I’ve tested every XGIMI projector released in the last five years and I have no doubt that the Horizon 20 Max is the best of the lot. I want to highlight three areas where the projector has a clear advantage: optical zoom lens shift, bright projection, and built-in gimbal.
The lens shift in particular is a game-changer, as it basically allows me to place the Horizon 20 Max anywhere and adjust the projection as needed. I used the projector with a 100-inch ALR panel and setting it up with the screen was so easy that it only took a few minutes. I previously used the
Optical zoom also plays a big role in this, and the Horizon 20 Max has an adjustable throw range from 1.2 to 1.5:1, giving you much more flexibility in where to place the projector. Honestly, with these two features, you don’t have to deal with any of the usual hassles that come with setting up a long throw projector. The best part? The Horizon 20 Max is once again up to $2,199, its lowest price. The projector usually costs around $2,699, but with the 4th of July celebration, you can buy it for much less.
The design of the Horizon 20 Max is similar to that of its predecessor, the Horizon S Max. There are some changes to the color scheme and the 20 Max doesn’t attract as much attention, which is good. What I like the most is that XGIMI kept the gimbal system and that makes it easier to orient the projector according to your preferences. This is a key advantage over the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2and it’s so convenient that I don’t want to use a projector that isn’t mounted on a swivel base.
You get the usual connectivity; There are two HDMI ports (with an eARC), optical and 3.5mm, and USB-A ports if you want to connect an external drive. The projector uses Wi-Fi 6 and I didn’t see any connectivity issues in the six months I used it. As for the interior, it runs on the reliable MediaTek MT9679 platform and has 4GB of RAM along with 128GB of inbuilt storage. The 4GB of RAM is absolutely necessary to ensure the Google TV interface is lag-free, and thankfully there are no issues in that area.
Image 1 of 4
The projector has two 12W audio drivers and there is Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-Virtual:X and DTS-HD. I would recommend using a dedicated soundbar to get the most out of the projector, but if that’s not possible, the built-in sound is pretty decent.
Where the Horizon 20 Max really shines is in projection; It offers up to 5,700 lumens, and in real-world use, you can easily get over 3,500 lumens, making it one of the brightest projectors in this category. It’s noticeably brighter than the Horizon S Max, the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2, and even the VisionMaster Max. Why is this relevant? If you don’t have a dark room, you can still use the 20 Max during the day and not get washed out colors, which is a problem with projectors that aren’t as bright.
Image 1 of 4
Colors are vibrant and there is a noticeable difference between the 20 Max and the Horizon S Max in this area, particularly when it comes to HDR content. I also like that there is a dedicated game mode that works great with the PS5. The 20 Max has Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced, and while you miss out on the unique Dynamic Black Level feature, which boosts black levels, when you use Dolby Vision, it’s not a huge omission.
The 20 Max uses pixel shifting to offer 4K resolution and goes up to 300 inches. Valerion’s VisionMaster Max is the closest rival, and the 20 Max does a better job with automatic keystone correction, overall brightness levels, screen alignment, and the ability to adjust color balance based on wall color; this makes a big difference if you’re not using a dedicated display. You get the standard Google TV interface and although I’m not a fan of the user interface, I didn’t have any problems with lag.
Overall, the Horizon 20 Max is the best long-throw 4K projector I’ve used. While it had a few bugs at launch, XGIMI has done a good job of fixing most of them with software updates over the past six months, and after extensive testing, I’m confident in my recommendation of this projector. If you need a bright, long-throw 4K projector with outstanding colors and easy setup, the 20 Max is the one, and reaching $2,199It is an unmissable offer in this category.
