XGIMI has a sleek, portable projector, Elfin, with built-in Android TV in a very enticing package– if you aren’t worried so much about 4k resolution, or battery functionality.
XGIMI Elfin – $650
Let’s start with the most important feature on a projector for me, and that’s visual quality. The Elfin isn’t a robust pixel powerhouse, but at the price point, it’s not trying to be. The resolution maxes out at 1080p/60, and does boast 800 lumens with HDR10+ support, and honestly it’s all I really want out of a projector that isn’t going to be my main display. Picture quality is absolutely great at night, or in complete darkness (my preferred environment in general) and even in the daytime with a smooth, white wall or drop screen, I wasn’t finding myself distracted or complaining with the picture brightness. I tested the Elfin on a variety of different surfaces and found that it worked surprisingly well in all but a few, unrealistic settings, like trying to project onto a bookcase full of bottles and books. A great feature that the Elfin utilizes is the auto-keystoning. Making sure that the shape of the display area is correct by adjusting for the angle of the surface and how far away you are projecting to, etc… can be a tiresome process, however the Elfin makes it simple, and will automatically sense the surface and tweak the settings accordingly. Ease of use is a theme with the Elfin, so much so I’d be comfortable giving this to the least tech savvy person I know and have confidence they’d be able to get it up and running watching their favorite shows with little-to-no frustration. The only knock against the setup is the lack of vertical angling from the projector. Traditionally, a lot of projectors have a retractable foot at the front of the device which allows the device to angle upwards, for those moments when the screen is higher than the device, but out of the box the Elfin doesn’t offer anything. If you don’t have the ideal object to balance the projector on, or an existing stand on-hand, you have to get a bit creative. XGIMI does offer a stand to fix this issue, but it is an extra ~$100.
SPECS:
Brightness – 800 ANSI Lumens
Resolution – 1920×1080
Aspect Ratio – 16:9 (HD)
Type – 0.33″ DLP
Color Processing – 8-bit
Video Modes – 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60
Full HD 3D
Lamp Type – LED
Lamp Life – 30,000 hours
Throw Distance – 3.5′ – 17.4′
Image Size – 40.16″ – 199.64″
Throw Ratio – 1.20:1 (D:W)
Digital Keystone – Horizontal & Vertical
Size -1.90″ x 7.64″ x 7.56″ (HxWxD)
Weight -2.0 lbs
Internal Speakers -3.0 Watts × 2
Power – 65 Watts 100V – 240Vl
Audio Out: Mini Jack
HDMI 2.0
USB
Wireless Networking
HDR
Auto Focus
Android TV OS
Google Assistant
One of my favorite design aspects of the Elfin is its compact design and portability. I found myself packing the Elfin with me on different trips I was taking if I was unsure of what the quality of the screen source would be at my destination. That combined with the auto keystoning meant I can enjoy streaming video content, connected to my personal profiles, while at my sister’s guest room, or a roadside motel. I even found myself setting up at a friend’s living room, so we could both play Halo Infinite from the same room.
The one downside to its portability is the lack of an internal battery. Not a dealbreaker by any means, but with such a lightweight and convenient to pack system, it really got me thinking on the possibilities of enjoying content while away from a power port, whether that be to watch & share drone footage while camping with a group of friends, or simply setting up in the backyard for a short movie when the weather is nice. XGIMI does have a product (the Halo+) for a few hundred dollars more that might fully scratch the itch when it comes to ultimate portability, but the times where that very specific use case comes into play is very rare for me.
The built-in speakers are powered by Harman Kardon, a brand that knows what they are doing when it comes to audio devices. They aren’t going to compare to a proper home theater sound system, but they are quite impressive considering the size of the device. When moving the Elfin from room to room, I was quite content using the onboard speakers for most situations. The Elfin does offer connection to a bluetooth speaker as well, which in practice does add a bit of delay, however it’s mostly negligible unless playing a video game.
Android TV really makes the entire Elfin experience enjoyable. The Elfin offers a far better experience when compared to most ‘smart TVs,’ right out of the box, and night and day compared with most similarly priced TVs. Once getting past the initialization process, it was as simple as logging into accounts and having a premium experience immediately.
THE GOOD Sleek design easy to setup and break down Bright enough for most situations Great sound if external speakers aren't available Easy to setup Built-in Android TV, no need for additional devices
THE BAD No built-in stand/placement adjustment No built-in battery Max resolution of 1080p/60
THE FINAL WORD
The XGIMI Elfin is an impressive bundling of technology, and the perfect projector for infrequent use, or in environments where you might be setting things up and breaking them down on a regular basis. It isn’t going to rival a top tier OLED display, but it’s priced significantly cheaper. If you are thinking about buying a price-comparable TV, consider the Elfin instead. You’ll have a more flexible device you can bring around with you from room to room with a comparable picture quality.
