The XGIMI AURA 2 is a 4k HDR Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector. It's capable of projecting on large surfaces from a very short distance: it projects a 90" image at a distance of 5.4" and up to 150" at 15.3". It's a big projector but comes with full auto keystone technology and autofocus, making it quick to install. The projector uses a dual LED + laser light source and is rated to last at least 20000 hours. It comes with Android TV 11, with Chromecast and Magicast built-in, alongside three HDMI ports. One of its HDMI ports doubles as an eARC port, with support for DTS and Dolby advanced audio formats. It also supports Dolby Vision and is IMAX Enhanced-certified. Finally, it has a 60W Dolby Atmos Harman/Kardon sound system.
We've independently bought and tested over 45 projectors, and we've published all the detailed results for each so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodology is also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
Our Verdict
The XGIMI AURA 2 is a great projector for watching movies. It's bright enough for rooms with a few lights and bright enough to project somewhat vibrant colors. Its contrast is also very good, so it excels in darker rooms, although its blacks are raised in very dark and very bright scenes. It's a fully featured projector with Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced certification, and Dolby Atmos support. It's also very accurate right out of the box, requiring little adjustments for an accurate image.
Great peak brightness, with bright and punchy colors.
Very good contrast for a solid dark room experience.
Ultra short throw capabilities, so you can place it very close to the wall or screen.
Packed with features.
Excellent pre-calibration accuracy.
Contrast is merely okay in very dark and very bright scenes.
Changelog
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Updated Aug 28, 2025:
We mentioned the newly reviewed XGIMI Horizon S Max and added a mention of it in the Portability section.
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Updated May 14, 2025:
We mentioned the newly reviewed AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro in the Color Gamut section of this review.
- Updated Feb 10, 2025: Review published.
- Updated Feb 07, 2025: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought and tested the XGIMI AURA 2, which succeeds the XGIMI AURA. While they have similar feature sets, the AURA 2 is brighter, has more HDR formats, and has a more modern feature set. The table below shows the primary differences between the two units.
| Model | Luminance (Lumens) | HDR Formats | Light Source | Bluetooth | Smart OS | Auto Keystone/Autofocus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AURA 2 | 2400 | HDR10, Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced | LED + Laser | 5.2/BLE | Android TV 11 | Yes |
| AURA | 1800 | HDR10 | Laser | 5.0 | Android TV 10 | No |
Our unit was manufactured in August 2024.
Popular Projector Comparisons
The XGIMI AURA 2 is a great Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector and is a noticeable improvement over its predecessor, the XGIMI AURA, as the newer model is significantly brighter and is much more accurate overall. Even though it's expensive, it's still one of the best UST options at its price point, with the obvious alternative being the Hisense PX3-PRO. While the Hisense is a bit better overall due to its much wider color gamut and full set of gaming features, the XGIMI is sold for a lower price and is just as good if you're only planning to watch movies with it.
Check out our recommendations for the best 4k projectors, the best projectors for home theater, and the best short-throw projectors. If you'd prefer to shop for a cheaper product, look up the best projectors under $1,000 instead.
The Hisense PX3-PRO and XGIMI AURA 2 are closely matched, with the Hisense having a slight edge overall. The XGIMI is a bit brighter and far more accurate out of the box, but the Hisense has slightly better contrast and a much wider color gamut. While they both have a ton of features, the Hisense has more features for gamers, alongside an option to game at high refresh rates.
It's very close, but the XGIMI Horizon S Max is a bit better than the XGIMI AURA 2. They're very similar in terms of image quality, but the Max has the edge in colors. Its biggest advantage over the AURA 2, however, is in portability: the AURA 2 is a massive unit, while the Max is smaller and has a fully rotating stand.
The XGIMI AURA 2 is a noticeable improvement over the XGIMI AURA. The AURA 2 is brighter and is far more accurate than the AURA. It also has a more modern feature-set, with Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced certification, Android TV 11, and Bluetooth 5.2, while the original AURA is limited to HDR10, Android TV 10, and Bluetooth 5.0. The AURA 2 also has full auto keystone technology and an autofocus, making it easier to move around than its predecessor.
The XGIMI AURA 2 is better than the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800, although the Epson is significantly brighter than the already bright XGIMI. However, the XGIMI has better contrast, is more accurate out of the box, and has a wider color gamut. It also supports Dolby Vision and is IMAX Enhanced certified, while the Epson is limited to HDR10.
Test Results
The XGIMI AURA 2 projector isn't meant to be portable, as it doesn't have an integrated battery. It's also big and heavy, although not nearly as much as its predecessor, the XGIMI AURA. Unlike its predecessor, this projector has full auto keystone and autofocus, simplifying the setup process.
The AURA 2 is a big, hefty unit. If you'd prefer something smaller, consider the XGIMI Horizon S Max instead.
The XGIMI AURA 2 is a dual light source projector, using both an LED lamp and lasers. The projector's light source is rated to last for at least 20,000 hours. It's an Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector, capable of projecting a 90" screen at a distance of 5.4" up to a 150" screen at a distance of 15.3". The projector doesn't do true 4k as it uses pixel shifting to create a higher resolution image. This offers better quality than 1080p but doesn't look as good as native 4k.
This projector's brightness is great. It's bright and very uniform, avoiding any obvious hotspots, with limited vignetting. It's also bright enough to make its colors pop. It's a clear improvement over the XGIMI AURA.
The XGIMI AURA 2 has very good native contrast, leading to deep blacks in a dark room. While it performs better in darker scenes, it does falter somewhat in almost entirely dark scenes, especially when compared to the XGIMI AURA. Overall, this projector has deep blacks, which is especially noticeable when viewed in a darker room.
Our XGIMI AURA 2's pre-calibration accuracy is excellent in the 'Custom: Recommended' Picture Mode, with Color Temperature set to 'Warm' and Picture Color Temperature set to 'Standard.' Blues and greens are very slightly overrepresented in most whites, and reds are slightly underrepresented in near blacks and bright whites, leading to an overly cool color temperature, but it's still close to the 6,500K target. As for gamma, the projector is too dark in darker scenes but is too bright in brighter ones. Color accuracy is also great, although all colors have minor color mapping issues.
The unit has a 'Professional Grade Color Accuracy' feature, but it reduces the projector's max brightness by about 50 nits. On our unit, the 'Custom' Recommended' Picture Mode was slightly more accurate while also being brighter.
After calibration, the projector's accuracy is almost identical to its pre-calibration state. Still, the unit's color temperature is now exactly on target, so it's still an improvement overall.
The XGIMI AURA 2 has a very good color gamut. It covers most of the Rec. 709 color space used with SDR content with minimal color deviations. It also does a decent job with the wider Rec. 2020 color space, although here, most colors are off-target, especially greens, cyans, and purples. If you're looking for a wider color gamut, especially in the Rec. 2020 color space, check out the AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro instead.