High-quality projectors have made it possible to bring the movie theater viewing experience to the comfort of your own home. However, the IMAX experience has remained exclusive to movie theaters — until now.
On Sunday, Xgimi unveiled its new Horizon Max projector, the world’s first IMAX Enhanced-certified long-throw smart projector, according to the company. The certification, previously exclusive to higher-end projectors, ensures that customers can experience IMAX pictures and signature sounds in their own homes. That includes the infamous IMAX aspect ratio (1.44:1 or 1.9:1), higher brightness levels from HDR content, and clearer images.
“With the Horizon Max, we’re reshaping home entertainment, delivering a cinematic experience previously reserved for high-end projectors,” Apollo Zhong, CEO and founder of Xgimi, stated. The Horizon Max sports two new and updated technologies that Xgimi is debuting at CES: ISA 5.0 (Intelligent Screen Adaptation) and Dual Light 2.0.
ISA 5.0 leverages the 3D ToF sensor on the projector in order to locate the best projection position on walls. And get this: the device can save software and hardware settings based on which wall you’re projecting to. For example, you can use the projector for gaming on one wall and movies on another, and the Horizon Max will adapt its settings as you switch around.
The updated Dual Light 2.0 technology, as the name suggests, uses a dual-light source for improved picture quality, especially in brighter environments. Specifically, the projector uses a “Triple laser” to display an extended color range and a phosphor light to enhance any imperfections. A proprietary optical engine equipped with MCL lasers — which are commonly used in commercial theaters, resulting in a cinematic viewing experience — is also involved.
The projector’s design is meant to fit into any home, sporting a vintage look with a wood-like paneling. The price and launch date of the Horizon Max remains to be determined. However, Xgimi did mention that Dual Light 2.0 and ISA 5.0 tech are part of the new Horizon Max projector.
