If you’re looking for a star projector that doesn’t take up much space and nestles nicely into the clutter of your bedside cabinet, then the Herhoter Galaxy Projector is well worth considering. This affordable projector will fill your bedroom with laser stars and cover part of your ceiling with colorful fog-like projections, creating a relaxing, attractive atmosphere.
There’s no built-in speaker here, but when it comes to projections, the Herhoter Galaxy Projector has all the features you’d expect: rotation, multiple colors, stars that can be turned on and off, and a sleep timer. There are some nice display options too, such as having the auroras “breathe” in and out, and the ability to increase and decrease the speed at which they rotate.
Design
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- Very small form factor
- Supplied with an optional stand
- Buttons are on the bottom of the device
Herhoter Galaxy Projector is smaller than a coffee mug, so placed on your bedside cabinet you will hardly notice it. We love the small form factor; it is well designed and despite its size feels solid and well built. That’s a very welcome factor given that this projector currently retails for $18.99 and is often on sale.
In the box you will find two optional stands, which allow you to angle the projector against a wall. One is set at a 25 degree angle, and the other at a 45 degree angle. It works just fine without it, and shoots straight up into the ceiling. It’s a shame it doesn’t come with an adjustable base, as swapping out the stands to change the angle isn’t ideal. But we imagine most people will stick to the same angle once they’ve found what works best for them.
Oddly enough, the buttons to control the projector are on the bottom of the unit itself. If you’re using one of the stands, they’re a bit more accessible, but if you’re projecting straight up onto the ceiling, you’ll have to pick it up to change settings. Fortunately, it also includes a remote control, so you’ll probably want to make use of it, as it provides easier access to the full range of the projector’s functions as well.
Performance
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- Limited range
- Colorful and sharp projections
- Green laser stars
The Herhoter Galaxy Projector offers a relaxing, rippling mist-like projection. Multiple colors are available, including single colors (red, blue and green) and combinations. Whichever option you choose, the projections are sharp and bright, and thanks to the various functions, you can fully control how they are displayed.
You can choose a still image, make it pulse in and out, or make it rotate at different speeds. This level of customization means you can create an atmosphere to suit any mood: for example, a slow rotation suits a calming, meditative atmosphere, while a faster aurora projection can create a more lively party atmosphere.
The downside is that the projections don’t have the widest reach, and only cover part of our rather small double room. Turn on the laser stars and they will reach across most of the room, but the stars here are the same green laser stars you find in most budget star projectors. We think the projections look much better with the stars turned off, but your own preferences may vary.
Functionality
- Useful remote control
- Sleep timer
- No speaker
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The Herhoter Galaxy Projector does not have a built-in speaker, which, given the MSRP, is not surprising. It’s not a huge loss either, since any speaker in a budget projector is usually tinny at best. If you want music to accompany your projections, you can simply use your phone or a dedicated music player.
The included remote control, which comes with a pre-installed battery, is very useful for controlling the projections. You can change some settings on the bottom of the device itself, but with the remote control you can easily change the brightness, speed and color of the fog projections. You can also turn stars on or off and set a sleep timer.
The sleep timer built into the Herhoter Galaxy Projector allows you to choose one of five times: 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, three hours or four hours. There’s also a “cancel” button if you decide to cancel any timer you’ve previously set. It’s a useful feature to have if you plan to use the projector to help you fall asleep.
Should I buy the Herhoter Galaxy projector?
If you’re on a budget and looking for a simple nebula-style star projector, the Herhoter Galaxy Projector is a great choice. You won’t find scientifically accurate estimates here, but you will get colorful, relaxing estimates that won’t break the bank.
If you do want scientific projections, then we would recommend looking at the Sega Toys Homestar Flux, or another projector from the Sega Toys range. It is significantly more expensive, but interchangeable plates provide realistic projections, including an accurate representation of the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere. If you don’t want to spend as much, but still want something with a bit more accuracy than the Herhoter Galaxy Projector, the Orzorz Galaxy Lite is also worth considering.
