XGIMI Elfin Smart 1080P LED Projector Review

In this article, let’s take a look at the XGIMI Elfin Smart LED projector. This newly announced unit is a Smart LED 1080P projector rated to deliver up to 800 ANSI lumens, and it retails for $649. It is one of the best projectors under $1,000.

As I have said in a previous XGIMI review, their products have won many awards in several different international markets over the last few years. In fact, Projector Reviews recently gave 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.

If you are not familiar with XGIMI or want to hear more about the company and the other products in their lineup, check out Technical Editor and Lead Reviewer Phil Jones’ interview with Andres Gomez (XGIMI Product Manager).

XGIMI Elfin Specs
Price	$659
Technology	DLP, DLP LED
Native Resolution	1080p (1920x1080)
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	800
Contrast	1,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed Lens
Lens Shift	No
Lamp Life	30,000 hours
Weight	2 lbs
Warranty	1 year

OVERVIEW

The Elfin is a Smart all-in-one Full High Definition (FHD) 1920 x 1080p portable Digital Light Processing (DLP) short-throw projector. XGIMI rated the Elfin’s brightness at 800 ANSI lumens. The LED light source is rated to last up to 30,000 hours. The XGIMI Elfin has a suggested retail price of $649.

Compared to XGIMI’s current projector chassis’ which are vertically oriented, the Elfin features a new and totally redesigned horizontal chassis. The unit measured  7.5” W x 1.96” H x 7.5” D and it weighed just two pounds.

Chief Marketing Officer Tex Yang at XGIMI stated, “We are excited to release a versatile projector that addresses the needs of our more mobile and younger users.” Tex added, “The Elfin delivers a fresh style more comparable to the current sleek personal electronics devices on the market and is made to slide in your bag as easily as a laptop.”

The Elfin’s compact and portable design makes it easy to bring anywhere like military barracks, family room, backyard, conference room, or dormitory. All you need is a power outlet and a flat viewing surface for a quick plug-and-play experience, thanks to the two built-in 3-watt Harman/Kardon speakers handling your audio needs.

The XGIMI Elfin uses a single 0.33-inch DMD Texas Instruments (TI) DLP chipset to deliver FHD (1920x 1080 pixels) displayed resolution. XGIMI offers various 1080p projectors. The first two that come to mind are the XGIMI Halo and the XGIMI Horizon. Like the Elfin, the Halo utilizes a single Texas Instruments DLP chipset (0.33” DMD) while the Horizon uses the larger 0.47” DMD.

In addition, the Halo and Horizon chassis are both more vertical than the Elfin, making them not as easy as an Elfin to slide into a purse or backpack.

The Halo has an onboard battery and produces 600 ANSI lumens while operating on battery power and 800 ANSI lumens while plugged into an electrical outlet. The Horizon is bigger and heavier, but it also has the best sound and image out of the three. The Elfin shines in its slim form factor; it is just plain easier to take on the go.

Those of you that follow my reviews know that I love bringing small projectors on the road with me to test them out during authentic travel. The Elfin was the perfect size to toss into my backpack and take on the road with me. In addition, a threaded tripod socket is located under the projector to make placement even more effortless.

The Elfin is capable of projecting crisp and vibrant Full-HD images up to 200-inches. Going over 200-inches is available, but you will lose some of the quality of the image. For this review, I projected onto a 75-inch Elite Screens Yard Master 2 Series CineWhite® UHD-B screen.