Projectors Tests Reviews

XGIMI Horizon 20 Max: Test / Review

Published on: 04-09-2025 / Modified: 22-09-2025

I tested my first XGIMI projector in January 2017, so it's been over 8 years at the time of writing. In 8 years, the world has changed, and so has the world of home video projection. XGIMI has clearly played a part in this democratization of home cinema, without being the benchmark in every field. With the launch of the new Horizon 20 range, available in 3 models (20, 20 Pro, 20 Max), I have the impression that XGIMI's engineers wanted to demonstrate all their know-how by bringing together the best of what's available today. These three new models are theoretically very bright, have ultra-high contrast, optical zoom, lens shift (a first!), super-high gaming frequency, compatibility with all recent formats (e.g. Dolby Vision) and lots more.
I'm going to test the XGIMI Horizon 20 Max with my usual test protocol to see if this new range lives up to the hype.

Promo

I have a promo code valid until the end of October that gives you 10% off the entire Horizon 20 range. If your country is eligible, you should see a banner appear at the bottom of the screen to activate the promotion. The link will point to the Horizon 20 Max because it’s the projector I tested, but nothing prevents you from choosing another model. If you’re in Europe and you don’t see the banner at the bottom of the screen, contact me to get a link for your country.

Update: I received many messages this morning saying that the promo is not displaying. So you’re not blocked while I look for a solution, I’m adding the links manually below:
Activate the promo
This link redirects you to the homepage — that’s normal — but you should see the following when adding the product to your cart:

Choose Horizon 20 Max (-299€)
Choose Horizon 20 Pro (-209€)
Choose Horizon 20 (-169€)

Video review

To watch the video on YouTube: XGIMI Horizon 20 max / YouTube
Audio: French, English (dubbed) + subtitles

Need a screen?

I get a lot of questions about using a screen for this type of projector. I've detailed it all in the "screen choice" section further down this page

Manufacturer web site:
https://www.xgimi.com

Price XGIMI Horizon 20 Max

Not yet available / tested

Timeline

September 5, 2025: XGIMI Horizon 20 range available for pre-sale with gifts

September 22, 2025: I received the projector a little behind schedule, as the parcel took quite a long time to clear customs. Fortunately, you won't have to go through the same thing, as stocks will be local

October 15, 2025: official launch

Why this projector?

If I compare the 3 models in the new Horizon 20 range, the only difference is the level of brightness. As was already the case with the previous range, brightness (and indirectly contrast) was the only difference between the S Max and S Pro. Both models were well below 2000 lumens, making daylight projection impossible. With the Horizon 20 range, the base model is advertised at 3200 lumens and the max model flirts with 6000 lumens. In theory, daylight use should be possible, and that's what you'll find out in this test.

Beyond brightness, there are a number of other elements that interest me. First of all, there's the contrast, which is advertised with figures that don't seem realistic to me, but given that we're talking about a new generation here, even if the actual contrast is 50% of what's advertised, it's still very good. Then there's the optical zoom and, above all, the lens shift. How many times have I received messages from projector users (not just XGIMI) complaining about a gray border appearing around the image. In principle, with lens shift, this should no longer be the case, offering much greater flexibility of placement

The last point highlighted in the comparison is the display frequency. Why is this important? Being able to display a 240 Hz image will ensure exceptional fluidity for games, provided you have a source capable of exploiting this type of frequency. Just in time, I've just bought a second-hand XBOX Series X for my son, which can go up to 120 Hz. I'm not a regular gamer, but I'm attentive enough to this kind of thing to perceive the difference between 60 and 120 Hz.

Unpacking

If all the superlatives used in the introduction to this test had weight, it would probably explain the weight of the box. The projector alone weighs almost 5.2 kg. To this must be added the weight of the protective case, packing carton and accessories. So this isn't a projector you're going to take everywhere with you, although the protective case might well allow it

The box contains the projector, a remote control, two AAA batteries, a manual and a large power pack

On the face of it, this weight might be considered a problem if it were a portable projector, but here I find it reassuring. You'll just have to make sure you install it in a stable place, because even if it's possible to install it on a tripod, I'm not sure that's the most prudent option with a projector of this value.

The remote control is based on the previous models, with the addition of automatic lighting already available on the Mogo 4 range. There are also three buttons for the Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video streaming platforms. Only Disney is missing to complete the trio. The case is metal, like most high-end XGIMI projectors, and the box comes with two AAA batteries. If you intend to transport the projector, I'd advise you to remove the batteries, as they may activate the remote control lighting with every movement, and you could end up with an inoperative remote control fairly quickly

Operating system

The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max (and the others in the series) runs on Google TV, so it's super-easy to set up if you already have an Android phone with your Google account. If you have an iPhone with a Google account, it's the same thing. Google TV's interface is specially designed to be used with a remote control, and you'll be able to download a wide range of applications without any compatibility problems. Netflix is natively compatible, so you'll be able to watch your movies and series in the best possible format

The interface is therefore the same as other projectors running Google TV, but what sets this projector apart is the wealth of image enhancement settings. Numerous new settings have been added, and tint adjustment has also returned, enabling a higher level of colorimetry to be achieved.

Finish

This new range of Horizon 20 projectors represents XGIMI's top-of-the-range range, using the same codes as the previous generation, in particular the tilting system, but with a higher level of finish. I think XGIMI has tried everything, starting with a purely metallic finish on the first Horizons, then moving on to a champagne hue, and now moving towards a leather-like upholstery like car seats.

The top of the projector is covered with a layer of leather, I don't know if it's real leather or an imitation, but the result is pretty good and stands out from the usual plastic materials.

All Horizon 20 range headlamps share the same housing with the same level of finish. Brightness will be the deciding factor between the 3 models.

The tilting format was introduced with the previous generation (XGIMI Horizon S Max and XGIMI Horizon S Pro), but with such a behemoth, you can't expect to be able to turn it in all directions. The base can be rotated 360 degrees, but tilt is limited to 90 degrees. The downward tilt is more limited, as it is not possible to turn the projector to -90 degrees to protect the front panel. There is no longer an automatic drawer covering the optical compartment, so you can expect dust to accumulate more quickly, but the projector will be quicker to start up and the absence of a drawer will undoubtedly facilitate sound diffusion

The optical unit features the optical zoom already available on the XGIMI Horizon Ultra with a projection ratio of 1.2 to 1.5:1, and for the first time, XGIMI offers lens shift on its projectors. Lens shift will enable the image to be shifted upwards or sideways thanks to the optical block, so there will be no image distortion or gray edges as was the case with trapezoid correction. Although lens shift technology has been around for a long time, this is the first time XGIMI has used it, and it will bring a lot of value to this projector. The placement of a projector represents a difficulty for many buyers, and without lens shift, placement too far away from the straight line will generate a huge gray border around the image. I've received many messages on this subject from buyers who think their projector is faulty, but this is not the case, it's just a consequence of the trapezoid correction. With this projector, this problem should no longer arise.

The optical block has also been improved to minimize brightness loss and reduce chromatic aberration.

As for the audio part, Harman-Kardon speakers with a power of 24 watts are once again used, the same as the previous generation, so I don't expect a big evolution on this side, even if the hardware seems different

At the rear, you'll find a similar set of connectors to previous generations, with 2 HDMI ports (1 of which is eARC), two USB ports (1 of which is 3.0), a headphone output and an SPDIF output.

Underneath, you'll find the rotating base that allows you to turn the projector on itself. You can use a standard tripod, but given the weight and bulk of this projector, I think it's preferable to install it on a more stable base

Projection room

My projection room is rectangular, 4.6m by 2.9m (height 2.2m). I have two projection walls, one white wall 2.9m wide with just white paint with a possible 4m setback. I then have a 133 inch ALR screen on another wall with a possible setback of 2.8m. I mainly use the ALR screen except when the layout or type of projector is not suitable for this situation.

Battery autonomy

This projector is not equipped with a battery.

Power consumption

Power consumption is highly dependent on the brightness level selected. There are 10 brightness levels to choose from, plus a boost mode. I measured a consumption of just over 100 watts with the lowest brightness level, 176 watts with brightness level 10 and finally 188 watts for boost mode. These figures may seem high, but in reality they must be compared with the brightness produced. This is a very bright projector, and 188 watts at this level of brightness is an excellent performance!

Operating noise

The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max has dynamic ventilation that adapts to the projector's temperature. It's very discreet most of the time, but if you use maximum brightness like the high performance mode, it will spit its lungs out, but a priori you shouldn't use this picture mode because the image quality is too poor

Image quality

I judge image quality on the following criteria:

- color fidelity (score: excellent)

- native contrast (score: good)

- brightness (score: excellent)

- sharpness (score: excellent)

- motion compensation (score: excellent)

Colorimetry

More explanations on colorimetry

Measuring color fidelity (colorimetry) is not a subjective question, it is something completely measurable. This measurement is carried out with a device (colorimeter, spectrometer, ...) which measures the difference between the real color and the displayed color. This difference is expressed in delta E (abbreviation: dE). A dE greater than 3 indicates a deviation perceptible to the human eye.

The dE must therefore be as low as possible but projectors rarely have a dE lower than 3 out of the box. They are often between 5 and 10, only a calibration can correctly adjust the colors.

For a perfect calibration, you must call a professional. I give you my parameters which correspond to my situation. These settings might work for your situation but it is not a guarantee, so take them as an indication of the direction to follow.

If you've never owned a projector before, you've probably never heard of colorimetry. What is colorimetry? Quite simply, it's the fidelity of the colors rendered by the projector. The good news is that color fidelity can be measured with a unit called delta E, and for a color to be rendered correctly, delta E must be below 3, or even below 2 for faithful reproduction. Projectors like this one can be calibrated to obtain the best possible result for your environment - and I stress environment, because color fidelity doesn't just depend on the projector. Your projection surface, wall or screen, will also play a major role. The same goes for the lighting in your room:

I took my measurements in a totally dark room and on a white screen, which is not completely neutral. The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max produces an image that's too cold / bluish in most of the available configurations, but fortunately there's the "film" mode to save the day. With film mode and color temperature set to D65, you get the best colorimetry without changing the settings yourself. With this configuration, I unfortunately get a delta E of over 3, which is unlikely to be visible to the untrained eye. If you don't want to bother with settings, you'll get the best result with the film / D65 configuration. On the other hand, I think it's a shame to leave it at that with a projector of this type, because the projector can do much better.

I've shared my calibration parameters with you in the previous paragraph. These parameters are valid for my room and my screen, but since I'm trying to obtain as neutral a situation as possible, these parameters should enable you to improve the rendering of your image. I made these measurements with a high-precision spectroradiometer, which is very accurate but very slow to make measurements. In SDR mode (REC709), I obtained an excellent delta E of 1.47 for colors, with perfect white at 0.8. The color temperature is 6602k, so here too we're pretty close to the 6500k standard

For grays, I obtained an excellent delta E of 1.18 with a native contrast of 1222:1 and a gamma of 2.15. I should point out that I disable all forms of image enhancement when I make my measurements. Contrast can rise above 7000:1 with dynamic contrast

The REC709's gamut is perfectly achieved, but that's not surprising for a projector in this price range

Now let's move on to HDR. XGIMI claims that this projector is capable of exceeding the REC2020 space with 110% coverage. In reality it's less, but still an excellent result

I obtained a delta E of 2.24 for colors with a white at 1.8 with a temperature of 6502k. My delta E here is a little higher than what I obtained in SDR, but it's still very good. As this measurement process takes time, I stopped at this level, but it's probably possible to get a better result by spending more time on it.

For grays, I obtained a delta E of 1.29 with a native contrast of 1494:1.

The gamut is greater than 90% of the REC2020 space, so even if it's less than advertised, it's still a very good result.

I'll include videos in each mode in my video test when it's available, which will give you an idea of the quality gain with calibration. On the other hand, filming a triple-laser projector doesn't give a faithful rendering, as the image is always a little too reddish.

This projector therefore offers excellent color rendering.

Image Settings
Here are the settings I used to calibrate the XGIMI Horizon 20 Max with my white screen. I'm only sharing the settings I changed. I chose a laser level that suited me, you'll have to find your own depending on your brightness tolerance but be aware that at full brightness, colors will deviate a little. If you use this projector in daylight, colors will also deviate and no amount of calibration will solve this

In SDR:

Laser 1

Film mode with color temperature at D65

Contrast 46

White balance / 2 points

Red 33

Green 55

Blue 51

Color settings

Brightness Color settings

Brightness

Red 54

Green 47

Cyan 49

Blue 49

Hue

Green 48

Blue 47

Cyan 52

Magneta 53

Saturation

Blue 51

In HDR:

Laser 5

Film mode with D65

Brightness 55

Contrast 52

2-point white balance

Red 44

Green 49

Blue 45

11-point white balance / 90%

Red 51

Blue 52

Color settings

Hue

Red 52

Cyan 48

Magenta 53

Yellow 49

Saturation

Red 90

Green 100

Blue 53

Cyan 60

Yellow 65

Brightness

Red 49

Green 55

Cyan 56

Magenta 53

Yellow 55

XGIMI has also added numerous adjustments to the image, I'll detail them below, but please note that I don't activate them for measurements, as this makes the results unpredictable

AIPQ: AI algorithm for automatically adjusting brightness, contrast, sharpness and saturation

DI film mode: converts interlaced signals to reduce flicker

MaxVivid: dynamically increases saturation and brightness

AISR: AI algorithm to increase image quality in low resolution (e.g. 720p to 4k)

De-Contour: reduces the presence of color in contours and color gradations

Super frame: dynamic image insertion to reduce blur or judder

Brightness

More explanations on brightness

The brightness for a projector is absolutely crucial. The brightness is measured in ANSI lumens and the values provided by the manufacturer are very often higher than reality.

I measure the brightness with a lux meter and I convert my measurements into ANSI lumens in relation to the projection surface. You thus obtain a real value.

A video projector, even if it is bright, cannot compete with a television. The contribution of light (natural or artificial) will have the effect of drastically reducing the contrast of your image. With a brightness lower than 1000 ANSI lumens, the projector must be used in total darkness.

The big promise of this projector is its out-of-the-ordinary brightness level with 5,700 lumens. So, marketing claim or reality?

I measured brightness across the 10 available levels, tested the boost mode as well as the high power mode, and did so in the 5 or 6 available configurations.

I obtained a maximum brightness of 4,520 lumens with the high power mode, but this mode is absolutely unusable because the image is greenish and the projector is gasping for air with its fans spinning at full speed. I obtained 3,641 lumens in boost (standard) mode, 3,310 lumens at brightness level 10, and 2,410 lumens with brightness at 50% (level 5). The projector therefore does not reach the advertised 5,700 lumens, but it is still really very bright. If you want to use this projector in the dark, you will need to lower the brightness level.

Is this brightness level sufficient to use the projector in daylight? I’ll show you what it looks like with a few images followed by some explanations.

Test in darkness / strong lighting with white screen (gain 1.2)

The photo is probably a bit overexposed, but you can see here that a white screen of this type is not ideal for fighting ambient light. The image is perfectly visible, but this comes at the cost of a loss in color fidelity and contrast.

Test in darkness / strong lighting with a NothingProjector ALR screen intended for an ultra-short-throw projector

This type of screen isn’t optimized for front projection, but the XGIMI Horizon 20 Max is so bright that using such a screen is possible. You can see here that at full brightness, the image is clearly nicer than the one shown on the white screen; I’d even say it’s nicer than the white screen in complete darkness. It’s not yet an experience comparable to a television, but it’s getting close. I should point out, however, that my room was very brightly lit with light directed at the screen, so it’s a fairly challenging context for a projector, but the XGIMI copes well. In total darkness, the image on this kind of screen is really superb.

I also measured luminance for each light level (in cd/m²) on a white screen to give you an idea of the impact of each level. This luminance is specific to my screen and the measurement angle; my goal is to show you the range of brightness.
Level 1: 148 cd/m²
Level 2: 161 cd/m²
Level 3: 176 cd/m²
Level 4: 189 cd/m²
Level 5: 206 cd/m²
Level 6: 221 cd/m²
Level 7: 234 cd/m²
Level 8: 251 cd/m²
Level 9: 260 cd/m²
Level 10: 311 cd/m²
With boost: 340 cd/m²

There is therefore a strong increase in luminance at the last level and if you use this projector in total darkness, it will probably be too much. For comparison, a moderately effective smartphone screen in broad daylight needs at least 500 cd/m². We’re still quite far from those values, but for a projector, values above 300 cd/m² are much rarer. It’s the brightest projector I’ve had the opportunity to test. The comparison may not be entirely fair because a smartphone has to be usable outdoors in sunlight, which is obviously not the case for a projector.

For black, I measured a minimum black level of 0.2 cd/m² without dynamic contrast and 0.1 with dynamic contrast. My spectroradiometer doesn’t allow me to measure a lower unit, so the result may be better than what my measuring device shows.

I made a small table with typical cd/m² values for each type of environment:

Environment	Recommended range (cd/m²)	Equivalent (fL)	Typical use
Total darkness (black room)	40 – 60	11.7 – 17.5	Cinema SDR projection, prolonged viewing without fatigue
Slightly lit room	80 – 120	23.4 – 35.0	Dim living room, SDR/“HDR light”, visual comfort
Daylight (bright room)	200 – 300	58.4 – 87.6	Very bright living room, TV/monitor; for projection: compromise

As you can see, this projector is very bright and is designed to be used in a bright environment even though there will always be a slight loss of contrast. This further reinforces the idea that you should lower the brightness if you’re in the dark because the brightness is too high.

That’s what you need to think about if you’re hesitating between the different models in the Horizon 20 range. If you plan to use the projector only in the dark, you can opt for one of the other models (20 and 20 Pro).

Sharpness

The 20 Max's and 20 Pro's optical units should, in principle, result in improved sharpness. This is clearly not just a marketing ploy, as the sharpness of this projector is exemplary. The outline of the text in my example is very sharp in all areas of the screen, with no loss of sharpness at the periphery and no chromatic aberration. The colors you see in the photo are due to my camera's inability to render an image from a laser projector

Contrast

More explanations on contrast

Contrast (on/off) is used to measure the difference between white and black. This measurement gives an indication of the ability of a projector to produce a good rendering in dark scenes.

A contrast lower than 500:1 should be considered as a very low contrast and the consequence will be especially visible in dark scenes where you will lose details. This is less of a problem for sports, bright films or even cartoons.

A low contrast ratio does not mean that a projector is not usable, you just have to be aware that for films like Aliens, dark scenes will no longer allow you to distinguish details.

I measured a native contrast between 1200 and 1494:1 without using dynamic contrast. On the other hand, when I activate dynamic contrast, the contrast is between 7500 and 8500:1. That's a level of contrast I've never seen before from XGIMI - they've hit the nail on the head. On the other hand, that's about what I got with the Valerion I tested.

The native contrast isn't up to the level of a laser projector like the Formovie Theater, but this result is very good and gives a good depth of image. Activating the dynamic contrast will bring the black below 0.1 cd/m² for even greater depth, but for the time being, this comes at the cost of a color deviation that will be visible depending on the type of scene. I especially noticed this on text outlines, but it's also visible with certain types of color. It was the same on the Valerion I tested, so there's good and bad in the use of dynamic contrast.

Motion compensation

Image size and projection distance

More explanations on the projection distance

The projection distance determines the size of the image and the size of the image is determined by the projector's throw ratio. If a projector has a throw ratio of 1.2, it will have an image width of 83 cm with possibly a gray border.

The distance also plays a role in the brightness because the brightness decreases with the square of the distance. A projector placed at 4 meters will therefore lose 4 times more brightness than a projector placed at 2 meters.

Keystone image correction does not modify the projection cone, it resizes the image inside the projection cone. This means that in the event of a significant correction, you will see a large gray border appear around your image.

The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max is the first XGIMI projector to feature a lens shift mechanism in addition to optical zoom. The lens shift does not alter the projection distance, but it does provide greater placement flexibility. For example, I have a multi-storey open cabinet that I use to test projectors. This XGIMI Horizon 20 Max is so imposing that it doesn't fit into any of the floors provided, so I have to place it at the very top. By placing it all the way up, and bearing in mind that the bottom of the image corresponds with the bottom of the optical compartment, I end up with an image projected into the ceiling. The tilt allows the image to be lowered, but at the cost of significant keystone correction. This is where lens shift comes into its own. Rather than using the tilt switch, the lens shift adjusts the optical unit downwards, without altering the image properties.
The projection distance, on the other hand, is determined by the zoom level, which varies from 1.2 to 1.5, allowing you to obtain an image approximately 85 cm wide per metre of distance with the 1.2 zoom, and 66 cm per metre of distance with the 1.5 zoom. Nor does optical zoom distort the image or cancel out input lag improvements, unlike trapezoidal correction.

Screen choice

When you buy an ultra-short-throw projector, the question doesn't really arise - you need a screen. For projectors in the Horizon 20 range, the choice is less obvious, as this type of projector is less demanding in terms of projection surface. So, yes, you can use this projector on a white wall without any problem, it'll work...but...it's not ideal for several reasons. This type of projector is designed to respect the colorimetry of films and TV series as closely as possible. Using a wall means losing some of that potential. For an entry-level projector, this isn't too bad, but with the price level of the Horizon range, it's like buying a sports car to drive on a cobblestone road. It'll work, but it's not ideal

Ok, a screen, all right, but what kind of screen?

Here you have two choices, either a "classic" white screen or an ALR screen, which is designed to better control ambient brightness.

If you're using this projector in total darkness, you could use a white screen, and the good news is that this type of screen is considerably less expensive. I use a simple 133-inch Vevor white screen that cost me 120 euros at the time I bought it. It's not the perfect screen, but it looks good for the price. In fact, I'm going to post some comparative images between white and ALR in this test

Don't rush into a white screen just yet, I need to clarify a couple of things first. A white screen will tend to make blacks grayer, especially if there's a gain greater than 1 like my screen. This isn't a huge problem in itself, but if you want image depth with blacks that are really close to pure black, it's a bit of a miss. Again, it works without a hitch, but when you've got a projector with very good contrast, it's a bit of a shame. The other problem I see is light management. If you're in the dark, no problem. However, in daylight, this type of screen will more quickly affect image quality. Colors will appear duller and blacks will be even grayer. And this brings me to the ALR screen..

An ALR screen has a specific construction to reflect a maximum of light back to the viewer, avoiding the impact of ambient light. Most of the time, these screens are designed for ultra-short-throw projectors, but there are versions for projectors like this one

I have 2 in my tests that should fit the bill:

Wupro LT2

NothingProjector LT

These screens will allow you to better manage ambient light and achieve near-perfect blacks. Be aware, however, that in some cases, this type of screen can create a glitter effect or accentuate speckle. I'll try to add these points to the test as soon as possible

Audio quality

More explanations on audio quality

I use several types of music tracks to illustrate the sound quality of the projector but the rendering will always be limited by the recording device. Since I always use the same device, you will be able to compare the difference on the same basis.

I regularly use well-known songs protected by copyright to illustrate the sound quality of a video projector. It therefore sometimes happens that YouTube decides to block my videos for these reasons. In this case, you can listen to the soundtracks directly on YouTube and hope that YouTube has not completely blocked my channel.

The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max and other projectors in the same family use two Harman-Kardon loudspeakers for a total output of 24 watts. These are the same speakers used on the XGIMI Horizon S Max and XGIMI Horizon S Pro. Just as sound rendering was good with the previous range, it is also good with this projector. You'll find the sound extract corresponding to this test in the video covering this entire test.

Video games

Encoutered bugs

Comparison Horizon 20 vs Horizon 20 Pro vs Horizon 20 Max

If you're new to the world of video projection, you're probably going to find it hard to make the right choice, especially when it comes to brightness levels. In principle, a projector is not designed to be used in daylight, but with the brightness levels advertised by XGIMI, I'm first going to make a small theoretical calculation, then validate this calculation with my actual measurements.

Brightness is determined by the light output of the source, the distance and therefore the image size. Brightness decreases with the square of the distance, so a projector placed 4 meters away will be 4 times less bright than one placed 2 meters away

I'm going to use a projection ratio of 1.2 as a basis. With this projection ratio you get an image of 83 cm per meter of distance from the projection surface. A projector placed 2 meters away will therefore produce an image 166 cm wide

Screen size 100 inches (neutral/white)

Brightness 3200 lumens: room with medium light possible

Brightness 4100 lumens: room with light possible

Brightness 5700 lumens: room with high light possible

This is all theoretical, of course, and you'll also need to check the impact on contrast, but it gives you an idea of the possibilities. This was not possible with the previous range.

ALR/CLR Projection screen

Are you looking for a good ALR/CLR screen for your projector? I may have what you need:
ALR/CLR NothingProjector Screen

Test / Review conclusion

XGIMI's Horizon range has been around for a few years now, and the rapidly evolving world of projectors is forcing manufacturers to renew their products more and more often. XGIMI launched the XGIMI Horizon S Max and XGIMI Horizon S Pro last year, but it's the new Horizon 20 range that will mark a more significant break with the first generation. What's new? With more light, more contrast, optical zoom, lens shift, high frequency for gaming, etc... The Horizon 20 range brings far more new features than any previous generation, but it's all great on paper, what about in reality? I've let the numbers speak for themselves in my review, so now it's my turn to speak up

The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max outperforms every other projector I've tested from this brand. It's by far the brightest, the one with the best contrast, the highest gaming frequency, the best input lag, the widest color space and the best optics...and that's not all! All the strengths of previous generations are also present. As usual, the manufacturer's figures are a little higher than the reality, but the result is no less excellent. The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max I tested was one of the first units made available to testers, so the figures could be even better for the commercial version

Whether for SDR, HDR or Dolby Vision, this projector delivers an excellent image. Basic colorimetry is on a par with the previous generation, and can be further improved with calibration. In fact, I'm sharing my settings with you so you can take advantage of them too. The image is sharp, color rendition is excellent and contrast is much better than previous models. I'd just have to qualify my comments on contrast, as dynamic contrast brings a huge increase in contrast, but with occasional color drift (especially in transitions). This projector also incorporates new types of settings, notably with AI, to enhance images from older (low-resolution) sources.
Gamers will also be delighted with this projector, thanks in particular to its higher 1080p frequency and excessively low input lag. This new XGIMI is undoubtedly one of the best gaming projectors on the market today. If you have a recent console or a high-performance PC, you'll be able to get the most out of it. Sound quality is also good, with 2x12 watts and Harman-Kardon speakers as usual, as was the case with the previous generation.

No major faults, then, but there are a number of things to be aware of.

The brightness is very high, which means that if you use this projector only in total darkness, you'll need to turn the brightness down very sharply to avoid being disturbed. The Pro version will undoubtedly be more suitable. You should also be aware that, despite the high brightness, use in full light will affect image quality. It's still not like a television. Colors will deviate from the norm depending on the ambient light conditions, and the image will be less contrasted. A white screen with gain will even tend to aggravate the problem. An ALR screen, on the other hand, will give you better control over ambient light, but here we're on a different budget. I have a few recommendations on this subject in my article. Brightness is good, but it can also become a problem

The projector is quite heavy and bulky. If you want to use a tripod, you'll have to choose one that's weighted like the one offered by XGIMI, as the projector weighs over 5 kg

The tilt allows you to orient it towards the ceiling, but if you're using an HDMI source, the HDMI cable may prevent you from putting it in the vertical position due to the lack of space between the stand and the projector

This XGIMI Horizon 20 Max ticks a lot of boxes, then, and with the number of times I receive questions about using a projector in daylight, I think it's going to attract a new audience to video projection

Strengths

Brightness

Contrast

Sharpness

SDR and HDR colorimetry

Lens shift

Optical zoom

Placement flexibility

Input lag

Higher frequency for gaming

Numerous settings to improve image

Sound quality

Power consumption

No speckle found

Weaknesses

Heavy

Bulky

Color drift with dynamic contrast

LAURENT WILLEN
Head of myself on this blog

I share my passions on my blog in my free time since 2006, I prefer that to watching nonsense on TV or on social networks. I work alone, I am undoubtedly one of the last survivors of the world of blogs and personal sites.

My speciality? Digital in all its forms. I have spent the last 25 years working for multinationals where I managed digital teams and generated revenues of over €500 million per year. I have expertise in telecoms, media, aviation, travel and tourism.