As I have said in the past, XGIMI products have won many awards in several different international markets over the years. XGIMI has won awards such as CES Best Innovation Award, iF Design Awards, Red Dot Design Award, EISA Best Product, and Good Design Award 38 times. Projector Reviews even awarded the XGIMI Halo the “Best in Class” award because we felt it was one of the best battery-operated portable smart projectors in its price range.
XGIMI sent Projector Reviews a pre-production demo sample of the Aura to review. I also received a press release kit that stated, “XGIMI’s new Aura 4K UST Laser Projector shows why your next TV isn’t going to be a TV.” Of course, the bar is set high with such a bold statement from XGIMI, and I have high expectations of this new projector.
As I do for most of my reviews, I connected a 4K Apple TV via 20-inch (0.5 meters) Bullet Train 18Gbps HDMI cable and a MacBook Pro via 157-inch (4 meters) Bullet Train 18Gbps HDMI cable to the demo Aura XGIMI loaned to me for this review. As always, I will provide an independent and honest review of the projector.
XGIMI Aura Specs
Price
$2449
Technology
DLP w/ XPR (0.47” Single-Chip DMD)
Native Resolution
1920x1080x4 (3840x2160)
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
2400 Lumens
Contrast
-
Zoom Lens Ratio
Fixed
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
25,000 Hours
Weight
32.9
Warranty
OVERVIEW
The XGIMI Aura is a 4K (3840 x 2160) Ultra-Short-Throw DLP Laser projector that boots up fast. Fast as in 12 seconds or less in my experience. XGIMI rated the Aura’s brightness at 2400 ANSI lumens. The light source life span is rated up to 25,000 hours, that is 17 years if you use the projector for 4 hours every single day.
At 17.3-inches from a wall or UST projector screen, the Aura can project a 150-inch image. However, if you are short on space, the Aura can be placed a mere 4.3-inches away from a wall or UST projector screen to project an 80-inch image. The big images match up with the big and handsome-looking Aura. The projector measured at 23.85” W x 5.49” H x 15.78” D and weighs 32.91 pounds. The XGIMI Aura has a Manufactures Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $2,499 and hit the market on October 12th, 2021.
XGIMI Aura looks beautiful at every angle.
The Aura uses a 0.47-inch DMD Texas Instruments (TI) DLP chipset and a 2,400 ANSI lumen laser diode light source to deliver its 4K (3840 x 2160) displayed resolution. In addition, Aura features HDR10 (High Dynamic Range); HDR10 sends static metadata to the video stream, which is encoded information on color calibration settings required to make images look more like the content creator’s intentions. The Aura covers up to 90% Rec. 709 and 80% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
The Aura has ALPD® Laser Display Technology.
XGIMI states the Aura utilizes ALPD® Laser Display Technology from Appotronics. Appotronics invented its unique ALPD® technology in 2007. ALPD®, namely the fluorescent laser technology, is used for image display based on the laser-excited fluorescent materials and mixed multi-color laser lines. With ALPD® Laser Display Technology and HDR10, the Aura displays 8.3 million pixels on screen for vivid, crisp images and lifelike colors. Regarding color, XGIMI Aura’s Movie mode did a great job accurately utilizing the projector’s color capability.
Ultra short throw projectors like the Aura are intended to replace modern TVs.
The XGIMI Aura UST projector has many of the features found on a modern TV. Therefore, some have given UST projectors like the Aura alternative names like Ultra Short Throw TV, Laser TV, and Laser Projector, or Laser Projector TV. As a matter of fact, the Aura has “UHD Ultra Short Throw Television” printed on the chassis next to the lens. Like a TV, the Aura has a built-in audio system. XGIMI equipped the Aura with a built-in Harman/Kardon audio system. The 60-watt audio system includes two 15-watt tweeters and two 15-watt woofers.
The Aura has smart features, just like a modern smart TV would have. The Aura is powered by the Android TV™10.0 Operating System (OS). With Android TV™, the projector has the apps and capabilities that are included in smart TVs. The projector also includes Google Assistant, which allows you to control the Aura with your voice.
Large projection from short distances.
The Aura projects onto an Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screen. The projector can project an image as small as 80-inches, with the projector only 4.3-inches from the projector screen or wall. The projector can project up to a 150-inch image when the Aura is 17.3-inches away from a projector screen or a wall. For this review, I projected onto an Elite Screens Aeon CLR® 3 Series, 103-inch ALR screen. The CLR® 3 material is a ceiling light rejecting material that absorbs 90% of overhead lighting.
HIGHLIGHTS
MSRP - $2,499
Technology - Single DLP Chipset; 0.47-inch Texas Instruments Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)
3840 x 2160 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) Displayed Resolution
The Aura utilizes many of XGIMI’s popular features and proprietary technologies discussed in detail in our XGIMI Halo and XGIMI Horizon Pro review. I will, however, summarize some of the more notable XGIMI features found on the Aura.
XGIMI X-VUE 2.0 IMAGE ENGINE
The Aura is equipped with XGIMI's most advanced video processing
The Aura has XGIMI’s unique X-VUE 2.0 image engine system. X-VUE 2.0 increases the clarity and fidelity of dynamic pictures. The X-VUE 2.0 image engine technology adopts 60Hz motion compensation technology that works with XGIMI’s MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) to solve any potential image flutter or tailing problems that might occur when projecting high dynamic ranges. In addition, XGIMI states that image quality is made clearer and smoother, resulting in purer and more realistic colors, bringing a truly immersive user experience.
SMART CAPABILITIES INCLUDED
Google Play Store and Google Play Games provide almost endless entertainment.
The Aura utilizes Android 10 which is the latest version of Android TV, meaning you have access to 5000+ Android TV native apps. Best of all, the Android TV is built-in, so you do not have to worry about an Android TV dongle taking up a valuable HDMI port. End-users can stream TV shows, movies, live sports, news, and play video games directly from the Android TV interface.
Netflix app would not work from the XGIMI Aura’s built-in Android TV
Note that while you can download the Netflix app from the Google Play Store, Aura, like many other Android TV-equipped projectors, cannot stream the Netflix because it is not a Netflix-approved device. I got a warning stating, “This device is not optimized for Netflix (-14).” When I went on the login to Netflix anyhow, I got an error that read, “Sorry, your account can’t be used on this device.”
For Netflix to play on the Aura, you could always cast directly to the projector from a laptop. You could also use a device like a 4K Apple TV, 4K Fire TV Stick, Chromecast with Google TV 4K, Roku Express 4K+. All the mentioned devices have Netflix support. You could also just enjoy the 5000+ other apps that work perfectly with the Aura without needing an additional device; the choice is yours and yours alone.
The Aura has plenty of native apps thanks to the built-in Android TV 10.0.
XGIMI stated, “These features combine to make the Aura an ideal hassle-free projector for the whole family and will finally give TVs a run for their money as the most immersive home entertainment centerpiece.” Vice President of Global Sales, Tex Yang, at XGIMI Corporate, also said, “We are seeing the shift in technology that has already impacted every other area of our lives coming to our home entertainment. With the XGIMI Aura, your next TV is not a TV.”
Google Assistant voice commands worked flawlessly on the Aura.
The Aura is equipped with voice control via Google Assistant. With its built-in microphone, the remote is used to control a wide variety of functions using only your voice. Press the Google Assistant mic button, and you are ready to control the projector with your voice. For example, you could use voice control to ask Google Assistant, “give me the weekly weather forecast,” “show me good movies that are out right now,” and “tell me a joke.” Google Assistant replies are conveniently displayed on the projector screen, sometimes accompanied with an audible reply.
3D READY
The Aura is 3D-ready.
The Aura utilizes the DLP cinema-grade (active shutter 3D imaging) technology for 3D viewing with XGIMI’s active shutter 3D glasses. The 3D video setup can be found by pressing the shortcut settings button on the remote. The Aura has settings for 3D side-by-side, 3D top and bottom, 3D to 2D side-by-side, and 3d to 2D top and bottom.
Hardware
CHASSIS
The Aura is a spectacular-looking projector.
XGIMI designed the Aura to be elegant and modern. The Aura’s luxurious look and feel show XGIMI is not willing to compromise on aesthetics at any price point. The Aura measures 23.85-inches wide x 15.78-inches deep x 5.49-inches high. The Aura weighs a substantial 32.91 pounds. The sleek silver and charcoal chassis should fit into almost any home’s décor. While I had the Aura for testing, numerous house guests stopped and asked me what type of high-end device the Aura was; none believed it was a projector until I turned it on for them.
CONNECTIONS
Inputs and connections are located on the rear of the Aura.
Plenty of ports and connections are on the Aura, including three HDMI 2.0, three USB 2.0, one 3.5mm headphone jack, a LAN port, and an optical port. The Aura also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring it is ready for almost anything. The DC input port is located on the rear of the chassis.
No chassis-mounted control panel; the included remote or XGIMI app must be used to control the projector.
The Aura chassis does not have a control panel on it. If you misplace the remote control, you can still power the projector off and on with the power button on the projector’s right side. However, you would not be able to control anything else on the Aura unless you had the XGIMI projector app.
LENS
XGIMI Aura Ultra Short Throw Lens.
Ultra short throw projectors spread out the light from the lens when sitting on a tabletop. At the far lower right and left, the light travels only a few degrees above horizontal. However, light also exits the projector lens from just above horizontal to fully vertical at almost every angle. Therefore, light is being projected over an arc of nearly 180-degrees. Even when placing the projector inches away, the Aura does an outstanding job of spreading light evenly across the screen.
XGIMI lists the Aura lens as having a clear focus range of 80-inches to 150-inches. The Aura has a throw distance of 4.3-inches to 17.3-inches and a throw ratio of 0.233:1. The chart below was provided by XGIMI. The chart shows the Aura laser projection distance and image size. The lens does not have lens shift capability or optical zoom. By XGIMI design, I did not have a need for lens shift or optical zoom. The Aura was easy to set up in minutes. I placed the projector on a flat surface and moved the chassis until the image matched up to my screen for a perfect image on my Elite Screens Aeon CLR® 3 Series, 103-inch ALR screen. I took my time and did not have to use any of the eight keystone adjustments on the Aura, which would slightly degrade the image quality.
XGIMI Aura laser projection up to 150-inch.
The distance from the projector lens to the screen and the video format are all factors of the projected image size. For example, if you are using a 150-inch screen, the recommended projection distance is 17.3-inches, and a 100-inch screen requires only 8.2-inches of projection distance. As I mentioned in the Aura overview section, if you are short on space, the Aura could even be placed a measly 4.3-inches away from a wall or UST projector screen to project an 80-inch image.
XGIMI Aura with an Elite Screens Aeon CLR® 3 Series, 103-inch ALR screen.
The Aura was put through various tests, from solid colors to highly detailed scenes, test patterns, and text slides. The images showed minimal distortion, and the edge-to-edge focus was good on my 103-inch screen.
Ultra short throw projectors are designed to replace traditional flat-panel TVs. However, as we all know, many TVs are in rooms with uncontrolled or partially controlled ambient light. Therefore, I highly recommend utilizing an ALR screen to get the best out of the Aura and any other ultra-short throw projector. Although I utilized an Elite Screens Aeon CLR® 3 Series, 103-inch ALR screen during this review, there are numerous manufactures of ALR screens.
REMOTE CONTROL
The XGIMI Aura remote is made from great feeling aluminum and plastic. The remote has the standard buttons one would expect for everyday operations, including power on/off, settings shortcut, Google Assistant voice control, D-Pad, select, back, menu, home, volume, and screen focus. In addition, the remote has a Google Assistant microphone button, which is the only colored button on the remote. It is used for voice control of the projector and compatible 3rd party Internet of Things (IoT) devices via the Android TV and Google Assistant. The XGIMI Aura remote could control my Apple 4K TV via HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) as an added perk.
MENUS
The Aura’s projector home menu is easy to navigate.
I found the home screen menu to be well organized and easy to navigate. Once you are on the Aura home screen menu, you can do things like select a specific input, streaming app, or explore the Google Play Store.
Aura Shortcut Settings menu.
The push-button on the remote that looks like a gear (below the power button) is the Shortcut Setting button; it takes you directly to the basic settings menu. Scrolling down and pressing the All Settings tab from the Shortcut Settings takes you to the projector’s more advanced settings. The Home push button, which looks like a house, allows you to access apps and other entertaining services.
While watching content, users can bring up the Shortcut Setting button on the remote and adjust the five Image Modes. Users can choose any of the five image modes presets, or you can customize your perfect image mode from one of the Custom image modes.
PERFORMANCE
COLOR REPRODUCTION
The Aura’s color reproduction was good out of the box.
The Aura’s color reproduction was good out of the box. The images above provide a general idea of color accuracy. However, when viewing in person, the colors will look much better than how the photos look on the display of the device you are using to read this review.
The Brightness tab located under Projector Settings has five presets. They are labeled as Standard, Bright, EyeProtection, Performance, and Custom. The custom mode allows adjustability to Brightness, Red, Green, and Blue to suit your visual preference.
Pressing the ShortcutSettings button on the remote shows the projector’s Image Mode, which has five presets. The five preset modes are labeled Movie, Football, Office, Game, and Custom. The Custom mode allows Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, as well as Color Temperature adjustments.
BRIGHTNESS
XGIMI lists the brightness of the Aura at 2,400 ANSI lumens. I also measured the brightness myself. To measure the brightness, I set the projector’s image mode to Custom and its Brightness mode to Performance, which is the projector’s brightest mode. I then took 3-4 readings about 15-20% out from the center of the screen. At maximum brightness, Performance mode, the Aura measured 2574 ANSI lumens. I measured all five available image modes; my measurements are below.
XGIMI Aura Projector Settings Brightness
Image Mode
Brightness (ANSI Lumens)
Movie
2076
Football
1966
Office
1333
Game
Game mode was not compatible with the white test pattern
Custom
2574
While in Custom image mode, I also measured the brightness of the Aura’s different Brightness (Power) modes, all of which alter the unit’s laser light output.
Brightness Mode
Brightness (ANSI Lumens)
Standard
1941
Bright
2162
Eye Protection
1677
Performance
2574
Custom
2092
CONTRAST / BLACK LEVEL
The Aura’s blacks were visibly blacker than many other 0.47-inch DLP projectors. However, those blacker blacks are actually a shade of dark gray and not truly a deep black. I watched numerous dark scenes and found the projector performed better than expected based on my experiences with many other 0.47-inch projectors and their reproduction of dark scenes.
The Aura’s blacks are pretty good for a 0.47-inch DLP UST projectors.
Ultra short throw projectors like the Aura are not designed to compete against $10,000 home theater projectors. The Aura would most likely be used in a room with a higher amount of ambient light, meaning the ability to reproduce deep blacks would not be critical. In those higher ambient light environments, the extra brightness, with the improved color of the Aura, would likely be more advantageous to the end-user.
When paired with my Elite Screens Aeon CLR® 3 Series, 103-inch ALR screen, the Aura produced beautiful images in my test space even with ambient light. The Aeon CLR® 3 Series screen material, which has a gain of 0.8, most definitely improved the black level when viewing content in ambient light and in a darkened room. Of course, the increased black levels come at the expense of some screen brightness. Still, the Aura has plenty of brightness to spare, as evident in the ANSI lumens testing.
VIDEO QUALITY
The XGIMI Aura’s video quality was really good out of the box. Changing the brightness modes and image modes can significantly alter the on-screen image. I found myself leaving the Projector’s Brightness on Standard mode and then switching between the Movie and Custom image modes. I used the Custom mode to fine-tune the Aura’s image quality to better suit my viewing environment.
Sports in 720P, Blu-ray content in 1080p, and streamed content looked great on the XGIMI Aura.
TV shows and live broadcasts will continue to be produced in HD for many years, making good upscaling an essential feature. The Aura’s ability to upscale is outstanding. Sports in 720P and Blu-ray content in 1080p all looked great on the Aura.
While most Blu-ray UHD content is available in HDR10, a lot of 4K streaming material is still only 4K SDR. The Aura delivered sharp and detailed images without any problems. The Aura uses a 0.47-inch DMD Texas Instruments (TI) DLP chipset to deliver its 4K (3840 x 2160) displayed resolution. Now, many 4K movies do not have enough fine detail to make the difference between watching 4K SDR and HD very noticeable in the first place. Nevertheless, I was extremely pleased with Aura’s video quality. Vibrant colors and pleasing skin tones made this projector enjoyable to watch.
HDR (High-Dynamic Range)
The Aura supports HDR10 and HLG.
The XGIMI Aura supports High Dynamic Range (HDR). In addition, the Aura is compatible with HDR10, which is the most commonly used format found on UHD Blu-ray discs (4K movies), and most streaming content.
The unit also supports the mainstream HDR10. HDR10 material contains static metadata delivered to a video display to help it tone map HDR content. Simply put, HDR lets you see more detail in the shadows and the bright areas and delivers more saturated lifelike colors.
The XGIMI Aura also supports Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), the HDR standard developed for live broadcast, so you are all set to enjoy sports and award shows when the networks start broadcasting in HDR.
GAMING
I cannot talk about performance without talking about gaming. Under Image Mode, you will find Game mode. Game mode has options for Standard and Boost. XGIMI states that Boost mode lowers image latency. However, using Boost mode will temporarily disable keystone correction, so you will want to have the Aura squared up to the screen when picking this mode.
The Aura works great for casual gaming.
I switched the projector’s Image Mode to Game and played numerous games from my PlayStation and Xbox on the Aura. The games I tested on the Aura played great, including my usual Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), Genshin Impact, and Overwatch. I did not experience any issues with input lag, even while in action-packed matches on Overwatch. The XGIMI Aura should be great for most of the casual gamers looking to play games on a big projector screen. I, for one, get sad when I go back to game on my 70-inch TV or my dedicated gaming PC system with a 34-inch curved gaming monitor. Why do I get sad? Because the images look tiny compared to the projector’s images.
SOUND QUALITY
A 60-watt Harman/Kardon audio system is built-in to the Aura.
XGIMI partnered with Harman/Kardon to maximize the Aura’s audio system. As a result, the Aura has two 15-watt tweeters and two 15-watt woofers for a total of 60-watts of crisp highs, dynamic midranges, and ample bass.
The Aura is equipped with an HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). It can send multi-channel audio from the projector’s internal apps to a connected external audio system for those end-users wanting a more powerful audio system.
AUDIBLE NOISE
While we do not measure audible noise, I measured the fan noise produced by the Aura between 30dB and 32dB. I placed the Image Mode on Movie and the Brightness Mode on Standard and Performance for the fan noise measurements. Standard had the lowest dB reading, and Performance had the highest dB reading. I could not hear the Aura as I watched movies and shows approximately four feet away from the projector.
SUMMARY
The XGIMI Aura is one of the least expensive Laser TV on the market but rival units that cost several hundred dollars more
I’ve had the Aura for weeks in preparation for this review. At an MSRP of $2,499, the Aura is quite the deal for such a high-quality UST projector. The feature set is simply outstanding at this price, especially when considering the awe-inspiring fit and finish. I would even venture to say you are getting more than what you paid for if you decide the Aura is right for you. After all, the XGIMI Aura is a sophisticated all-in-one solution for a home cinema. The Aura allows the end-user to easily build a home-style 4K theater almost anywhere since you only need to place the Aura 17.3-inches from a wall or UST projector screen to project a 150-inch image. At only 4.3-inches away from a wall or UST projector screen, the Aura projects an 80-inch image for those of you with limited space.
The Aura boots up fast. XGIMI states the Aura’s “fast boot” takes about 12 seconds, and I can confirm that my boot up took about 12 seconds or less. Furthermore, the setup is hassle-free. Power on the projector, adjust the image to perfection with the eight-point keystone, and then access your favorite content via Android TV in seconds.
The 0.47-inch DMD Texas Instruments (TI) DLP chipset imager reproduces 4K content in SDR and HDR very well. In addition, the laser light source is rated to last up to 25,000 hours and provide virtually maintenance-free performance when the Brightness Mode (power mode) is set to Standard.
The Aura on my UST screen in a dark environment.
The images this ultra-short throw projector produces are beautiful. Of course, it goes without saying that using the Aura in a dark room or a room with a minimal amount of ambient light will get you the best-looking image. As you can see in the pictures above, the images are bright and vibrant in a dark environment.
XGIMI Aura on my UST screen in a high ambient light environment.
With overhead lights and ambient lights from open doors and windows, the Aura still provides a good image when projected onto an ambient light rejecting screen like the Elite Screens Aeon CLR® 3 Series. You will want the ambient light and ceiling light rejecting capabilities of a well-made ultra-short throw projection screen.
The image may not be the same as when no ambient light exists, but the image is better than most would expect in high ambient light environments. Instead of a completely washed-out greenish-blue image, the Aura maintained enough of its balance that colors were good. I would even say the projector was visibly better than many other DLP projectors I’ve seen in high ambient light environments. The XGIMI Aura can indeed replace your traditional TV and be enjoyed daytime or nighttime.
The XGIMI Aura is featured packed and offered a good looking picture for its price
While the XGIMI Aura ($2499 MSRP) is one of the least expensive Laser TV on the market but its picture quality along with the unit's fit and finish rival Laser TVs that sell for several hundred dollars more. As Projector Review’s Technical Editor and Lead Reviewer Phil Jones’ has said in the past, ninety percent of the ultra-short-throw projectors on the market today utilize the same DLP chip. Projectors at this price point, built from similar components, are separated only by the capabilities of the engineers and programmers that produced them.
Phil’s analogy is perfect when he says, “Think of these manufacturers as chefs. Given the same tools and ingredients, the chefs’ skill and experience are what determines how good or bad the meals they prepare will taste.” Sticking with Phil’s analogy, I would say the XGIMI Aura, if a Michelin Star Chef prepared it, would be 2 stars. Michelin stars go from one star, which indicates a “very good restaurant”; two stars which indicate a place “worth a detour” and three stars which means “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.” Now that I have made you hungry, go ahead sit down and have yourself a nice meal while watching a movie.
As we like to say at Projector Reviews, “Go Big and stay home” to watch a movie on your projector screen.
XGIMI Aura - PROS AND CONS
PROS
$2499 Retail
Projector Functions and Android TV Controlled by a Single Remote
Built-in Android TV™ 10.0 OS (no dongle taking up a valuable HDMI port)
Chromecast built-in
Voice Control via Google Assistant
Laser Light Source
20,000-hour Light Source Lifespan
Intelligent Eye Protection
Eight Point Keystone Correction
HDR10
Built-in Harman/Kardon 60-watt Audio System
Audio Return Channel via HDMI Port 1
Three HDMI 2.0 Ports
CONS
Netflix app not supported
Remote control lacks a backlight
No CMS or 2 point Grayscale limit th ability to fine tune the picrure quality
