Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of budget-friendly 4K projectors that fit into the lifestyle category. That is, projectors that can be quickly and easily put up in various settings and don’t have to be fixed in a stationary position on a table or mount.
A new flagship projector from XGIMI, the Horizon Pro, which costs $1,699 (there is also the Horizon, a 1080p variant that costs $1,099), replaces their previous 1080p alternatives, most recently the H2. The Horizon Pro runs on the Android TV 10.0 OS, has a built-in Harman/Kardon stereo speaker system, is brighter than any of XGIMI’s previous projectors, accepts HDR10 and HLG signals, and has some pretty intriguing and advanced keystone correction and other settings to help you get through setup quickly and easily.
XGIMI Horizon Pro review: Design
The Horizon and Horizon Pro are not really different from one another from the outside. Both weigh 2.9kg and are crammed into the same chassis (208 x 218 x 136mm). That is much heavier and bigger than the majority of portable projectors, such the XGIMI Halo+, but far smaller than the typical home theatre projector. This projector is small enough, in my opinion, to transport around the house, go from the kitchen to the garden, or even go on road trips with. I set up an outdoor movie theatre for the kids to enjoy while I was camping with this projector.
This variant lacks a foot, but underneath is a typical tripod mount. Although any competent camera tripod will suffice, XGIMI manufactures a portable stand for use with this model (and its other portable projectors). Depending on where the projector will be utilised, a tripod may or may not be required. One is beneficial for me while I’m outside; indoors, setting the projector up on a table usually works fine.
This model requires plugging into the large power source, which is similar to the power brick that comes with a gaming laptop because it lacks a built-in battery. The projector requires about 150W of power, thus it can be powered by a sufficient battery like the Anker PowerHouse II 400.
XGIMI Horizon Pro review: Connectivity
Still, I believe it to be among the most practical and connected LED versions that have ever hit the market. I’m not really sure how this model compares to other well-liked entry-level 4K TVs that are currently available. Like the Optoma UHD35, which costs less but requires lamps and has a mid-lamp mode output of roughly 1,100 calibrated lumens. How does contrast compare to other entry-level DLP devices in its price range or class? Close? It would be useful to know because many customers take that into serious consideration.
XGIMI Horizon Pro review: Picture Quality
The Horizon Pro’s picture quality is excellent, as you might anticipate given its price. Although I didn’t count them, I can categorically state that the colours and picture are sharp and brilliant, and the contrast is excellent, despite the specifications’ claim of 1 billion colours. While a lot relies on the room’s ambient lighting, the blacks are also appropriately deep. Everything looks like a BBC production from the 1970s when the projector’s irksome motion smoothing feature is on, but as I worked out how to turn it off, everything looked fantastic. It’s intended for fast-moving sports and other photographs, but in my opinion, it just makes everything appear cheap. Go to the Image Mode menu, select a mode (like Movie), then disable the Motion Compensation setting to turn it off.
This projector can handle being stretched beyond its capabilities. It’s a wonderful pleasure to watch environmental documentaries and really comprehensive YouTube videos. The big screen enables expansive drone images and sweeping panoramas to shine in all their dizzying splendour.
It worked admirably in completely dark rooms and quite well in areas with moderate lighting. Although it costs thousands more, no projector can compete with a flatscreen or a laser projector, yet its auto brightness and contrast functions worked satisfactorily enough. But if you want the room to be as black as possible, you should dim the lights.
XGIMI Horizon Pro review: Audio Quality
Two Harman Kardon speakers are included into the Horizon Pro 4K, and each one features an eight-watt amplifier. There was no audible distortion and there was sufficient of volume, allowing me to turn it up fairly loud. It won’t be difficult for you to fill a big room. Due to the absence of bass, the sound stage was a little bit restricted, however surround effects occasionally made it seem like they were to the sides of or behind my chair. The conversation was really clear. I was able to distinguish the sound coming from the screen rather than the projector in front of me after watching a few clips. When compared to competing projectors with built-in audio, XGIMI’s audio is comparable. It would be nice if they could add another driver for some bass. But it’s more than enough for an enjoyable evening of entertainment. By connecting a phone or tablet, the Horizon Pro 4K can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker.
XGIMI Horizon Pro review: Performance
Beyond that, increasing the predicted area will demonstrate that the XGIMI Horizon Pro does indeed provide higher performance. We should also talk about the rainbow effect because it is another important factor. The DLP projectors are well recognised for being prone to this effect, and I have personally witnessed it with the XGIMI Horizon Pro. Know two things, though. First of all, only around half of people would perceive this effect, and secondly, Texas Instruments, the company that created the chip, has made tremendous strides that have made the effect less pronounced. Additionally, I’ve seen that the developer might wish to go beyond the 60Hz restriction, which would essentially cancel out this effect.
XGIMI Horizon Pro review: Price
Due to the XGIMI Horizon Pro’s high price, I was hesitant to open it up. However, I worked up the nerve and used a prying tool to remove the top portion, revealing the controller board and the WiFi antennas (802.11ac compatibility and dual band). Since the XGIMI Horizon Pro does actually use Bluetooth 5.0 / BLE, there was also the Bluetooth antenna. I could make out the complex cooling system, which appeared to be specially created for this projector. It’s difficult to reach the 12V fan, even if you don’t actually need to change it because it’s quiet. Although the FCC ID website supplied a much more thorough deconstruction, I didn’t really go any further than that.
Final Words
This display, the XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K, is stunning. Despite its small size, the projector produces a brilliant image with some of the clearest detail we have ever seen. Both SDR and HDR content benefits greatly from its wide colour gamut, which is reasonably accurate and pleasantly saturated. My only wish for images is for HDR to have better brightness tracking. There, black levels were too high, giving the area an SDR-like appearance. The integrated speakers need to produce a little bit more bass, in my opinion.
The XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K stands out among portable projectors in its class for people looking for a well-made device that’s simple to use and enjoy. It is affordable and suitable for people seeking a big-screen experience. It does a great job of supplanting television.
