Closer Examination

I knew upon seeing the packaging that this was going to be a heavy projector, and the XGIMI Aura impressed in how substantial it is. Weighing ~15 kg and measuring 605 x 400 x 140 mm, it's no portable unit. Right now, the XGIMI Aura has its own category on the company website given it is XGIMI's first laser projector and ends up a bigger beast than even its recently launched home projector lineup. A beast it truly is when it comes to the feature set, and the biggest of those is the integrated ultra short throw (UST) projector mechanism. This also explains the unique form factor of the projector as a whole, with the lens peeking out of a cutout at the top and angled to face up rather than exposed and pointing straight out. The UST mechanism is fulfilled courtesy the incredible 0.233:1 throw ratio, meaning the projector needs to be 0.233 feet from the projection for every 1 foot of projected width. Practically, the XGIMI Aura produces an 80" projection comparable to higher-end TVs at merely 11 cm from the screen, or wall. With the projector all of 44 cm away, this increases to a whopping 150", which TVs just can't compete with financially.

The design language of the XGIMI Aura is one I quite like, and it once again comes down to the bulk of the object. If not designed well, it would have been a pain to move around and set up. The flat profile plays a big role in aiding with transportation, although not as much as the rounded body with well-positioned gripping surfaces at the bottom on either side of where most of the mass is located. This lower center of gravity makes for a solid-feeling object, too; one that comes off more premium to hold and behold while still using a combination of metal and plastic on the outside. The color scheme is a classic silver and black, matching the included remote control, and it's ultimately a well-executed design that does nicely with the actual materials used. I don't see the use of plastic as a detriment when it comes to the build quality, either; while aluminium throughout would have been cooler in more ways than one, it would have added to the cost and potentially made it heavier, too. Note that the plastic is more of a fascia, and the heatsinks used remain metal for increased heat transfer and, in turn, better cooling.


Unlike most other such projectors, as well as traditional televisions, the side in front of the projection window is where you will find the I/O options. This allows for cables to be tucked away and be hidden behind the projector, although it does necessitate having the source facing the front, which may distract from the projection itself. A working option I can suggest is to sit the XGIMI Aura on a TB stand with open shelves below into which the HTPC/console or other sources are tucked. Shorter wires will help too, and the plethora of I/O options do as well. There is the expected 3-prong power inlet to connect to the AC wall adapter, and above it lie three HDMI 2.0 ports. The very first port is also an audio return channel (ARC) to connect the projector to a sound system supporting it. In addition to HDMI ARC, there is also a 3.5 mm TRS headphone jack output and an optical out. No specifications are provided about these outputs, so it's best to assume there isn't a dedicated amplifier inside. Mainstream consumer headphones should work fine, as will many IEMs.

HDMI 2.0 allows for native 4K display out (3840 x 2160 over a 16:9 aspect ration) at 60 Hz, making the XGIMI Aura capable of native 4K/60 output. The projection mechanism continues to the DLP with a 0.47" DMD display chip, so chances are high that this is actually going to have four interposed 1080p outputs rolled into what is effectively the 4K out. As such, it is not true 4K. Practically, it's not something you will really notice, but I do want to see a contemporary display technology used as UST projectors get more and more common. Other inputs include USB 2.0 ports with two dedicated for media storage devices and a third adopting a micro-USB form factor intended for debugging only. There is also a full-size RJ45 Ethernet port, which was capable of reaching 1 Gbps throughput back and forth, making for a sufficiently fast wired network experience. Those preferring to go wireless will take consolation in knowing at least Wi-Fi 5 with typical dual band 2.4/5 GHz operation over 802.11a/b/g/n/ac is on board, although actual details are once again missing. It does seem to be one of the places XGIMI cut costs cost, however, with maximum throughput almost half that of other typical clients, including modern mobile phones and laptops. There is also Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, meant especially for using the Aura as a set of speakers.


The two shorter sides are nearly identical in design, with fins on the metal body for heat dissipation away from the optics and power circuitry inside. Indeed, there was no time where I felt the Aura was running hot or loud despite it being rated for up to 350 W of power draw. The left side, as seen from the top facing the projection, is also where you will find a slider toggle to turn on the Aura. It's otherwise neatly tucked away from sight, and there is a third Type-A USB 2.0 port underneath a protective cover here.


The back is what is facing the end user here, and this is where XGIMI effectively stuffed in the sound system. There are four 15 W in collaboration with Harman Kardon custom-tuned speakers, two tweeters and two woofers, an we have seen a simpler yet impressive result of the same partnership with other XGIMI projectors before. It's more watts than your typical TV speaker system, even for flagship-class offerings from the likes of Samsung and LG, and a big part of the 350 W peak power draw of the XGIMI Aura. Surprisingly, this is not even the most, with multiple other UST projectors boasting far bigger and more power-hungry speaker systems, albeit usually while costing more, too. The four speakers are placed behind an optically transparent grill cloth over the baffle. Branding is found above on the top surface itself, although done tastefully enough not to be an eye sore by any means.


The remaining side is the bottom itself, and we see a small cutout in the plastic case for ventilation. There are otherwise plenty of screws holding the XGIMI Aura together, and given the nature of it, I did not proceed to disassemble it. A sticker on the back has the expected contact and certification information. Four plastic feet are screwed into the body, allowing for users to better align the projector on a surface by manually rotating the feet as seen above. It's not the most elegant way by any means, and the first time thus far that I have thought about cheaper office projectors with a similar implementation. Most people will use the XGIMI Aura on flat, smooth surfaces to begin with, so they will hopefully not have to fiddle around with these feet. There is no VESA mounting by default, although XGIMI claims the Aura can indeed be mounted to the ceiling upside down. This presumably requires an adapter, but I did not spend much time contemplating it given the vast majority of users are more likely to use it right side up on a stand.