XGIMI is likely one of the largest projector manufacturers globally, and whereas its main income is transportable projectors just like the MoGo 3 Pro, it made tangible inroads into the fanatic market with the Horizon collection. I reviewed the Horizon Pro when it debuted again in 2021, and that was adopted by the Horizon Ultra final yr, which had a brighter projection and a lot better design.
XGIMI is constructing on that with the introduction of the Horizon S Max. The projector shares the identical design aesthetic because the Horizon Ultra, nevertheless it has a brand new rotating stand design that makes it considerably simpler to arrange and use. This was considered one of my favourite options on the JMGO N1 Ultra, and I’m glad to see different manufacturers using an analogous design.
With a twin mild laser supply, the Horizon S Max is ready to go as much as 3,100 lumens, and there’s a noticeable distinction over the Horizon Ultra on this regard. In truth, the Horizon S Max is likely one of the brightest projectors I’ve used, and I examined practically two dozen fashions within the final 4 years.
It has a slate of different upgrades as nicely, with XGIMI making extra tweaks to its auto keystone and autofocus system. The function is now capable of change colour steadiness dynamically to account for wall colours, and that’s additionally a noticeable differentiator. But for all of the upgrades, the one space the place the Horizon S Max nonetheless lags behind its rivals is the software program; whereas there’s Android TV 11 out of the field, you aren’t getting Netflix pre-installed, and that is simply as annoying right here as each different Horizon projector I used.
So must you get the Horizon S Max, or decide up considered one of its rivals as an alternative? I used the projector for simply over two weeks, and that is what it’s essential know.
XGIMI Horizon S Max: Pricing and availability
XGIMI unveiled the Horizon S Max at IFA 2024, and the projector went on sale beginning October 15. It is obtainable on Amazon for $1,899, and whereas that is costlier than what the Horizon Ultra price final yr — that mannequin is now right down to $1,499 — you get a brighter projection and different options.
The Horizon S Max is joined by the Horizon S Pro, which shares an analogous design however has a lightweight supply that goes as much as 1,800 lumens (the S Max hits 3,100 lumens). While the S Pro is not accessible on Amazon simply but, it may be purchased through the model’s web site, the place it prices $1,559 as of writing.
XGIMI Horizon S Max: Design
XGIMI made big modifications to the design final yr with the Horizon Ultra, and the Horizon S Max sees a continuation of these efforts. It has the identical design on the entrance with the sliding cowl, and this makes a giant distinction in making certain the projector lens would not entice mud whereas it is in use.
But the most important change this time round is the introduction of an built-in stand. The projector is mounted on a stand that swivels, and the bottom has a turntable that lets you simply rotate the projector. The gimbal-like mounting system makes it extraordinarily handy to alter the orientation of the projector, and it solves the most important ache level I’ve when setting considered one of these up.
Of course, the design is not distinctive to XGIMI; its rival model JMGO rolled out the system final yr on its fashions — notably the N1 Ultra — and it is now making its solution to different manufacturers. The stand lets you undertaking onto the ceiling as nicely, and it is fairly cool. It has a full 360-degree swivel, and 135-degre tilt, and takes the effort out of configuring the projector in opposition to a wall.
Another differentiation is the dimensions; whereas the Horizon S Max appears the identical because the Horizon Ultra, it is not anyplace as large. As the stand additionally homes a number of the {hardware}, it would not take up anyplace as a lot room, and that is good to see. The one challenge I’ve with this mounting system is that it would not lock into place; in the event you plug in an HDMI cable on the again, the projector inevitably pulls upward after a while due to the load of the cable.
Other than that, there are not any issues with the design. The chassis has a textured end that is meant to imitate leather-based, however it’s made out of plastic, and the construct high quality is predictably nice. The cloth cowl on the entrance distinguishes the design, and the gold accented grille beneath provides a pleasant little bit of visible distinction.
I might have favored media management buttons on the projector, however that is not a serious omission — you continue to get an influence button on the again. The energy twine plugs into the bottom of the unit, and there is a fan on the again contained in the grille. It is quiet sufficient that it is not a difficulty when utilizing the projector.
XGIMI Horizon S Max: Features
XGIMI does a fantastic job with the fundamentals, and that is no completely different on the Horizon S Max. The projector makes use of the model’s newest algorithm for auto keystone correction, and it really works extremely nicely. It facilities the projection on any floor in a matter of seconds, and autofocus is simply as efficient.
You get clever object avoidance and eye safety, and a brand new function that is debuting this yr is the power to account for the colour of the wall. The Horizon S Max robotically adjusts the colour steadiness of the picture based mostly on the wall colour, delivering a way more vibrant image high quality. Using it subsequent to the Horizon Ultra instantly highlighted simply how a lot of a distinction this function makes.
The projector is powered by quad Cortex A55 cores, and also you get 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There’s DLNA and Chromecast integration, and twin 12W audio drivers with DTS-HD Dolby Digital sound. There’s no Wi-Fi 6, however connectivity wasn’t a difficulty within the two weeks I examined the projector, and also you get Bluetooth 5.1.
There is not a lot in the way in which of ports; apart from the HDMI port (which has eARC), you get twin USB 2.0 ports. I needed to see not less than one other HDMI port — that is a must have on this class — and Ethernet connectivity, however that is lacking.
XGIMI Horizon S Max: Picture and sound high quality
Coming to the projection, the Horizon S Max is ready to go as much as 3,100 lumens, a sizeable improve over the two,300 lumens achieved by the Horizon Ultra and 1,500 lumens of the Horizon Pro. The projector has a throw ratio of 1.2:1, and goes as much as a most projection of 200 inches.
The Horizon S Max is likely one of the brightest projectors I examined. It is noticeably brighter than the Aura UST projector that I nonetheless use repeatedly, and it outshines its rapid rivals — Dangbei’s Mars Pro 2 and the JMGO N1S Ultra 4K projectors. The twin mild supply makes a distinction on this space, delivering elevated brightness that makes the Horizon S Max usable even in daylight with loads of ambient mild coming by.
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It is not simply the brightness both; the Horizon S Max has a lot better colour vibrancy than another XGIMI projector I used — and I examined the entire model’s merchandise during the last 4 years. You get vibrant colours with good distinction ranges, and the power to regulate the colours based mostly on the background wall colour makes a sizeable distinction on this space.
The projector has Dolby Vision integration, and it does a fantastic job rendering scenes with various lighting results. As with most projectors today, there’s MEMC, and a devoted sport mode that reduces latency — you miss out on keystone correction in the event you change to this mode.
The built-in sound is nice as nicely, and the twin 12W drivers cowl a small room with relative ease. While I normally advocate a devoted sound system — ideally a pair of powered bookshelf audio system — the built-in sound is nice sufficient that you do not want it if you are going to use the projector in a small room.
Overall, XGIMI did all the appropriate issues on this space, and the Horizon S Max rivals the most effective projectors on this regard.
XGIMI Horizon S Max: Software
I reviewed the MoGo 3 Pro earlier within the yr, and I used to be excited to see that the projector had Netflix pre-installed. The largest challenge with XGIMI projectors during the last 4 years was the dearth of Netflix integration — it did not safe a license — and provided that the MoGo 3 Pro had the streaming service, I believed it could be the case with the entire model’s projectors going ahead.
I used to be unsuitable. The Horizon S Max runs Android TV 11 out of the field, however there isn’t any pre-installed Netflix. This continues to be a giant limitation for the model, and with its rivals bundling the streaming service on their projectors, XGIMI wants to deal with this challenge quickly.
Other than that, the interface is just like each different Android TV field. You get a wall of adverts, and the Play Store lets you obtain streaming providers of your alternative — so long as it is not Netflix. There is a noticeable lag when shopping the interface, and that is right down to the restricted RAM; Android TV wants 3GB of reminiscence to be fluid, however most manufacturers nonetheless restrict their units to 2GB, and that hobbles usability.
The bundled distant is equivalent to what XGIMI supplied prior to now. It has all of the buttons you want, and the brushed steel design feels nice. The solely challenge with the distant is that it would not have backlit buttons.
XGIMI Horizon S Max: The competitors
Dangbei’s Mars Pro 2 is the closest various to the Horizon S Max. The Mars Pro 2 would not get as vivid, however it’s nonetheless usable with ambient mild, and whereas the projector would not have the identical nice design, there are not any issues with the construct high quality. What I like probably the most in regards to the Mars Pro 2 is that it has Google TV built-in, and also you get Netflix pre-installed. That necessitates the necessity for one more dongle, and the most effective half is that it prices $1,399, undercutting the Horizon S Max.
I examined JMGO’s N1 Ultra final yr, and whereas the projector has an analogous design, it additionally misses out on Netflix, and it would not get as vivid — neither is the picture high quality anyplace pretty much as good. It is a good worth at $1,453, however I nonetheless want the Horizon S Max.
XGIMI Horizon S Max: Should you purchase it?
You should purchase this if:
- You want a house projector with excellent image high quality
- You need a projector that you should use through the day
- You want good built-in sound
- You need a projector that is simple to arrange and use
You should not purchase this if:
- You want Netflix pre-installed
- You need a fantastic worth
XGIMI is providing appreciable upgrades with the Horizon S Max. The projector will get noticeably brighter than its rapid rivals, the design is definitely the most effective on this phase, and the brand new versatile stand makes organising the projector a breeze. XGIMI does a fantastic job with fundamentals like auto keystone correction and autofocus, and whereas these are normal on all dwelling projectors today, the model has a novel extras — like wall colour matching — that permit it to face out.
The image high quality is excellent, and that alone makes it simple to look previous the projector’s foibles. The lack of Netflix continues to be a serious challenge, and the interface is laggy in each day use. But in the event you’re prepared to attach a devoted streaming system and are as an alternative searching for a projector with the most effective picture high quality within the sub-$2,000 class, the Horizon S Max will get my advice.
The Horizon S Max nonetheless would not have Netflix, nevertheless it brings appreciable upgrades on the projection entrance, and also you get a brand new design that makes utilizing it so much simpler. Ultimately, this is likely one of the finest dwelling theater projectors you will get immediately.
