My Life With An $1800 Projector
XGIMI Horizon Ultra Review
I’ve always been a tech guy. It’s in the DNA. In my early years, my mother and I lived in a cramped but gadget-filled household with my grandparents and my uncle, her younger brother. My grandma was basically the first tech pioneer on our block, with her background working at RadioShack in the 80s. Adults seem larger than life when you’re a kid, and the way she would talk about it, you’d think she was working directly under Bill Gates. My granddad sold phone systems for Lucent Technologies, but for some reason, I was under the impression he was running a Fortune 300 company out of his home office. We had multiple computers and all sorts of devices everywhere, all going off all at the same time. They were busy people, stacks of papers and devices dating back to 1973. Every few years, he would have the trendy updated tech, everything from a Sony mini disc player, surround sound systems to the newest TV, and the DVD for every movie he could get his hands on, even though he would ultimately end up falling asleep, watching the Godfather 2. He instilled in me this necessity to always stay up on the latest formats, god forbid you were stuck out here with Angels in the Outfield on VHS. Naturally, I was positioned to be the next Inspector Gadget.
He would listen to the scores and soundtracks on CD in the car, and this was right around the time Goldeneye 007 came out, for N64. Bond had all the crazy gear, so it made sense I was all-in. There was a store on 8th and Astor Place called Software, ETC (which later became EB Games, then Gamestop), they sold the official Goldeneye 007 watch, so I bought that and a laser pointer (because, technology) and that year for Halloween, my stepdad bought me a tuxedo and a bowtie. I was convinced I was 007. I walked into class feeling like the man. While all of y’all are Cyclops with styrofoam muscles on, in walks Pierce Brosnan. But, being chubby and light skinned with a bowtie on, I looked much more like a little Louis Farrakhan. I digress.
Hundreds of unnecessary purchases later, that gadget love carried me all the way into adulthood, where I now do things like drop $1800 on a projector that I don’t need. Enter the XGIMI Horizon Ultra.
The $1800 Projector That Keeps Me Up at Night, Eating Away at My Bank Account
It pains me to say that I just spent $1800 (after taxes) on a projector. That’s not a small dent in my bank account — that’s severe damage, with the way my life is set up. After scrolling through Instagram and watching way too many minimalist interior design reels, I was convinced this was the next logical step after getting a bed and a sofa. Forget a rug, a coffee table, or even a proper dining setup — nah, the projector was gonna bring it all together.
So, I did what any impulse spender would do: I closed my eyes and clicked “buy.” 10 seconds later, buyer’s remorse started to set in. I went back and forth like “yeah, you make money to spend it, right? You want this—you owe it to yourself”. Yeah, that’s right. I panicked and hit up XGIMI to cancel the order before it even shipped. I explained that financially, spending rent money on a projector might not have been my best decision.
They hit me back with, “Are you sure you want to cancel? We’ll give you a $100 rebate AND some 3D glasses for free.” Like the 3D glasses was going to throw me over the edge. What am I, a 7-year old? I got the money refunded, but apparently, the algorithm I’m trapped in had other plans. I follow these pages on Instagram like @one.interior.mag and @pinkoro_house which, in my tax bracket, is a terrible idea. I had what I would call “Refund Remorse,” and a week later, I was back, hitting that “Buy” button again and letting the Lord take the wheel.
The Endless Email Battle: Buyer’s Remorse in Real-Time
As soon as I repurchased the projector, the real guilt began — but at the same time, I was excited about getting new tech. When it arrived, it was layered like an onion in packaging. I already had an OLED in my living room, which doubles as my editing display, so I set it up in the bedroom. I propped it on top of my bed frame, projecting onto a large white wall. Calibrating the screen against my white wall was a process (and to be transparent, I’m still unsure if I’m doing it properly). Upon further research, I realized this projector’s AI keystone correction is supposed to automatically adjust for perfect screen placement. For some reason, the XGIMI’s AI feature doesn’t line up correctly automatically, but instead projects a giant picture that floods my wall and parts of my ceiling. I had to manually adjust it and fit the screen within the concave of the wall directly in front of my bed. After the initial setup, and several “I forgot my password” emails later, we were off to the races. I was impressed by the device — too impressed.
Every night, after finishing my daily activities, I spent hours watching movies in this personal home theater I’d just acquired. When I finally logged into my Disney app, I binged nearly every MCU movie I’d missed. Then I moved on to Star Wars, and suddenly, I had just four hours before I needed to wake up for work. Every morning, I woke up feeling exhausted. The love hangover hit hard when I woke up to a faded image of a Stormtrooper, barely visible, like when you’re at the theater past the credits and they turn on the house lights. I didn’t mind it much — it was a projector, after all, and I still needed blackout curtains. Actually, yes, it stayed on my mind. I started wrestling with the idea of justifying this purchase and subconsciously looking for flaws.
Then I found one. After plugging in my 2019 MacBook via USB-C/HDMI adapter, the input lag was bad — like, waiting-for-dial-up AOL connection bad. I thought, This is it! I’ve found my excuse to send this thing back and get that $1800 refunded! So naturally, I emailed XGIMI, explaining the lag issue and hinting at wanting a refund. I felt hopeful, like maybe I’d win this round. But XGIMI came back with a smug suggestion: “Have you tried Game Mode?” Game Mode? Damn — it fixed everything. The lag disappeared, and with it, my excuse to send it back. I thought, Fine, I still have another reason in my back pocket.
As the 30-day return window started to close, I grew desperate. The thoughts began spinning in my brain as I laid there, watching YouTube deep-dives on Outer Space, and the potential of life on other planets. I emailed them again, this time complaining about the projector’s lackluster brightness during the day. Yes, it is a projector, and this is what you get, but for $1800? I began feeling a little dizzy. “The sunlight obliterates the image during the day,” I complained. How am I supposed to enjoy a mid-day Star Wars marathon when Luke’s lightsaber looks like it’s on Low Power Mode? They replied with some canned response about how “XGIMI is state-of-the-art, perfect for home theaters,” blah blah blah. They were stalling, and my 30 days were ticking down.
Every email I sent got more creative in its attempts to wring a refund out of them. “I’m still noticing lag on my PS5!” I wrote in one email, though that was a stretch since I hadn’t even tried it yet. But I needed to invent problems to justify getting my money back. I didn’t care anymore — I just needed that $1800 to stop vanishing from my account every month.
The 60 Hz Haunt
Now, I’ve since learned that 60 Hz is the norm for most consumer projectors, but when you have OCD like me, and know there are 120 Hz options out there (LG, Epson, I see you), it’s like knowing you’ve been served watered-down whiskey when the good stuff is just behind the bar. Every time I sit down to watch something, the fact that it’s just 60 Hz weighs on my brain like a guilty conscience.
But, again, I must emphasize that at night, the projector is amazing. Honestly, it is truly like having my own little undeserved IMAX theater — something a guy in my tax bracket should not own. I’ll even admit, turning this thing on makes me feel like I’m Captain Kirk powering up the Starship Enterprise. I’m saying, I feel the need to even show it off to guests, and caught people audibly gasping when they see that smooth lid retract. But in the morning, in comparison, waking up next to it feels oddly like waking up to a one-night stand. You’re left questioning life decisions as the sunlight creeps in and you realize how much less impressive everything is in daylight.
Watching the XGIMI in my bedroom has given me some perspective on living with a projector, as it is still new to me. Every time I move, it feels like I’m in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, casting my own shadow onto the screen. This thing also lights up my room at night like an after-hours rave. I haven’t even gotten blackout curtains yet, so every little beam of sunlight during the day turns the picture into what I can only describe as a cinematic puddle. It rearranges my bedroom dynamic, and I have to start living like some shut-in with the lights off, if I just want to watch my shows.
Upon doing some digging, I learned that while the projector’s 2300 ISO lumens brightness is decent for a dim room, it’s just not cut out for spaces with lots of natural light. I guess I shouldn’t have expected much from an LED-based projector. For comparison, some laser projectors in the same price range, like Epson’s LS500, are better equipped to deal with ambient light. That’s the trade-off you make with a more affordable, portable option.
The remote doesn’t help either — it doesn’t light up, which is ridiculous for something you’re mostly going to use in the dark. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve accidentally turned off the projector by lying on the remote. Sometimes I find myself manually re-adjusting the four corners of the image, like I’m solving a Zelda puzzle. When I get lucky, I just hit the AI recalibration button mid-movie, blurring the image for a second just to remind me I spent $1800 on a device I’m still trying to figure out.
I’ve gone back and forth with XGIMI so many times I could probably get a job in their customer service department by now. At one point, the lag was my excuse. Then, it was the brightness issue. Then, I got desperate and just started nitpicking. Honestly, this projector might be better off if I installed blackout curtains, or perhaps a proper projection screen. With this thing in my bedroom, every time I get up, it’s like I’m starring in my own private MST3K. Maybe that’s what I paid $1800 for.
Pros and Cons
Design & Aesthetics
Rating: 5/5
It’s sleek, it’s modern, and it looks good in any minimalist setup — especially if you’re into clean, modern designs. From the moment you turn this thing on and see the lid pull down like a coup convertible, you know you just bought some expensive-ass tech. Stunning.
Performance — Sound
Rating: 4/5
Just to get this out of the way — being a music producer, I have spare studio monitors, but I haven’t bothered hooking them up to the XGIMI Horizon Ultra because, honestly, I’m lazy and the internal 8W Harman Kardon speakers work just fine. For a projector, they’re pretty solid — kind of like having a mini soundbar built in.
Nighttime
Rating: 5/5
At night, this thing shines. It’s like having a personal IMAX, without the sticky floors. But during the day? Yeah, let’s just say the sun’s winning that battle.
Daytime
Rating: 2/5
Bright environments eat this projector alive. 2300 ISO lumens just isn’t enough to compete with the sun. I should have known better, but here we are.
Refresh Rate
Rating: 3/5
60 Hz is fine for most, but if you’re a nerd like me, you’ll toss and turn at night, dreaming of 120 Hz. Even if you’ll rarely notice the difference in casual use, knowing it’s there hurts.
The Final Verdict? Still Struggling
As my payment plan creeps closer to completion, my remorse has dulled a bit, but not completely. I still think, What if I’d spent that money on something more practical? Maybe I could’ve finally bought blackout curtains. Maybe I could’ve upgraded my 2023 MacBook to the 2024 model. Instead, here I am, with Joe Rogan interviews seeping into my dreams, where I’m wrestling bears and living in the wilderness — but at 60 Hz, feeling like I’ve been swindled by both my own greed and Instagram’s algorithm.
And yet, I haven’t returned it. Am I crazy? Maybe. But tech has this strange power to make you feel like you need it, even when you know you probably don’t. I once returned a $1000 Apple Watch Ultra after realizing I didn’t need to know my heart rate on the elliptical — I could just look at the machine.
Every night, I pray I won’t wake up to an email saying, “Introducing the XGIMI Horizon Ultra MAX” or “Now 50% OFF!” I’m enjoying the experience, and honestly, XGIMI, let me hold onto this fleeting joy for as long as possible.
UPDATE: As of September 27th, 2024, the Horizon XGIMI Ultra is on sale for $1,444.
Let me know your thoughts on the XGIMI, if you’ve purchased it, or share any projector recommendations and experiences in the comments below!