TCL is not a brand that elicits desire, typically, yet here I am, looking at its IFA 2025 announcement of the PlayCube, wondering how a projector that pays homage to both a Rubik’s Cube and TARS can fit into my life. The all-in-one Google TV projector with up to 3-hours of battery life — introduced as a concept in January — will be available to buy starting September 5th. I’m just not sure it’s worth €799 (around $930), no matter how pretty it is.
As a long-time fan of cubes and The Verge’s resident vanlifer, TCL already had my attention when it said the PlayCube was specifically designed for “camping projection.” I like that it’s Netflix certified and that its quirky, twistable hardware lets you angle the image as needed, with built-in intelligence to automatically focus the image, avoid obstacles, align the image, and correct the keystone.
Here’s a conceptual video showing how the real projector might fit into your life.
The PlayCube measures just 5.9 x 3.8 x 38 inches and 2.7 pounds and features a glass lens and 1080p image lit by 750 ISO lumens — enough to create a tiny screen for casual viewing during the day and big screen video at night. TCL says it produces less than 26dB of noise when running, which should be easily overcome by the projector’s lone 5W speaker or 3.5mm audio jack. Rounding out the specs are HDMI, USB, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
