XGIMI Horizon Ultra Review: New level of home cinema!
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra is a true game-changer in the world of home projectors. With its enhanced brightness and support for Dolby Vision, it stands as a beacon of innovation in the realm of 4K projection.
One of the standout features of the Horizon Ultra projector is its exceptional brightness, boasting an impressive 2,300 ISO lumens. This means that your favorite movies, TV shows, and games will come to life with stunning clarity, even in well-lit rooms. Gamers will particularly appreciate the low input lag of just 18 milliseconds at 4K 60Hz, making it the ideal choice for Xbox and PlayStation enthusiasts.
Sound quality is not compromised either, thanks to the built-in speakers from Harmon Caron, each delivering a powerful 12 watts of audio. It’s astonishing how such a compact unit can produce such impressive sound.
Setting up the Horizon Ultra is a breeze, thanks to features like Auto Keystone Correction and Auto Focus. Additionally, the ambient light sensor adapts to your surroundings, adjusting colors and brightness for an optimal viewing experience, whether it’s day or night.
The projector comes with a Netflix installation guide since the app isn’t pre-installed. Using the desktop launcher, you can easily get Netflix up and running, adding even more versatility to your entertainment options.
XGIMI Horizon Ultra is one of the best options for those who require the highest quality cinematic and gaming experience from the comfort of their home. The future of home entertainment is here and it’s called Horizon Ultra.
XGIMI Horizon Ultra: Video Review
| Specs | XGIMI Horizon Ultra |
| Display technique | DLP |
| Display chip | 0.47-inch DMD |
| Image Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Image Size | 40 - 200 inches |
| Throw ratio | 1.2-1.5:1 |
| Lamp Life | 25,000 Hours |
| Features | Auto keystone correction, auto focus, Intelligent Screen |
| Alignment 3.0, Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance | |
| HDR | HDR10 with HLG |
| Color Gamut | 95% DCI-P3 |
| Speaker | 2 x 12W Harman/Kardon |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Software | Android TV 11.0 |
| Casting | Chromecast built-in, Magicast |
| Ports | 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x HDMI (one with eARC), Ethernet, Optical, 3.5mm out |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 BLE |
| Dimensions | 224 x 170 x 265mm |
| Weight | 11.5lb (5.2kg) |
XGIMI Horizon Ultra: Design
From the moment you lay eyes on it, you’ll notice the exquisite combination of colors and textures. The XGIMI projector is adorned with a goldish exterior that gives it a touch of luxury. The sides feature a tasteful beige hue, adding to its overall elegance. The front of the projector is adorned with a fabric cover, showcasing the Harmon Kardon branding, a testament to the exceptional audio quality.
One notable feature of the Horizon Ultra is its adjustable cover that conceals the lenses and sensors. This not only adds to the aesthetic appeal but also protects the delicate components within. The overall build quality of this projector sets it apart from others in its class. It’s not the typical matte black or white projector; instead, it offers a unique and classy look that is bound to enhance any room’s decor.
The projector’s design extends to the rear, where thoughtful details like ridges for cooling are evident. The synthetic leather texture on the sides adds to the premium feel, and there are no sharp edges or cheap-feeling components to be found anywhere.
On the back, you’ll find a range of inputs and outputs, including two HDMI ports, one with ARC support, a 3.5mm output and optical, two USB 2.0 ports for external devices, an Ethernet port, and a power input.
When it comes to control buttons, the Horizon Ultra takes a minimalist approach. The projector has only a power button on the rear panel. This means that when it comes to basic playback functions, you will most likely need to use the remote control more often.
The projector’s underside sports a sturdy rubber foot that ensures stability on any surface. It also offers standard tripod mounting points and ceiling mounting options, providing flexibility in how you choose to set it up.
Feature
However, the Horizon Ultra isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s packed with cutting-edge technology. The intelligent screen adaptation feature ensures that your viewing experience is top-notch. With features like 3D timer flight camera and real-time screen optimization, it dynamically adjusts colors to suit your environment, ensuring vibrant and accurate visuals.
One standout aspect is the optical zoom, which is not digital, preserving image quality at all times. The throw ratio is well-specified, and the projector offers uninterrupted keystone correction and autofocus, making setup a breeze. Eye protection mode further enhances the user experience by taking care of your eyes during extended viewing sessions.
What truly sets the Horizon Ultra apart is its dual laser setup, a world-first for a long-throw 4K Dolby Vision projector. It combines both RGB laser and LED technologies to fill in each other’s shortcomings, resulting in exceptional image quality. With an impressive maximum output of 2,300 ISO lumens, it ensures a bright and clear picture. Gamers will appreciate the low latency of just 18 milliseconds at 4K, making it perfect for fast-paced gaming action.
In terms of certifications, the Horizon Ultra proudly displays its support for Dolby Vision, DTS-HD, and Dolby audio, ensuring you get the best audiovisual experience. It’s officially certified and meets the highest standards.
Software
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra offers a top-tier viewing experience with impressive visuals and great audio, but there’s one notable absence in its software lineup: a native Netflix client. While Netflix boasts the largest library of Dolby Vision content, the Horizon Ultra’s lack of native support is a slight inconvenience.
XGIMI has provided a workaround to address this issue, which allows you to install Netflix relatively easily. However, there’s a catch. The Netflix experience via this workaround is limited to 1080p resolution, which means you won’t get to enjoy the full splendor of Dolby Vision content available on the platform.
The rest of the software experience on the Horizon Ultra is relatively standard. It features the familiar Android TV 11 interface, which provides access to a wide range of apps and services. While some users may find the recommendations on the interface a bit overwhelming, the navigation is straightforward and user-friendly. Despite having just 2GB of RAM, the projector manages daily use without noticeable lag, ensuring a smooth and responsive user experience. Additionally, the device offers 20GB of usable storage, which should be sufficient for installing your favorite apps and storing some content.
Apart from the Netflix issue, you have full access to the Google Play Store, which allows you to install a variety of streaming services and apps without much hassle. This flexibility ensures that you can tailor your entertainment experience to your preferences, making the Horizon Ultra a versatile device for accessing your favorite content.
Image quality
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra brings a host of impressive features to the table, making it a standout choice for those seeking a high-quality home theater experience.
Firstly, let’s talk about its projection capabilities. The Horizon Ultra boasts a throw ratio of 1.2-1.5:1, allowing you to project a large image with flexibility in terms of placement. This versatility means you can create a cinematic experience in various room sizes and layouts. In fact, it can project an image of up to a whopping 200 inches, ensuring that your movies, games, and content can be enjoyed on a grand scale.
With up to 2,300 lumens, it significantly outshines its predecessor, the Horizon Pro. This impressive brightness ensures that your visuals remain vivid and clear, even in rooms with ambient light.
While the Horizon Ultra isn’t a native 4K projector, it employs pixel shifting technology to deliver a 4K-like image when fed with a 1080p source. This approach allows you to enjoy the sharpness and detail of 4K without the need for native 4K content, making it a practical choice for most users.
Horizon Ultra has the ability to adapt to ambient light conditions. It dynamically adjusts both brightness and colors based on the lighting in the room, ensuring that your viewing experience is always optimized. This means you can enjoy your content without constantly tinkering with settings, even if the lighting conditions change.
The projector offers a range of color modes to suit your preferences and the content you’re viewing. Options like Cinema, Vivid, Bright, Performance, Custom, and High Color Accuracy provide flexibility in tailoring the visual experience to your liking. Cinema mode, selected by default, delivers accurate colors and excellent contrast for a true cinematic feel.
In terms of display modes, you have several choices, including Movie, TV, Football, Game, and Custom. Movie mode, the default setting, works well for a wide range of content and delivers a balanced viewing experience. The Football mode is ideal for sports enthusiasts, although it can be aggressive with motion smoothing. The Game mode is a standout feature, reducing latency to as low as 18ms, making it perfect for gamers seeking a responsive and immersive experience.
The most significant differentiator for the Horizon Ultra is its Dolby Vision integration. This projector excels at handling HDR content, providing exceptional color vibrancy and brightness levels. Whether you’re watching TV shows or movies encoded with Dolby Vision, you can expect a top-tier viewing experience with vivid colors and stunning contrast.
The Horizon Ultra performs admirably with 1080p and SDR content, ensuring that your entire library of media benefits from improved picture quality compared to its predecessor, the Horizon Pro.
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra is a true powerhouse in the world of home projectors. Its versatility, brightness, adaptive capabilities, and Dolby Vision integration make it an exceptional choice for creating a home theater experience that rivals a commercial cinema.
Sound quality
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra not only excels in delivering stunning visuals but also takes audio quality seriously. It comes equipped with dual 12W drivers positioned at the front, and these speakers are finely tuned by Harman/Kardon, a renowned name in the audio industry.
The onboard audio of the Horizon Ultra serves its purpose admirably, making it a great option for portable use cases. Whether you’re taking the projector on the go or setting it up in a small room, you can count on the built-in speakers to deliver enjoyable and clear sound that complements the stunning visuals.
However, it’s worth noting that while the onboard audio of the Horizon Ultra is impressive for its size and portability, it may not fully satisfy the audiophile or those seeking a truly cinematic audio experience. A high-quality soundbar can take your home theater experience to the next level, providing immersive and room-filling audio that matches the projector’s outstanding picture quality.
XGIMI Horizon Ultra: Conclusion
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra is a formidable contender in the world of home projectors, offering a host of impressive features and exceptional performance that elevate your home entertainment experience to new heights.
With a versatile throw ratio of 1.2-1.5:1 and the capability to project up to a massive 200-inch image, the Horizon Ultra provides flexibility in placement and room size, ensuring that you can enjoy your content on a grand scale. Its substantial brightness of up to 2,300 lumens guarantees vibrant and clear visuals even in well-lit environments, making it suitable for a variety of viewing conditions.
One of the standout features of the Horizon Ultra is its adaptability to ambient lighting conditions. It dynamically adjusts brightness and colors based on the lighting in the room, ensuring an optimal viewing experience regardless of changes in lighting.
The projector offers a range of color modes and display modes, providing flexibility in tailoring the visual and viewing experience to your preferences. Whether you’re watching movies, sports, or gaming, you have the freedom to choose the settings that best suit your content.
The Horizon Ultra also impresses with its audio quality. Equipped with dual 12W speakers tuned by Harman/Kardon, the onboard sound delivers clear and rich audio that complements the outstanding visuals.
The Horizon Ultra’s software experience is generally smooth, offering an Android TV 11 interface that grants access to a wide range of apps and services. While the absence of a native Netflix client with Dolby Vision support is a minor drawback, a workaround allows you to install Netflix and stream content at 1080p.
Whether you’re a movie enthusiast, a gamer, or simply seeking a premium entertainment experience, the Horizon Ultra delivers on its promise of exceptional performance and immersion.
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