XGMI Halo+ Portable Projector Review

I’ve always fantasized about owning a projector and turning our garage into a mini movie theatre.

Projectors are usually big, bukly, require ceiling attachment and cost thousands of dollars.

The XGMI Halo+ may cost over a thousand dollars, but it’s still affordable, and best of all, it’s completely portable.

This is a mini projector I can set up in my garage in under a minute, and then throw into my car to take camping with the kids.

(The next challenge is to work out where I’m going to project the movie from our tent!)

It can even be used cordless, with a built-in battery which may just let you watch an entire movie without dieing first…

So, if you’ve ever wanted to view movies, play games or just watch some YouTube on a 100~200-inch ‘screen’, keep on reading.

What is the XGMI Halo+ Projector?

 

The XGMI Halo+ Projector is a portable projector that offers high-quality visuals and impressive features.

It’s designed to be portable and flexible, with a built-in battery that provides 2.5 hours of big-screen entertainment on the go.

It also features intelligent screen adaptation technology, auto-focus, and keystone correction to optimize the display for any user.

The projector provides high-quality sound through a 10W Harman Kardon and Dolby audio combo for a true cinematic experience.

Specs

Display

• Resolution: 1080p Full HD
• Contrast Ratio: 100,000:1
• Brightness: 900 ANSI Lumens
• Screen Size: 40″-300″

Sound

• Speakers: 2 x 5W Harman Kardon speakers
• Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual: X support

Connectivity

• Wi-Fi: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
• HDMI: 1 x HDMI 2.0 input
• USB: 1 x USB 2.0 input
• 3.5mm audio jack: 1 x 3.5mm audio output

Other features

• Automatic keystone correction: ±40° vertical and ±40° horizontal
• Automatic focus: 10,000+ point autofocus
• Harman Kardon sound: 2 x 5W Harman Kardon speakers with Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X support
• Android TV 10: Built-in Android TV 10 operating system with access to over 5000 streaming apps
• Google Assistant and Alexa built-in: Control your projector with your voice using Google Assistant or Alexa
• Long battery life: Up to 4 hours of battery life on a single charge
• Portable design: Lightweight and compact design makes it easy to take with you wherever you go

Design and Build Quality

What I like about the XGIMI Halo+ is its well-thought-out design. At first glance, you can tell you have a premium product. It’s sleek, modern, and unexpectedly tiny.

Looking closely, you’ll notice a sensor at the front of the device. This is for automatic keystone correction, which is helpful with portable projectors since you won’t always be using a screen or the same room.

Aside from this, the XGIMI Halo+ comes with a high-tech remote. It has Google Assistant built-in, so you don’t even have to press any buttons.

I found the remote super responsive. You can open apps and search videos instantly with it.

Portability and Durability

The XGIMI Halo+ is 113.5 x 145 x 171.5 mm large. It weighs around 1.6 kg or 3 ½ lbs, making it compact enough to take anywhere.

I took it on a recent camping trip, expecting to be able to project it onto the side of a nearby building on the camp site, but unfortunately, there was nothing appropriate to use!

What’s more, there’s no need to worry about moving this projector around. It has a metal mesh frame that’s protective and durable.

The bottom of the Halo+ has a non-slip rubber that lets you prop it onto various surfaces. There’s also a kickstand that lets you adjust the angle of the projector.

Ease of Use and Setup

The XGIMI Halo+ projector’s setup is simple and fast. The start-up happened in no time. It only took 6 seconds, and the device was ready to go!

It has auto-calibration tools, meaning you don’t have to spend time trying to fix the screen.

What sets the Halo+ is its intelligent screen adjustment technology. It autofocuses whenever you move or switch the projector on. You can move the device to any angle, and it will adjust the image for you.

When testing it in my garage, I needed to place the projector off centre, due to objects being in the way of the ‘throw’.

Thanks to the auto-keystone adjustment feature, the screen was squared off, just as it would have been if I’d placed the projector perpoendicular to the wall.

There’s even an intelligent obstacle avoidance feature. The sensor detects objects blocking the screen and adjusts around these obstacles.

This worked with mixed results in my testing, so I wouldn’t rely on it.

If you don’t like these auto adjustments, you can adjust the settings manually as well.

Battery Life and Charging

The Halo+ has an integrated 59Wh battery. With this, you can experience 2.5 hours of spectacular big-screen entertainment on the go.

It has a power-saving mode that lets you extend use for up to 4 hours on a single charge. However, if the volume and brightness are on full blast, it could run out of energy within 2 hours.

The battery makes it convenient to bring this projector on trips, but I’d always recommend running it off a mains power point where possible.

There’s nothing more annoying than your favourite movie dieing before the end, after all!

Connectivity and Compatibility

A feature I love about the XGIMI Halo+ is it can connect to over 5000+ apps, including HBO, Hulu, and YouTube!

It also has Android TV™ and Google Play for downloading anything you want.

I did encounter an issue with Netflix. There was a notification that the app wasn’t compatible with the device, but a quick update fixed it.

YouTube and PrimeVideo were smooth and lag-free.

If you don’t want to download apps, you can connect to the projector with a USB or HDMI cord. Use it with your PS5 or Xbox for a cinema-like 3D display while you game!

The gaming mode boost lets you experience a low latency of 26.5 ms. there’s no input lag, and the refresh rates are fast enough for the latest high-octane games my grand children love.

Brightness and Image Quality

With 900 ANSI lumens, 1080p FHD, and HDR 10 enhanced color contrast, you’re sure to get really good image quality.

Moreover, it has MEMC motion compensation technology. This is a must if you love watching films with high-speed chases. Using intelligent frame insertion, any content playing at more than 24 fps won’t appear blurry.

You can also adjust the device’s brightness. The eye protection option diffuses reflection mapping for dim blue light!

Sound Quality and Volume

My experience with portable projector speakers is always disappointing at best. You can barely hear the audio from most projectors.

Yet, to my surprise, I didn’t need to use my spare speaker with the XGIMI Halo+ projector!

The XGIMI Halo+ uses a Harman/Kardon Audio System. You’ll notice the difference in sound quality with the 10W Harman Kardon and Dolby audio combo.

How I Tested the XGMI Halo+ Projector

At first, I researched a number of projector screens, from automatic ones to static ones. I even considered the type you stick to a wall.

Honestly, the options for projector screens are quite overwhelming (much like photography backdrops and backgrounds!)

In the end, I decided that the best test of the XGIMI Halo+ for real-world usage would be to simply project the video onto a white wall.

After all, a portable projector will likely be used in places without screens.

So, I set the XGIMI Halo+ in my garage and simply pointed it at the wall. My grandkids didn’t even care that a door was part of the display!

Despite the less-than-average location of the setup, the video quality was sharp and the colours were super vivid as you can see in the image above.

Obviously, to properly test colours and sharpness, a high-quality projector screen would have been better, but I feel this method of testing is adequate for the average user.

Price and Value for Money

According to the XGIMI website, you can buy the Halo+ for US$849.

It may look expensive since you can get other portable projectors for half the price. For instance, XGIMI’s MoGo2 retails for US$399.

The Halo+ is more expensive because of its features. You should consider it has auto keystone correction, high-quality sound, and Google Assistant.

Not to mention, it has an Android 10 TV operating system that lets you download 5000+ apps.

Overall, the XGIMI Halo+ projector offers great value for your money!

XGMI Halo+ Review | Conclusion

XGIMI’s Halo+ is one of the premium options for portable projectors.

It’s great value for money and it offers outstanding connectivity, image quality, and sound quality. That’s not to mention ease of use.

On top of that, the auto keystone correction, Android TV, and Google Assistant are features you simply can’t pass up.

I’ve had a lot of fun considering all the places I can bring this handy portable projector.