I Replaced My Tv With This Long-throw Projector, And It's Absolutely Worth It - Now It's $450 Off

3 days ago

The Xgimi Horizon Ultra is on sale for $1,299 (save $450) astatine Xgimi.

When it comes to reviewing tech, a batch of nan things that autumn into my wheelhouse revolve astir mobility, from flipping smartphones to thumb-sized action cameras. When I'm not retired and about, I for illustration to dedicate my downtime to electronics that make life astatine location much enjoyable, for illustration this projector I tested past year.

The Horizon Ultra from Xgimi (pronounced "ex-gee-me") is nan latest introduction connected my moving database of projector candidates for my bedroom. When you person a ample achromatic wall crossed from your furniture -- and you're not overly passionate astir thing capable to get immoderate posters -- projecting movies and videos conscionable makes sense.

Also: My favourite projector from Samsung doubles arsenic a gaming hub, and it's 25% off

Here's nan thing: Finding nan best projector is not arsenic elemental arsenic looking astatine nan specs alone. You really person to group nan point down, get a consciousness of really it fits successful pinch that houseplant beside it, find if nan output looks satisfactory some successful nan daytime and nighttime, and yet reply nan mobility of "Is this worthy it?"

Here's different thing: The Horizon Ultra whitethorn beryllium nan extremity crippled of my location projector quest. It delivers immoderate of nan champion image value I've seen, doesn't sound for illustration a blow-dryer erstwhile I summation nan scaling, and situation I say, astatine $1,699 (or $1,249 astatine nan clip of writing), is not costly astatine all.

I'll talk astir nan elephant successful nan room first, particularly if you're astatine nan opening shape of projector shopping: that price. $1,699 is half nan committedness of Apple's Vision Pro headset, and easy a month's worthy of rent someplace, somewhere. If you're astatine nan deeper extremity of nan rabbit hole, you'll cognize that $1,699 is nan starting price for flagship projectors.

Also: Samsung's biggest ever outdoor TV sports an tremendous value to match

In fact, nan previous-gen Horizon projector started astatine $200 more, truthful my first estimation for nan Ultra model, which fields a brighter output, dual LED and laser technology, Harman Kardon speakers, and a motorized lens cover, among different things, was person to $2,000. (I had mentally prepared to telephone Xgimi retired for up-charging connected its caller projector, but that intelligibly won't beryllium necessary.)

That said, here's what you're getting for nan money. First, nan creation of nan Horizon Ultra makes it clear that this isn't your mean ray bulb boxed successful a glossy achromatic casing. There's a beige PU leather coating (read: integrative leather) that wraps astir nan device, providing an elegant quality that effortlessly uplifts nan surrounding furniture. "Misty Gold" is your only colour action pinch nan Ultra, but I find it conscionable neutral capable to suit astir location decor.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

When you move connected nan Horizon Ultra, nan motorized lens screen automatically pulls down, revealing nan iris while doubling arsenic nan speaker's grill cloth. It's specified an innovative and purposeful design, making much costly projectors look outdated by comparison.

Also: The astir charming projector I've tested has now replaced my TV for movie nights

How galore times tin nan sliding screen enactment motorized? Xgimi tells maine nan "current trial is 5,000 times" and nan Horizon Ultra should enactment functional for "around 10 years of use." As is often nan lawsuit pinch moving parts, longevity and after-sales support are things you should see erstwhile buying this projector.

As for nan remainder of nan design, I'm a instrumentality of nan color-matching powerfulness cables, brushed aluminum distant controller, and wealthiness of ports connected nan backside, which includes 2 USB-A ports, 2 HDMI ports (one pinch eARC), optical input, and an Ethernet port.

The only point that's missing connected this projector for maine is onboard controls. Too often person I tried mounting up a caller projector only to observe that nan distant controller can't brace decently (or clasp a charge), and location are nary built-in controls for backup.

Also: The champion projector screens you tin buy

Once nan Android 11 setup process was complete, and what Xgimi calls Dual Light Technology was, well, lighting up nan space, I was met pinch a satisfyingly meticulous projection; meticulous successful nan consciousness that nan ocular didn't look distorted, off-centered, and discolored, each 3 of which is communal crossed cheaper (or conscionable bad) projectors.

For once, I didn't find myself needing to manually set nan keystone and sharpness of a projector, though nan default image did look much vibrant than my eyes could comfortably process. With movies for illustration Spider-Man: Across nan Spider-Verse, which tin beryllium a ocular overload each framework of nan way, a small little saturation went a agelong measurement for me.

While you're successful nan settings, I propose turning disconnected immoderate mobility smoothing aliases deblur effect. Real-time processing often weakens nan image value alternatively of improving it.

Also: The first smart speaker to harvester Alexa and Google interchangeably is here

That's astir each nan negatives I person pinch nan Horizon Ultra's projection quality. Everything other astir it is arsenic bully arsenic things get. From nan Dolby Vision-certified colour accuracy -- thing that projectors often struggle to suffice for owed to nan imbalance of colour reproduction, clarity, and brightness -- to nan impressively agleam output that's tin of beating daylight, this is 1 of nan few, if not nan only, projectors that I've felt assured capable to usage each hr of nan day.

ZDNET's buying advice

If you're successful nan marketplace for a projector, whether it's for your surviving room, backyard, aliases chamber for illustration me, I wouldn't deliberation doubly about Xgimi's Horizon Ultra. It's that good, moreover if it's only disposable successful 1 configuration: Misty Gold for $1,249 astatine nan clip of writing.

Should you bargain 1 if you're looking for a portable projector that doesn't person to beryllium tethered and/or tin beryllium lugged astir successful a backpack? Definitely not. If, however, you want an at-home intermezo hub that tin toggle shape your wall into a model of cinema goodness, look nary further than this.