As known, XGIMI is based in Chengdu, China and was founded in 2012. It develops and produces high-performance multi-functional Android-based projectors. Today, XGIMI rightfully ranks among the industry leaders, successfully competing in almost all segments. Its product line includes the portable MoGo, Halo and Elfin series, the Horizon line of powerful mid-focal Home Theater models and the ultra-short throw (UST) Aura projectors.
Like other innovative leaders, the company annually expands its product range and this year was no exception. At the IFA 2024 exhibition in Berlin (German – Internationale Funkausstellung or English – International Consumer Electronics Fair), the Chinese company presented the portable Elfin Flip, MoGo 3 Pro, Horizon S & Max, and UST Aura 2.
Elfin Flip is easily adjustable by rotating inside the stand.
As the name suggests, the Aura 2 replaces the very popular Aura (2021). The new model offers significantly improved specs, including higher brightness, expanded color gamut, 5 gen ISA, etc.
XGIMI projectors 2024
Portable MoGo 3 Pro costs $ 450, uses LED light engine with brightness up to 450 ISO Lumens, has Full HD 1080p resolution, and dimensions 30 x 9 x 9 cm at weight of 1.1 kg / 2.4 lbs.
The new Horizon S & Max have a fully rotatable built-in stand, enabling 360° horizontal and 135° vertical adjustment.
Together with the latest ISA 5.0 version, which includes Auto Focus, Uninterrupted Auto Keystone, Intelligent Screen Alignment, Wall Color Adaptation, and Intelligent Eye Protection, it radically simplifies installation and improves usability. Moreover, Horizon Max also has a fully automated motorized gimbal. Using information from 3D ToF in ISA 5.0, the projector automatically finds the best projection positioning on the wall and sets the optimal angle.
Preliminary price of XGIMI Horizon S Pro is ~ $ 1,300 (1,800 ISO Lumens brightness). Horizon S Max is significantly brighter (3,100 vs 1,800 ISO Lumens, but more expensive ($ 1,900 vs $ 1,300). Both projectors use Laser/LED hybrid light engine (Dual Light 2.0) with 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and 2x 12W internal Harman/Kardon speakers.
But of course, the Aura 2 for $ 2,700 attracted the most interest. In recent years, UST projectors have been increasingly successful in competing with TVs in the living rooms. As known, they form an image from a very short distance, reflecting the light flux using aspherical mirrors. Accordingly, their placement near the screen does not create the problem of wires on the floor which is traditional for mid-focal models. They are especially inconvenient in families with children or pets. Today it can only be solved with the help of ceiling mounting, the installation of which is complicated and expensive.
Aura 2 vs Aura
Both:
– 0.47″ DMD chipset supports the 4K (3,840 x 2,160) resolution with shift pixel-based Xpanded Pixel Resolution (XPR) technology;
– MEMS (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation – frame interpolation for smooth playback);
– Full HD 3D;
– Chromecast built-in;
– built-in 60W Harman/Kardon 2.0ch (4 x 15W, two tweeters and two woofers).
– Image Size up to 150″ from (0.4 – 0.6 m) Throw Distance at 0.18:1 / 0.23:1 Throw Ratio (100″@7″ / 100″@8.2″).
Differences (Aura 2 vs Aura):
– $ 2,700 vs $ 2,350;
– light engine – Dual Light 2.0 (Laser and LED) vs X-VUE 2.0 (single blue laser-phosphor with color wheel);
– brightness – 2,300 ISO Lumens vs 1,800 ISO Lumens.
But some sellers mistakenly indicate 2,400 ANSI Lumens for Aura. For reference, 1 ANSI lumens (ANSI IT7.228 standard) = 1.045 ISO lumens (ISO 21118 standard);
– color gamut – 99% vs 76% in DCI-P3 color space;
– Android TV 11 vs Android TV 10;
– dynamic contrast ratio – 1,000,000:1 vs unk;
– native contrast – unk vs 2,500:1 (full on/off);
– Input lag (Game mode) – 20ms vs 35ms (1080p/4K@60Hz).
Some gaming BenQ models demonstrate ~16 ms for 1080p/4K@60Hz signal, 8.2 ms for 1080p@120 Hz and an unprecedented 4.16 ms for 1080p@240Hz. But 20 ms is also a superb result;
– video / audio – in addition to Dolby Digital (DD & DD+), HDR10 and HLG, Aura 2 additionally supports Dolby Vision (ultra-vivid colors, sharper contrasts, richer details), IMAX Enhanced (OTA) and Dolby Atmos (3D sound).
– Intelligent Screen Adaption (ISA) 5.0 vs ISA 3.0;
– Size / Weight – (144 x 510 x 270 mm) vs (140 x 606 x 401 mm) / 9 vs 11 kg.
XGIMI ISA
Smart functionality has long been one of the important components of any modern home electronics. Several years ago, some experts scoffed at coffee machines with WiFi control support. Indeed, grinding coffee beans, forming a coffee tablet and pressing hot water through it under pressure hardly requires the PC use. But developers have filled the apps with truly useful options, for example, by tips for choosing a coffee varietie or coffee milk – based recipes. Today almost all popular brands offer apps for their models, including, for example, Delonghi Coffee Link, Jura Coffee App, Saeco Pro Up, etc.
Of course, projectors are no exception. The list of main smart options includes:
– content delivery (OS TV);
– audio and video processing algorithms;
– auto settings (easy installation and good usability).
XGIMI’s Intelligent Screen Adaption (ISA) is rightfully considered one of the best in the industry. The company has already developed five of its generations. Of course, the new projectors 2024 use ISA 5.0.
Main features:
– Autofocus – high speed and accuracy are achieved through the use of ToF laser (scene depth), deep learning algorithm, camera module to monitor in real-time and make minor adjustments to the picture;
– Intelligent Screen Alignment (Screen Alignment Assist) automatically identifying the projector screen and matching the display to each edge perfectly;
– Automatic Keystone Correction corrects the projection using three axes (up and down pitch direction left and right rotation, and tilt correction);
– Obstacle Avoidance – projector automatically recognizes and scales the image to avoid wall inserts, cabinets, etc.
In addition, the 5th gen offers Wall Flatness and Wall Color Adaption, Intelligent Eye Protection (the infrared sensor reduces power when detecting an object in front of the laser), and the Eco Mode (Smart Dynamic Sensing).
Conclusion
With a difference of only ~ 10% ($ 2,700 vs $ 2,350), the new projector uses a several fundamental improvements, including an innovative Dual Light 2.0 light engine (Laser + LED). It’s brighter (2,300 vs 1,800 ISO Lumens) and provides a wider color gamut (99% vs 76% in DCI-P3 color space). The reduction in Input lag (20ms vs 35ms for 1080p / 4K @ 60Hz in Game mode), new versions of ISA 5.0 vs ISA 3.0 and OS (Android TV 11 vs 10), Dolby Vision / Dolby Atmos and IMAX Enhanced support are also impressive.
But competitors are not wasting any time either. A list of new popular UST projectors includes:
– Samsung LPU9D – $ 6,000, August 2024, 4K UHD resolution, 3,200 ANSI Lumens, RGB Laser, up to 150% of the DCI-P3 color space, 40W 2.2.2 audio;
– Hisense PX3-Pro – $ 3,500, August 2024, 4K UHD resolution, 3,000 ANSI Lumens, RGB Laser, 110% of the BT.2020 color space, 50W front-firing Harman / Kardon speakers;
– Formovie Cinema Edge – $ 2,000, August 2024, 4K UHD resolution, 1,900 ISO Lumens, RGB Laser, 107% of the BT.2020 color space, 2x 15W internal speakers, Google TV with Netflix;
– Optoma GT3500HDR – $ 1,500, May 2024, Full HD 1080p resolution, 3,800 ANSI Lumens, Laser Phosphor, up to 100% of the Rec.709 standard, 15W mono speaker.
But Samsung LPU9D and Hisense PX3-Pro are more expensive, Formovie Cinema Edge is less bright, Optoma GT3500HDR has only 1080p resolution.
Superb price-quality ratio promises XGIMI Aura 2 quite cloudless marketing prospects and, perhaps, a place among bestsellers.
This video shows Aura 2 uboxing.
