A good projector doesn’t need to be an inconvenience. XGIMI is now offering the Aura 2, a UST laser projector that provides a bright 4K image with minimal hassle.
Ultra-short throw (UST) projectors don’t shine light across the room. Instead, they sit under your screen or wall, thereby eliminating a lot of the guesswork, math, and physical labor that goes into a typical short-throw or long-throw projector installation.
Like the original Aura projector, the XGIMI Aura 2 offers a 4K video resolution with HDR10 enhancements. But the picture quality is greatly improved in this model—XGIMI is using its Dual Light 2.0 technology to achieve a maximum 2300 ISO lumens of brightness (up from 1800), 99% DCI-P3 color coverage (up from 80%), and a maximum screen size of 150 inches (up from 120 inches). Plus, it added support for Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced (something we also saw in the Horizon Max), integrated Dolby Atmos audio powered by a 60-watt speaker system, and a new 20ms low-latency gaming mode.
Several of the auto-picture functions that XGIMI offers in its other premium projectors, such as the Horizon Ultra, are also featured in the Aura 2. You get auto keystone, wall flatness adaptation, wall color adaptation, and intelligent eye projection (the picture dims if you stick your head in front of the projector’s lens).
More interestingly, XGIMI tossed in a mmWave motion sensor that can detect when you enter or leave the room. This sensor has some obvious power-saving benefits, though it’s particularly useful for customers who like to leave a screensaver or photo slideshow on their “TV.” XGIMI’s Built-in Art Mode slideshow taps into the mmWave radio and automatically turns on or off depending on a room’s occupancy. (For reference, the Aura 2 has a 20,000-hour lamp life, which equates to 7.8 years if you leave the projector on for seven hours each day.)
XGIMI is also offering a line of Fresnel ambient-light rejecting (ALR) screens specifically for the Aura 2. While all projector screens fulfill the same basic function—they provide a flat surface for light to bounce off of—ALR screens contain small microstructures that direct unwanted ambient light away from the viewer. This increases the projected image’s contrast ratio and perceived brightness, particularly during daytime viewing.
The ALR screens sold by XGIMI look very nice, and they mount to the wall in a way that resembles a TV. But ALR screens are expensive and may be unnecessary in most homes. This is where things get tricky; the Aura 2, like all UST projectors, shines light at a steep vertical angle. A screen is practically a necessity when using a UST projector because any bump or texture on your wall will create shadows in the projected image. Turn on your phone’s flashlight, point it upwards, and place it against the wall to see what I mean.
The XGIMI Aura 2 is available today for $2,699—a price that’s comparable to the recently released Samsung Premiere 7 UST projector. Fresnel ALR screens are sold separately for an unspecified amount—they are, presumably, quite expensive. If you’re building a home theater for the first time, it may be wise to buy a “normal” projector screen and spend the leftover cash on an Atmos audio setup, furniture, window treatment, or other items that could more substantially improve your home theater.
Source: XGIMI
