Chinese company Xgimi has already made a big splash this year with the launch of its titanic Titan Noir projectors that deliver “precision-tuned optics” and insane levels of brightness, but it’s far from done in the big-screen department.
Alongside its flagship Titan Noir models – of which, there are three – it has also announced the availability of a new, reasonably affordable ultra-short-throw projector that comes packed with premium features. In addition, it’s releasing no less than four upgraded versions of last year’s popular RS30 4K laser projector, known globally as the “Horizon 20.” The new models include the RS30 Pro, RS30 Pro Max, RS30 Ultra and RS30 Max.
First up is the Xgimi Mira 4K UST model, which is available to buy now in China ahead of an expected global release. It’s designed as a kind of living room TV replacement, with the ability to throw up bright, 100-inch images when placed just 19.3 centimetres away from a wall, thanks to its throw ratio of 0.175:1.
The Mira 4K is based on Digital Light Processing technology that uses microscopic mirrors to render extremely sharp images on nearby surfaces, and it has some impressive specifications. According to Xgimi, it covers 110% of the Bt.2020 colour gamit, has a 20,000:1 contrast ratio and supports HDR10+ pictures, albeit without Dolby Vision. The company is selling two versions of this model – the basic Mira 4K, which delivers 2,000 ISO lumens of brightness, and the Mira 4K Pro version, which cranks up the lumens to 3,000, making it suitable for daytime viewing.
According to Xgimi’s product listing, the Mira 4K features automatic keystone correction to help get a perfect picture, and supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 for casting content from iPhones. Gaming features including VRR, ALLM and a 1 millisecond input lag should ensure it’s a good fit for console owners, and it runs on the company’s GMUI 6.0 operating system. Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 provide the connectivity, and there’s a beefy 360-degree 2.1-channel sound system developed by Harmon Kardon that supports Dolby Audio and DTS:X surround sound.
Perhaps the best thing is that it looks to be pretty cheap, with Xgimi listing the basic model at just 6,499 RMB (around £702) and the Pro version at 7,999 RMB (£865).
As for the new RS30 series models, these are traditional long-throw projectors that build on the original Horizon 20 model that debuted last year. Four new models is perhaps a tad overkill, but it really depends on how bright you want your pictures to be, as that appears to be the main difference between them.
Whereas the original RS30/Horizon 20 could output 3,200 ISO lumens, the RS30 Pro delivers 3,600, together with a 4,000:1 native contrast ratio. On the other hand, the range-topping RS30 Ultra Max is almost twice as bright at a staggering 6,800 ISO lumens, and delivers native contrast of 7,000:1.
Each of the RS30 models comes with an integrated and adjustable gimbal stand, enhancing placement flexibility, and there are set up tools such as keystone correction. As with the Mira 4K, they run on the company’s GMUI 6.0 software. They support HDR10+ and Dolby Vision images, as well as IMAX Enhanced, and users can also enjoy gaming, taking advantage of their AMD FreeSync compatibility. Like the Mira 4K models, they also have an integrated Harman Kardon audio system that supports Dolby Audio, plus Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
Xgimi is asking for 7,499 RMB (about £811) for the basic RS30 Pro model, with the most premium RS30 Ultra Max priced at 11,999 RMB (£1,297).
The company has not said anything about a global launch just yet, but it almost always does this for its higher-end models, so expect to hear something in the not too distant future.
