When your living room doubles as your office, a projector turns it back into a living room at the end of the day. The PixPaq Gold RayMaster is a smart projector from Indian brand PixPaq. It runs Android, focuses itself automatically, and can project a huge picture onto a wall for movies, cricket or PS5 sessions.
This review explains what its specs actually mean, where it shines, and what to know before you buy one.
Quick verdict Get it if: you want a big-screen experience for movies, sports and casual gaming in a room you can darken. Skip it if: your room gets bright daylight you can’t block, or you need the low input lag of a gaming TV.
Key specs
| Spec | PixPaq Gold RayMaster |
|---|---|
| Native resolution | 1920×1080 (Full HD), accepts 4K input |
| Brightness (claimed) | 3450 ANSI lumens |
| Optical engine | “Vision X” sealed optical engine (LCD-based) |
| Smart platform | Android 13, MediaTek MT9660 processor |
| Focus | Laser (ToF) autofocus with auto keystone correction |
| Inputs | HDMI (including ARC for connecting a soundbar), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Speakers | 30 W (dual 15 W) |
| Warranty | 1 year (check the seller’s terms) |
Specs come from PixPaq’s product page and retail listings. PixPaq sells several similarly named “Gold” and “RAY” models, so check the exact model name in the listing.
Native 1080p vs “4K support”
This is the most misunderstood spec on budget projectors. The RayMaster’s native resolution is 1080p: the image it projects is made of 1920×1080 pixels. “4K support” means it accepts a 4K signal (from a PS5 or a streaming app) and scales it down to 1080p. That’s normal and useful, since you don’t need to change any settings on your devices, but it isn’t the same as a true 4K projector. At 100 inches, Full HD still looks good from a normal viewing distance.
About brightness claims
Brightness determines how well the picture holds up when there’s light in the room. PixPaq quotes 3450 ANSI lumens for this model. ANSI lumens is the right unit (be wary of projectors quoting much bigger “lumens” numbers without “ANSI”), but brightness figures for budget projectors from many brands are often optimistic compared with independent measurements. In practice:
- Dark or dim room: the picture is bright, punchy and colourful. This is where any projector looks its best.
- Lights on or daylight: the image washes out. Blackout curtains make the biggest difference to picture quality, more than any projector setting.
Setup: autofocus and keystone
This is where modern smart projectors really improve on older ones. The RayMaster uses a laser time-of-flight sensor to focus automatically and correct the picture’s shape (keystone) when it isn’t placed square to the wall. You can put it on a table or shelf, switch it on, and get a sharp rectangle within seconds, with no fiddling with focus rings.
Tips for the best picture:
- Use a screen or a smooth, white or light-grey wall. Textured paint shows through. An affordable projector screen is a big upgrade.
- Place the projector square to the wall when you can. Digital keystone correction works, but it slightly reduces sharpness.
- A ceiling mount keeps it out of the way and the picture consistent.
Apps and streaming
Android 13 gives you an app store, screen casting from your phone, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. On many Android-based projectors, some streaming apps aren’t officially supported or don’t play in full HD. If an app you rely on doesn’t work well, a Fire TV Stick or Google TV streamer plugged into the HDMI port solves it easily.
Sound
The built-in 30 W speakers are fine for casual viewing in a small room. For movies, HDMI ARC lets you connect a soundbar so the projector’s audio plays through better speakers, controlled with one remote. You can also pair Bluetooth headphones for late-night watching without disturbing anyone.
Gaming on a projector
Playing PS5 games on a 100-inch screen is a lot of fun, especially racing, sports and story-driven games. Projectors generally have more input lag (the delay between pressing a button and seeing the result) than gaming TVs, so they’re better for single-player and casual games than for competitive shooters. Turn on any game mode or low-latency setting. Read the PS5 Digital Edition review for more on setting up the console.
My experience
The projector turns my room into a mini cinema in the evenings, and it’s become one of my favourite ways to end the day. Movies, cricket and games all feel like an event on a picture this big.
The feature I appreciate most is the autofocus. I switch it on and within seconds the picture is sharp and square, with no fiddling. That makes it easy to use on a whim instead of something you set up only for special occasions.
The picture looks its best with the lights off and the curtains closed, which is how I watch anyway. In those conditions the colours are bright and the image is crisp. Having the apps built in keeps things simple too: one remote, and I’m watching.
If you have a room you can darken and want a big-screen experience without the price of a giant TV, it’s a fun, worthwhile upgrade.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Huge picture for the price
- Fast laser autofocus and auto keystone make setup easy
- Android smart features and casting built in
- HDMI ARC for adding a soundbar
- Great for movies, sports and casual gaming
Cons
- Native 1080p, not true 4K
- Brightness claims are hard to verify. Needs a dark room for the best picture
- More input lag than a gaming TV
- Some streaming apps may work better on an external streaming stick
Bottom line
The PixPaq Gold RayMaster turns a blank wall into a 100-inch screen with very little effort, thanks to its autofocus and smart features. Keep your expectations realistic about brightness and resolution, darken the room, and it delivers a big-screen experience that makes the end of the workday something to look forward to.
Check the current price of the PixPaq Gold RayMaster on Amazon.in