Fancy a cinema-specific IMAX Enhanced projector in your front room, or a secret ceiling projector masquerading as a magic lamp? XGIMI has you covered. At CES 2024, the company is showing off its Horizon Max, an IMAX projector with smart software and the use of dual light sources to deliver a wider color gamut, strong brightness and improved contrast. The same technologies will also come to some of the company's more modest projectors.
The Horizon Max is being unveiled early, as it isn't expected to go on sale until late 2024. But XGIMI is clearly very pleased with the device, which it claims is the world's first-ever smart long-throw projector with IMAX Enhanced certification – something previously only available in very premium-priced projectors. The goal here is to create the best 4K projector for people who want theater-like visuals that are faithful to the aspect ratio of the original film (available through Disney Plus and some 4K Blu-rays) – although we don't know what it is yet is. the actual price tag will be.
Let there be (dual) light
The Max includes two key technologies, which XGIMI calls ISA (Intelligent Screen Architecture) 5.0 and Dual Light 2.0. The former uses a mix of hardware and software, including a fully automated motorized gimbal to automatically identify the best projection positioning, and can remember settings for different walls with a smart touch – so you can game on one wall and control the projector can then be turned to the correct position. For movie night, stand in front of a larger wall and the system will automatically reconfigure it for you.
The second technology, Dual Light 2.0, combines a triple laser and phosphor light. The latter is designed to pick up any imperfections from the former, and the result is both bright – 3,100 ISO Lumens – and high contrast, with a native contrast ratio of 2,000:1. XGIMI says it's the company's brightest projector yet, with brightness 35% higher than its previous flagship, the Horizon Ultra.
Aladdin's latest lamp is seriously smart
XGIMI is also going to unveil Aladdin, which it calls “a unique triple threat”: it's a ceiling projector, a smart bulb and a speaker in one device. It can project an HD image up to 100 inches with a projection ratio of 0.7:1, and the built-in Harman Kardon speaker delivers 360-degree sound. Aladdin also offers dynamic wallpapers, huge interactive children's books and ambient sounds for bedtime; his many talents earned him an honorable mention at the CES 2024 Innovation Awards.
Unfortunately, Aladdin won't have an American or European release in the first half of this year; it will launch in Japan in June, but a wider release has not yet been announced. However, it is a very smart idea for rooms with limited space that want large images. It can replace your light and do mostly useful work, and then suddenly you can watch movies out of nowhere, without any surfaces in your room. taken over by equipment.