The XGIMI HORIZON is a 1080p HDR10/HLG projector. The projector comes with a full suite of image correction technologies, including autofocus, intelligent screen adjustment, and auto keystone correction with object avoidance, so it compensates for any geometry errors in the image automatically and adjusts itself when it detects objects in the frame. It has Android TV with Chromecast and AirScreen built-in and supports Bluetooth 5.0/BLE and Wi-Fi. It has two HDMI ports and can passthrough advanced audio formats from DTS and Dolby through eARC. Finally, it has two integrated 8W Harman/Kardon speakers.
Our Verdict
The XGIMI HORIZON projector is alright for watching movies. It has decent peak brightness with passable contrast, so it performs adequately in a variety of contexts. Unfortunately, this projector's pre-calibration accuracy is poor. You can greatly improve the projector's accuracy with its limited calibration options, but it's still not very accurate afterward. It has a wide color gamut, but sadly, the projector isn't bright enough to make its colors truly pop.
- Full suite of smart features and wireless connectivity options.
- Poor pre-calibration color accuracy, and its limited calibration options aren't enough to make it truly accurate.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 01, 2024: Updated text throughout the review according to Test Bench 0.9, mainly in the Verdict, Compared To Other Projectors and Contrast sections.
- Updated Jul 31, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.9. We've overhauled our Contrast tests, as we now measure contrast at various average pixel levels (APL). You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Feb 23, 2024: Review published.
- Updated Feb 17, 2024: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the XGIMI HORIZON. It is the basic model in XGIMI's HORIZON line of projectors, which also includes the higher-tier XGIMI HORIZON Pro and XGIMI HORIZON Ultra. The HORIZON Ultra is the only one of the three to use a hybrid Laser-LED Dual Light, with the other two projectors using a more traditional DLP lamp.
| Model | Light Source | Resolution | Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON Ultra | Hybrid Laser-LED | 4k (with pixel shift) | 2 x 12W Harman/Kardon |
| HORIZON Pro | DLP lamp | 4k (with pixel shift) | 2 x 8W Harman/Kardon |
| HORIZON | DLP lamp | 1080p | 2 x 8W Harman/Kardon |
Popular Projector Comparisons
The XGIMI HORIZON is alright for watching movies, with an adequate mix of image quality and smart features. It's a decent choice at its price point as it's significantly cheaper than the barely better XGIMI HORIZON Pro. Some projectors in its price range have advantages over the HORIZON; the XGIMI Halo+ and XGIMI Elfin are smaller and cheaper. However, they have slightly worse image quality with much lower peak brightness than the HORIZON. The ViewSonic PX701-4K is a better value for gamers as it has similar image quality but with 1080p @ 240Hz support with low input lag.
Check out our recommendations for the best cheap projectors and, if you're looking for something more general, the list of best projectors. If you'd prefer to shop for a projector with a sharper image, look up the best 4k projectors instead.
The XGIMI HORIZON Pro is slightly better than the XGIMI HORIZON. The HORIZON Pro projects a sharper image due to its 4k pixel-shifting technology, although the HORIZON is brighter than the Pro. Both projectors are very inaccurate, but the Pro is more accurate pre-calibration than the HORIZON, and the Pro is also more accurate post-calibration.
The Dangbei Atom is a bit worse than the XGIMI HORIZON, but they're different. The Dangbei is a small portable unit and is very easy to throw into a backpack. In turn, the XGIMI, while not huge, isn't easily portable. Neither product delivers tremendous image quality, but the XGIMI is brighter, has slightly better contrast, and has a wider color gamut. The Dangbei is a bit more accurate out of the box, but they're both inaccurate overall. Ultimately, go with your needs: if you need portability, go with the Dangbei; otherwise, the XGIMI works nicely.
The XGIMI HORIZON is a bit better than the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12, but they have different usages. The XGIMI HORIZON is a slightly bigger and heavier projector than the Epson, but it is also brighter, making it easier to place in various lighting conditions. The XGIMI has eARC support, while the Epson is limited to ARC, so the XGIMI supports advanced audio formats. The Epson, however, is vastly more accurate than the XGIMI, so it's the better option for image accuracy purists.
The XGIMI HORIZON and XGIMI Halo+ serve different purposes, with the Halo+ being much more portable due to its size, weight, and integrated battery, although the HORIZON can also be moved around easily if needed. The HORIZON is much brighter, so it can handle a few lights in the room, but the Halo+ has slightly better contrast, so it looks a bit better in dark rooms.
We've independently bought and tested over 75 projectors and published detailed results for each, so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab, so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodologies are also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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