Wall-mountable RGB laser projector gives gamers 4K at 120Hz

Lifestyle projection pioneer XGIMI recently previewed its AURA 3 series at IFA 2026. The lineup is headlined by the flagship Aura 3 Max, along with the slightly less powerful Aura 3 Pro. XGIMI refers to this pair as the world’s first series of 4K/120Hz ultra-short throw projectors.

Both models feature triple-laser light engines, with the flagship Max model increasing the brightness to 5,700 ISO lumens.

This represents a considerable step up in performance from the Aura 2 and positions the Max as something of a hybrid between a big-screen TV replacement for the living room and a display that can deliver serious high-fps gaming.

While those maximum lumen numbers may be what draws your attention, one of the most interesting features of the Aura 3 Max may be its Dynamic Dual Iris system, something the company says is a first for an ultra-short throw (UST) projector. Two physical irises work in sequence to regulate the light path, one of which dynamically adjusts based on the brightness of the scene.

XGIMI rates the Max with a native contrast of 8000:1, while its dynamic black enhancement can increase that figure up to ten times. The RGB triple laser engine covers 110% of BT.2020 according to XGIMI, while its X-VISION processor optimizes individual frames for detail, color and overall image quality.

Gaming is where the Aura 3 Series differentiates itself from other ultra-short throwers. Two dedicated DLP controllers process image signals simultaneously. This parallel processing enables what XGIMI describes as native 4K at 120Hz, with variable refresh, automatic low latency (ALLM), and Dolby Vision Gaming added to boot. Two of the device’s three HDMI ports accept 4K/120Hz input, while HDMI 2 adds eARC. Gigabit Ethernet is also included.

There’s an important caveat here: the one-millisecond latency quoted applies to 1080p/240Hz, rather than the projector’s maximum resolution and refresh rate. Plus, while XGIMI claimed a world-first crown for the UST 4K/120-Hz spec, AWOL Vision also has an equally fast wall hugger launching around the same time as the Aura 3 Series. And if you’re looking for a longer-range lifestyle projector, JMGO already has the Iris 4K/120-Hz series available in China, with global pre-orders open now.

Returning to the Aura 3, a 0.163:1 throw ratio produces a 120-inch image from about 8 inches (20.3 cm) away, with supported screen sizes ranging from 80 to 200 inches. In other words, you can still get a really massive image without having to mount anything in the room.

The Aura 3 Pro retains most of the flagship’s core hardware while dropping the raw specs a bit. Brightness drops from 5700 to 4100 ISO lumens, while native contrast drops from 8000:1 to 7000:1.

The shared chassis keeps everything else intact:

The Aura Series 3 is scheduled to hit Kickstarter on October 20. XGIMI is currently accepting a $50 pre-order deposit, which it says unlocks an additional $200 discount once the campaign goes live. MSRP and initial reward levels are yet to be confirmed.

Product page: XGIMI Aura 3 Max

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