It has a built-in projector and a huge battery

What I’m holding in my hand is a tablet with a built-in projector – or is it more of a projector with a built-in tablet? (Image source: Duy Linh Dinh/GameStar Tech)

Over the last four weeks I’ve been able to test a tablet that’s like no other I’ve ever seen. Not only does it have a huge battery and is extremely robust like other outdoor tablets, it also has a built-in projector!

After 30 days, I can say: The Blackview Active 12 Pro isn’t good at being a tablet – but it’s great at being a portable Android projector.

What is the Blackview Tab Active 12 Pro?

The screen has a maximum brightness of 600 nits. That’s just enough for bright sunny days. (Image source: Duy Linh Dinh/GameStar Tech)

The Blackview Tab Active 12 Pro is a so-called “rugged tablet”. These are tablets that were developed for outdoor use. This means they are particularly robust and (often) offer a long battery life.

This description also applies to the Active 12 Pro. The Android tablet has a gigantic 30,000 mAh battery. But this also makes a lot of sense, as two of this tablet’s unique selling points consume a lot of power.

However, due to the size of the battery, you are not allowed to take this tablet on the plane without first obtaining permission from the airline.

The Active 12 Pro also has protection certificationsas we know them from other rugged devices – plus one that we rarely see:

• IP69 (sealed against moisture and small particles)
• MIL-STD-810H (tested to US military standard)
• UL94 HB (basic level of flammability test for plastics)

UL94 HB is the lowest classification in the UL94 burning behavior test for plastics and means that a horizontally tested material will only continue to burn slowly or self-extinguish when exposed to a certain flame. Such certification almost never exists for tablets and smartphones.

Apart from that, the tablet is quite well equipped in terms of hardware.

The built-in projector

Thanks to the kickstand, the projector can be flexibly aligned. (Image source: Duy Linh Dinh/GameStar Tech)

Yes, this tablet actually has a built-in projector. This can be easily started using a pre-installed app and the screen content is projected onto the wall or ceiling – depending on the angle at which you set up the tablet.

• The tablet has autofocus and automatic keystone correction.
• The brightness of the projector is 200 lumens and the largest image diagonal advertised by the manufacturer is 120 inches.
• The projector is actively cooled with a fan.

The projector’s biggest weakness is its low brightness. It has to be pitch black so that you get a high-contrast image. And even in total darkness, I wish there was a little more.

Roller shutter half closed
Roller shutter almost completely closed

I can’t close the roller shutters completely in my living room, which is why you can still see some light from the side in the photo on the right. You see, the projector can only really be used in very dark environments. (Image source: Duy Linh Dinh/GameStar Tech)

I recently watched the EWC Tekken tournament on the ceiling of my bedroom – like I had a 50-inch TV right above the bed. I found the image quality to be best in the dark bedroom and at this projection size. (Image source: Duy Linh Dinh/GameStar Tech)

Aside from that, I’m surprised at how well the built-in projector works. The automatic keystone correction and autofocus are very reliable and I rarely had to readjust them by hand. The included kickstand, which is made entirely of metal and is screwed on, helps you find the right position.

Apart from the low brightness, the image quality is still satisfactory even with a projection size of over 100 inches.

The built-in speakers are surprisingly powerful and are easily enough for a movie night while camping.

In addition to the 120-watt power supply, the scope of delivery also includes a stylus, a USB OTG adapter and a screwdriver for the kickstand. (Image source: Duy Linh Dinh/GameStar Tech)

The fan, on the other hand, is less pleasant: It initially remains completely inaudible until the hardware reaches around 44 degrees, but then it jumps straight to full power and becomes clearly audible.

If the temperature drops again, it retracts and becomes almost completely silent. Instead of a constant, quiet noise, there is a clear rise and fall at intervals.

Thanks to the huge battery, the projector can be operated for around 6 hours at a time – I only charged the tablet every 7 to 10 days. To do this, connect the included 120-watt USB-C charger.

Camping light, huge battery and 5G

The light is blinding even in bright daylight – it is very powerful! (Image source: Duy Linh Dinh/GameStar Tech)

The second unique selling point is a built-in camping light that is very bright. Here too, the kickstand helps to position the light the way you want it.

In addition, it has three different lighting modes:

• Constant light
• SOS
• Fast blinking

An optional timer automatically turns the light off after 5 to 30 minutes.

How is the Active 12 Pro as an everyday tablet?

A tablet that is 4.5 centimeters thick at its thickest point (with the stand folded in) and weighs 1.68 kilograms is, unsurprisingly, rather impractical in everyday life.

In principle it can be used as a real replacement for a thin multimedia tablet, but for me personally it is far too bulky and heavy for that. If I want to read something on the sofa or browse through apps, I’m much more likely to use my cell phone or a light and compact tablet.

The built-in MediaTek Dimensity 7300 ensures fast everyday performance without stuttering. By the way, the tablet is 5G-capable and therefore has a slot for a SIM card – whether that makes sense for a device that weighs almost 2 kilograms remains to be seen.

Speaking of “put there”: The stable kickstand is a must in my opinion. This meant I could at least use the tablet like a mobile screen and place it anywhere I wanted to watch a YouTube video or throw a picture on the wall.

I think this is the best use for this device.

My recommendation

I think this tablet is most worthwhile if you don’t necessarily see it as a tablet. It is more of a mobile 11-inch screen with a built-in projector, with Android operating system.

And something like this doesn’t happen more often. I find the device incredibly practical for what it is, and extremely impractical for what tablets are actually used for.

If you are interested in a mobile projector with an Android operating system that is also extremely robust, then buying the Blackview Active 12 Pro may be worth it.

However, consider the following: The thing is heavy, more “portable” than “mobile” and the projector can only be used in very dark environments.