XGIMI
XGIMI Horizon Ultra
$1699
Released 2023-08
Best Projectors · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen is cheaper at $799. Every spec and price links to its source.
XGIMI
$1699
Released 2023-08
Samsung
$799Cheaper
Released 2023-08
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen is the cheaper at $799.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1699 | $799 |
| Brand | XGIMI | Samsung |
| Released | 2023-08 | 2023-08 |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 1920x1080 |
| Brightness lumens | 2300 | 230 |
| Light source | laser-LED hybrid | LED |
| Throw type | standard | portable |
| Smart OS | Android TV 11 | Tizen |
| Contrast ratio | — | 100000 |
| HDR | Dolby Vision | HDR10+ |
| Release | 2023-08 | 2023-08 |
Sources — XGIMI Horizon Ultra: projectorcentral.com (verified 2026-06-15). Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen: projectorcentral.com (verified 2026-06-15).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Across three whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide lab-measured; TechRadar and What Hi-Fi hands-on), the XGIMI Horizon Ultra wins praise for bright, vivid, accurate color and a striking, premium design, but reviewers split on dark-scene performance. Only Tom's Guide reported measured figures, and its lab data (249.7:1 contrast, 1295.5 ANSI lumens) underpins a poor-black-level critique that TechRadar's hands-on impression contradicts. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Bright, vivid and accurate color from the dual laser/LED engine; Distinctive, premium, unusual design; Strong built-in Harman Kardon audio for a projector.
Flagged: Poor black levels and low contrast in dark scenes; Clunky Android TV smart system with no native Netflix.
Two whitelisted outlets cover this exact model. TechRadar lab-measured the projector and praises its compact design, Tizen streaming and built-in Gaming Hub while flagging weak brightness (6.6-7.3 nits on a 100-inch screen) and its single micro-HDMI port. What Hi-Fi's IFA 2023 hands-on was positive on portability and picture detail but was explicitly unmeasured and could not judge black levels or contrast. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Compact, versatile, portable design; Strong streaming (Tizen) and cloud Gaming Hub features.
Flagged: Limited brightness / dim image on large screens; Pricey and only micro-HDMI for external connections.