Test the Xgimi Aura 2: the ultra-short-throw 4K laser projector that makes you forget your TV!

At the last IFA trade show in Berlin, I had the opportunity to discover the new Xgimi products, specialized in video projectors. We had discovered this manufacturer some time ago with its nomadic models, such as the Halo, which we had tested. But the Chinese manufacturer also offers a wide range of products for the home, including the new Xgimi Aura 2, which impressed me with its 4K ultra-short-throw laser projector. In fact, it won the award for best short-throw projector from EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association).

An ultra-short-throw projector is a device that can be placed at the foot of a wall, and gives us a gigantic image without the need to stand back, so much so that this type of device is gradually starting to replace conventional TV sets. I was lucky enough to test it for a few weeks after returning from IFA. It was both my first 4K projector, and my first short-throw projector. Suffice to say, I was very excited to find out more about it! So it's time to give you my impressions of this extraordinary device…

Unpacking the Xgimi Aura 2

So, although the Xgimi Aura 2 is a very compact device in its class (44% smaller than the previous model!), it's no less imposing, like the box that contains it.

The packaging sets the tone right from the start, with its 4K, IMAX, Dolby Vision Atmos and Harman Kardon logos. A photo of the projector shows how it works, very close to the wall. The ultra-short-throw principle.

Inside, everything is well organized, each component has its place, and you immediately feel part of a premium experience.

When you take the device out of its box, you immediately realize that the Xgimi Aura 2 is no mere gadget. The design is sober and elegant, with a cream finish that exudes quality. No frills, just a modern look that can blend into any living room. What's also surprising is its relative compactness.

The package includes the projector, of course, but also a simple but effective remote control, a power cable and (fairly minimalist) documentation. Nothing superfluous, just what you need to get started. The remote control is a standard Xgimi model: sober, light, but sufficiently ergonomic. Still no key backlighting, though :/.

It fits comfortably in the hand, and the buttons are easy to access. A button for calling the Google voice assistant is readily available. Small detail: batteries included ;-)

But let's get back to the projector. It's a block 51cm long, 27cm deep and 14cm high, weighing in at 9kg. So you'll need to find a place for it, and a stable support, like a low TV cabinet for example.

If the Xgimi logo is discreet, in the middle of the projector's “Moonlight Sand” mesh cover…

…the Harman Kardon logo is clearly visible, right next to the power button. The only visible button, in fact, perfectly integrated into the design, as is the 60w audio system concealed beneath the fabric.

For as you can see, this Xgimi Aura 2 is perfectly uncluttered, and could pass for a simple speaker in the room. In fact, the lens is completely invisible when the device is switched off. A motorized cover opens and closes according to use. We'll find out more about this a little later. But it's an excellent idea, which not only makes the projector discreet, but also protects its lens from dust and scratches.

Ventilation grilles are located on both ends.

It's on the rear that you can see all the connections.

In addition to the power supply, there's an optical output, 3 Usb ports, 3 HDMI 2.0 inputs (one of which is e-ARC) and an ethernet network socket. Plus an integrated Wifi 6 connection. With all this, you'll be able to connect all the equipment you need, from your TV box to your console, not forgetting your home cinema system.

Nothing special to report on the underside, apart from 4 silicone feet to hold the device in place, and ventilation grilles.

What we have here is a sleek, well-designed projector that looks truly premium, and will fit in well with most interiors.

So, without further ado, let's get down to testing!

Xgimi Aura 2 in action

Unpacking is a breeze, and as soon as the device is installed, it's ready for use. A true plug-and-play device! The Xgimi Aura 2 runs on Android TV, which means you can access all your favorite applications like YouTube and Prime Video directly from the projector. And frankly, who doesn't appreciate the simplicity of Android TV? No need to add an extra device, everything's integrated. Well, I can already hear the question: unfortunately, no, Netflix is not available in the Play Store. You'll need to install the apk, or if you connect the projector to your operator's TV box, this will quickly solve the problem.

The initial configuration is classic if you're familiar with Android TV. For simplicity's sake, it can even be carried out from your smartphone. You configure the Wifi if necessary, your Google account, and select the few applications you want to see at start-up.

The Xgimi Aura 2 will then automatically make a few adjustments, thanks to ISA 5.0 technology, to adjust focus, keystone distortion and so on.

If necessary, you can adjust a few parameters manually, but basically the projector takes care of itself. The ISA 5.0 system makes configuration very simple indeed!

Two settings are particularly interesting. The first is the adjustment for wall color. If the wall on which the image is projected is not white, the Xgimi Aura 2 will be able to adjust the colors of the projected image. Secondly, the flatness of the wall: if the wall has any defects or is not perfectly flat, the system is also able to adjust the image accordingly.

This involves using the smartphone's camera. A grid is displayed by the projector, which you need to take a photo of with your smartphone, using the address given by the QRCode. The projector then analyzes this photo and adjusts its image accordingly. Quite magical!

As you can see from the previous photo, my tests were carried out on a motorized screen. Unfortunately, this type of screen is not perfectly flat. While this is no problem with a conventional projector, the screen's flaws are a little more noticeable with an ultra-short-throw projector. However, this should not be a problem, as this type of projector is designed for direct projection onto a wall, or onto a fixed screen (ALR type, which rejects ambient light). In any case, the recalculation performed by the projector corrects this kind of defect.

After the first initialization, switching on the projector normally gives this result:

Press the button, the shutter opens, the projector switches on, and quickly adjusts the image.

To begin with, I tested it at different times of the day, to see how it behaved under a variety of lighting conditions, both natural and artificial. First surprise: you don't need to be in total darkness to get a good picture. In my living room, in the middle of the day, the image was impressive. Admittedly, the picture wasn't as clear as in a darkened cinema, but for an afternoon movie with the family, it was more than enough.

When evening fell, and I was finally able to test the Xgimi Aura 2 in ideal conditions (lights off, popcorn ready), I really understood the appeal of this device. With a projected image of around 100 inches (less than 18cm from the wall!), I felt like I was in a small private cinema. The 4K resolution makes all the difference, with a sharp image, vibrant colors, and contrasts that hold up. Movie scenes in daylight and at night are faithfully rendered, and for fans of blockbusters, it's a real treat!

Another big advantage of this type of short-throw projector is that, on the one hand, no one risks obscuring the image by standing up and walking past, since the projector is almost glued to the wall; on the other hand, the sound (excellent!) comes from the front, not the back, unlike traditional projectors which are often behind the audience to enjoy a great image.

What really sets the Xgimi Aura 2 apart is its ability to project a giant image even when positioned very close to the wall. This is where the famous ultra-short focal length comes into play. Basically, you can get an image from 80 to 150 inches by placing the projector just a few centimetres from the wall. The great thing is, all you need is a low cabinet or shelf close to your wall to enjoy a cinema experience in your own home. No need to run cables everywhere or drill holes in the ceiling to install it, which is often necessary with traditional projectors. And that's a big advantage, allowing anyone to enjoy cinema at home!

I also had fun testing video games on an HDMI-connected console. Suffice to say, playing on a screen of this size is a totally immersive experience! The Xgimi Aura 2's low input lag means you can play without any noticeable lag, which is a real plus for gamers. This is where the HDMI connector, tucked away at the back, comes into its own: you plug in your console, and off you go for a gaming experience on a monumental scale. Playing Borderland with 4 players in split-screen mode, for example, is no problem at all, as each player has the equivalent of a TV all to himself :p

The image is excellent. I must admit that for daytime use, with strong ambient light, the image can appear a little washed out. That's the only real downside I've noticed. But let's be honest: what video projector doesn't suffer from this problem? At this point, simply adjust the brightness or draw the curtains to get the most out of the experience. The Xgimi Aura 2 even has a high-power mode to deal with this problem. However, a message appears warning us not to use it in a room at over 25°C for too long. In this mode, the projector tends to heat up a lot, and becomes noisy, whereas it's usually perfectly silent. Personally, I prefer not to use this mode. The image is bright enough in the middle of the day to watch the news or a TV series. And for a good movie in the evening, it's pitch black anyway.

As for the sound, the integrated Harman Kardon speakers do a more than honest job. It's not concert hall sound, but it fills the room nicely. In my 30m2 living room, I rarely exceeded a third of the power, so powerful is the sound. Bass is present, treble remains clear, and the volume is more than sufficient for family movie nights. Of course, if you're a sound purist, you'll probably want to add a home cinema system or sound bar to enhance the experience. I'm equipped with a home cinema system, but to tell the truth I didn't feel the need to connect the projector to it, as the sound is so good. Only the subwoofer should be considered as an addition. But for an all-in-one device, this is already an excellent point, and for many the integrated sound will be more than enough.

In addition to the usual Android applications, there's also an in-house “Xgimi Wall” app, which transforms the wall into an art gallery or ambient background. A very nice feature :)

Xgimi Aura 2 performance

Now that we've got past the initial excitement, how does this projector actually perform in use?

With its 4K resolution, the Aura 2 delivers an impressively clear image. Details are sharp, and even on a projection surface ranging from 90 to 150 inches, there's no loss of precision. I've gone from blockbusters like Avatar 2: The Way of Water to series like Amazon's latest series The Rings of Power, and in all cases, the results were spot on. Colors are vivid, without being overly saturated, and above all, they remain faithful, even in complex scenes where other projectors would struggle to keep up. Skin tones are realistic, night scenes retain a good level of detail, and very bright scenes don't burn out.

Contrast is also impressive, especially for an ultra-short-throw projector. Admittedly, we're not going to claim that it rivals an OLED screen, but for a projector, it holds its own very well. Blacks are deep, which is particularly noticeable in dark films or night scenes. Thanks to a brightness of 2300 ANSI lumens (Dual Light 2.0 technology, which combines an RGB LED source with a red laser), the device performs well even in moderately lit environments. As mentioned earlier, darkness remains the ideal setting for getting the best out of this projector, but for daytime projection with the curtains drawn, the image retains its charm.

If required, the Xgimi Aura 2 offers a wide range of settings for adjusting image quality, color, contrast and more. This is undoubtedly the most precise projector I've seen in this respect. Although the result is very good out of the box, I did slightly reduce the sharpness, which was too high for my taste, and increased the warmth of the colors, which were too cold to begin with.

Note that this UHD/4K projector supports HDR-10/HLG, Dolby Vision and 3D (DLP-Link, optional glasses, which I wasn't able to test).

Let's move on to picture fluidity. Action scenes, often a good test of a projector's responsiveness, are handled remarkably well. I tested several fast-moving sequences, chases and fight scenes, and the Aura 2 came through without a hitch. No jerks or annoying slowdowns, making for an immersive viewing experience. Even for sports fans, this projector is able to keep up with the speed of movement without too much blurring.

On the sound side, the integrated Harman Kardon system is a big plus for those who want a turnkey solution. Equipped with two pairs of speakers (60w in all), the audio system supports Dolby Atmos, DTS, as well as a Harman/Kardon mode, an optimization by the audio specialist. The sound is balanced, with good bass presence. Admittedly, it's no substitute for a real home theater, but for a compact device, it's an excellent compromise. If you live in an apartment or don't want to clutter up your space with external speakers, you'll be more than satisfied with the sound rendering. Spatialization is correct, and even with the volume turned up, I didn't feel any major distortion.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the Xgimi Aura 2 shines in its versatility. The three HDMI ports, three USB ports, Ethernet socket and audio output allow you to connect a multitude of peripherals. Whether it's a Blu-ray player, a game console or an external hard drive, everything is designed to make the experience fluid and intuitive. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth also enable easy connection for streaming from your mobile devices. Android TV, once again, makes all the difference. It transforms the projector into a fully-fledged multimedia center, without the need for additional boxes.

Finally, let's talk about durability. With a laser lamp that promises a lifespan of around 20,000 hours, you'll be in the clear for a long time to come. This means that even with several hours of daily use, you won't need to replace the lamp for many years. That's a real plus compared with conventional lamp-based projectors, where the question of replacement comes up much more quickly. To give you an idea, even at 6 hours of operation a day (which is a lot), the life expectancy would be over 10 years.

This makes the Xgimi Aura 2 an extremely high-performance machine, both for film enthusiasts and for those looking for a versatile device suitable for a variety of situations.

Conclusion

So, is the Xgimi Aura 2 worth the investment? After all, the device flirts with the €2,900 mark, which is no mean feat. So clearly, yes, if you're looking to turn your living room into a real cinema without the hassle of a complex installation. Its 4K image quality, combined with the convenience of an ultra-short focal length, makes it ideal for cinephiles and big-screen enthusiasts. It combines performance, elegance and ease of use, making it quite simply one of the best projectors around.

Admittedly, it's not the most affordable device, but its versatility, image quality and laser lamp durability more than justify the investment. If you've got the space and are ready to invest in a quality home theater, the Xgimi Aura 2 is a solid choice that could well replace your conventional TV. And frankly, after testing it, I don't really feel like going back to a “simple” TV!