In the booming high-end projector market, XGIMI has established itself as a key player by offering innovative products, often praised for their excellent value for money. With the AURA 2, the Chinese brand intends to take a new step by refining the formula of its ultra-short throw laser projector, already well-received on the first model. Designed to be a great replacement for a TV in a modern living room, the AURA 2 promises a brighter picture, better color accuracy, and an immersive audiovisual experience thanks to a built-in Harman Kardon soundbar.
But in a sector where competition is becoming increasingly fierce, does this new model really have what it takes to win you over? Display power, smart features, ease of installation, sound quality: we tested the XGIMI AURA 2 as a replacement for a 65-inch Philips Ambilight TV that is almost 7 years old. Is an XGIMI AURA 2 the perfect solution for replacing a TV? We'll answer that question in this review.
XGIMI AURA 2 Specifications
Under its elegant, meticulously crafted chassis, the XGIMI AURA 2 features ultra-short throw DLP laser projection technology (0.177:1 ratio), allowing it to deliver a 100-inch image from less than 18 cm away. It offers native 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution, with full support for HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, and IMAX Enhanced. The new Dual Light 2.0 light source (laser + LED) offers a brightness calibrated to 2300 ISO lumens, an excellent dynamic contrast of 1,000,000:1 and almost complete coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. The image is automatically optimized thanks to the ISA 5.0 system, which ensures autofocus, automatic distortion correction, color adaptation and wall flatness, as well as an intelligent eye protection mode.
On the sound side, the AURA 2 features a Harman Kardon audio system composed of 4 x 15W speakers, compatible with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD and DTS Virtual:X, offering a powerful and well-balanced reproduction. The interface is based on Android TV 11, with Google Assistant and Chromecast integrated, allowing access to a wide catalog of applications. Finally, the connectivity is complete: 3 HDMI (including 1 eARC), 3 USB, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, Ethernet port, optical output and 3.5 mm jack. With its dimensions of 51 x 27 x 14.4 cm and 9 kg, the XGIMI AURA 2 combines compactness, power and intelligence for all-in-one home cinema use.
Installing the XGIMI AURA 2
One of the great assets of the XGIMI AURA 2 lies in its simplicity of installation, designed to appeal to both amateurs and novice users of home cinema. Thanks to its ultra-short throw projection technology, it is enough to position it about twenty centimeters from the wall or screen to obtain an XXL image. But beyond the physical ease of installation, it is above all the integrated automated aids that make getting started as quick as it is comfortable. The projector features the ISA 5.0 (Intelligent Screen Adaptation) system, an advanced software suite that supports several crucial adjustments: instant autofocus, automatic keystone correction, projection surface detection (with adaptation to wall flatness and color), assistance for aligning the image on a physical screen, and even intelligent eye protection that turns off the display when a human presence is detected nearby (perfect for small children).
These adjustments are made smoothly, from the moment you turn them on, with great precision, eliminating the need for tedious manual interventions. The result: a sharp, well-centered, and perfectly calibrated image in just a few seconds, effortlessly. It's quite impressive to use, but if you give the device a little knock while cleaning, for example, you'll have to start the settings again. It only takes 2 or 3 minutes, however.
Android and the XGIMI AURA 2 applications
On a daily basis, using the XGIMI AURA 2 is smooth and pleasant, with a fairly quick start-up, thanks in particular to the opening of the protective hatch, powered by Android TV 11, a now well-established platform that guarantees an experience close to that of connected boxes or TVs. The interface is responsive, intuitive, and well-structured, with direct access to the main streaming applications (YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, etc.), without requiring complex manipulations. The integration of Google Assistant allows you to control the device by voice, search for content, or control compatible home automation, making use even more natural. Note, however: Netflix is not officially supported on this device natively. In France, many of us are equipped with an additional TV box provided by the ISP, which solves the Netflix issue while still having access to the rest as well as TV. Personally, I would have liked to do without an additional box for practical reasons, but I finally connected an Apple TV 4K (1st generation) to the projector, which does the job perfectly! Using a single remote control is possible on a daily basis, even if the AURA 2 sometimes struggles to detect the power-on signal sent by the Apple TV 4K (this is rare).
Harman Kardon audio quality on the XGIMI AURA 2
The XGIMI AURA 2 also stands out for the quality of its integrated audio system, developed in partnership with Harman Kardon. Equipped with four 15W speakers (two for treble, two for bass), it delivers a total power of 60W, enough to effectively fill a living room with sound without the need for an external system. The sound is clean and well-balanced, with clear vocals, well-defined mids, and an overall ample sound. On the other hand, as is often the case with all-in-one systems, the bass lacks depth, and dynamic scenes can suffer from a certain lack of impact. For more demanding home cinema enthusiasts, or those with a larger space, it may be worth connecting an external audio system.
For this, the XGIMI AURA 2 provides a complete range of connections: optical audio output and HDMI eARC port, which allows you to transmit a multi-channel audio signal (including Dolby Atmos) to a compatible sound bar or amplifier. For my part, I used my Sonos Beam a lot with IKEA Symfonisk subwoofer and satellites even though the AURA 2 is very good.
Image quality of the AURA 2 by XGIMI
In terms of image, the XGIMI AURA 2 impresses with the precision and richness of its visual rendering, even in less than ideal conditions. For this test, the projector was used directly on a blue wall, without a specific ALR type screen. Despite this, the projection quality was very satisfactory. Thanks to its native 4K UHD resolution and laser projection technology, the projector displays a sharp, well-defined image with excellent detail management, even on large diagonals (up to 150 inches). When watching a film in 4K, it is truly a feast for the eyes.
The brightness of 2300 ISO lumens allows for good image readability during the day, provided that direct light sources are limited. A window that is too close will obviously cause a lot of damage, as will reflections of the sun directly on the projection wall. In the evening or in a partially darkened room, the contrast increases in intensity, even without an ALR screen. Compared to the Aura, the first of the name, the difference is significant. The increased brightness allows for use from morning to night without having to close the shutters or draw the curtains. Some programs don't require a perfect image, and a slightly dull rendering isn't that much of a problem in broad daylight.
The Aura 2 offers rich, natural, and well-balanced colors, without excessive saturation. Different settings allow you to best adapt the image to your tastes. HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision formats are well supported, with good reproduction of brightness differences. Obviously, blacks will lack depth if you don't project on an ALR screen. On my blue wall, obviously, the black rendering isn't ideal. Except when the ambient light drops. Don't expect to achieve the blacks of an OLED TV (for example), even with a dynamic contrast of 1,000,000:1, which reinforces the depth of the image in dark scenes.
In summary, even used in imperfect conditions, the XGIMI AURA 2 offers a quality, immersive, and precise image. Can it replace a traditional TV? The answer is in the conclusion of this test.
Conclusion of the XGIMI AURA 2 test
The XGIMI AURA 2 ticks almost all the boxes for anyone looking to take the plunge into an ultra-short throw projector. Its understated and elegant design fits easily into a living room, its Harman Kardon audio system alone is sufficient for everyday use, and its image quality, even projected onto a simple colored wall as in our test, is very good.
So, can it really replace a television? The answer is yes, in many situations, provided a few parameters are taken into account. In a living room with little direct light, the image rendering is sufficiently bright and precise for everyday use. The experience becomes even better when projecting on a suitable screen or in the evening, thanks to the large image size. On the other hand, in broad daylight and without a technical screen (ALR type), the image can lack punch, you accept it or not. Furthermore, the absence of native Netflix may bother some, even if it is easily circumvented.
In short, the XGIMI AURA 2 is not simply a projector: it is a serious alternative to the television, especially for those who prioritize the big show. At this price (2899€ all the same), it rivals high-end OLED TVs, while offering a much more generous diagonal. It's a choice to make!
Pros
- Very good image quality, even without a technical screen
- Native 4K UHD resolution + HDR10 / Dolby Vision compatibility
- Ultra-easy installation thanks to ISA 5.0 (autofocus, keystone, surface detection)
- Simple, discreet and elegant design
- Good integrated audio system (Harman Kardon)
- Smooth Android TV 11, with access to the majority of platforms
- HDMI eARC for simplified audio integration
- Very quiet in operation
Cons
- Bass a little weak without an external audio system
- Best sounding in a semi-dark room or with an ALR screen
- High price, but justified by the performance
- No Netflix in native
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