Xgimi Horizon hands-on: Potent home projector for first-timers

The Horizon features a good amount of inputs, including optical audio, two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports (one with ARC support), an Ethernet jack, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The HDMI ports use the 2.0a standard, meaning they can support 4K at 60 Hz and HDR10 content (more on this later). The projector only outputs a Full HD (1920×1080) image, but it can receive and accurately downscale 4K media.

The USB ports operate at USB 2.0 speeds (480 MBit/s), which makes them adequate for streaming content from an attached storage unit. However, they struggle to stream some 4K content (standard and HDR), resulting in some stutters and pauses to buffer the media. Given enough time to buffer media, playback can be smooth, but longer media (such as a movie) may encounter further stutters and buffering. 

On top are a few physical buttons for volume control, play/pause, and power. These are nice add-ons that aren’t always present on Xgimi’s projectors and can be handy should the remote’s batteries die. The bulk of the controls are on the included remote, which is necessary to navigate the user interface. The remote has the standard array of Android TV controls, including home, back, and menu buttons as well as buttons for the Google Assistant and projector settings. 

Overall, the Horizon has a good amount of connectivity, though I would prefer to have one more HDMI port to complete the home theater setup; one video game console and a Blu-Ray player will occupy all display inputs, limiting options. That said, most media will likely be played through a streaming service (e.g., Netflix, Disney+), so it may not be an issue for most people.