Finally, a portable 4K projector that can replace my TV — and it supports Dolby Vision

ZDNET Highlights

• Xgimi’s Horizon S Max is now on sale for around $1,200, down from $1,900.
• It delivers sharp, vibrant picture quality that’s well above its price tag, and the new gimbal design is easy to set up.
• Its minimal port selection may be a problem for some people.

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I will not bury the lead: The xgimi horizon s max This is one of the brightest projectors I’ve tested, and that’s one of the major concerns when it comes to replacing a TV for a projector. The Horizon S Max also incorporates my favorite design elements from the JMGO N-series projectors, making it easy to plug in, set up, and play.

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I’m also fond of the sleek and portable form factor. This is based on the physical limitations of its predecessor, although one software limitation will bother you – or perhaps a few, depending on your use case. That said, I still like the Horizon S Max, and that’s why you should consider it.

A design that’s hard to complain about

Unlike the Horizon Ultra, the new Xgimi projector comes with a built-in rotating stand, so you don’t need to spend extra on a stand to hold the projector. It is quite similar to the JMGO N1 Ultra and N1S Ultimate.

I like it because adjusting the screen placement is extremely simple – both vertically (135 degrees) and horizontally (360 degrees). Additionally, the mounting system is sturdy and maintains the angle you set, unless a heavy HDMI cable is connected, which could pull it down.

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The Xgimi projector retains the sliding cover on the front. Apart from looking classy, ​​it protects the lens from attracting dust. You’ll find two USB 2.0 ports and an HDMI (eARC) port on the back. The port position is downgraded from the Horizon Ultra, which had an additional HDMI port, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and an Ethernet port in addition to the Horizon S Max.

The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack meant I couldn’t connect my Marshall Stanmore 2 for sound, while the single HDMI port allows for a soundbar or gaming console connection. Most rival projectors have a 3.5mm audio port and two HDMI ports. It has a minimal port selection along with a power button and heat vents on the back.

oh, so bright

The Xgimi Horizon S Max features a dual light source that increases brightness from 2,300 lumens on the Horizon Ultra to 3,100 lumens. The screen size can grow up to 200 inches with a throw ratio of 1.2:1. In my experience, I’ve found it to be brighter and more detailed than the JMGO N1 Ultra and on par with the more expensive N1S Ultimate.

I’ve enjoyed my time with the Horizon S Max. The Keystone upgrade is faster and more reliable than its predecessor. It’s also fast at adjusting and autofocusing the photo on any surface.

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However, if I turn it on during the day I still remove the curtains, but the light is bright enough to be visible. The screen is vibrant, colorful and expressive. You will definitely enjoy watching movies on this. When I projected it onto a pink wall, it didn’t affect the picture quality — thanks to a new feature that adjusts the color balance of the picture depending on the color of the wall.

Like the Horizon Ultra, the Horizon S Max comes with support for MEMC, Dolby Vision, and Game Mode for low latency. Watching Dolby Vision content in different lighting is a wonderful experience, and it’s also enhanced by the fantastic speaker setup, which sounds louder than expected.

My Stanmore 2 is tied to the JMGO N1S Ultimate because it’s not fast enough, but the dual 12W drivers on the Horizon S Max are enough for a small room. Therefore, you will not need any external speakers. I’m disappointed that my speakers don’t have an audio port, and I have to connect a soundbar via HDMI to enhance the sound experience.

In my experience, the Android TV 11-based Horizon S Max software was easy to navigate. But at times I noticed lag between the remote input and the UI. As far as the remote goes, it’s well-built, yet it lacks a quick-action button that allows access to your favorite streaming apps with a single press.

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It took me just a few minutes to pair the remote, set up my Google account, and download the apps I wanted. The Horizon S Max has 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, powered by a quad Cortex-A55 core. For wireless connectivity, you also get built-in Chromecast support, Bluetooth 5.1, and Wi-Fi 5.

One gripe that remains from last year is the lack of Netflix support. You can’t run the native Netflix app on the Horizon S Max. This is surprising since rivals like JMGO have fixed this problem with the latest N1S lineup. You can still use a streaming stick to play Netflix, but the lack of Netflix support may be a bummer for many people.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

At $1,899 (or, even better, the current selling price of $1,219) xgimi horizon s max Provides better image quality than its competitors. It rivals the $2,500+ JMGO N1S Ultimate and is better than the similarly priced JMGO N1 Ultra. I like the new design with the integrated gimbal-like stand. This makes the projector very convenient to set up and run. However, the port selection and lack of Netflix support may suffer from that feature.

Additionally, the Xgimi Horizon S Max offers excellent image quality and sound. The user interface is manageable, and I have enjoyed watching movies on it. So, if you have a $2,000 budget and want a projector solely for its image quality, the Xgimi Horizon S Max is an easy recommendation.

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