Home cinema projectors are changing the way we watch movies — and honestly, they’re making my 50-inch 4K TV feel like an expensive paperweight. The ETOE Dolphin Portable Projector fits in my hand yet manages to blast a bigger, sharper image than anything mounted on my living room wall. Last week, when I was stuck in bed sick, I turned my ceiling into a cinema screen without lifting a finger. Before getting sick, I schlepped it to a friend’s place for movie night, where it blew the socks off her TV — no cables, no wall mounts, just a tiny gadget and a seriously impressive picture.
If you thought projectors were just for school presentations or awkward office meetings, Epson’s recent survey will make you reconsider: nearly one in three South Africans now prefers projectors for their home cinema experience. And it’s not just about screen size — it’s about flexibility, shrinking living spaces, and the added bonus of dodging that pesky TV licence fee.
Why TVs suddenly feel like dinosaurs
Look, TVs have tried. They got bigger, thinner, and flashier, but they’re still stuck to your wall or that awkward stand taking up precious real estate. In a country where apartment sizes are shrinking faster than your data bundle after a binge session, a projector that vanishes when you’re done is borderline genius.
Also, here’s the kicker — you don’t need a TV licence to own a projector in South Africa. If you’ve ever grumbled about forking out that yearly fee, you’ll appreciate that. And for those budget-conscious buyers, some projectors cost less than a decent mid-range TV. Enter Feelive, a local company founded by TV industry veterans, serving up quality projectors that punch well above their weight.
Meet the ETOE Dolphin: The projector that does way more than just project
The ETOE Dolphin is basically a pocket-sized powerhouse. It’s shorter than a Coke can but hides Netflix-certified Google TV, Dolby Audio, 4K support, and a 2.5-hour battery that can stretch even longer if you plug in a power bank. When you’re not glued to the screen, it moonlights as a Bluetooth speaker. Take that, TV!
And the picture quality? Epson’s survey found visual quality is the top priority for South African viewers, and this little guy doesn’t disappoint — punchy colours, deep blacks, and buttery smooth motion. If you thought laptop screens were just “fine” for casual viewing, this will upgrade your standards.
The TV industry isn’t going down without a fight
TV makers keep throwing every marketing buzzword in the book at us — but their designs are still stuck in the past.
According to Epson’s data, South Africans are catching on, but Morocco and the UAE are even quicker to ditch TVs for projectors. The writing’s on the wall (literally): we’re moving toward entertainment that adapts to us, not the other way around.
The future of home cinema fits in your backpack
Projectors like the ETOE Dolphin deliver that big-screen cinematic dream without requiring half your living room. Portable, licence-free, often cheaper than TVs, and packed with features — as Epson’s numbers prove — they’re fast becoming the first choice for immersive viewing.
As living spaces get tighter and budgets tighter still, a projector that vanishes when you’re done feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.