INTRODUCTION

   When the very first Full HD (1080p) projectors made their debut roughly 15 years ago i can't say i was very impressed with their performance, which is why i decided to get a SONY 55" LCD TV instead. 7 years ago, i actually decided to give projector technology a chance so i went out and bought one of the best affordable models in the market back then, the EPSON Home Cinema HC2040 which unfortunately again failed to impress me (still to be honest it was much better compared to what I’d seen before). Fast forward to today however and things have never been better in regards to projector technology, especially in regards to 4K projector models. The HORIZON Pro by XGIMI is among the best-selling 4K models currently in the global market and after using it for far longer than i was expecting my review is finally here.

   Trusted by more than 1.5 million users, XGIMI designs and manufactures high-performance multi-functional smart projectors and laser TV" and is determined to improve viewers' audio-visual experience. XGIMI has created a series of game-changing giant screen projection products with critical partners like Harman/Kardon, Google, Texas Instruments. By constantly recreating its products, XGIMI optimizes its portfolio and provides the most technologically advanced and user-first experience for consumers.

   The HORIZON Pro is the 4K (2160p) version of XGIMI's award winning and best-selling HORIZON (1080p) projector so these two models have quite a few similarities (design and size included). The HORIZON Pro uses the Android TV 10.0 operating system (the 2GB RAM inside should be just enough) and is based on a DLP design (Texas Instruments 0.47" DMD DLP470TP display chip plus dual DLPC3439 display controllers - XPR Technology) with a throw ratio of 1.2.1 (up to 200" from just 5.2 meters away) and can produce a maximum resolution of 3840x2160p (8.29 million pixels) with a brightness of 22000 ANSI lumens. The long list of features is obviously the strongest selling point of the HORIZON Pro so aside sporting two Harman Kardon 45mm full-range speakers (left/right - 8W each) with DTS HD and Dolby Audio support it also packs the X-VUE 2.0 engine (enhances image clarity, produces vivid colors and optimizes image noise reduction), MEMC technology (eliminates image blurs), HDR10 with HLG (high contrast ratio), optical sensor (for automatic brightness adjustment - manual mode also available), Game mode (35ms latency), low blue light technology (TUV certified) and their intelligent screen adaptation (ISA) technology which includes features like auto focus, auto keystone, intelligent screen alignment and intelligent object avoidance. As for connectivity XGIMI offers Bluetooth v5.0/BLE, dual band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz), Chromecast/AirScreen, two HDMI v2.0 ports (one fully supports eARC), two USB ports, optical SPDIF port, 3.5mm port and an RJ45 ethernet port.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

XGIMI ships the HORIZON Pro inside a white box that has their logo, product picture and some awards at the front.

Product and manufacturer information are printed at the rear of the box.

The HORIZON Pro is placed between two foam spacers for optimal protection during shipping.

Along with the HORIZON Pro and its power adapter and cord inside the box you'll also find a remote control, frequently asked questions (FAQ) paper, thank you paper, Netflix paper (factory support) and the user guide.

THE HORIZON PRO

Measuring 208.4mm in width, 218.4mm in depth and 136.2mm in height the 2.9Kg heavy HORIZON Pro is a medium sized projector.

To have a better idea about its size i placed the XGIMI HORIZON Pro right next to the NEBULA CAPSULE 3 Laser.

At the front we find both the main lens and two sensors used for the auto-focus, auto-keystone, intelligent screen alignment and object avoidance and auto-brightness levels.

Left and right XGIMI has placed 45mm full-range DTS HD and Dolby Audio compatible drivers by harman kardon.

At the top XGIM has placed their logo along with the on/off power button, increase/decrease audio buttons and the play/pause button.

The rear is perforated to allow for the interior exhaust fan to do its job properly and as expected here we also find the optical SPDIF port, two USB ports, two HDMI v2.0 ports, RJ45 ethernet port and a 3.5mm port.

Turning the projector over we find 4 rubber feet and of course the typical 1/4 inch mounting port.

The remote control XGIMI bundles with the HORIZON Pro is very compact and made out of plastic and aluminum. In terms of buttons, it has everything more or less required including a Google assistant button (found it a little strange that batteries were not included in the bundle however).

XGIMI was kind enough to also send over their X-Desktop Stand Pro which thanks to its aluminum body is very steady and sturdy.

Even though i expect the floor stand to be of more use to most people the X-Desktop Stand Pro looks great and since it features 360 degrees rotation, 12 degrees adjustable pitch and a height adjustment of up to 9.5cm it's really a must if you plan on placing the HORIZON Pro (or any projector) on a fixed surface.

AUDIO / VIDEO QUALITY

At startup the HORIZON Pro uses the automatic keystone and focus functions which for the most part work very well (auto-focus also starts whenever the projector detects it's being moved).

If you however have the projector way to the right like i do and you're not 100% satisfied you can always use the 4-point manual keystone correction followed of course by the digital zoom function as seen above.

YouTube, YouTube Music, Prime Video and TED are just some of the pre-installed applications the HORIZON Pro comes with.

The Projector Settings is what you'll probably be using most from the settings menu and so from here you can adjust brightness, use the keystone and focus features (auto/manual) and choose your projector placement.

Inside the others tab XGIMI has placed the HDMI control settings, Bluetooth visibility and the gyro, focus and keystone calibration tabs.

In terms of picture quality, the XGIMI HORIZON Pro is nothing short of impressive. Color accuracy is great, movement is very smooth, video is crisp and brightness levels for the most part do a very good job. I did post a quick video online (TikTok / YouTube) for all of you to check but since I don't yet know how to properly shoot video in the dark to be honest it's far from great.

SCORE / POWER CONSUMPTION

Since many of you asked i decided to make a quick chart based on my objective opinion for each projector i test. This of course is my opinion based on what i see and my personal experience so just like other similar charts you should take this with a grain of salt (i do stand by my charts but in all likelihood, some will not agree). Also, since August 2023 I'll also be including a chart showcasing average power consumption while playing 4K content.

CONCLUSION

   Just like the HORIZON the HORIZON Pro by XGIMI is actually a native 1080p projector but thanks to a couple of "tricks" by Texas Instruments the designer of the DMD display chip used (namely their XPR technology) the end result is virtually indistinguishable to that of a native 4K projector. As a matter of fact, i never had an single issue with either the resolution or color accuracy (colors were vibrant/vivid) of the HORIZON Pro both of which were pretty much excellent during the full 2 months i ended up using it. Brightness however is an entirely different story and even though the 2200 ANSI lumens reported by XGIMI should be plenty that wasn't really the case, at least not with certain movies like for example the latest Top Gun. Now i do realize there are still limitations with projector technology primarily in regards to brightness and contrast and the HORIZON Pro is clearly the best projector I've used to date but yes, higher brightness levels would be great to have. In terms of audio quality, the two 8W speakers produce very good results and again much better than all the projectors I’ve used and/or reviewed to date. The internal fan does become audible at times but when the speakers are set at above 60% volume it's not really an issue, you’ll end up paying attention to. Also, you've already noticed from this review forward since some of you asked (and it turns out for good reason since there are large consumption differences between models), I’ll also be measuring power consumption (average number) for all projectors to arrive here while playing 4K content.

   With a current retail price set at USD1399.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and at 1666.19Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the HORIZON Pro by XGIMI lands between several 4K projectors currently in the market. Granted it may not seem affordable to some but it’s worth pointing out that there are even 1080p projectors that cost as much (and some even more) and even though the HORIZON Pro may not be a native 4K model it’s clearly better compared to native 1080p ones. At the end of the day the XGIMI HORIZON Pro is a great projector, yes, it may not be excellent but it does get close to that and that’s why it gets the Platinum Award.

PROS

- Very Good Build Quality
- Impressive Image Quality (4K XPR)
- WiFi 2.4/5GHz & Bluetooth v5/BLE Wireless Connectivity
- Android TV 10 OS
- Auto & Manual Focus & Keystone Correction
- Intelligent Screen Alignment & Object Avoidance
- 60Hz MEMC
- DTS HD & Dolby Audio Harman Kardon Stereo Speakers (16W)
- Game Mode (35ms)

CONS

- Brightness Levels
- Price (For Some)