RGB laser projectors bring 4K at 120Hz to movies, sports and gaming

Lifestyle projectors have come a long way from dark, noisy boxes that only worked with the curtains closed. Brands have been looking at brighter laser light sources, integrated streaming and gaming-friendly specs, trying to make the projector a true replacement for the living room TV. XGIMI has been one of the busiest players in that push, and we previously covered its gaming-focused Horizon 20 series and dual-iris Titan Noir home theater projectors.

Now the company continues with the Horizon 30 series, which was first presented at IFA 2026 along with the ultra-short-range Aura 3 line. There are three models in the family: Horizon 30 Pro, Horizon 30 Max and Horizon 30 Ultra Max. They all share the same core hardware and smart features, with brightness and contrast increasing as you move up the range.

XGIMI’s argument is pretty simple: you shouldn’t need different setups for a night of movies, live sports, and gaming, especially in a room that was never designed to be a movie theater.

Brightness maxes out at 6,000 ISO lumens on the Ultra Max, while the Max is rated at 5,300 lumens and the Pro at 4,800. Native contrast follows the same pattern, from 10,000:1 on the flagship model to 8,000:1 on the Pro. XGIMI says this adds up to around 15% more brightness than the Horizon 20 family and seven times the native contrast. A dual intelligent iris system adjusts light output scene by scene and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and enhanced IMAX content.

The key upgrade is the jump from 60Hz to 120Hz in 4K. Gamers get variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic low latency (ALLM), and AMD FreeSync support, with an input lag of 1.9ms at 4K/120Hz, or 1ms if you drop down to 1080p at 240Hz. Both HDMI ports accept 4K/120 signals, and one adds eARC for external audio. XGIMI also notes that 120 divides evenly by 24, so movies play at their native frame rate without the jerky judder that 60Hz displays can introduce.

Settings are made using integrated tilt-and-swivel support, optical zoom and lens shift, while Lens Memory saves up to five settings for switching between standard and ultra-wide formats. Google TV and two 12W Harman Kardon speakers with DTS Virtual:X complete the set.

Pre-orders are open until October 31 on the XGIMI website, with the Horizon 30 Pro for $1,899, the Max for $2,499, and the Ultra Max for $2,999. When open sales begin on November 1, those prices will increase to $2,499, $2,999, and $3,499 respectively. Early buyers can also choose between a floor or ceiling stand, two pairs of 3D glasses, and a $500 coupon for XGIMI’s Ascend display.

That puts the series firmly in premium territory, although it’s in line with rival triple-laser models like the JMGO. More generally, it looks like 4K at 120Hz will become the standard for high-end lifestyle projectors, just as it already has for next-gen TVs and consoles.

If the new optics and iris system live up to their contrast claims, the Horizon 30 could further narrow the gap between a convenient living room projector and a serious home theater setup, and that’s a gap XGIMI has been steadily closing.

Product page: Horizon 30 Ultra Max