XGIMI Aura 2: test / review
Published on: 17-10-2024 / Modified: 17-10-2024
I have been testing projectors for a few years and the brand that started it all is XGIMI. Until now, I had tested all the product ranges marketed in Europe except one...the Aura range. It is on the occasion of the release of the XGIMI Aura 2 that I will be able to fill this gap in my journey. In the XGIMI catalog, the Aura product range represents the top of the range in laser format and ultra-short focal length. The XGIMI Aura 2 takes some elements from the first model such as the DLP 0.47 chip but the big new feature is the use of a hybrid laser/LED light source. This combination should theoretically provide an advantage in terms of color space but I will come back to this point later in the test. The other change is the projection ratio of 0.177:1 which will allow you to have a huge image without having to move the projector too far away. This is the shortest projection ratio I have had the opportunity to test.
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Where to buy
The XGIMI Aura 2 is available on the official website for several countries:
France / Belgium: XGIMI Aura 2 / xgimi.com
Germany: XGIMI Aura 2 / xgimi.com
Spain: XGIMI Aura 2 / xgimi.com Rest of Europe: XGIMI Aura 2 / xgimi.com United Kingdom: .com/r.cfm?b=2641084&u=1686332&m=111657&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">XGIMI Aura 2 / xgimi.com Rest of the world: XGIMI Aura 2 / xgimi.com
Manufacturer web site:
https://www.xgimi.com
Price XGIMI Aura 2
Not yet available / testedTimeline
10/18/2024: expected date for receipt of the projectorWhy this projector?
XGIMI has gradually established itself as an essential reference in the field of all-in-one video projectors, by making this technology accessible to a wider audience. Their approach is based on a simple but effective recipe: offering complete and easy-to-use products. In particular, they have partnered with Harman Kardon to offer superior sound quality on several of their models, have been integrating a native Android interface for years, and have adopted LED technology to extend the life of their projectors. In addition, XGIMI offers a range of products covering all price segments.Whether in the entry-level or mid-range, their products meet a real need and have attracted millions of users around the world. I had not yet had the opportunity to test the Aura range, but this will be an opportunity for me to check if XGIMI can also compete with the competition in the category of products over €2,500, where the competitors are formidable!
However, XGIMI often has two weaknesses: sometimes insufficient contrast and, on some models, the lack of native compatibility with Netflix. This XGIMI Aura 2 model should theoretically correct the contrast problem. For Netflix, however, you will still have to go through the Desktop Manager application, while waiting for a future update that will integrate native compatibility.
Unpacking
Not yet available / testedOperating system
Not yet available / tested
Finish
Not yet available / testedProjection 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
Not yet available / testedPower consumption
Not yet available / testedOperating noise
Not yet available / testedImage quality
Not yet available / testedColorimetry
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.
Not yet available / tested
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.
Not yet available / tested
Sharpness
Not yet available / tested
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.
Not yet available / tested
Motion compensation
More on Motion Compensation (MEMC)
Many projectors use a frequency of 60 Hz, which means that they broadcast 60 frames per second. Many films were designed to broadcast 24 frames per second. This means that for each second, the film does not have enough frames to fill the 60 frames broadcast by the projector.
This most often results in a jerkiness in the image. Some projectors are able to attenuate this jerkiness with a motion compensation system (also called MEMC). If you abuse this compensation, you will get what is called the 'soap opera' effect which makes the image a little artificial like the TV series of the 80s.
Not yet available / tested
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.
Not yet available / tested
Screen choice
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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.
Not yet available / tested
Video games
More explanations video games
To be able to play in good conditions with a projector, the latency must be low. Latency is the reaction time between pressing a button on your controller and the reaction on the screen, this latency is expressed in milliseconds and is also called 'input lag'.
I measure this latency with a specialized device. To be able to play fast-paced FPS-type games online, you need to obtain a latency of less than 30 ms. For games where the reaction time is less important, a latency of less than 100ms should be suitable for most situations.
I generally test ShadowRunner from Geforce Now on my Nvidia Shield except when this is not possible. I'm not used to playing with a controller, so I'm not very good at it, but the point is to show the projector's ability, not mine.
Not yet available / tested
Encoutered bugs
Not yet available / testedALR/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
Not yet available / testedStrengths
Not yet available / tested
Weaknesses
Not yet available / tested
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.
Questions/Comments