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
