Jmgo (also known as 坚果投影 or 坚果) is a Chinese consumer-electronics brand primarily recognized for its smart projectors, laser projectors, ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors, and portable projection products. The brand is operated by Shenzhen Huole Technology Development Co., Ltd. (深圳市火乐科技发展有限公司), established in 2011. Jmgo has positioned itself around optical technology, industrial design, smart-home entertainment, and high-end RGB/tri-color laser projection.

Quick Facts

Note: International figures are based on Jmgo’s own current claims.

Jmgo’s history begins with Huole Technology, founded in Shenzhen in 2011. The company initially focused on developing intelligent projection equipment and helped establish the smart-projector category in China’s consumer market. 1

One of its early landmark products was the Jmgo A1, described by the company as its first smart projector. The subsequent G1, launched in the mid-2010s, combined projection with features such as Bluetooth speakers, an intelligent system, and electric focusing. Its unusual circular industrial design helped distinguish it from conventional rectangular projectors.

In 2014, Huole Technology received a reported RMB 60 million Series A investment from investors including CDH, IDG, and Star VC. It also collaborated with Mango TV and introduced the G1 and G1S home-theater products. In 2015, the company stated it received another RMB 200 million investment from Songhe Capital, Timeber, and Tianqi Amiba.

A significant corporate milestone occurred in October 2018, when Jmgo received strategic investment from Alibaba Group.

Jmgo’s development can be divided into several key stages:

Early Smart-Projector Era

The company’s first generation focused on transforming the projector from a traditional display peripheral into an all-in-one home entertainment device. Products like the G1 emphasized integrated audio, smart operating systems, automatic/electric focus, unconventional industrial design, and home-cinema applications. This established the basic Jmgo philosophy: a projector should be a consumer appliance rather than merely an office display device.

Portable Projection

Jmgo subsequently moved into portable projectors. Its P1 was presented as a portable smart projector with an integrated battery and 360° projection capability. This step made projection more suitable for bedrooms, travel, outdoor use, and flexible home setups.

Ultra-Short Throw

In 2021, Jmgo introduced the O1, an ultra-short-throw projector. The O-series was positioned around the idea that users should not need several meters of room depth to create a large image. The company states the O1 could produce a 100-inch image from very close to the wall, making projection practical in smaller rooms. 2

Gimbal Projection

Perhaps Jmgo’s most recognizable recent innovation is its gimbal projector design. In 2022, the company introduced the N1 series, including the N1 Pro and N1 Ultra. Instead of placing the projector in a fixed chassis, the optical unit can be physically angled, allowing the image to be projected onto different walls or even ceilings. The N1 Ultra was described by Jmgo as its first three-color laser gimbal projector.

MALC / MALC 2.0

One of Jmgo’s most important technological areas is its proprietary MALC laser optical platform. MALC refers to Jmgo’s approach to compact RGB/three-color laser optical engines. The newer MALC 2.0 technology is designed to make RGB laser projection smaller, brighter, and more efficient while addressing issues such as heat and laser speckle.

Jmgo currently claims its MALC 2.0 system is:

• 40% smaller
• 15–30% more efficient
• Capable of more than 96% optical uniformity
• Equipped with technology designed to reduce laser speckle by more than 97%

These are Jmgo’s stated specifications/claims, rather than independently established industry-wide measurements. 3

Why RGB Laser Matters

Traditional projectors may use LED, single-laser, or hybrid light sources. RGB laser projectors use separate red, green, and blue laser sources. Potential advantages include wider color gamut, high brightness, strong color saturation, long light-source life, and compact optical designs. Trade-offs can include higher cost, thermal-management challenges, and laser speckle, which is why speckle reduction has become a key area of development.

The N-series is particularly important to Jmgo’s identity. Instead of requiring the entire projector to be physically moved whenever the projection surface changes, the gimbal mechanism allows the optical assembly to tilt. Jmgo states its current gimbal technology supports movement of up to 135° vertically and 360° horizontally, combined with automatic focus, keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, and screen alignment.

This concept is useful for:

• Wall projection
• Ceiling projection
• Bedroom use
• Temporary setups
• Gaming
• Outdoor projection

Jmgo aims to make projection angle a software-and-hardware experience rather than a manual installation problem.

Jmgo’s current international product lineup is organized into several major categories.

N Series — Premium/Gimbal Projectors

The N family is arguably Jmgo’s signature modern product line. Examples include:

• N1 Pro
• N1 Ultra
• N1S 4K
• N1S Ultra
• N1S Ultimate
• N3 Ultimate

These products emphasize combinations of 4K + laser projection + gimbal movement + smart features. The newer N3 Ultimate is positioned as a high-end 4K gimbal projector, with Jmgo advertising 5,800 ISO lumens, lossless 4K technology, and AI-assisted features.

O Series — Ultra-Short Throw

The O family is designed for situations where the projector needs to sit close to the wall. Current products include the O2S Ultra, which Jmgo lists with a 0.16:1 throw ratio. The basic philosophy is providing a big screen without requiring a large room.

Portable/Pico Projectors

Jmgo also sells smaller projectors intended for mobility. Current examples include:

• PicoPlay
• PicoFlix
• N1S 4K

The PicoFlix incorporates a built-in battery, while the PicoPlay is positioned as a particularly compact projector.

IRIS Series

Jmgo has recently expanded into an IRIS high-end series. Current models include the IRIS Ultra and IRIS Ultra Max, which emphasize 4K resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, high brightness, AI features, and gimbal projection. Jmgo positions the IRIS Ultra Max as one of its flagship products. 4

Jmgo attempts to differentiate itself through software rather than treating the projector simply as a display. One notable platform is Bonfire OS, developed around the company’s idea of a more lifestyle-oriented projector interface. Jmgo states Bonfire OS was created in collaboration with Frog, the design and strategy consultancy, and organizes the experience around concepts such as entertainment, music, ambient lighting, and sleep/wake functions. 5

On newer international models, Jmgo has increasingly adopted Google TV, providing access to mainstream streaming applications and Google TV functionality. This reflects a broader industry shift where modern projectors compete with televisions rather than traditional office projectors.

Audio is another area of differentiation. The company has collaborated with Danish audio company Dynaudio on projector acoustics and sound systems. Jmgo describes this work as targeting high-fidelity sound and stronger low-frequency performance. The philosophy is important because an all-in-one projector generally needs to provide image + operating system + speakers without requiring a separate home-theater receiver and speaker system.

Jmgo began primarily as a Chinese smart-projector company but has increasingly pursued international markets. Its global website states that Jmgo products are available in 140+ countries and regions, with more than 20 global distributors and more than 140 offline stores. The company also claims more than 2 million global users. 6

Jmgo’s international product strategy emphasizes:

• 4K
• RGB laser
• Google TV
• Gaming
• Home theater
• Portable projection
• Ultra-short throw
• Premium industrial design

When researching Jmgo projectors, it is important to note that brightness specifications changed after the company adopted ISO Lumens. Jmgo announced that, effective December 12, 2024, its products would officially use the internationally recognized ISO Lumens standard for brightness. As part of that change, advertised figures for some older models were revised.

For example, Jmgo states:

• N1 Pro: 3,200 → 1,300 ISO lumens
• N1 Ultra: 4,000 → 1,900 ISO lumens
• U2: 2,400 → 1,400 ISO lumens

This distinction is crucial when comparing older reviews with newer product listings, as numbers may not be directly comparable if measurement methodologies differ.

Jmgo’s identity can be summarized around five pillars:

1. Optical Engineering: Rather than buying off-the-shelf projector engines, Jmgo emphasizes in-house optical development and its MALC laser platform. 7
2. Industrial Design: The company treats the projector as a piece of home furniture/electronics rather than an office appliance. The circular G1 and later gimbal designs exemplify this.
3. Gimbal Projection: The N-series turned the ability to physically reposition the projected image into a major product feature.
4. RGB Laser: Jmgo has increasingly moved toward three-color/RGB laser projection, particularly in higher-end products.
5. Lifestyle Positioning: Jmgo markets its products for home cinema, bedrooms, gaming, outdoor viewing, and everyday entertainment. Its current website explicitly organizes products around these scenarios. 8

Jmgo sits between traditional projector manufacturers and newer consumer-tech projector brands. Competitors vary by product category and price, including:

• XGIMI — smart/home projectors and gimbal products
• Epson — traditional and home-theater projection
• BenQ — home theater, gaming, and consumer projectors
• Anker NEBULA — portable smart projectors
• Hisense — especially ultra-short-throw laser TVs
• Formovie — consumer laser/UST projectors
• Samsung — lifestyle and premium portable/UST projection
• ViewSonic — consumer, gaming, and business projection

Jmgo’s strongest differentiation is arguably the combination of consumer-oriented design + RGB laser technology + gimbal mechanics + smart-TV functionality.

Strengths

• Strong design identity: Jmgo products tend to look considerably different from conventional office projectors.
• Innovative form factors: The gimbal concept and ultra-short-throw products address practical problems associated with conventional projectors.
• Strong laser technology focus: Jmgo is investing heavily in RGB/tri-color laser optical systems.
• Good home-entertainment positioning: The company combines projection, speakers, and smart-TV functionality.
• Increasing global presence: The brand has moved well beyond the Chinese market.

Things to Consider

• Specification comparisons: Older Jmgo brightness numbers may use different measurement conventions than current ISO-lumen specifications.
• Software variations: Chinese and international Jmgo products may have different operating systems, streaming services, or app support.
• Environmental dependency: Even high-end Jmgo projectors are affected by ambient light, wall color, projection surface, and viewing distance.
• Price point: Premium laser models compete in a significantly higher price category than entry-level LED projectors.

As of 2026, Jmgo has evolved from a Chinese “mini projector” startup into a broader home-display and optical-technology brand, with products spanning pocket projectors to premium 4K RGB-laser gimbal machines. Its current international lineup includes products such as the N3 Ultimate, N1S Ultimate, N1S Ultra, N1S 4K, IRIS Ultra/Ultra Max, PicoPlay, PicoFlix, and O2S Ultra.

The company’s trajectory can be summarized as:
2011 → smart projector startup
↓
G1 → distinctive consumer projector design
↓
P series → portable projection
↓
O1 → ultra-short throw
↓
N1 → RGB laser + gimbal projection
↓
N1S/N3 → premium 4K laser projection
↓
IRIS → high-refresh premium projection
↓
2026 → broader global home-cinema/display brand

Jmgo is defined by aggressive optical R&D, RGB/tri-color laser technology, distinctive industrial design, gimbal projection, ultra-short-throw systems, and smart-TV integration. While brands like Epson and BenQ represent the traditional projector industry, and XGIMI represents the modern smart-projector generation, Jmgo’s identity centers on combining projector optics with consumer-electronics design and novel physical form factors. Its N-series gimbal projectors and MALC laser technology are the two technologies most closely associated with the brand today.

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