Xgimi Halo Review

The Xgimi Halo blurs the lines between portable projectors and home theatre projectors. Boasting a small form factor, built-in battery, and fantastic speakers, the Halo offers high brightness, a native 1080p resolution, 3D support, and low input lag. As such, the Xgimi Halo projector is a versatile option for a variety of uses. Learn why the Xgimi Halo is the best portable projector on the planet in our hands-on review!

What is the Xgimi Halo – Xgimi Halo Specs and More

The Xgimi Halo is a smart mini projector. It sports a true native 1080p resolution and an impressive 800 ANSI lumens of brightness. Onboard, the Halo packs Android TV 9.0 for streaming and casting. A pair of 5 Watt Harman Kardon speakers provide robust audio. Its built-in 5400mAh battery offers around two hours of playback time on a single charge. Inputs and outputs (I/O) are plentiful with a full-size HDMI input, a USB header, and a 3.5mm headphone out jack. There’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity. On top of the unit, you’ll find volume up, volume down, and a shared play/pause button. On the bottom of the Halo is a threaded tripod mount as well as a mini kickstand.

With a 1.2:1 throw ratio, the Xgimi Halo can produce a 100-inch image from around 8.7-feet away. 40-degree auto vertical keystone correction and manual horizontal keystone correction eliminate the trapezoid effect when projecting from an odd angle. Additionally, the Xgimi Halo features a 10,000-point whole-screen autofocus. With input lag around 35-40ms, the Halo is well-suited to gaming. There’s 3D support for watching 3D Blu-rays. As under 4 pounds, the Xgimi Halo is small, lightweight, and high-performing.

Xgimi Halo specs:

• Native 1080p resolution
• 800 ANSI lumens (600 ANSI lumens on battery)
• 2 x 5W Harman Kardon speakers
• +/-40-degree 4-point auto vertical keystone and manual horizontal keystone
• 10,000-point whole-screen autofocus
• Projector technology: DLP
• Lamp type: LED
• Throw ratio: 1.20:1
• Android TV 9.0 OS
• 5400mAh battery
• 3D support for watching 3D Blu-rays
• Dimensions: 4.47 x 5.71 x 6.75 inches
• Weight: 3.52 pounds
• Inputs/outputs (I/O): 1 x HDMI, 1 x USB, 1 x 3.5mm audio output
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Hardware: AMlogic T950x2 SoC, 16GB ROM, 2GB RAM
• In the box: Xgimi Halo projector, remote control, power cord

Xgimi Halo Design and Build Quality

Xgimi’s Halo portable projector could easily be mistaken for a speaker. Indeed, its sleek gray form factor features a plastic mesh grille and a similar footprint to the Sonos One. And that’s not far off. Nestled beneath its mesh grille, the Xgimi Halo features a pair of Harman Kardon 5W speakers. The back of the unit features a full-size HDMI input, a USB header, and a 3.5mm headphone out jack. There’s also a power button and a barrel jack connector for its power cord.

The front of the unit features an autofocus camera as well as its glass projector lens. On top, you’ll find three media playback buttons: volume up, volume down, and a shared play/pause button. Underneath the Halo is a threaded tripod mount as well as a min kickstand.

Xgimi Halo Review – The Best Portable Projector on the Planet

The Xgimi Halo true 1080p full HD portable mini projector punches well above its weight class. Its 800 ANSI brightness far outstrips most other pico projectors. Boasting a native 1080p resolution, the Halo offers a high-definition image. Because of its LED light source, the Xgimi benefits from a long lamp life, and the DLP technology affords a brilliant image. What’s more, various inclusions such as 3D compatibility make the Xgimi Halo suitable for home theatre use. A game mode drops input lag down to around 35 or 40ms which is great for gaming. Thus, the Xgimi Halo delivers home cinema projector capabilities in a pico projector form factor.

Harman Kardon Audio

Wearing a Harman Kardon badge, the Xgimi Halo earns this prestigious garnish. I’ve used a ton of portable projectors, even many such as the ZTE Spro 2 with JBL speakers, and most disappoint. However, the Xgimi Halo delivers room-filling sound. The Harman Kardon speakers provide ample bass response and crisp, clean audio that remains distortion-free even with the volume cranked. With the ability to easily fill a small to moderately-sized room, the onboard dual 5W Harman Kardon speakers are phenomenal. That’s not to say they’ll rival even a budget soundbar. But for a self-contained movie night, the Xgimi Halo can pump out some respectable audio.

Video Quality of the Xgimi Halo – A Native 1080p Portable Projector

Sporting a native 1080p resolution and 800 ANSI lumens, the Xgimi Halo generates a sharp, bright image. Colors are pretty accurate and there’s good contrast as well as black levels. Watching Dario Argento’s 1977 Giallo classic “Suspiria” on Blu-ray, the vivid color palette really popped on-screen. Live-action movies and TV shows look excellent with a distinct realism.

Animated content is lush and vibrant. The Mamoru Oshii-directed 1995 anime classic “Ghost in the Shell” played with punchy colors. The contrast ratio and black levels might not quite be cinephile-grade, but they’re really solid and best-in-class among portable projectors.

Streaming content from native Android apps installed on the Xgimi Halo or cast using Chromecast looked quite good. I couldn’t tell the difference “Deadpool” streamed from Hulu versus a Blu-ray. Quality was top-notch with no audio latency.

Fast-paced video like sports looked awesome and I noticed little to no motion blur while watching basketball games on the Halo. Overall, the Xgimi Halo handles a variety of video content, from Blu-rays and DVDs to streaming content and live television with equal aplomb.

Xgimi Halo Brightness – Up to 800 ANSI Lumens

With up to 800 ANSI lumens, the Xgimi Halo’s brightness surpasses the majority of portable pico projectors. While there is an LED light source, the underlying projector technology is a DLP chip and the Halo does actually deliver 800 ANSI lumens, not to be confused with LED lumens. While that’s not enough to withstand a ton of ambient lighting, I found the Halo was more than capable of handling a bit of light.

During the day with the blinds closed, the Xgimi managed a decent picture that was more than watchable. In complete darkness, the Halo is utterly gorgeous. On battery power, brightness drops down to 600 ANSI lumens which is still pretty decent.

3D Performance – Xgimi Halo 3D Capabilities

While 3D capabilities are common on most home theatre projectors, it’s a rarity among portable projectors. However, the Xgimi Halo includes 3D support for watching 3D Blu-rays. I hooked up my PlayStation 3 game console and popped in a 3D Blu-ray of “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Watching through a pair of Boblov 3D glasses, I was pleased with visual quality. Although the video does get dim, that’s universal for active 3D. I didn’t notice any crosstalk. You can select from several different 3D modes including side-by-side, top-and-bottom, and two different 3D to 2D modes for converting 3D Blu-rays to 2D. Virtually any active shutter DLP Link 3D glasses should pair perfectly with the Xgimi Halo.

Gaming on the Xgimi Halo – Xgimi Halo Input Lag

Putting the Xgimi Halo into its game mode provides its lowest input lag which clocks in around 35 to 40ms. That’s not ultra-low latency gaming suitable for hardcore gamers, but it’s fast enough for casual offline or online single-player and multi-player games. I fired up some Red Dead Redemption and had no issues with latency. With no noticeable input lag, gaming on the Xgimi Halo is immersive.

Smart Features – Android 9.0, Chromecast, and More on the Xgimi Halo

Android TV OS 9.0 comes baked in. There is Google Play support and you can install a slew of different apps including Hulu, Disney+, Plex, Kodi, and a bevy of others. Its underlying AMlogic T950x2 system-on-a-chip (SoC), 16GB of storage, and 2GB of RAM is conducive to a smooth operating experience. You can stream directly from many installed apps, and I had no trouble watching videos using Plex with the Android app installed directly on the Halo. Additionally, casting works well. I cast video from Hulu and YouTube TV to the Xgimi Halo and it looked just as good as streaming from locally-installed apps.

Unfortunately, Netflix doesn’t work. Not only is Netflix unable to be installed directly on the Halo, but it’s not even possible to cast from a phone or tablet to the Xgimi. Nevertheless, a streaming device such as an Android TV box, Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV can be plugged into the Xgimi Halo’s HDMI input.

Keystone and Autofocus – Xgimi Halo Image Adjustments

Many projectors include vertical keystone, and the Xgimi Halo is no exception. Its +/-40-degree 4-point auto vertical keystone works flawlessly, Though there is the option to perform manual keystone, I never found it necessary. Aside from its auto vertical keystone, the Halo boasts +/-40-degree manual horizontal keystone, so you can have the projector sitting off to the left or right side of the screen and still achieve a perfectly rectangular image. Of course, keystone does somewhat degrade image quality, but it’s a useful inclusion nonetheless. Additionally, a 10,000-point whole-screen autofocus works almost instantaneously. Combined with auto vertical keystone, the Xgimi Halo simplifies set up.

Battery Life of the Xgimi Halo

Packing a 5400mAh battery, the Xgimi Halo can operate on battery power for around four hours. That should be ample for watching one or two movies between recharges.

Xgimi Halo Review Verdict – A Versatile Portable Projector

The Xgimi Halo blows most other portable projectors out of the water. Its brightness is nearly unrivaled among pico projectors, and the Halo ushers in a slew of different features typically relegated to home theatre projectors. Notably, there’s 3D support for watching 3D Blu-rays as well as horizontal keystone. Autofocus and auto-vertical keystone make set up a breeze. The built-in Harman Kardon speakers are phenomenal with plenty of oomph to fill a small room. Input lag is low enough for casual gaming.

A fantastic all-around projector, the Xgimi Halo is as comfortable for throwing backyard movie nights as it is in a dedicated home cinema. Its Android TV OS leaves a bit to be desired. The contrast ratio and black levels may not satisfy hardcore cinephiles, but for the Halo will more than satisfy most users. Delivering an unparalleled audiovisual and gaming experience in a portable package, the Xgimi Halo is a mind-blowingly good projector that’s suitable for a variety of purposes.

Looking for a home theatre projector? Consider the Xgimi Horizon Ultra which boasts 4K video output, 2300 ISO lumens of brightness, and Dolby Vision HDR support.