In the crowded market of home entertainment, the all-in-one smart projector has evolved from a niche gadget into a genuine centerpiece for the modern living room. The XGIMI Horizon S Max enters this competitive space not merely as an iteration, but as a statement piece that challenges the very notion of what a projector can be. It promises to deliver a massive, cinematic picture without the traditional fuss, aiming to be as effortless to use as a premium television.
The soul of the Horizon S Max is its stunning visual performance, which largely delivers on its ambitious promises. Pushing out a brilliant 2500 ISO lumens, this projector is more than capable of combating moderate ambient light, making it a viable option for daytime viewing in a living room with drawn curtains. The 4K UHD resolution, achieved through proven DLP pixel-shifting technology, is exceptionally sharp, resolving fine detail in native 4K content with impressive clarity. Where the S Max truly shines is in its color science and HDR processing; HDR10 and HLG content pops with vibrant, well-saturated colors and surprisingly deep black levels for a projector in this class. Its upgraded gaming mode is another highlight, dropping input lag to a level that feels responsive enough for all but the most competitive esports titles. While it won’t dethrone a high-end OLED TV for pure contrast in a pitch-black room, its ability to cast a sharp, bright, and colorful 120-inch image is a transformative experience.
XGIMI has wrapped this powerful technology in an elegant and unassuming chassis. The design language is a clear evolution of the Horizon series, featuring a sophisticated moonstone gray finish with a partial fabric grille that helps it blend into home decor rather than stand out as a piece of hardware. Build quality is superb, with a reassuring heft and tight tolerances that communicate a premium product. The included remote has also seen an upgrade, now milled from a single piece of aluminum with satisfyingly tactile buttons. Connectivity is adequate, offering two HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eARC for seamless audio integration), a pair of USB ports, and both optical and 3.5mm audio outputs.
Of course, the signature XGIMI feature is its Intelligent Screen Adaptation (ISA) technology, and here it’s more refined than ever. The auto-focus and automatic keystone correction are nearly instantaneous, perfectly squaring up the image within seconds of being moved. The obstacle avoidance is uncannily smart, shrinking the picture to dodge light switches or picture frames on a wall. This suite of features completely removes the intimidating setup process associated with traditional projectors, making the S Max a genuine “plug-and-play” cinema. Running on the latest version of Google TV, the interface is fluid and intuitive, and crucially, it now boasts full, native certification for Netflix—a long-standing pain point for many Android-based projectors that is finally resolved here. The integrated Harman Kardon sound system is also robust, delivering clear dialogue and a surprising amount of bass for its size, easily filling a medium-sized room.
This level of integrated performance and convenience does not come cheap, which frames the value proposition. The Horizon S Max is not for the home theater purist who wants to spend hours manually calibrating every picture setting. It lacks the granular controls and lens shift capabilities of more traditional, enthusiast-grade projectors. Instead, the S Max is built for the user who values simplicity, design, and a powerful, all-in-one solution. It’s for the modern professional or family that wants the scale of a projector without any of the complexity. When you consider that it replaces a separate 4K streaming device, a high-quality Bluetooth speaker, and a traditional projector, its premium price begins to feel more justified. It delivers an exceptional out-of-the-box experience that few competitors can match.
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XGIMI Horizon S Max Quick Summary
Key Scores:
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Value:
82% -
Design:
93% -
Performance:
95% -
Quality:
92% -
Popularity:
88%
Top Pros
- ✅ Intelligent screen setup features make placement exceptionally simple.
- ✅ Image is impressively bright and vibrant, even with some ambient light.
- ✅ Premium design and integrated Harman Kardon audio create a sleek package.
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Key Cons
- ❌ The premium price tag places it in a competitive market segment.
- ❌ Built-in speakers cannot truly replace a dedicated home audio system.
- ❌ Lacks advanced image calibration controls found on dedicated projectors.
