Star projectors are popular with a range of consumers, especially space enthusiasts, movie fans, gamers and party throwers. There are hundreds of models on the market, and they are an easy way to transform the feel of a room at the touch of a button, without parting with too much cash.
Specifications
Size: 7.2 x 4.9 x 4.5 inches ( 184 x 125 x 114 millimeters)
Weight: 17.3 ounces (490 grams)
Laser: Yes, Class 1
Control: On-body, remote control
Rotation: Yes
Sleep timer: Yes
Speaker: Yes, Bluetooth speaker
Projection surface: 861 square feet (80 square meters)
The Cadrim star projector is a fairly affordable model that takes up little shelf space and offers the same functionality as some more expensive options. It looks cool, too. On paper, it seems like a good competitor in the star projector market that would interest budget-conscious consumers. We’ve tested it to find out if it’s up to the same standard as the best star projectors we’ve reviewed.
Cadrim star projector review
Cadrim star projector: Design
★★★★
- Palm-sized device
- Futuristic design
- Mediocre packaging
This small tabletop star projector boasts a futuristic-looking shape. Unlike many other star projectors, it’s not a sphere. Instead, it has an angular design, and the user can place the projector on all but one of the flat faces (the one where the USB-C cable plugs in) to position the projector. That said, it is sturdiest on one of the three larger faces (without the power port).
The box is typical of a mass-produced star projector. The design is ultimately a picture of the product on opposite sides, with the rest of the box littered with text. It does the job of containing the unit, but it isn’t particularly aesthetically pleasing. A better-designed box would make the projector nicer to give as a gift, but thankfully, the product inside seems to be better quality.
This particular projector is available in black or white. As with many star projectors, it is sold by a number of distributors. Since we picked up this projector, it looks like it has been superseded by a model that has app control in addition to a remote control. The app-controlled version is sold by Encalife, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Personally, we wouldn’t pay that much extra to use an app. Even when given the option of the app, we often end up sticking with the remote and on-body controls where possible.
Cadrim star projector: Performance
★★★★
- Bright enough projection to fill the room
- Some customization
- Quiet motor
Because we tend to review a number of star projectors in fairly quick succession, it is easy to compare different models. We were surprised to see that the lens on this projector looks to be the same as the one on the Govee Galaxy Light, which is double the price, and the lights and patterns are just as pleasing.
One notable feature of this star projector is that it projects an image of the moon that can be displayed at three different brightness levels or be turned off. Green lasers flood the room and can be set to two different modes. There are two preset modes for the “aurora” lights too, and these can be further customized by turning the RGBW lights on and off separately until you get the desired color.
One thing that stands out about this projector versus some others we’ve looked at recently is the near silent operation, even when all functions are activated at full speed. While writing this review with the unit sitting at ear level, we couldn’t hear a peep from it. This isn’t always the case. For example, when we looked at the Govee star projector recently, we found the noise too distracting if there was no other noise (like the radio on) to mask the whirring sound.
Cadrim star projector: Functionality
★★★½
- Decent customizability
- Remote control and sleep timer
- Built-in speaker
The Cadrim star projector offers enough functionality for someone who is looking for a fast way to transform a space with pretty lights, patterns and lasers. Using the supplied remote control, you can customize the color of the lights, the speed of movement, and whether each function is turned on or off. (Disappointingly, however, the remote doesn’t come with the two required AAA batteries.)
This is a minor point, but we’re glad the color of the remote matches the color of the device. For the Pikoy Galaxy Light, which we reviewed recently, the unit was white and the remote was black, which seemed like an odd design choice.
We’ve found that often, a remote for one star projector can be used with another. They usually operate slightly different functions, but the basics — such as adjusting the speed of the pattern and the volume, or powering the unit on and off — typically work across the board, much like a universal TV remote.
There is a built-in speaker that you can stream using Bluetooth. As we often say with multifunctional star projectors, the speaker isn’t amazing. It lacks bass, though it’s fine for playing music or sounds quietly to drift off to sleep or for listening to podcasts or audiobooks. There is a “party mode” that changes the color and speed of the lights to match the music, and it does a decent job of doing so.
Again, as is typical of most star projectors, there is a sleep timer. Using the remote, you can set the unit to turn off after one or two hours. Regardless, it will automatically turn off after four hours, which is comforting to know if you’re safety conscious.
Should I buy the Cadrim star projector?
Buy it if:
✅ You want something that doesn’t take up too much shelf space. This unit is pretty compact compared with other models.
✅ You want something to use as a sleep aid. This unit operates very quietly, so it won’t keep you awake or disturb your sleep.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a good-quality speaker. The Cadrim star projector’s speaker is fine for audiobooks and podcasts, but it’s disappointing for music.
❌ You want to wow a gift recipient. The packaging is fine, but it doesn’t ooze a premium-quality feel.
For around $40, the Cadrim star projector is a slightly nicer star projector than the Pikoy Galaxy Light. However, the functionality is largely the same, with the addition of a moon projection in this unit. It is remarkably quiet when powered on, which could make it a great fit for users looking for a suitable sleep aid. It would make a lovely holiday gift for a gamer, movie enthusiast, or anyone who finds comfort in watching colorful patterns. It’s a great way to quickly change the mood of a space.
But if you’re just looking for a device to flood your room with lasers, the BlissLights Starport USB star projector will do just that. The only function is to plug and play single-color lasers, but it is only the size of a flash drive and thus highly portable — so it does what it is meant to.
For a disc-projection-style star projector (where you insert a physical disc into the unit that is then projected onto the desired surface), we recommend the Pococo Galaxy star projector. It’s rechargeable, the images are bright and sharp, and there are heaps of expansion packs available.
If good speaker quality is important to you, the Govee (review coming soon) is a good choice because the speaker is much better than we’ve heard from other units. However, if you want to use it as a star projector without the sound, the motor noise is pretty loud. It’s best for gaming sessions, movie rooms or parties, where the noise from the unit will be masked.
