Projectors are becoming an increasingly popular way to enjoy big screen entertainment at home. Two of the top models on the market right now are the Xgimi Horizon and Horizon Pro. But what exactly are the differences between these two projectors and which one is better for your needs?
This comprehensive guide will compare the Xgimi Horizon and Horizon Pro on key factors like picture quality, portability, smart features and more.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Xgimi Horizon | Xgimi Horizon Pro |
| Resolution | 1080p | 4K UHD |
| Brightness | 900 lumens | 2200 lumens |
| Contrast Ratio | 200,000:1 | 1,500,000:1 |
| Battery Life | 2.5 hrs | 3 hrs |
| Weight | 1.8 kg | 1.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 150 x 150 x 120 mm | 160 x 163 x 111 mm |
| HDR | HDR10 | HDR10 |
| Lens Aperture | F1.8 | F1.7 |
| Price | Around $1,199 | Around $1,599 |
Overview Of The Xgimi Horizon And Horizon Pro
The Xgimi Horizon and Horizon Pro are both portable LED projectors made by Xgimi, a subsidiary of Chinese electronics company Mijia. Xgimi specializes in smart, compact projectors perfect for home entertainment.
The Horizon launched in 2020 as Xgimi’s premium portable projector, featuring 1080p resolution, built-in Android TV and a lightweight, compact body.
The Horizon Pro came out in 2021 as an upgrade over the original Horizon. It bumps the resolution up to 4K, adds some design refinements and boosts the overall brightness.
Both projectors promise an easy to use smart home theater experience that you can take anywhere. But the Pro model includes upgrades that make it the superior choice overall, despite the higher price.
Picture Quality
The most important factor when choosing a projector is the picture quality. This is where the Horizon and Horizon Pro differ the most.
Resolution
- Horizon: 1080p Full HD
- Horizon Pro: 3840 x 2160 UHD 4K
The extra resolution of the Horizon Pro makes a big difference for the clarity and detail of the image. 1080p is decent for a portable projector, but 4K offers a more immersive viewing experience better suited for larger screen sizes.
Brightness
- Horizon: 900 ANSI lumens
- Horizon Pro: 2,200 ANSI lumens
The Horizon Pro’s significantly higher brightness allows it to overcome ambient light better and project clearer, more vivid images in any conditions. This makes it better for daytime viewing.
Contrast Ratio
- Horizon: 200,000:1
- Horizon Pro: 1500,000:1
Again, the Horizon Pro wins on contrast ratio. The higher ratio provides darker blacks and more dynamic range between the darkest and brightest parts of the image.
HDR Support
Both projectors support HDR10 High Dynamic Range content. This enhances colors and contrast when viewing HDR videos and gaming.
Lens & Focus
Each model has a similar manual focus lens. The Pro lens is slightly wider angle at F1.7 compared to F1.8 on the original.
Overall, the Horizon Pro provides a big boost in picture quality with 4K resolution, higher brightness, better contrast and wider dynamic range.
Also Read: Choose Between XGIMI Horizon And Halo Plus.
Portability
These compact projectors are designed for portability with built-in batteries and smart, lightweight chassis.
Dimensions
- Horizon: 150 x 150 x 120 mm (5.9 x 5.9 x 4.7 in)
- Horizon Pro: 160 x 163 x 111 mm (6.3 x 6.4 x 4.4 in)
The Horizon Pro is slightly larger overall but a little thinner. The differences are minor. Both are very compact projectors you can easily fit in a bag.
Weight
- Horizon: 1.8 kg (4 lbs)
- Horizon Pro: 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)
The Pro shaves off a little weight, making it marginally more portable. But both are quite light for projectors thanks to the durable aluminum alloy body.
Built-in Battery
- Horizon: 2.5 hours video playback
- Horizon Pro: 3 hours video playback
The Pro extends the battery life to 3 hours of continuous 1080p video playback on a single charge. The Horizon lasts 2.5 hours.
Both batteries can be charged via USB-C for quick powering up. You can also plug them in so they don’t run out of juice during longer viewing sessions.
Overall the slim, compact chassis and built-in batteries make both models highly portable. The Pro is slightly smaller and lighter but not dramatically so.
Smart Features
These projectors double as smart streaming devices thanks to Android TV software built right in. This gives you access to apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube and more without any additional equipment needed.
Here is a look at some of the key smart features:
- Built-in Android TV 9.0 – Provides access to the Google Play Store and Android TV apps
- Chromecast – Stream or cast content from your mobile devices
- Voice Assistant – Use Google Assistant for voice controls
- HDMI ports – Connect 4K streaming devices or game consoles
- WiFi connectivity – Connect to wireless networks for smart streaming and multi-room casting
- Bluetooth – Pair wireless audio devices like headphones or speakers
The software experience is virtually identical on both models. The main advantage the Pro has is that 4K streaming apps like Netflix and Prime Video will stream in higher 4K quality compared to 1080p on the Horizon.
Also Read: Comparison Between Xgimi Elfin And Halo.
Audio Quality
A built-in Harmon Kardon speaker system provides an immersive audio experience. Both projectors have:
- 8W x 2 full range speakers
- Dolby Audio and DTS Studio Sound decoding
- Bluetooth for connecting external speakers
With the same speaker system on both, audio quality is comparable between the two models. The Pro may have slightly better clarity at higher volumes thanks to the upgraded hardware. But both can provide room-filling sound without the need for external speakers.
Gaming Performance
The Xgimi Horizon models provide a solid gaming experience thanks to low input lag and quick response times.
Some key gaming features:
- Game Mode to minimize input lag
- 1080p @ 60Hz on Horizon
- 4K @ 60Hz on Horizon Pro
- HDR10 support
- Low input lag around 33ms
The Pro’s 4K resolution and HDR support allow it to better take advantage of the latest generation consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. The higher bandwidth also keeps up with fast gaming visuals better.
Both projectors are great for casual gaming. The Pro better handles modern AAA titles.
Price & Value
The Xgimi Horizon Pro costs around $1,599, which is a few hundred dollars more than the standard Horizon available for around $1,199.
Given the upgrades like 4K resolution, higher brightness and contrast ratio, the Pro delivers excellent value over the still very capable Horizon. The price difference makes sense for the bump in performance and more future-proof picture quality.
Both models provide great bang for your buck compared to some higher-end 4K projectors that can cost $3,000 and up. The Horizon lineup manages to keep costs down without sacrificing quality.
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Ease Of Use
Xgimi designed these projectors for minimal setup and maximum convenience:
- Built-in stand for quick placement on any flat surface
- Auto focus and auto keystone correction to instantly square the image
- Intuitive remote control
- Streamlined Android TV interface
Focus the image and adjust the position using lens shift to dial in the picture, then start streaming content right away over WiFi. It’s a painless process for basic projection.
They are streamlined consumer projectors – prosumers and home theater enthusiasts may want more comprehensive manual adjustments. But for plug-and-play operation, Xgimi created a very user-friendly experience.
Also Read: Comparison Between Manantz SR5015 and Cinema 60
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The main differences are the Horizon Pro has 4K resolution instead of 1080p, higher brightness (2200 Vs. 900 lumens), better contrast ratio (1500,000:1 Vs. 200,000:1) and upgraded hardware including a wider angle lens. It also has slightly longer battery life.
The LED light source on the Xgimi Horizon is rated for approximately 25,000 hours in Eco mode and 15,000 hours in Regular mode. This translates to 5-8 years under normal usage before the brightness diminishes substantially. The more powerful Pro model has similar rated lifespans.
The Xgimi Horizon Pro can project screen sizes between 40 inches and 150 inches diagonally. The ideal projection distance range is 1.5m to 5m away (5ft to 16ft). The maximum supported projection distance is 6m (20ft).
The Xgimi Horizon Pro is an upgraded version of the Horizon projector. It was released in 2021 with enhancements including 4K resolution, 2200 lumens brightness, 1500,000:1 contrast ratio and a 1.7x wider angle lens. It provides better overall picture quality than the original 1080p Horizon model.
Also Read: Is Epson EF11 Better Than EF12?
Final Verdict
Buy the Xgimi Horizon Pro if:
- You want the best picture quality with 4K resolution
- A bright image for daytime viewing is a priority
- You plan to watch a lot of HDR content
- You want the latest gaming capabilities like 4K/60FPS
Buy the Xgimi Horizon if:
- You want excellent projection at a lower price
- 1080p resolution is sufficient for your needs
- You will mostly use it at night or in darker environments
- You want great portability on a budget
Both are versatile home entertainment projectors. But the upgrades on the Horizon Pro make it the best choice if you have the budget for it. The excellent brightness, contrast, resolution and streaming features justify the higher cost.
The standard Horizon remains a great option for 1080p projection with impressive portability. It delivers outstanding value at hundreds less than the Pro.