DMD chip size than the average projector (0.2 inch vs 0.47 inch). The average projector has 0.47 inch of DMD chip size.
    0.23 inch vs 0.47 inch
  • No 3D glasses support
    This projector does not support 3D glasses, while the average projector does. 55.1% of projectors support 3D glasses.
  • 96.5 inch smaller image size
    This projector has a lower projection size than the average projector (150 inch vs 246.5 inch). The average projector has 246.5 inch of projection size.
    150 inch vs 246.5 inch
  • Limited HDMI format
    This projector supports a less capable max HDMI input format than the average projector (4K/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz). The average projector supports a max HDMI input format of 4K/120Hz.
    4K/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz
  • 1 fewer HDMI ports
    This projector has fewer HDMI ports than the average projector (1 vs 2). The average projector has 2 HDMI ports.
    1 vs 2
  • No RS-232 control
    This projector does not support RS-232 control, while the average projector does. 52.1% of projectors support RS-232 control.
  • 70% weaker audio output
    This projector has a lower audio output power than the average projector (3 W vs 10 W). The average projector has 10 W of audio output power.
    3 W vs 10 W
  • Basic light source
    This projector has Basic light source than the average projector (led vs laser). The average projector uses a laser light source.
    led vs laser

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

7.0
TechWalls
≈ estimated
06/09/2025
Hands-on review · portability, picture and interface
Verdict
Kodak Luma 500 is compact and easy to carry, but it is dim in bright rooms and not the best picture for the money.
Overview video
Overview video
Not graded

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

pcmag.com
27/01/2026
Hands-on test · Google TV projector
Verdict
The Kodak Luma 500 is a palm-sized projector with Google TV that suits dark rooms, but its 150 lumens limit brightness, and HDR movies look dim.
the-gadgeteer.com
18/06/2025
Hands-on review · Pico projector
Verdict
The Kodak Luma 500 is a sharp, bright little Google TV projector, but its built-in speaker is poor, so plan on an external one.
pocket-lint.com
21/09/2025
Hands-on test · Compact projector
Verdict
The Kodak Luma 500 is a palm-sized 1080p projector with Google TV, good for light entertainment and presentations on the go, but its sound is quiet.
techwalls.com
07/09/2025
Hands-on review · Pocket projector
Verdict
The Kodak Luma 500 is a pocket-sized projector with Google TV built in, throwing about 90 inches from 11 feet and suiting travel and dark-room movies.
twice.com
09/02/2026
Hands-on test · Portable projector
Verdict
The Kodak Luma 500 is a small, flexible projector for dark rooms, backyard nights and travel, with Google TV built in so no streaming stick is needed.

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: October 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about Kodak Luma 500

  • Extremely compact and lightweight 'palmtop' design that can fit in a pocket
  • Native 1080p resolution provides a crisp and detailed image for its size
  • Integrated Google TV OS allows for seamless streaming from major apps like Netflix and YouTube without extra dongles
  • Advanced setup features including reliable auto-focus and auto-keystone correction
  • Built-in 10,500 mAh battery supports roughly 2 hours of playback for true portability
  • Low input lag (approx. 22-30ms) makes it suitable for casual gaming

What customers don't like about Kodak Luma 500

  • Low brightness (150 ANSI lumens) makes it difficult to use in rooms with any ambient light
  • Weak onboard 1.5W speakers often require external Bluetooth or wired speakers for a good experience
  • High price point compared to other portable projectors with similar or better specs
  • Occasional UI lag or slow remote response within the Google TV interface
  • Mirroring from mobile devices is limited primarily to Chromecast
  • Lower image quality in HDR mode compared to standard SDR

Verdict

The Kodak Luma 500 is an ultra-portable 'palmtop' DLP projector featuring a native 1080p resolution with 4K input support and a rated brightness of 150–160 ANSI lumens. Its standout characteristics include an integrated Google TV 11.0 operating system for native streaming (including Netflix certification), a built-in 10,500 mAh battery providing up to 2 hours of playback, and advanced auto-focus and auto-keystone correction for rapid setup. Main pros include its highly compact 5.2" x 5.2" x 1.3" footprint, versatile connectivity via HDMI 2.1, USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0, and a long-lasting LED light source rated for 30,000 hours. However, notable cons include its relatively low brightness which limits use to dark environments, weak 1.5W internal speakers, and occasional interface lag within the Google TV menus.

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