Despite image product players such as Nikon, Samsung Electronics, BenQ and Aiptek International have all introduced products featuring an integrated micro-projector, but the price of the micro-projector is still rather expensive, so related products are unlikely to become popularized in the retail channel in the short term, according to sources from Taiwan-based makers, which also estimate that micro-projector products in 2011 will still be in the introduction phase due to the component's unsatisfactory performance over lumen brightness and resolution.

Due to micro-projector module's high cost plus the unsatisfactory performance over brightness and resolution, Nikon's S1100pj digital camera, which features an integrated micro-projector, is locked at as niche market with a total shipment volume of only 200,000 units. Meanwhile, BenQ's LED projector-integrated S11 digital pocket camcorder also had below-expectation performance at the IT Month consumer trading show in Taipei.

The sources believe that the vendors' purpose for launching micro-projector-integrated products is merely to strengthen their brand reputation or announce their technology and innovation capability.

Digitimes Research also believes that the price of the micro-projector module will be a key factor as to whether the products with integrated micro-projector will become popular in the channel. If the module's price can drop below US$40, the module's global shipments will have chance to break two million units.