I finally found a 4K projector worthy of replacing my TV – and it’s the brightest one I’ve tested

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• It offers sharp and vibrant picture quality that’s well above its price tag.
• New gimbal design is convenient and easy to setup.
• Minimal port selection might be a problem for some

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The Xgimi Horizon S Max is one of the brightest projectors I’ve tested. It includes my favorite design element from the JMGO N-series of projectors, which makes it easy to plug, set up, and play. I’m also fond of the form factor and functionality; while it builds upon the physical limitations of the predecessor, one software hindrance will annoy you. 

Or maybe a few, depending on your use case. With that being said, I still like the Horizon S Max, and here’s why you should consider it.

I love the new design

Unlike the Horizon Ultra, the new Xgimi projector comes with a built-in rotating stand, so you don’t need to spend extra on a stand to hold the projector. It’s very similar to the one you can find on the JMGO N1 Ultra and the newly-launched N1S Ultimate. Personally, I love it because it’s extremely simple to adjust the screen placement — both vertically (135 degrees) and horizontally (360 degrees). Also, the mounting system is solid and stays at the angle you set it unless you connect a heavy HDMI cable that pulls it down.

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The new Xgimi projector retains the sliding cover on the front. Apart from looking classy, it protects the lens from attracting dust. On the back, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports and an HDMI (eARC) port. The port situation sees a downgrade from the Horizon Ultra, which had another HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an ethernet port, in addition to the ones present on the Horizon S Max. 

The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack means I couldn’t connect my Marshall Stanmore 2 for sound, while one HDMI port means you can either connect a soundbar or a gaming console. Most rival projectors have a 3.5mm audio port and two HDMI ports. It’s a minimal port selection alongside the power button and heat vents on the back. 

Oh, so bright!

The Xgimi Horizon S Max features a dual light source that brings the brightness up from 2,300 lumens on the Horizon Ultra to 3,100 lumens. The screen size can expand up to 200 inches with a throw ratio of 1.2:1. In my experience, I’ve found it brighter and more detailed than the JMGO N1 Ultra and on par with the more expensive N1S Ultimate. 

I’ve enjoyed my time with the Horizon S Max. The keystone correction is quicker and more reliable than its predecessor. It’s also quicker at adjusting the picture on any surface and autofocus. 

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However, I still pull the curtains if I power it on during the day, but it is bright enough to be visible in light. The screen is vibrant, colorful, and immersive. You’ll definitely enjoy watching movies on it. When I had it projected on a pink wall, it didn’t affect the picture quality — thanks to a new feature that adjusts the color balance of the picture based on wall color. 

Like the Horizon Ultra, the Horizon S Max comes with support for MEMC, Dolby Vision, and a game mode for reduced latency. Watching Dolby Vision content with varying lighting is an immersive experience and It’s also elevated by the great speaker setup, which sounds louder than expected. 

I have my Stanmore 2 connected to the JMGO N1S Ultimate because it doesn’t get loud enough but the dual 12W drivers on the Horizon S Max are enough for a small room. So, you wouldn’t require an external speaker. But, I’m disappointed that there’s no audio port for my speaker and I have to connect a soundbar through HDMI if I want to elevate the sound experience. 

In my experience, navigating on the Android TV 11-based Horizon S Max software was smooth. But, there were times when I noticed a lag between remote input and the UI. As for the remote, it’s well-built, yet it lacks quick action buttons that allow one press to go to your favorite streaming apps.

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It took me just a few minutes to pair the remote, set up my Google accounts, and download my desired apps. Horizon S Max houses 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage onboard, which is powered by quad Cortex A55 cores. You also get built-in Chromecast support, Bluetooth 5.1, and WiFi 5 for wireless connectivity. 

One annoyance from last year that remains is the absence of Netflix support. You can’t run the native Netflix app on the Horizon S Max. This is surprising because rivals like JMGO fixed this issue with the latest N1S lineup. You can still run Netflix with a streaming stick, but the lack of Netflix support could be a deal breaker for many. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

At $1,900, the Xgimi Horizon S Max features better image quality than its competitors. It rivals the $2,500+ JMGO N1S Ultimate and it’s better than the similarly-priced JMGO N1 Ultra. I love the new design with an integrated gimbal-like stand. It makes the projector very convenient to set up and play. However, the lack of port selection and Netflix support may counter that convenience.

Additionally, the Xgimi Horizon S Max offers excellent image quality and sound. The user interface is manageable and I’ve enjoyed watching movies on it. So, if you have a budget of $2,000 and want a projector purely for its image quality, the Xgimi Horizon S Max is an easy recommendation. 

Xgimi is offering a dongle and stand with the purchase of the Horizon S Max as part of its Black Friday sale. The free dongle solves the no-Netflix issue because you can use the streaming service by plugging it into the projector.