IMAX entails dwelling projectors
XGIMI Horizon S Max improves dwelling projection with brighter photographs and IMAX Enhanced certification with out sacrificing design and sound top quality.
Execs
- Excellent image and sound qualities
- Pretty design
- Adjustable gimbal system to improved setup
Cons
- Lacks key choices of its predecessor (equal to optical zoom)
- Nonetheless runs Android TV
- No Netflix app help
Constructed on the muse of the HORIZON Extraordinarily 4K, XGIMI has expanded its premium long-throw dwelling projector decisions with the model new HORIZON S Skilled and S Max fashions. With these merchandise, the company affords an improved design with additional high-end choices nevertheless the equivalent Android TV experience.
After extensively testing the XGIMI HORIZON S Max projector for over a month, proper right here’s the great, the damaging, and the in-between for thought-about one in every of XGIMI’s prime dwelling projectors of 2024.
XGIMI HORIZON S Max specs
| Specification | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Product Classification | Home Projector |
| Mild Provide | Twin Mild 2.0 |
| Anticipated Lamp Life | 20,000 Hours |
| Present Methodology | DLP |
| 3D Assist | Positive, Physique Packing & Aspect by Aspect |
| Supported Codecs | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, IMAX Enhanced |
| Latency | Recreation Mode ≤ 20ms (AK off) |
| MEMC | Positive |
| Brightness | 3100 ISO Lumens |
| Commonplace Choice | 3840 x 2160 pixels |
| Shade Gamut | BT.2020 110% |
| Distinction Ratio | Dynamic 1000000:1 |
| Lens | Extreme Mild Transmission Coated Lens |
| Eye Security | Positive |
| Setup | Auto Keystone Correction |
| Focus | ISA 5.0 Auto Focus |
| Intelligent Show Alignment | Positive |
| Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance | Positive |
| Optical Zoom | / |
| Digital Zoom | Positive |
| Throw Ratio | 1.2:1 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9/4:3 |
| Projection Methodology | Entrance, Rear, Entrance Ceiling, Rear Ceiling |
| Image Measurement | 40” – 200” |
| CPU | Cortex-A55 |
| GPU | Mali-G52 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 64GB |
| System | Android TV™ 11.0 |
| Mirroring Present | DLNA/GoogleCast |
| Speaker | 2 x 12W Harman/Kardon |
| DTS-Digital | Positive |
| DTS-HD | Positive |
| Dolby Audio | Positive |
| Dolby Digital (DD) | Positive |
| Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) | Positive |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Enter Ports | DC x 1, HDMI (eARC Supported) x 1, USB x 2 |
| Output Ports | / |
| Noise Stage | |
| Vitality Dissipation | |
| Vitality | AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz |
| Product Measurement (H x W x D) | 234 x 273 x 174 mm |
| Product Weight | 4.81 kg |
| Package deal deal Measurement (H x W x D) | 245 x 393 x 310 mm |
Design, connectivity, and the place to put it
It’s solely been six months since I reviewed the XGIMI HORIZON Extraordinarily 4K projector. Nonetheless, the model new HORIZON S Max seems like a pure enhance over its predecessor. The design is very similar to the HORIZON Extraordinarily, which mixes eco-friendly PU leather-based and circulation cowl materials. It seems to be like like a gorgeous piece of furnishings and blends successfully with the environment.
XGIMI was ready to make this machine half the size of its predecessor whereas together with an adjustable stand. This variation was important to help clients uncover a superb place for the projector.
Nonetheless, whereas reviewing the XGIMI HORIZON S Max, I discovered that XGIMI eradicated the optical zoom attribute, which was good for making the image match my wall with out shedding top quality. Subsequently, I can solely use this projector with Digital Zoom now, which cuts off the correct optical image I used to love (additional on that later).
The company outlined that it eradicated the optical zoom to make the projector smaller. It believes the adjustable stand offers additional flexibility and potentialities for dwelling clients, so the trade-off was worth it.
It’s important to note that XGIMI moreover made one other compromises on the connectivity aspect. Wi-Fi helps Wi-Fi 5 in its place of 6, and the Bluetooth regular is 5.1 in its place of 5.2. To be honest, these compromises didn’t disturb my experience with the projector, nonetheless it’s weird to see XGIMI enhancing some areas nevertheless downgrading others.
Image top quality
Whatever the scarcity of optical zoom, I can’t say I had a worse experience. With a 4K projection with HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient help, XGIMI moreover added iMAX Enhanced certification for the HORIZON S Max, a main for projectors.
What I consider made in all probability probably the most distinction in the midst of the XGIMI HORIZON S Max overview was the model new Twin Mild 2.0 experience, which mixes a tri-color laser and LED for a brighter, additional appropriate image. This new tech moreover will enhance the ISO lumens to 3,100, 30% higher than the sooner period.
This variation is important to make photographs stand out even with some ambient mild. Whereas this dwelling projector works best in full darkness or at night, closing the house home windows and even having just a little little bit of ambient mild didn’t interrupt a cinematic-like experience.
The XGIMI HORIZON S Max affords the brightest dwelling projection I’ve ever expert, and I nonetheless assume that is no doubt one of many best decisions for people who want a big image projected on their partitions. The IMAX Enhanced certification seems like a cherry on prime of this well-crafted product.
Sound top quality
The XGIMI HORIZON S Max retains the equivalent combo of two 12W Harman/Kardon audio system as its predecessor. On this overview, I actually really feel this dwelling projector’s sound top quality is just about pretty much as good as its image top quality. Watching Queen Rock Montreal at Disney+ in iMAX Enhanced was a gorgeous experience.
It was moreover great to check out my favorite music clips on YouTube. Whereas I’d beforehand hottest the Apple TV + HomePod mini combo in my mattress room, I normally change to XGIMI’s built-in audio system on account of they’re spectacular. Even with the projector being smaller than sooner than, XGIMI nonetheless delivers excellent sound top quality.
Retaining Android TV was an unlimited letdown
In my XGIMI HORIZON Extraordinarily 4K overview, as a result of the Android TV experience. It was clunky, the distant wouldn’t reply as shortly, and I’d normally rely upon the Apple TV 4K.
When XGIMI held an event closing September, the company launched that some projectors would get Google TV and Netflix help. Nonetheless, the model new system and this app’s help had been solely obtainable for some entry-level projectors, equal to the great MoGo 3 Skilled.
And guess what? Although the MoGo My solely letdown inPro is no doubt one of many agency’s worth vary projectors, it was so good using Google TV. Establishing and discovering my favorite apps was a little bit of cake. Sadly, I can’t say the equivalent regarding the Android TV 11 experience with the XGIMI HORIZON S Max on this overview.
Although the company upgraded the projector with a higher processor and 64GB of storage, it maintains 2GB of RAM, which feels similar to the bare minimal for Android TV to run. Whereas the HORIZON S Max affords spectacular image and sound top quality, the navigation is just harmful.
Nonetheless, I normally uncover myself switching from my first-gen Apple TV 4K (to have a look at Netflix) to XGIMI’s Android TV experience to get the best image top quality on Disney+, Max, and Apple TV+.
XGIMI is a extremely revered mannequin that offers premium merchandise. It’s unacceptable that it couldn’t enhance thought-about one in every of its high-end projectors to Google TV. This missing working system moreover means you should uncover a workaround to have built-in Netflix help. A premium product shouldn’t work like this. Although the company says it saved Android TV for increased intelligent projector choices, equal to wise obstacle avoidance, eye security, auto-focus, and so forth, I don’t assume that was worth it for patrons.
Value and conclusion
To conclude this overview, the XGIMI HORIZON S Max projector has a suggested price of $1,899, the equivalent price as a high-end TV. For individuals who like watching your favorite reveals at midnight and want the biggest present attainable, it is best to undoubtedly get it.
Nonetheless, once you usually watch TV in vibrant environments and don’t have a great spot for the projector, you’ll save your self time by searching for a television in its place. I would nonetheless advocate a associated Apple TV for every of your choices.
That talked about, don’t get intimidated by the priority of not making the projector work. As long as you may need a white wall, some home, and time to set each half up, you’ll have a far superior experience watching your favorite movement footage, reveals, and music clips. Whereas I nonetheless assume XGIMI needs to produce increased software program program with the following iteration, I can’t complain about what it objectives to do, which is to produce the best image and sound experience obtainable at this dwelling projection class and value stage.
