XGIMI HORIZON Pro And XGIMI AURA Projectors Compared

By XGIMI Tech - 2023-07

XGIMI, a top brand within the worldwide projector industry, boasts a range of products that ensures trouble-free and enjoyable viewing to make your movie nights at home or in the backyard on a giant screen a memorable event.

The range includes two exceptional projectors – The XGIMI HORIZON Pro home projector and The XGIMI AURA short-throw projector.

Each of these home projectors have unique features that help you enjoy exceptional viewing experience for you, your families and friends, when watching on an extra-large screen.

While the HORIZON Pro is an LED projector, the AURA is a laser short-throw projector.

Product Characteristics

Template For Choosing One Or The Other

Comparison Table

Conclusion

Product Characteristics

Physical Characteristics

Performance Characteristics

There are major differences in the performance characteristics of the two projectors. 

Placing Distance

The HORIZON Pro is a long throw projector and requires a distance of 120” between the placement of the projector and the projected screen of size 120”. However, if the screen size were 80”, then a distance of 84” would suffice.

The AURA is an ultra-short throw (UST) projector and requires a distance of 11.7” between the placement of the projector and the projected screen of size 120”. However, if the screen size were 80”, then a distance of 4.3” would suffice.

It is clear that the HORIZON Pro would require a larger place to project on large screens, whereas the AURA would be ideal for smaller places because of it is a short-throw projector.

Setup

The two projectors have different setup features.

The HORIZON Pro home projector boasts an Intelligent Screen Adaption Technology (ISA), comprising auto keystone correction, auto focus, auto screen alignment and intelligent obstacle avoidance. This allows setup quickly without tinkering for adjustments. It also boasts AI brightness adjustment that assists you when there is change in ambient light (daytime versus nighttime).  

The AURA ultra-short-throw projector, on the other hand, hosts a manual 8-point keystone correction feature through which you can adjust the picture size and quality to whatever setting you want. It also hosts an intelligent eye protection feature that signals the automatic light dimmer to adjust the laser when needed thus protecting your eyes.

For those who are uncomfortable with adjustments, the HORIZON Pro is ideal, whereas the AURA is ideal for those who want to get every aspect of picture quality right by themselves with manual adjustments.

Because of its compact size and low weight, the HORIZON Pro is more convenient to shift from place to place.    

Image 

You need a light source in a projector to project images. The light source in a projector is of three types – Lamp, LED, and Laser. Over the years, lamp makers have adopted new technologies to produce lamps that eliminate heat, last longer, provide more brightness, and faithfully reproduce a wide range of true colors. Brightness is perhaps the most vital feature that the best laser projector or a 4K LED projector should possess to project images ensuring a great viewing experience on a large screen.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) serves as a light source, an alternative to lamps. LED light source uses the properties of semiconductor to emit light when current flows through it. The LED light source is reliable, costs very little, needs no maintenance, and is a low-cost alternative to a lamp.

Laser is short for ‘light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.’ A laser can produce a narrow beam of monochromatic light that can be directed anywhere. Lasers are an excellent light source for projectors. A laser light source in a combination of discrete red, blue, and green laser offers several benefits such as high color accuracy, uniform brightness, good control and great contrast. 

The HORIZON Pro boasts brightness supplied by the LED projector lamp delivering 1500 ISO Lumens. The projector’s brightness can cast the screen to a screen of size 300” without losing any of its brightness. However, the drawback is that because it is a long throw projector, the ambient light does act to slightly dim the brightness, especially on long throw projection.

The AURA, on the other hand, is an ultra-short-throw projector equipped with a laser source delivering 1800 ISO Lumens without any loss of brightness. 

Both are 4K projectors, featuring 4K resolution, offering crystal-clear picture quality.

Both 4K projectors feature the X-VUE 2.0 Image Engine. This engine contributes immensely to the clarity of images. Further, its fidelity is high in projecting true colors and reproducing them in a realistic manner without any loss of brightness or color loss. This engine brings dynamism to the projection without any loss of realism.

Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation (MEMC) technology in both 4K projectors equips them with the ability to adopt frame interpolation technology involving intelligent frame insertion feature. This helps to smooth images and to eliminate blurs. It also delivers low latency. It prevents image flutter and tailing and is extremely useful when projecting dynamic images such as the ones seen while viewing fast-paced action scenes, car chases and sports action scenes. You will not miss the relevant action scenes, as they will be clear and sharp.

Equipped with HDR10 technology, both projectors bring out the contrast between dark and bright spaces. The technology ensures that details are not lost out, at all times of the night and day. The major advantage for sports lovers is the technology is compatible with Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) broadcast standard, allowing you to enjoy the sports events in stark detail irrespective of the broadcasters. 

Sound

Superb sound reproduction is a requisite along with crystal-clear images and faithful reproduction of dynamic images for enjoying a movie projected on a large screen. Both 4K projectors boast impressive sound systems.

While the HORIZON Pro hosts two 8W, 45mm full-range Harman Kardon speakers, with low distortion and high dynamic response, the AURA boasts a more powerful configuration with two Harmon Kardon tweeters, two hoofers at 15W delivering crisp highs, dynamic midranges, and ample bass.

The HORIZON Pro is capable of producing surround sound audio experience by combining with the DTS-HD & DTS Studio Sound and Dolby Digital Audio features. Even more, you can enhance dialog sounds to different levels with bass enhancements. 

The AURA’s sound system is equally facile and more powerful comprising two 15W Harmon Kardon tweeters and woofers delivering crisp highs, dynamic midranges, and ample bass. It fills the space with its booming sound separating individual sounds to enhance your sound experience even further. The AURA can also combine with DTS-HD & DTS Studio Sound and Dolby Digital Audio to give you an out-of-the-world sound experience.

One Stop Entertainment

Both 4K projectors boast Google Play Store and Android TV™ integration to bring you loads of entertainment through access to 5,000+ native apps including HBO, Showtime and YouTube. You can also use the Google Assistant button to activate the voice assistant feature to perform these actions. The other major feature is the Chromecast integration, allowing you to cast videos and games directly from your devices.  

The HORIZON Pro is perfect for serious gamers as it has a low 35ms latency rate, and combined with 4K resolution, you are on the top of the world while gaming. 

Both projectors have a number of ports for connectivity. These are multiple ports, allowing you to connect various devices such as your gaming consoles, headphones, TV sticks, and more. The two XGIMI projectors support the following ports: 

• USB 
• HDMI
• OPTICAL
• DC
• Headphones
• LAN

The various multiple ports available on the HORIZON Pro and AURA projectors are as follows:

HORIZON Pro - DC x 1, HDMI x 2, USB x 2, LAN x 1, Headphone x 1, OPTICAL x 1, Wi-Fi Dual-band 2.4/5GHz, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0

AURA - DC x 1, HDMI x 3, USB x 3, LAN x 1, Mini USB (Debug) x 1, Headphone x 1, Optical x 1

With those ports, users can connect different external devices to their HORIZON Pro or AURA and enjoy more functions with those devices!

Template For Choosing One Or The Other

You perhaps now have a clear picture of the various features of the two XIGMI projectors. You should be able to identify your needs and see for yourself which of the two projectors you want to go for.

The following could help you put the features in perspective and help you to decide: 

1. Budget

The price of the AURA at $2k+ and the price of the HORIZON Pro at $1k+ should be an easy decision to make.

2. Portability

If you are not using the projector in different places, it is prudent to consider the AURA for its superior features and advantages as a fixed projector.

On the other hand, if you want to use the projector in different rooms of your home or even a friend’s home, then the HORIZON Pro home projector must be your choice.

3. Space

The AURA’s UST feature makes it very attractive if you do not have large rooms to project on large screens.

On the other hand, if you have large spaces both indoors and outdoors, you can opt for the HORIZON Pro. 

4. Ambient light

AURA’s 1800 ISO Lumens brightness helps you overcome ambient light conditions. It is also an UST projector, making it ideal for screening without loss of brightness. 

If you are able to control ambient light by closing windows or drawing curtains or watching at night, then the HORIZON Pro would be a good choice. 

5. Setup

You can consider the HORIZON Pro if you use the projector frequently in different places. Its features such as auto focus help you to setup quickly.

If you have a dedicated home theater setup, then the AURA should be your first choice. 

6. Sound 

If you use the projector for sound (without using external speakers), the AURA’s more powerful speakers make it the first choice.

7. Image 

The AURA’s 1800 ISO Lumens brightness makes it a better choice especially if you have more ambient light.

8. Eye Safety

Each projector has its plus point.

The HORIZON Pro boasts TÜV Rheinland certified for low blue light, which means reduced blue light, diffused imaging, even over long periods of viewing.

AURA’s Intelligent Eye Protection feature protects your eyes by dimming the laser when needed.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

As you can see, the two projectors are equally performance oriented with few major differences. The first major difference is the price. The AURA is about twice as costly as the HORIZON Pro.

The second major difference is the throw. While the AURA is an UST projector, requiring only under one and half feet to be placed in front of the screen, the HORIZON Pro home projector requires about 12 feet distance between projector and screen.

The HORIZON Pro is a gaming projector as well. Its features suit the gamers to enjoy video games as a solo player or in a multi-player format. It has a game mode, which offers latency of 35ms allowing you to enjoy games better.

The decision to choose the right 4K projector is yours to make. You have all the facts at your command, and all you have to do is choose the most appropriate one for your needs.  You can also learn the difference between a laser projector and a TV.

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