Welcome to the future. It’s 2026, humanity has presumably survived several more “unprecedented” global events, and yet, somehow, we are being asked to celebrate spending $800 on a 1080p projector. TCL has released the PlayCube, and the tech press is already tripping over its own power cords to tell us it’s “more fun than a Rubik’s Cube.”

First, let’s address that headline. Calling a projector more fun than a Rubik’s Cube is like saying a microwave is more charismatic than a stapler. One is a logic puzzle that has frustrated generations of teenagers; the other is a plastic box that shoots light. If your idea of “fun” is adjusting keystone correction on a bedsheet, you might need to reconsider your weekend plans.

The big “innovation” here is that you can twist the PlayCube to angle the image. Groundbreaking. Revolutionary. TCL has discovered the “hinge.” By 2026, one would hope we’d have gravitated toward auto-leveling lasers or perhaps a device that doesn’t require a specific “twist” to avoid projecting *The Bear* onto the ceiling fan. Claiming this eliminates the need for a tripod is a bold assumption that every surface in the great outdoors is perfectly level. In reality, you’ll still be propping this $800 cube up with a folded-up taco wrapper just to get the horizon straight.

Speaking of that $800 price tag: we need to talk about the “right compromises.” In 2024, you can find 4K smart TVs for half that price at a grocery store. By 2026, 1080p should be a resolution reserved for rearview mirrors and vintage irony. Labeling a 1080p output as a “justifiable mix” for nearly a thousand dollars is the kind of tech-optimism that bordering on a psychological disorder. It’s not a “mix”; it’s a vintage specs sheet wrapped in a modern chassis.

Then there’s the battery life. Three hours in “bright” mode. Truly, a marathon runner of a device. If you’re planning to watch a modern blockbuster—most of which now have runtimes that rival the Victorian era—you’ll be staring at a black screen right as the protagonist starts their final monologue. A three-hour battery isn’t a “pro”; it’s a countdown to disappointment. It’s just enough time to realize you forgot to bring a power bank, which, by the way, adds to the “portability” you paid a premium for.

The article claims this is the “best all-in-one portable projector” because it balances image, sound, and battery. But let’s look at the math. You’re compromising on resolution (1080p), you’re compromising on price ($800), and you’re compromising on endurance (3 hours). At some point, when you’ve compromised on everything, you haven’t bought a premium gadget—you’ve bought a very expensive paperweight that happens to run Google TV.

TCL’s PlayCube isn’t a revolution in portable cinema; it’s a masterclass in rebranding “mid-tier” as “lifestyle.” If you really want to have more fun than playing with a Rubik’s Cube, take that $800, buy a 4K monitor, and spend the remaining $500 on actual hobbies. At least a Rubik’s Cube doesn’t run out of juice halfway through a solve.