XGIMI Horizon 1080p Projector Review: Crystal Clear Picture With Great Sound

Who Is The XGIMI Horizon Projector For?

• The XGIMI Horizon projector has a stunning and clear 1080p image projection
• The Horizon is easy to set up, with many automated settings options
• The XGIMI Horizon is powered by Android, meaning many apps and features are built right in

Big screens are awesome because they allow viewers to really get sucked into a different world. Televisions can be large, but they can only produce an image as large as their screen. If you're looking for the biggest screen options around, you need to look at projectors. If you're looking for a new projector, you need to check out the XGIMI Horizon.

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A Solid Build

The XGIMI Horizon projector makes it easy to watch just about anything, as along with its internal internet capabilities, the projector also supports external hardware. There are two HDMI ports on the back of the Horizon along with two USB ports. The HDMI ports allow anything from video game consoles to computers to be projected, while files on Flash drives or other external hard drives can be displayed via the USB ports.

Additionally, the back of the Horizon is home to an optical audio output, a 3.5mm jack and a LAN port to hard wire the projector to the internet. The HDMI ports on the back of the Horizon are HDMI 2.0 instead of 2.1 ports, but seeing as how the projector can only display in 1080p, this really doesn't have any impact on performance.

The Horizon is a little bulky, but is easier to carry around than many other projectors thanks to its boxy frame. At around six and a half pounds the projector isn't exactly lightweight, but it's certainly manageable to move around easily enough.

It's also a nice touch that the XGIMI Horizon is fairly attractive. As far as projectors go, the Horizon has a nice shape and has a somewhat elegant metal grate exterior. It looks like a high-end kitchen gadget more than anything else.

Easy Set Up

Setting up the XGIMI Horizon projector is an incredibly easy process, and the projector often does all of the hard work itself. There is an automatic keystone correction program that usually kicks in when the projector recognizes that its display has been moved. If it doesn't automatically start, it's easy to manually get it going in the menu.

Once the automatic keystone correction program begins, the Horizon starts optimizing its projected image. This includes making the largest rectangle possible out of the available space of the projected image, even if the projector is at an odd angle. For example, I set up the Horizon to project on my ceiling. The projector automatically recognized that it was displaying at an odd angle and carved out a proper screen from the space it had. The image ultimately looked exactly like I had mounted a TV on my ceiling, and wasn't stretched or warped in any way.

While the keystone correction program adjusts the screen size and shape, it also handles focus. It's always satisfying to see the projected image go unfocused then become clear again.

After the automatic keystone correction program has finished, the projector is ready to go. That said, during my time with the Horizon I frequently found the automatic correction program wouldn't work properly the first time. An error message would pop up saying that the automatic program had failed due to one reason or another, usually because the image was blocked in some way. This was fixed by either adjusting the position of the projector itself or digging into the manual settings to make adjustments.

Great Image Quality

Speaking of image quality, the images produced by the XGIMI Horizon are fantastic. I was frequently impressed by how good games and TV shows looked, even when the image was made to be larger than any other TV I have access to.

Officially, the Horizon can display at 1080p at a minimum of around 40 inches up to a whopping 300 inches. Compared to the biggest home TV screens out there, the Horizon can make a screen over triple the size. The Horizon's specs sheet doesn't mention what framerate it displays at, but it looks to be higher than the standard 24 frames per second. If I were to guess, I would say it displays at 60 frames per second, but I don't know for certain. The point here is that movies and TV look great, and games are silky smooth.

The image produced by the Horizon is nice and bright, which allows the projector to work well enough in bright environments. If the projector is used during the middle of the afternoon, the image is still perfectly visible, if a little washed out. Of course, once a room becomes even slightly dark the Horizon's projected image really starts to pop and can even light up a room itself.

Easy To Use, But Lacking Some Apps

Using the XGIMI Horizon projector is pretty easy. The included remote has a nice feel to it, although the battery cover can sometimes be a little difficult to close. What's really great about the remote is that it doesn't use the traditional infrared tech found in most standard TV remotes. This allows the remote to easily be used without having to have it pointed at the projector. The remote has a great response time, so there isn't any lag when navigating around the Horizon's menus.

Speaking of menus, the main menu built into the Horizon is a little annoying. I constantly have to dig to find recently used apps and have to go out of my way to avoid picking apps and videos that don't interest me or I've never used before. Thankfully a recent update has allowed me to customize the main menu, making it so I'm not getting overwhelmed with apps and videos I never expressed interest in.

Because the Horizon is powered by Android TV, it was easy for me to log into the projector and make it more customized to my liking. Because I signed in, the YouTube app and its suggested videos were all ready for me to start binge watching. Signing in also pulled up several apps for the projector that I had already installed on my phone, like the Ring of Honor app. The Android support also means Chromecast is built into the Horizon, making it easy to watch videos from apps that aren't supported or streaming an entire device like a laptop or cell phone.

There are some major app omissions on the Horizon projector as of right now, with the biggest being streaming giant Netflix. HBO Max also didn't work properly on the Horizon at the time of publication. The issue with HBO Max should be fixed with future updates, but it is a little disappointing to see. That said, other services like Hulu, Peacock and Prime Video all work without any issue. XGIMI has confirmed other apps, including Disney+, will be available at launch.

What's interesting is the issue with Netflix. While the other apps are going to be available when the Horizon releases, XGIMI has released a statement saying that the best way to use Netflix with the projector is to use an external source like a streaming stick or laptop.

Decent Sound

The XGIMI Horizon has a built-in Harman Kardon-tuned speaker that is capable of both booming, loud sounds and softer, quieter sounds. The speaker on the Horizon wraps around to three sides of the projector, but does not include the back.

When using the projector outside, I was seated behind it and had a little difficulty hearing what was going on during the movie. Granted, I wasn't in that quiet of an environment as I was in my backyard in the middle of Queens. If I watch another movie outside with the Horizon projector I will definitely bring out external speakers to help boost the audio volume.

The Horizon has Bluetooth support, so connecting Bluetooth speakers is possible. That said, Bluetooth has a lag associated with it that can make watching videos with Bluetooth audio awkward due to audio running behind the video. When I paired Bluetooth speakers to the Horizon, this lag wasn't that noticeable, which is surprising considering the speakers weren't low-latency.

Final Thoughts

I love the XGIMI Horizon projector. It's easy to use, produces a clear, high quality image, supports just about every device out there and can generate some thumping audio. It's awesome that the projector can also handle a large portion of playback itself with its included Android-powered capabilities, greatly reducing the number of devices that need to be plugged in.

Yes, it is a little annoying when the automatic keystone correction doesn't work and the fact that it looks like Netflix isn't going to be supported any time soon. But these complaints are washed away when I'm engulfed in a screen larger than any TV I could realistically fit in my apartment.

The XGIMI Horizon is available for pre-order starting today, May 10, although it looks like the website hasn't been updated yet. The Horizon retails for $1,099, with a Pro model available for $1,699. The Pro model supports up to 4K resolution. Both models should be available starting around June 21.