Splay Review: Subpar Monitor, Brilliant Portable Projector

• Portable projector and collapsible monitor in one: Arovia’s Splay folds into a 4×4-inch case and weighs about 2.5 pounds.
• Strength in projector mode: ultra-short-throw pico projector claims 285 lumens and up to an 80-inch image; integrated fabric screen removes the "right room" problem.
• Weakness as a monitor: 24.5-inch model is 1920×1080 (≈89.9 ppi), struggles with text sharpness and shows fabric texture.
• Price and pedigree: $1,300 retail, crowdfunded on Kickstarter in 2021, built on patented collapsible display mechanisms.

What the Splay does

The Arovia Splay is billed as the first fully collapsible monitor and projector. It combines a fabric-wrapped display that expands into a monitor-sized surface and an ultra-short-throw projector you can unzip and use on walls.

Arovia’s patent outlines a sliding housing, wrinkle-resistant silicone or rubber screen and collapsible arms that make the device portable. The company positions the Splay for mobile workspaces, gaming, trade shows and enterprise use cases.

Splay as a monitor

In monitor mode the Splay connects via HDMI (or HDMI adapters) and charges by USB-C, so it can run without a wall outlet. The device folds out to either roughly 24.5 or 34.5 inches diagonally depending on model, but the housing protrudes significantly—expect about 19–21 inches of depth behind the screen.

A tripod (a tabletop one is included) is recommended for stable positioning and tilt. Arovia claims 760 nits max brightness; the screen readably handles well-lit rooms, but colors are somewhat washed and the fabric surface shows texture on close inspection.

Text is the Splay’s Achilles’ heel. With a native 1920×1080 resolution on the 24.5-inch model, pixel density is only about 89.9 ppi, and small type appears soft. That makes the Splay a poor choice as a primary productivity monitor compared with traditional LCD or OLED portable displays.

Splay as a projector

Remove the fabric shroud and pull the projector from its holster to use the Splay as an ultra-short-throw pico projector. Arovia rates the unit at up to 285 lumens and up to an 80-inch diagonal image, with automatic keystone correction to square the picture.

This is where the Splay’s value becomes clear: the integrated screen and compact folded size remove common projector setup hassles, letting you get a large image in tight or crowded spaces. That portability and independence are strong selling points for outdoor movie nights, coaching, and trade-event demos.

Who should buy it?

Skip the Splay if you need a sharp, readable desktop monitor for text-heavy work. Consider it if you want a single portable device for occasional large-screen projection, on-site demos, coaching sessions, or compact travel setups.

Key specs & figures

Folded size: ~4×4 inches; weight: ~2.5 lbs. Resolution: 1920×1080 (≈89.9 ppi on 24.5" model). Brightness claims: 760 nits (monitor) and up to 285 lumens (projector). Price: $1,300; originally crowdfunded via Kickstarter.