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Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: One minute review
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is the company’s flagship portable projector. Its triple laser DLP light engine is rated to deliver a very high 5,700 ISO lumens brightness, and it has Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced support. Optical zoom and lens shift features allow for a high level of placement flexibility.
Google TV is inbuilt for wi-fi streaming, and gaming efficiency is superb. The Horizon 20 Max does lack key gaming options corresponding to 4K 120Hz assist, however its efficiency is responsive and snappy when taking part in intense video games.
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is way more costly than the best portable projectors, however its efficiency justifies its worth, and it’s simply one of many best projectors I’ve examined.
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Prices & release date
- Release date: October 2025
- Price: $2,999 / £2,599 (roughly AU$4,599)
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is the company’s flagship 4K portable projector, sitting above both the mid-range Horizon 20 Pro and entry-level Horizon 20. It was released in October 2025 for $2,999 / £2,599. This puts it in a similar price range as rivals such as the Anker Nebula X1, Valerian VisionMaster Pro 2 and Hisense C2 Ultra.
Since its launch, the Horizon 20 Max’s worth has remained the identical in each the US and UK, nevertheless it has fallen to as little as $2,399 in Xgimi particular affords. Minus any reductions, it sits on the premium finish of the moveable 4K projector market.
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Specs
|
Screen sizes supported: |
40-300 inches |
|
Brightness (specified): |
5,700 ISO lumens |
|
HDR support: |
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
|
Display technology: |
Triple laser DLP |
|
Smart TV: |
Google TV |
|
Connections: |
1x HDMI (with eARC), 3.5mm audio out, USB-A, USB-C (supports 100/140W PD input) |
|
Dimensions (H x W x D): |
2x HDMI (x1 eARC), 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x 3.5mm, 1x optical audio out |
|
Weight: |
11.9 pounds (5.4kg) |
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max: Design & features
Image 1 of 2
- Triple RGB laser light engine
- Optical zoom and obstacle avoidance
- Google TV
The Horizon 20 Max feels solidly built and has a useful hinged design that lets you easily adjust its projection height. A gimbal stand allows for good rotation, without needing to move the projector itself. At 9.6 x 11.7 x 7.5 inches (249 x 298 x 190mm), its size is similar to other larger portable projectors such as the JMGO N1S Pro 4K.
The Horizon 20 Max has a triple laser DLP mild engine and a rated brightness of 5,700 ISO lumens. Its throw ratio is 1.2-1.5:1, and it could mission on screens starting from 40-300 inches.
The Horizon 20 Max has a number of helpful options for picture correction, together with auto and guide keystone and focus, optical zoom, 120% vertical and 45% horizontal lens shift, clever impediment avoidance, wall colour adaptation and eye safety.
I discovered these options to be spectacular throughout my testing, with auto keystone working successfully. The optical zoom made setup straightforward, displaying the picture with good brightness and readability even at most zoom. The lens shift additionally proved to be a really great tool with a variety that permit me simply align the picture with the 80-inch matte white display screen I used for testing.
The Horizon 20 Max helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced. It has a Filmmaker Mode, however this isn’t a typical image preset such as you’ll discover on a few of the best TVs, however relatively a ‘Filmmaker Mode swap’ setting that may be turned on within the Show settings. 3D can be supported on the Horizon 20 Max.
For audio, the Horizon 20 Max has 2x 12W audio system with sound by Harmon Kardon and DTS: Digital X assist. There may be assist for Dolby audio, however not Dolby Atmos. Sound modes embody Customary and Film, plus a digital encompass sound setting. There may be additionally an EQ for bass and treble changes.
For connections, the Horizon 20 Max has two HDMI ports (one with eARC), a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, one optical digital audio output and one analog audio output.
The Horizon 20 Max makes use of Google TV as its operating system and helps main streaming apps together with Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video. Its in depth settings for each image and audio permit for a deep stage of customization.
Whereas the Horizon 20 Max doesn’t assist 4K 120Hz, it does assist VRR and ALLM for gaming and a 240Hz refresh charge at 1080p decision (in addition to 4K at 60Hz). I did discover that the Horizon 20 Max accepted 4K 120Hz alerts from my Xbox Sequence X, nevertheless it was confirmed by Xgimi that this was most likely being downscaled and utilizing it might end in an “unstable or downgraded picture”.
- Design & options rating: 4.5/5
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max: Picture & sound quality
- High brightness
- Spectacular color and good contrast
- Impressive audio
For my testing, I used an 80-inch Optoma 1.0 gain matte white screen. The Horizon 20 Max measured 433 nits HDR peak brightness in each Film and Customary mode, with mild output set to Max (the default). It is a nice end result and simply beats different moveable projectors I’ve examined just like the JMGO N1S Professional, which hit 178 nits peak HDR brightness. The Horizon 20 Max’s vivid image isn’t any shock, on condition that it’s rated for five,700 ISO lumens.
When measuring the Horizon 20 Max’s native distinction ratio, it yielded a results of 1,446:1. Colour accuracy within the default Film preset was 6.8, however setting the colour temperature to D65 dropped it to three.3, a a lot better end result. Lastly, it coated 98.9% of the DCI-P3 colour house and 96.8% of the BT.2020 colour house, each wonderful outcomes.
The Horizon 20 Max’s vivid image actually made an affect with animated films. Watching a 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient stream of Elemental in Dolby Imaginative and prescient Vivid image mode, the Horizon 20 Max confirmed vibrant, dazzling colours that packed loads of punch, corresponding to in a single scene the place Ember runs throughout some crystals, altering her personal flame’s colour.
A scene the place Maria and the youngsters stand at a fruit market stall from the 4K Blu-ray of The Sound of Music confirmed spectacular highlights, with the reds and yellows of the fruits popping on display screen. As they made their method into the hills, the luscious inexperienced grass and clear blue of the sky had been daring however nonetheless had a true-to-life look.
Switching to darker films, the Horizon 20 Max additionally displayed sturdy distinction and wealthy blacks. Within the crime scene in Mayor Mitchell’s home on a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman, the Horizon 20 Max had nice shadow element, with objects corresponding to photograph frames on the darkish partitions nonetheless seen. In each The Batman and Darkish Metropolis, once more on 4K Blu-ray, the Horizon 20 Max’s distinction was highly effective, with lamps below individuals’s faces casting sturdy shadows. Whereas blacks did often tackle a gray-blue hue, they had been principally correct – extra so than on different projectors I’ve examined, such because the JMGO N1S Professional 4K.
Textures all through my viewing had been crisp and detailed. Whether or not it was the plates in Batman’s armor in The Batman, the pockets on darkish jackets of characters in Darkish Metropolis, and even blades of grass in The Sound of Music, all the pieces regarded real looking.
The Horizon 20 Max’s movement dealing with is usually excellent. Watching a soccer recreation on Prime Video, I discovered that setting MEMC to Low in image settings produced the smoothest movement. After I subsequent watched a panning digicam shot from the film No Time To Die the place Bond walks throughout a rocky hillside, setting MEMC to Low additionally supplied clean movement with out including a cleaning soap opera impact.
The Horizon 20 Max does a stable job of upscaling SDR and lower-resolution content material out of the field. An HD stream of Battle Membership obtained an uplift in crispness and distinction. There are a selection of AI settings that may be utilized when you’re in search of a sharper image, together with AIPQ and AISR, with the latter having a scale from Low-Excessive. This improves upscaling even additional, and so long as you follow the decrease settings, it doesn’t make footage look overly sharp.
The Horizon 20 Max has two built-in 12W Sound by Harmon Kardon audio system, and I used to be impressed by how nicely they carried out. Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the Horizon 20 Max delivered loads of quantity, with sturdy bass that completely conveyed the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine. Even automobile crashes had loads of affect. Turning on encompass sound within the settings made the soundstage wider, with correct placement of results corresponding to screeching tires and blaring horns from autos. Speech was additionally clear all through, whether or not it was dialogue or the vocals in musicals.
Gaming on the Horizon 20 Max is equally spectacular. Whereas it doesn’t assist 4K 120Hz gaming, I nonetheless discovered gameplay to be clean and responsive. Taking part in Battlefield V at each 4K 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz, gunfights, which wanted fast focusing on and common scanning of the atmosphere, felt intuitive and snappy all through. The Horizon 20 Max’s enter lag time was 19.1ms at 4K 60Hz. After I requested Xgimi in regards to the projector’s specified 3ms enter lag time, I used to be advised that this was for a selected a part of the display screen. Nonetheless, the Horizon 20 Max is a good projector for gaming.
- Image and sound high quality rating: 4.5/5
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Value
- Premium priced
- Great performance and features
- Built-in Google TV
At $2,999 / £2,599, the Horizon 20 Max is a pricey portable projector. Even so, it’s priced comparably to rivals such as the Hisense C2 Extremely ($2,499 / £2,299) and the Anker Nebula X1 ($2,999 / £2,999), and delivers related options and efficiency.
You should buy a few of the finest extremely brief throw projectors, such because the Hisense PX3-Professional ($2,699 / £1,999), for cheaper. And there are cheaper moveable choices such because the JMGO N1S Extremely ($1,599/£1,999), however the Horizon 20 Max actually is a implausible projector for the efficiency and options it affords.
Should I buy the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max?
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Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Design and features |
Excellent features for picture adjustment and positioning. Design looks a bit old-school, but feels solidly built and premium |
4.5/5 |
|
Picture and sound quality |
Colorful, bright picture with strong contrast and crisp textures. Built-in sound surprisingly good and solid gaming performance too |
4.5/5 |
|
Value |
At the pricier end of the portable projector market, but with features and performance are great for the money |
4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max |
Anker Nebula X1 |
Hisense C2 Ultra |
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Price: |
$2,999 / £2,599 / around AU$4,500 |
$2,999 / £2,999 / around AU$4,500 |
$2,999 / £2,499 / AU$4,499 |
$2,999 / £2,599 / AU4,999 |
|
Screen sizes supported: |
40-300 inches |
up to 200 inches |
65-300 inches |
40-300 inches |
|
Brightness (specified): |
5,700 ISO lumens |
3,500 ANSI lumens |
3,000 ANSI lumens |
3,000 ISO lumens |
|
HDR support |
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, IMAX Enhanced |
Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, |
|
Optical technology: |
Triple laser DLP |
Triple laser DLP |
Triple laser DLP |
Triple laser DLP |
|
Smart TV: |
Google TV |
Google TV |
Google TV (US) / VIDAA (UK/AU) |
Google TV |
|
Connections: |
2x HDMI (x1 eARC), 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x 3.5mm, 1x optical audio out |
2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), USB-A, USB-C, optical audio out |
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x S/PDIF, Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm, Bluetooth |
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x HDMI 2.0 with eARC, 1x optical, 1x 3.5mm |
How I tested the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max
Image 1 of 2
- Tested using HDR and SDR sources
- Mostly tested in pitch black conditions
- Measurements taken using Portrait Displays’ Calman Color Calibration software
I tested the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max using an Optoma 80-inch, 1.0-gain matte white screen. I first did some casual viewing to establish its most accurate picture modes for testing, landing on Movie and Dolby Vision Dark.
I primarily used 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming for HDR testing, and used lower-resolution streaming for SDR analysis. For the Horizon 20 Max’s picture, I looked at brightness, color, upscaling, contrast and shadow detail. For 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray participant.
I additionally examined the Horizon 20 Max’s gaming capabilities utilizing an Xbox Series X, taking part in at each 4K 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz.
For goal testing, I made measurements utilizing a check sample generator and colorimeter, recording the outcomes with Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. I measured the Horizon 20 Max’s peak brightness for each SDR and HDR, distinction ratio, colour and grayscale accuracy, and HDR colour gamut protection for the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 colour areas. I additionally measured its enter lag utilizing a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Enter lag tester.
For a extra detailed rationalization of how we test TVs at TechRadar, take a look at the hyperlink.
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