I tested all the projectors XGIMI released in the last five years, and there’s no doubt in my mind that the Horizon 20 Max is the best of the lot. I want to highlight three areas where the projector has a clear advantage: lens shift with optical zoom, bright projection, and a built-in gimbal.
Lens shift in particular is a game-changer, as it basically allows me to position 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 just took a matter of minutes. I previously used the XGIMI Aura UST projector mostly because it was just easier to set up — I didn’t want to bother mounting a long-throw projector — but with the Horizon 20 Max, I just put it on a nightstand, and the projector automatically adjusted the image scaling.
Optical zoom also plays a big part in this, and the Horizon 20 Max has an adjustable throw range of 1.2–1.5:1, giving you much better flexibility on where to position the projector. Honestly, with these two features, you don’t have to deal with any of the usual hassles involved in setting up a long-throw projector. The best part? The Horizon 20 Max is once again down to $2,199, its lowest price. The projector usually goes for around $2,699, but with the Fourth of July celebration, you can buy it for much less.
The design of the Horizon 20 Max is similar to its predecessor, the Horizon S Max. There are a few changes to the color scheme, and the 20 Max doesn’t quite attract as much attention, which is a good thing. What I like the most is that XGIMI retained the gimbal system, and that makes it easy to orient the projector to your preferences. This is a key advantage over the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2, and it is so convenient that I don’t want to use a projector that isn’t mounted on a swiveling base.
You get the usual connectivity; there are dual HDMI ports (with one eARC), optical and 3.5mm out, and USB-A ports if you want to attach an external drive. The projector uses Wi-Fi 6, and I didn’t see any issues with connectivity in the six months I used it. Coming to the internals, it’s powered by the reliable MediaTek MT9679 platform, and has 4GB of RAM alongside 128GB of built-in storage. The 4GB of RAM is absolutely needed to ensure the Google TV interface is lag-free, and thankfully, there are no problems in that area.
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The projector gets two 12W audio drivers, and there’s Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-Virtual: X, and DTS-HD. I’d recommend using a dedicated soundbar to make the most of the projector, but if that isn’t doable, the built-in sound is decent enough.
Where the Horizon 20 Max truly shines is the projection; it delivers 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, 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 don’t get as bright.
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Colors are vibrant, and there’s 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’s a dedicated game mode that works really well with the PS5. The 20 Max gets Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced, and while you miss out on the unique Dynamic Black Level feature — which boosts black levels — when using Dolby Vision, it isn’t a huge omission.
The 20 Max uses pixel shifting to deliver a 4K resolution, and it goes up to 300 inches. Valerion’s VisionMaster Max is the closest rival, and the 20 Max does a better job with auto keystone correction, overall brightness levels, screen alignment, and the ability to adjust color balance based on the wall color — this makes a huge difference if you’re not using a dedicated screen. You get the standard Google TV interface, and while I’m not a fan of the UI, I didn’t have any problems with lag.
On the whole, the Horizon 20 Max is the best 4K long-throw projector I used. While it had its share of bugs at launch, XGIMI did a good job addressing most of these with software updates over the last six months, and after extensive testing, I’m confident in my recommendation of this projector. If you need a bright 4K long-throw projector with standout colors and easy configurability, the 20 Max is the one to get, and coming in at $2,199, it is an unmissable deal in this category.
