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Home / News / Sony’s got a portable projector that’ll turn your table into a tablet

Sony’s got a portable projector that’ll turn your table into a tablet

Android-packing Xperia Touch is the first step towards a Minority Report-style smart home future

Hang on, haven’t I seen this before?

If you were paying attention to our coverage of last year’s Mobile World Congress show, then yup – there’s a good chance this’ll feel familiar. Sony showed it off, in concept form, but it wasn’t quite ready for the prime time.

This, though? It’s the real deal. Sony has decided there’s enough interest to roll its portable projector into full production, so you’ll actually be able to buy one by summer 2017.

Or at least you will be, if you don’t mind splashing out a whopping 1499 euros on one.

Sony Xperia Touch initial verdict

Ouch – it had better be the stuff of my sci-fi dreams for that kind of cash.

Well, if you ever wanted to transform your kitchen table into a giant tablet, you’re sorted. The Xperia Touch is basically a tiny, battery-powered Android box, which beams a touch-sensing “display” onto any flat surface.

Were not quite at Minority Report levels of futuristic gadgetry yet, but we’re getting there. The projector can see where you’re tapping, and transform that data into inputs. It’ll recognise pinch gestures too, so it essentially works just like a regular tablet.

Turn it round and it’ll project onto a wall instead, so you can watch any on-demand or catch-up app available from the Google Play Store on a giant screen. It won’t double as a touch-screen in this mode, though, so Sony’s working on a smartphone companion app to keep you connected.

It’s got built-in speakers, and is packing batteries, too – so you won’t even need to plug it in. Which pretty much makes this ideal for some impromptu guerrilla cinema.

Has it got enough juice to get me through a Netflix marathon?

Afraid not – it’ll probably only manage around an hour of video playback away from the mains. That’s still enough for a full episode of House of Cards, but you’ll want to plug it in if you’re planning to binge on an entire season in one sitting.

Got any more sweet, sweet specs to throw my way?

If it’s details you’re craving, Sony’s going to be leaving you hungry. Everything was very much under wraps when we got to see one in person, with no word on the hardware inside or even the resolution of the projector.

We’re not expecting anything better than 720p, which is a bit lame when you see how much it costs. Still, there’s no denying it’s a diddy little piece of kit.

Tread a few popcorn kernels into the carpet, pop one of these on and it’ll feel just like you’re at the local multiplex.

Profile image of Tom Morgan-Freelander Tom Morgan-Freelander Deputy Editor

About

A tech addict from about the age of three (seriously, he's got the VHS tapes to prove it), Tom's been writing about gadgets, games and everything in between for the past decade, with a slight diversion into the world of automotive in between. As Deputy Editor, Tom keeps the website ticking along, jam-packed with the hottest gadget news and reviews.  When he's not on the road attending launch events, you can usually find him scouring the web for the latest news, to feed Stuff readers' insatiable appetite for tech.

Areas of expertise

Smartphones/tablets/computing, cameras, home cinema, automotive, virtual reality, gaming

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