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. That's all very well in theory, but these features still need to be verified in reality

I'm going to test the XGIMI Horizon 20 Max with my usual test protocol to check whether this new range lives up to what's been announced. The official launch is scheduled for October 15, 2025, but you can pre-order these 3 models from September 5 with an introductory offer valid until October 14. So, unless you're in a hurry, you can wait for my review while taking advantage of the launch offer, and I hope to publish my results in mid-September. It depends on when I get the projector.

Launch gifts: free XGIMI tripod (value: 199€), free Assassins Creed Shadows games (downloadable) and for the USA a 750$ discount. There will also be a competition if you share your experience, you could win a Vividstorm screen

To take advantage of the launch offer:

Launch offer

I don't yet know if I'll be testing the other models, but in the meantime I'll give you my theoretical opinion on the other two

Need a screen?

I get a lot of questions about using a screen with this type of projector. I've covered everything in detail in the ‘choosing a screen’ section further down this page.

Important note
This review will be published in full on October 15, but if you have any questions about the Horizon 20 range, feel free to ask me in the comments or send me a message.

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

Not yet available / tested

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

Not yet available / tested

Power consumption

Not yet available / tested

Operating noise

Not yet available / tested

Image quality

Not yet available / tested

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.

Not yet available / tested

Image Settings
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.

I need more time to make all my measurements, but I can already share some preliminary results with you. I measured a native contrast between 1200 and 1400:1 without using dynamic contrast. However, 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.

I'll come back to these measurements as soon as possible because I haven't yet received the latest version of the software and XGIMI has been working on a few improvements that could impact my measurements.

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.

Not yet available / tested

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.

Not yet available / tested

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

Not yet available / tested

Strengths

Not yet available / tested

Weaknesses

Not yet available / tested

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.