Projectors Tests Reviews

XGIMI Horizon 20: Test / Review

Published on: 07-11-2025 / Modified: 07-11-2025

Every year, XGIMI launches at least one projector in each category, but this year, they wanted to go one step further by launching 3 projectors in a new range called Horizon 20, with a Horizon 20 (this projector), a Horizon 20 Pro (which I'll be testing later) and the Horizon 20 Max (which I've already tested). The test I published on the Horizon 20 Max was one of this year's most-visited tests, and the commercial success that followed led to a shortage rather quickly. So I had to wait a few weeks before being able to test the basic version (Horizon 20) that I'm going to introduce in this article. The Pro version should follow later this year

The Horizon 20 range has generated a lot of enthusiasm everywhere, but it has also generated quite a few questions, and I don't think this is the article for which I've spent the most time answering questions. That's perfectly understandable, because the 3 projectors in the Horizon 20 range are almost identical, with only the brightness and optics differing from one model to the next. The XGIMI Horizon 20 Max is undeniably the best long-throw projector I've tested to date. That's not to say that the basic version isn't interesting - quite the contrary. So I'm going to compare these two models to help you make the right choice. If you still have questions, don't hesitate to ask them in comments

Where to buy?

The XGIMI Horizon 20 is available at the best price on the official website:

XGIMI Horizon 20 / XGIMI.com

Price XGIMI Horizon 20

Not yet available / tested

Timeline

09/11/2025: the projector is on its way, it should arrive by mid-November, I'll publish the test results gradually.

Why this projector?

I began testing the new Horizon 20 range with the Horizon 20 Max and was surprised by the huge interest in this projector. The projector is one of the best, but at this price level, I thought the audience was going to be fairly limited. I've received a lot of questions from users about the choice between the Horizon 20, Horizon 20 Pro and Horizon 20 Max. It's not an easy choice, especially when it's your first projector. So I've already covered the Horizon 20 Max and now I'm going to test the Horizon 20 in depth to assess the difference between the two projectors.

Those who read my test of the Horizon 20 Max will find quite a lot in this test, as these 2 projectors are very similar, but there are a few determining factors that will steer your choice towards one model or another.

Unpacking

When you buy something as expensive as a projector over the Internet, there's always the worry about transport. Will the projector arrive undamaged? I think XGIMI has understood this, packing its projectors in a very large EVA-type rigid foam case which is also protected by the usual cardboard packaging. Zero risk obviously doesn't exist, but I think this type of packaging is the best available at the moment

The valid case contains the projector and a cardboard box containing the power cable, transformer, remote control, two AAA batteries and a small manual

Operating system

All Horizon 20 series projectors run on Google TV. The first time you switch on the projector, you'll go through the Google TV setup, which is very simple. If you already have a Google account on your phone, you can scan a QR code on the screen to clone your Google account to the projector. You can of course do the whole thing manually, but it takes a little longer. An internet connection and a Google account are required for this first connection, but afterwards you'll be able to use the projector without a Google account, which is less convenient but possible

Google TV has an interface specially designed for projectors, so it's an excellent experience. You'll also be able to use Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO and all the major streaming platforms.

Finish

All Horizon 20 series projectors are based on the same chassis, so there's no difference in format or packaging. The only difference is in the optical compartment, where the Horizon 20 has a "normal" optical compartment and the other two versions have a more precise optical compartment with better light diffusion. This optics unit has raised quite a few questions, as many users have wondered whether it justifies the price difference. Let me be clear: no, it's not what should motivate you to pick up one of the other two models. The image is certainly sharper, but the Horizon 20 produces good sharpness that's probably more than enough for a large proportion of potential buyers. There are, of course, other reasons to buy one of the other two models, which I'll go into in more detail later in the review.

The tilt mechanism allows the projector to be aimed vertically or downwards below its horizon line. This kind of mechanism is very practical, but usually causes image distortion with the appearance of a gray edge around the image due to trapezoidal correction. This is not the case with this projector, as it features a lens shift mechanism (horizontal and vertical!) and an optical zoom that allows the image position to be altered without distortion or degradation. All the projectors in the Horizon 20 range have these two mechanisms, and that's a strong argument in their favor. The effect is all the greater on the Horizon 20 because this projector is considerably less expensive than the other 2

At the rear, we have a fairly classic connectivity for projectors of this type with 2 HDMI ports, one of which is eARC, a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, an SPDIF digital audio output and a headphone output. The power connector is located in the projector stand.

The front grille houses the 2 Harman Kardon speakers, which are the same as the previous generation. It's not a big deal, as the sound quality is good

The top is covered with a kind of leather, I don't know if it's real leather or an imitation, but it gives the projector a neat effect

Underneath is the mechanism that allows the projector to rotate 360°. It's also possible to mount it on a tripod, but you'll need to make sure you have a sturdy one, as the projector weighs around 5 kg and its weight distribution could well tip it forwards or backwards. XGIMI sells a tripod specially designed for this type of projector, which is actually a metal monopod with a weighted structure at its base

The remote control is the same as on the other models. It's partly made of metal. The main buttons are backlit and light up automatically when the remote detects movement. This is a very practical and well-designed remote control.

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

If I had to find one thing ridiculous about this projector, it would be its power consumption, and when I use the word ridiculous it's mostly irony. I measured a power consumption of 97 watts with the laser at 10 and 62 watts with the laser at 1. That's an absolutely ridiculous consumption compared to the luminosity emitted. Far less than the Horizon 20 Max with its 176 and 100 watts.

Operating noise

I measured the operating noise of the Horizon 20 by sticking my decibel meter on the projector and it didn't detect anything. When I took the measurement, I could hear more the fan on my PC in the next room. I took the measurement with the laser at maximum, so unless you switch to high power mode, you shouldn't hear it very often.

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.

I'm going to start this chapter with a sort of inventory, and rather than inundate you with figures, I'm going to show you the level of color fidelity of this projector in a very simple way. The projector has numerous parameter combinations, but I'm going to limit myself to 2 configurations, which will be more than enough to draw conclusions.

I'm going to start by showing you the color fidelity in the projector's standard configuration, which is the projector's default configuration:

The top row corresponds to the reference color, the bottom row corresponds to the measured color. The delta E is the unit of measurement for the screen and ideally should be below 3. Most values are in the red with a delta E greater than 3. Yet I'm sure you're thinking that the difference isn't very noticeable, and you're right. The discrepancy is mainly caused by an over-saturated image. This will result in an image that is not necessarily very natural.

Let's take a detour into grayscale:

Here too, the delta E is too high, and the bluish dominance of the grays is clearly visible, indicating that the image is too cold.

If I stopped here, I'd be obliged to tell you that you should avoid this projector at all costs, because the colorimetry is not good.

The best configuration is the "film" mode with the color temperature set to "D65", which you can choose in just a few clicks. Let's see what it does for primary and secondary colors:

It's much better and even excellent for a basic configuration. This means that by switching from the "standard" configuration to the "film" configuration and d65, color fidelity is radically improved.

Let's see what happens to the grayscale:

The bluish tint has disappeared, but the gap is still too wide. In principle, this discrepancy is easy to correct, as the projector offers a wide range of settings. I'll share my settings with you as soon as I've finished calibration.

What about gamut? Gamut is the number of colors a projector can display in relation to the standard. Here, for the SDR, we're using the REC709 standard, as shown in the following image:

The dark blue triangle represents the standard, the other triangle represents the measurements. This projector therefore covers the REC709 standard without a hitch, with just a small deviation already explained in the previous paragraphs

Well, that was all for SDR, but what about HDR? It's a bit like that. First, I'll show you the colors in the standard configuration and then I'll switch to film mode:

The result here is already much better than what I obtained in SDR mode, but let's first see what it looks like in film mode before concluding:

And here's a nice visual slap without doing anything. The film/D65 configuration is excellent without doing anything!

I'll finish with the gamut. Here, the standard is REC2020, with a much wider triangle, and few projectors tickle the maximum of this standard:

And yet, the XGIMI Horizon 20 achieves 97.5% of the REC2020 space, an excellent result that will give you a very good level of HDR rendering, as the projector reproduces a maximum of colors, and these colors are just right

I think the conclusion of the colorimetry is quite simple, change the configuration to choose "film" / D65 and your image will be close to perfection. I'll share a few more settings as soon as they're ready, to nibble away at a few more details

Image Settings
I've finally found the time to calibrate this projector more finely than with the basic configuration, and the result is quite simply excellent:

I have a delta E of less than 3 for all primary and secondary colors, with very little deviation. To achieve this result, I had to modify just three parameters

With my white screen in SDR

=> 2-point white balance:

Red 33

Green 55

Blue 46

=> global settings

Brightness 54

Contrast 49

And for HDR

=> 2-point white balance:

Red 40

Green 50

Blue 45

=> global settings

Brightness 45

Contrast 45

These values are valid for a white screen with a little deviation. If you have an ALR screen, you'll need to increase red above 50, decrease blue around 40 and increase green by a few points.

These settings give you perfect colors, but the basic colors are already quite faithful, so if you don't want to bother with these settings, select film mode with color temperature D65 and you'll be fine

I've filmed a 10-minute sequence to illustrate all this, but don't forget that filming a projector of this type is quite difficult, so the rendering is much better in reality:

As I'm using videos for which I don't have the rights, you may have to watch this video directly on YouTube. If this is the case, you can do so with the following link:

XGIMI Horizon 20 / demo YouTube

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.

I regularly take part in discussions on Reddit and the question that came up most often about these projectors was brightness. This is one of the differentiating factors between the 3 projectors in the Horizon range, so it's important to understand what brightness corresponds to in order to make the right choice

Here are my measurements for all available configurations:

[

Projector	Configuration	Brightness	Lumens
XGIMI Horizon 20	Standard	10	1663,850301
XGIMI Horizon 20	Standard	1	857,6547944
XGIMI Horizon 20	Movie	10	1681,861052
XGIMI Horizon 20	Movie	1	879,9538191
XGIMI Horizon 20	Vivid	10	1554,928142
XGIMI Horizon 20	Vivid	1	840,5016985
XGIMI Horizon 20	Game	10	1679,288087
XGIMI Horizon 20	Game	1	873,9502355
XGIMI Horizon 20	Sports	10	1674,142159
XGIMI Horizon 20	Sports	1	894.5339506
XGIMI Horizon 20	High Power	10	3019,802531

This projector is advertised with a brightness of 3200 lumens, and this table shows that we're not far off the mark with 3019 lumens in "High Power" mode. The problem is that this mode is absolutely unusable because of the greenish tint of the image. There's also a boost mode that can add around 200 lumens to each setting of this table, but this option adds a layer of yellow to the image, so it's not ideal either

What's the takeaway from all this? Movie mode is the best in terms of colorimetry, so I'm going to use it to explain what you can do with this brightness level. With the laser at 10 (max), I get 1681 lumens and with the laser at 1 I get 879 lumens. In both cases, daylight use is not recommended, and this is already one of the arguments in favor of the Max model. In the dark, with 1681 lumens and a neutral screen, you can aim at an image of 130 inches (and even a little more), so it's very comfortable. If you use the laser at minimum, you can aim for 100 inches

These measurements should already enable you to make a choice. If you want to use the projector in the dark, and if you're using a neutral screen with a maximum size of 130 inches, this Horizon 20 should be enough for you. Screen choice could play a role here, but I'll come back to this point later in the test

Numbers are nice, but I'll also show you what it looks like in real life. Don't pay too much attention to color tint, I took the wrong camera for this series of photos. Concentrate on brightness and contrast

1st comparison: white screen day/night

I think the comparison is pretty clear, the image is still clearly visible in daylight but there's a big loss of contrast. Watching a soccer match might still work but dark scenes will make the image tro

2nd comparison: ALR day/night screen (screen intended for ultra-short focal length so not ideal but it works)

3rd comparison: white screen vs ALR / day screen (ALR screen on the right)

The image is too bright in both cases, but the ALR screen fares better with less loss of contrast, but again, this screen is not designed for this type of projector. I'll add another example in the screen section of this test where you can see the result on an ALR screen intended for this type of projector

4th comparison: white screen vs ALR screen / night (ALR screen on left)

The ALR screen I used isn't optimized for this type of projector, yet the blacks are deeper than the white screen, and the image is much more contrasty.

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.

Contrast has always been one of XGIMI's biggest weaknesses, but the brand is improving with each generation, and the Horizon 20 range will be even better than the previous generation. I measured native contrast in all configurations and obtained the following results:

[

Projector	Configuration	Brightness	Contrast
XGIMI Horizon 20	Standard	10	1437,037037
XGIMI Horizon 20	Movie	10	1452,592593
XGIMI Horizon 20	Vivid	10	1342,962963
XGIMI Horizon 20	Game	10	1450,37037
XGIMI Horizon 20	Sports	10	1445,925926
XGIMI Horizon 20	High Power	10	1304.074074

This contrast marks an evolution from the previous range; it is a little behind the Pro and Max models, but the difference is not huge.

This projector has a dynamic contrast feature but it's not perfected yet, I'll come back to this point after the next firmware update.

Here's an example with the Batman scene I use all the time:

The contrast isn't bad at all, the dark areas aren't all unblocked but the image is well contrasted overall

Here's an example comparing the same scene with daylight

In my chapter on luminosity I showed examples of very bright scenes, but for dark scenes, the loss of contrast is too great to watch a film of this type in good conditions.

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.

The XGIMI Horizon 20 features an optical zoom that allows you to change the projection ratio without any degradation in quality.
With the zoom at minimum (factor 1.2), you get an image width of around 85 cm for every meter of distance from your screen. At a distance of 2 meters, you'll get an image about 170 cm wide. With the zoom at maximum (factor 1.5), you get an image of around 66 cm per meter of distance, enabling you to position your projector further into your room. At 2 meters, you'll get an image 132 cm wide.

Screen choice

Is it necessary to use a screen with this projector? I'd say yes, for a simple reason. If you're investing €1,500 in a projector capable of delivering a very good image, I'd say it's a shame to waste the projector's potential on a white wall. White walls are not optimized for projector rendering, even with suitable paint.

What type of screen should I choose? White or gray? I'll give you a few pointers to help you make the right choice.
A white screen can do the trick if you're using the projector in total darkness. I've been using a 130-inch white screen from Vevor for a few years now, having paid 120€ for it on their official website. It's not a high-end screen like Lumène's or Celexon's, but it still looks good.

If you want better contrast perception or better control of ambient light, you should opt for an ALR screen. This type of screen lowers the overall brightness of the image, so you get a deeper black, but this means you'll have to aim for a smaller screen size if the gain is less than 1.

I tested this projector on a 100-inch NothingProjector lenticular ALR screen and the result is absolutely impeccable. I also tested it on a 120-inch motorized screen from the same brand, but this one is designed for ultra-short focal lengths. Although the rendering is good, the brightness of the image is not sufficient.

I didn't notice any speckle on either the Vevor screen or the NothingProjector screen. I'm going to add a chapter on screen choice to my video so you can see for yourself.

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.

This projector is equipped with two 15-watt speakers from Harman Kardon. These are the same speakers used in the Horizon 20 Pro and Horizon 20 Max, as in the previous generation (S Pro, S Max). The sound quality is very good, and you can adapt the sound rendering to suit your needs, with an equalizer and a function to bring out the voices in films.£

I integrated a 3-minute soundtrack into my video, with a view of the parameters for adapting the sound rendering.

Video games

Encoutered bugs

Not yet available / tested

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

The Horizon 20 range was launched in October of this year, and although I expected a certain success from this new series of projectors, I didn't expect it to be so successful...nor did XGIMI, for that matter, as they quickly sold out. I've tested all XGIMI projectors over the last few years, but the previous models never aroused such interest.

Why? I think there are several reasons for this, but the most important is simply that this new series of projectors meets all expectations. What will decide the choice between the 20, 20 Pro and 20 Max is brightness and sharpness, but for the rest, they all produce an excellent image, excellent sound and a great gaming experience.

The Horizon 20 is the first basic configuration to offer good colorimetry without any headaches. Color rendition is excellent in both SDR and HDR. The brightness of this projector will force you to use it in the dark, but will enable you to aim for 130 inches in very good conditions

Contrast is also on the rise. With a native contrast of over 1400:1, you can enjoy dark scenes without losing too much detail. Dynamic contrast, on the other hand, is not yet working properly, and should be able to bring contrast up to over 10,000:1, but at the cost of significant color deviation. XGIMI is working on an update to correct this problem, but it was not available at the time of this test.

Sound quality is as good as ever, with the same equipment on all 3 projectors in the Horizon 20 range. The sound is powerful and comfortable across the entire spectrum. You don't need a dedicated installation unless you want more power and 5.1 (or higher) rendering

Gaming has become a very serious selling point with this new series. With near-zero latency and a frame rate that can go up to 240 hz, you get a very high-level gaming experience that no other projector can surpass at the moment

I'd also add that the use of Google TV with native compatibility of all streaming applications (Netflix, Prime Video, Disney,...) makes it possible to offer the best experience with this kind of projector. This advantage isn't limited to application compatibility: the number of settings on offer means you can tailor the experience perfectly to your needs. I'm thinking in particular of certain features that allow you to enhance your old films and series in 720p to get a better experience

I'll end this conclusion with the lens shift and optical zoom. This is the first time XGIMI has offered these two features in a projector, and it provides a huge advantage in terms of projector placement. It's also a major competitive advantage in this price range.

This projector will therefore be a great success, and I didn't find any major weaknesses. Dynamic contrast is undoubtedly the weakest point, but if XGIMI manages to correct this problem, this projector will probably dominate the price segment in which it finds itself.

Strengths

SDR and HDR image quality

Colorimetry in film/D65 mode

Native contrast

Sound quality

Low latency for playback

Frame rate

Discreet operation

Reduced power consumption

Lens shift (120° vertical, 45° horizontal)

Optical zoom

Weaknesses

Standard configuration too cold

Color deviation with dynamic contrast

Dolby Vision bug for games

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.