XGIMI Horizon Pro Review: 4K DLP Projector vs OLED TV!

Does it make sense to run a projector as your primarily living room display? In reviewing the Xgimi Horizon Pro, we take a look at how modern DLP projectors work to display 4K HDR video from streaming services and gaming devices. Here's how this 4K projector compares in brightness and image quality to a comparably priced OLED television, as well as the benefits and tradeoffs of each technology.
XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K: amzn.to/3OcASU6
iFootage table top tripod: amzn.to/3jYXny5
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Disclosure: This device was provided by the manufacturer for purposes of review.
Shot and edited by Norman Chan
Music by Jinglepunks
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Thanks for watching!

[@dendejr]

I've bought an XGIMI Horizon Pro last week and while I'm waiting for it, I'm looking for review videos here on KZbin. Then, I stumbled into this video. All I can say is yours, by far, is one of the best review videos for this product that I've ever watched. Detailed, clear, and also informative. It's also a plus that you've explained how DLP works! You've earned my sub and like. Looking forward to more videos like this one. (Also liked the tripod you used, I might also buy it for my Horizon Pro. 😁)

[@rsolsjo]

If you're using any type of projector, use keystone adjustments as LITTLE as you possibly can, because you're losing resolution and detail (think of it like stretching an image in Photoshop). Best thing is to adjust it manually, then you get the full resolution and sharpness. I think it's also worth looking into brighter ultra short throws like the Optoma P2 for instance.

[@freescape08]

I've got a cheap one (120cad) that appears to tilt a lens (of some sort) inside. It doesn't lose pixel density, but it can blur the top and bottom if it's tilted too far.

[@kevinmallow]

Hadn't considered it before. Explains why my picture quality improved after swapping to my lower profile mount as I need minimal keystone or zoom adjustment now vs an excessive amount prior. Granted I have a 1080p projector but went from muddy almost SD feeling images to crystal clear (for non 4k).

[@freescape08]

@@kevinmallow I'm curious, if you use Keystone, 1. Is it electronic or a manual knob/slider? 2. If you set the focus so at least one edge is clear, and adjust Keystone, sitting up close, do the pixels move? Or do more add to/subtract from the corners?

[@blusun2]

I just got an Epson 4050 projector with a 120” screen recently in a dedicated home theater in my basement. It’s fantastic!!!

[@elonmusk1087]

By far the best "low-budget" 4K projector on the market! Absolutely amazing! Definitely worth the buy.

[@sgtpepper1138]

My wife and I have a BenQ TK800M 4k, 3k Lumens projector and we love it, especially with surround sound.

[@i_ai_eye_aye7754]

That child’s toy reminds me of every children’s hospital waiting room.

[@MjStrwy]

I know Norm really just wanted to show us that sick kid's toy, but that explanation was very helpful for me. We have a tiny house and it's about to get smaller as we turn what was the family room into an office and second bedroom by building a wall down the middle. With nowhere to put a TV, I was thinking about getting a projector to mount on the ceiling in the living/dining/everything room and it looks like an XGIMI or similar projector might be a good option. Thanks, Norm!

[@OwlStudio73]

Love projectors..less strain on the eye, and no reflections on the screen 👌👌

[@driftlessheights6177]

Last summer I dumped my projector for an 85" 4k Q-LED TV. Biggest difference for me is the loss of fan noise. I never realized how much that noise was getting on my nerves. That and the instant on/off was a great improvement.

[@LeslieDugger]

The problem of trading a projector in for a giant TV is aesthetics. TVs are ugly and take up a lot of wall space. Samsung’s frame series is a step in the right direction, but nothing beats the class and clean look Of home sans TV.

[@itsbabla]

How would you connect a dedicated home theatre system with this Horizon 4k projectors. Would appreciate if you make a general video of how to do that ??!! 😊

[@scruffy3121]

Couple of years ago I switched from a 55"lg oled to a 110" projector screen. I am very happy for movies and games. But I picked a Sony hw-45es Wich is more expensive and only 1080p (but I object to pixelshift 4k). Waiting for quiet affordable 4k projectors.

[@Venator2015]

For anyone looking to get a projector with comparable image quality, with the addition of more vivid HDR color and 3D for no additional cost, you should look into the BenQ 3550.

[@Arvidje]

i like the tk850 more.. its more natural.. also i found the 3550 is a bit soft..

[@francisvaughan7460]

There is a lot more to high dynamic range than covered. Dolby Vision is essentially not available on any domestic projector as Dolby don't consider the projectors and the conditions they will be used in are up to the task. A crucial limitation is that you can't know what the screen is, what the ambient light is, or how much light comes back onto the screen from the room - and what colour cast it might have. The lack of this makes DV impossible in Dolby's eyes. High end projectors can manage this. No projector can manage HDR light levels. You might get 100 nits tops on the screen. Even OLED can approach 10 times this, and they still struggle with HDR. HDR must be mapped to the limited range of light possible on the projector. The poorer black levels are a limitation as well. DLP is worse than LCoS. Quality of the optics has a bit bearing as well. You get what you pay for. How HDR content is mapped to available light levels is a critical part of how well a projector can work. You pay serious money to get this done really well. Not to say that projectors are not a good idea. If you want the real cinematic experience, you can't beat a projector. Treating the room surfaces to reduce reflections is critical. A white ceiling above the screen is a real no-no.

[@DavideSafin]

What would you recommend for a white wall ? Benq w1800, Benq w2700 (ht3550), Benq ht700, Benq ht850 or XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K?

[@xnamkcor]

I have an 800x600 HDMI 120Hz ViewSonic projector I picked up for 3 USD. I love it.

[@reddcube]

Rainbow Effect is really bothering to me. I know 1-chip DLP has gotten better, but I'm still avoiding them.

[@JP1050x]

Love my 65in 4K Sony OLED. But I also use a 720p projector for occasional movie watching at around 80in at close distance, and it does just fine. Most people really don’t need much beyond HD quality for projection.

[@bobertperry]

I’m not sure why but even though my TV is objectively better than my projector I enjoy watching content on my projected far more.

[@nickademuss42]

Grade one 1/4-20 bolts can hold around 1,000 lbs, its good enough for this little guy

[@sjmaguirepdx]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't most DLP displays a single white light source with a spinning color wheel? If this is a 3 chip DLP at this price point that's amazing! And I was under the impression that DLP can do a true black as it just shuts off the mirror corresponding to that pixel... Also, I'm confused because their website states the native resolution of the Pro line is true 4K.

[@krmusick]

The mirrors shift thousands of times per second.

[@sharksbean]

Saving for the Xgimi Aura. Hope it’s actually worth the money.

[@dzidmail]

Quality is just like Horizon's

[@volcalstone]

It's a similar experience to this. It's considered a low to mid end UST projector. You have to spend around $4-5K if you want a great one.

[@11folders]

@@dzidmail Is the main advantage or price difference due to the Aura being a short throw?

[@11folders]

@@dzidmail Also, the Aura is listed as 4K UHD. Does that mean that it does not implement pixel shifting like the Horizon Pro?

[@dzidmail]

@@11folders My statement I believe was based on some other's people reviews adnI don't remember anything anymore. No way Xgimi Aura would have real 4k...

[@gamegamegameful]

Nice review. However I feel that pj should not give oled like brightness or else you eye will strain watching 100 or 120 inch super bright screen in a pitch black light control room. Not good for eyes even though it's a reflective technology

[@mm7wabanamateurradiowomble30]

Many existing projectors cause headaches and can trigger seizures in people who suffer from photosensitive Epilepsy. I really hope these new projection methods are more stable and safer to watch. I guess the only way I will find out is to try watching one when someone I know buys one. I avoid stores that have TV and projector systems on display as convulsing on the floor and sometimes ending up in hospital, again, is not pleasant for me or anyone else around me. Many displays look stable to the eye but are a serious problem for epileptics. This is especially dangerous when there are multiple TVs or projectors close together in a store display. Maybe one day someone will find a way to include a 'smoothing' or 'anti-flicker' mode to make them safe to watch for people who suffer from photosensitive conditions.

[@smithmark5158]

XGIMI's built-in speakers deliver an immersive, cinematic experience. I don't even need to buy a soundbar or other external speakers.

[@v1nnr2]

Would like to know details of the tripod being used. Perhaps a link to purchase would help too. Thanks.

[@algamasa56]

iFootage Cobra 2 minipod

[@Deczkin]

so... is it really 4k or 1080p in marketing disquise? I wanted to buy it and watch 4k content from my laptop but now I'm not quite sure if it will do the job properly... Thanks in advance!

[@BustaCheeze]

1080p native resolution but will display a full 4K image with the use of DLP mirrors. The DLP chip has little mirrors that shift a 1080p image around in a circle, right down left up, at 240Hz, which can display a 4K image at 60Hz. If you run this projector at 1080p, the pixel shifting doesn't happen because you're running it's native resolution. Projectors with true 4K 3LCD or native 4K with DLP that will be marketed as 8K, are 3-5x the price of the projector in this video.

[@martincarlberg9671]

What kind of screen do you have?

[@lhl2500]

I was gonna go on a whole rant about this product and the review of it, but I've realised that I'm just not the target audience for a portable, single-chip, built-in speakers, fixed focal length projector. This product is a toy. For a kids room or for the projector-curious. If a big screen home theatre is on your wishlist, I'd suggest finding retailer specialized in home theatre setup, and check out their showrooms. I daily drive a jvc x700 (Full HD, 3-chip), as my only display (besides phone, tablet and laptop) and wil be upgrading to a jvc nz8 (true 4k, 3-chip) , hopefully before the end of the year. I'll be upgrading my 92"projection screen to a 110". Good to see projectors on Tested though. You should try and do a video on projection mapping. Like the type you see on buildings.

[@123simenHP]

For a kids room? Damn I wish I had parents who would give me a $2000 "toy" when I was a kid. Btw. I have this projector and my father have the best 2020 LG OLED ($5000 when new) and while the TV looks better, unless I have them side by side I can't tell much different as long as my living room is dark, when it's light on the other hand the TV wins every day.

[@frosted1030]

Maybe you should concider image quality of calibrated direct view technologies vs projectors. Here's a clue, even on the high end (more then the cost of a car) projectors can't give you the quality you get from direct view technologies.

[@silentsnake1800]

You should test Fengmi T1 or Xiaomi Laser 2 as TV replacement not this thing. And you need a CLR Screen for best picture.

[@craignewell2841]

So there isn’t mounting points hidden under the 4 rubber foot pads?

[@andydunn8260]

Yes, came here to add that. Remove the foot pads and you have an additional 4 mounting threads that can be used with most universal ceiling mounts. I have mine mounted this way.

[@jayceerenegado8038]

How about the 3D feature? I can’t figure it out on my Horizon Pro 4K.

[@volcalstone]

You play your 3D content first then you hit the settings button on the top and go to 3D settings. Select which 3D type it is and that's it. You would now turn on your DLP capable 3D glasses an make sure that their own the correct Hz for your region.

[@ychongy]

I have an older optoma projector. Thinking about changing to a 85in sony 4k tv instead?

[@patrickperring4203]

I don't use a projector personally but my friend has one and due to my eye related disability I find it incredibly difficult to see anything being projected. It mostly comes down to brightness but this has been a consistent problem with projectors for me.

[@Starfishtroopers]

setting it at an angle gives it an unfair disadvantage certainly against an oled.

[@Stafernisy]

I chose the xgimi halo+ because I couldn’t justify the price of the horizon pro for what is essentially still HD. The increased brightness would have been nice though. In this price point I don’t think a tv can be replaced..

[@PepijnHazelhof]

I never understood, why they put speakers in a projector, you never want that, you always gonna use a extern 2.0 installation at least

[@volcalstone]

The speakers on this projector are pretty good vs a lot of others out there. The only other projector with better speakers is the Nebula Cosmos Max which gets plenty loud for general use. It has great bass too.

[@sk818factory5]

love this

[@ibunkatraining]

I have a 1080p Epson laser projector and my family loves it!

[@ivwshane]

I would love to see an unbiased opinion of epson projectors.

[@MPjustaman]

$ 1,119.00 US dollars on Amazon. 7/11/23

[@adilocara]

What is the tripod model?

[@algamasa56]

iFootage Cobra 2 minipod

[@thephoenixking1086]

I have never been fond of DLP Projectors ever since they just kept on failing in my school, college and so on, some of these costing a heck of a lot of money. Every single one of them and my own had the same fault, where the mirrors just stop moving leaving white dots on the projected display. This is EXTREMELY annoying because it is all your eyes focus on. With this costing $1,700, that is a very VERY hard sale in my opinion, I would much rather go cheap LCD or Laser since neither of them suffer the WHITE DOT, BROKEN MIRROR issue.

[@Fuuntag]

4:45 my head hurts.

[@charlie9ine]

I’m an artist. I’m looking for a digital projector that gives me fidelity of a film projector. Anyone have a solution?

[@iamdmc]

better career choice just kidding I'm a scientist and the pay sucks on this end too PS try out the LG Cinebeam line - film maker mode is perfection

[@JesusvonNazaret]

there are still too many weak points for a projector to justify it as a TV replacement, so whoever buys it needs to have the budget for both.

[@silentsnake1800]

Totally wrong. USTs are good for TV replacement. You can buy for example the Fengmi T1 (Triple Laser and nearly full Rec.2020) or the Xiaomi Cinema Laser 2 with a 100" ALR/CLR Screen for 2500-3000$. No need for a TV.

[@m_jeray]

for only 2.6k 😐

[@williammentink]

There are less expensive projectors.

[@m_jeray]

@@williammentink exactly

[@123simenHP]

I promise you this is an AMAZING projector for the price. I haven't tried many projectors but fell in love with this one right away

[@m_jeray]

@@123simenHP nahh you can find something about as good for 2k cheaper

[@MrTubale]

2.200 ansi lumens not lumens 😉

[@seang8000]

Am I the only one who thought he would be trying to project onto a TV and see which image wins out?

[@iamdmc]

Surprised you didn't source an LG Cinebeam 4K LASER projector (especially comparing to an LG OLED TV) - 3000 lumens (with each lumen being a color lumen vs white lumens with LED lamp projectors). LASER is to LED/Halogen what OLED is to LCD I love tested but this was a pretty misguided review/comparison also wtf is xgimi?

[@RPRsChannel]

*_Ah, I thought you were reviewing a real 4K home theater projector, not a crappy gimmick projector you bring to a board meeting to show off a video._*

[@skog1s]

You copy and paste :)

[@infiniti37G]

Those Xgmi projectors Only have 1100 REAL Ansi lumens. Tested at Projector central, a Good lower priced projector like Epson, Benq or Viewsonic give out over 2500 Lumens. Xgmi sux way to dim and expensive

[@lavarsch]

Oh wow, 417 likes and 158 dislikes? what's wrong?

[@evolicious]

This chinese projector is overpriced trash. There are projectors from years ago that out-spec it for $500 less.

[@straelboraaaa]

@@evolicious name a few please.

[@rkille]

Terrible review as you failed to mention that this projector does not have a bulb replacement and is a useless paperweight after the 1 year warranty expires. Official response from XGIMI when I asked about a replacing my bulb. "Hey, this is Georgina from XGIMI tech support department, it will be a pleasure to assist you today regarding your concern. We do not sell nor suggest changing the bulb on a XGIMI projector. We can gladly check if your device is still within our 1-year warranty and provide a replacement if applicable."

[@madcarew5168]

Oled,I believe o stands for organic..lost me on that....anyone explain..ta!!

[@evolicious]

Yuck, the specs of that overpriced Chinese garbage are so terrible. 2200lumins, 35ms, 60hz, etc. Meanwhile, Optoma UHD35 from 2021 is $1200, 3600lumins, 4.2ms at 1080p and 16ms at 4k, 240hz, HDR10, and more How embarrassing.

[@dzidmail]

No frame interpolation on UHD35. It's not smart. And has worse contrast.

[@DavidSusiloUnscripted]

Suddenly everyone is an expert on TVs :( SMH.

[@evolicious]

Display experts don't exist? Weird.

[@DavidSusiloUnscripted]

@@evolicious read what I wrote carefully

[@VariTimo]

You don’t need 4K for home viewing. Look at Steve Yedlin’s Resolution Demo.

[@procekim]

yes you need 4K for home viewing.

[@modelcitizen1977]

I can see the difference pretty easily on a 65in screen. When the screen is 100” or more, 4K makes an enormous difference.

[@Confoundedjoe]

I went from a 2k proj to a 4k proj both with the same 92in screen and it makes a huge difference. I can also tell clearly between content on my current proj.

[@SC0RPI0NFURY]

I got my self a 4KTV last summer, i can never go back to lower resolution now

[@iamdmc]

you don't need more than 640K of RAM -Bill Gates

[@roteldorel]

o me god talk to much trlallalalalala

[@mrCetus]

That child’s toy reminds me of every children’s hospital waiting room.