XGIMI
XGIMI Horizon Ultra
$1699Cheaper
Released 2023-08
Best Projectors · head-to-head
XGIMI Horizon Ultra vs Sony VPL-XW5000ES
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. XGIMI Horizon Ultra is cheaper at $1699. Every spec and price links to its source.
Sony
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
$5999
Released 2022-08
Which is better: the XGIMI Horizon Ultra or Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The XGIMI Horizon Ultra is the cheaper at $1699.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | XGIMI Horizon Ultra | Sony VPL-XW5000ES |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1699 | $5999 |
| Brand | XGIMI | Sony |
| Released | 2023-08 | 2022-08 |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Brightness lumens | 2300 | 2000 |
| Light source | laser-LED hybrid | laser phosphor |
| Throw type | standard | standard |
| Smart OS | Android TV 11 | — |
| Contrast ratio | — | — |
| HDR | Dolby Vision | HDR10 |
| Release | 2023-08 | 2022-08 |
Sources — XGIMI Horizon Ultra: projectorcentral.com (verified 2026-06-15). Sony VPL-XW5000ES: projectorcentral.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the XGIMI Horizon Ultra and Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Brightness lumens: XGIMI Horizon Ultra 2300 vs Sony VPL-XW5000ES 2000
- Light source: XGIMI Horizon Ultra laser-LED hybrid vs Sony VPL-XW5000ES laser phosphor
- HDR: XGIMI Horizon Ultra Dolby Vision vs Sony VPL-XW5000ES HDR10
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
XGIMI Horizon Ultra
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.
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
Two whitelisted testers cover this exact model: Projector Central lab-measured it (brightness, input lag, gamut, fan noise), and What Hi-Fi did a hands-on review. Both call it the cheapest true native 4K laser projector and praise its sharpness, black levels and X1 Ultimate processing. Both flag the imprecise non-motorized lens, the lack of HDR10+ and no 4K/120 gaming. RTINGS and other whitelisted outlets were not found for this model. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Stunning native 4K detail and sharpness (aided by Reality Creation); Excellent, deep, neutrally-toned black levels and contrast for the price; X1 Ultimate processor delivers class-leading picture processing and motion handling.
Flagged: Poor, imprecise non-motorized manual lens controls; No HDR10+ or Dolby Vision support; HDMI 2.0 only; no 4K/120Hz gaming support.