If you’ve lost track of this week’s most important tech news then don’t fret, as we’re here to catch you up to speed – and this is one week you won’t want to have missed.
We say that because some major things have happened in the last seven days. Meta announced that it’s sharing its Horizon OS with other VR headset makers – which is the biggest announcement it will likely make this decade – Apple teased its 2024 iPad lines and gave us a launch date for them, and DJI gave us a release date for its cheapest-ever 4K drone.
And here at TechRadar we hosted our first Sustainability Week, producing a whole host of articles showcasing some fantastic examples of how the tech industry is focusing on sustainability – and a few instances where it still needs to do better.
Let’s get you all caught up on the week’s biggest stories that you might have missed…
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though, as we also zoned in on the energy impact of processors and graphics cards, calling for the likes of AMD, Nvidia and Intel to work together towards a more sustainable chipmaking future. We’ve also shared insights on how you can do your bit, whether that’s by opting for refurbished tech, seeking out sustainably sourced devices, or using your phone to save the planet.
6. Apple set a launch date for its new iPads
The official invite for Apple’s May 7 launch event (Image credit: Apple)
Apple has confirmed the date for its next “special Apple Event” as May 7 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST, which is midnight AEST on May 8, and while iPads aren’t officially on the cards, the invite includes a snazzy Apple logo featuring an Apple Pencil surrounded by splashes of color – a strong indication that new tablets will be shown off.
We’re expecting the headline announcement to be a new iPad Pro with an OLED display and M3 chipset, with two iPad Air 6 models plus some accessories – such as a new Pencil and potentially a Magic Keyboard – also likely to get shown off.
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And if this isn’t enough Apple for you, just over a month later Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC 2024, will kick off on June 10. So make sure to check back here regularly to keep yourself in the loop.
(Image credit: Meta)
This week Meta announced that its Horizon OS – the operating system used by its VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3 – is coming to third-party hardware, starting with ASUS, Lenovo and Xbox devices.
This is huge news, as it’ll hopefully lead to a much more diverse range of VR headsets in the near future, with the already teased gadgets including a “performance gaming headset,” “mixed-reality devices for productivity,” and a more Quest-like headset coming from the trio of partners respectively.
However, Meta might want to make sure that Horizon OS doesn’t copy too many of the bad aspects of Windows, though only time will tell how this move will play out.
4. A Sony wearable took us one step closer to Dune
(Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
With the recent launch of Apple’s Vision Pro headset and Dyson’s Bane-like air-purifying headphones, you’d be forgiven for thinking that we’ve reached peak wearable tech. However, this week Sony showed us that the wearable product class is just getting started.
The Sony Reon Pocket 5 is a wearable thermo device that cools or warms your body, depending on the conditions of your environment. Designed to sit neatly on the back of your neck, the Reon Pocket 5 uses a plate-like “thermos module” and five sensors to determine optimal body temperature and, hopefully, make you more comfortable while you’re traveling on public transport or walking in less-than-ideal conditions.
The Reon Pocket 5 offers five levels of cooling and four levels of warmth, meaning that – in theory – it’s just as useful on a stuffy commuter train as it is outdoors on a frosty morning. We took the device for a spin at a recent demo event, and we can confirm that it does indeed regulate body temperature pretty effectively – though you’ll have to put up with looking like an extra from a sci-fi movie when wearing it.
3. An Android phone served up superior audio
(Image credit: Moondrop)
The lack of an audio jack in most of today’s phones hasn’t been popular with everyone – especially not audiophiles, who love the fidelity of wired connections for hi-res audio. Enter the Moondrop MIAD01 – this phone not only has a 3.5mm jack, it also has a 4.4mm balanced output for connecting to a powerful music system without distortion, and a “flagship” DAC to make sure high-end digital files get treated properly on the way to your ears.
On top of that, it’s a pretty cool phone as well. It’s got a great futuristic look (as do all Moondrop products – just check out their earbuds when you’re bored), a large 120Hz OLED screen, and dual cameras on the back. For serious streaming audiophiles, a dedicated music player or a portable DAC tend to be a big part of listening on the go, and this phone aims to replace both – and the music lovers on the TechRadar team are watching closely.
2. The Deadpool and Wolverine trailer delivered Easter egg galore
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Deadpool and Wolverine is edging closer towards its July 26 launch date, so it’s high time that Marvel released some new footage to further fuel our excitement for the duo’s multiversal buddy-cop flick.
Thankfully, the comic book giant duly obliged earlier this week (April 22) with a brand-new trailer – and, unsurprisingly, the Marvel Phase 5 movie’s latest teaser is packed with Easter eggs. Some are easier to spot than others, mind you, so we’ve taken the liberty of picking out six of the best and/or easily missable ones from Deadpool 3’s newest trailer. Once you’ve read that, check out ourX-Men movies in order guide to see what films you need to stream ahead of the MCU’s next flick, too.
1. DJI’s cheapest-ever 4K drone got a release date
(Image credit: DJI)
A DJI drone announcement without the usual speculation, rumors and leaked pictures is a rare thing, but the DJI Mini 4K quietly popped up on the DJI Amazon store this week, complete with a April 29 release date.
We’re not expecting big things from the Mini 4K – it will likely be a modest refresh of the DJI Mini 2 SE, with similar specs like 31-minute flight time, level 5 wind resistance and a sub-250g body – but it will become DJI’s cheapest ever drone to shoot 4K video, and that should make it one of 2024’s most popular drone for beginners.
Meta opens up Horizon OS for third-party AR/MR/VR headsets
In a major move, Facebook owner Meta has renamed the Android-based operating system used on its Quest MR/VR headsets to Horizon OS. Moreover, it has opened up the operating system to third-party brands. Horizon OS will now be used on MR/VR headsets from ASUS ROG, Lenovo, and Microsoft.
ASUS is building multiple performance gaming headsets, while Lenovo is developing a mixed-reality headset for entertainment, learning, and productivity. Meta is collaborating with Microsoft to build a Quest headset inspired by Xbox.
Meta is also calling Google to bring the Play Store to Horizon OS. Moreover, it plans to promote apps made using Quest App Lab on the Horizon Store. Meta is also building a spatial framework to let mobile app developers build mixed-reality apps for headsets using Horizon OS.
Samsung’s XR headset could use Android OS optimized for mixed-reality
Samsung has already announced that it is building an XR device (likely a mixed-reality headset) in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. It will likely use a version of Android that is optimized for mixed-reality headsets and a Qualcomm processor from the Snapdragon XR series.
It is said to feature the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. It is a 4nm chip with an octa-core CPU and a powerful Adreno 740 GPU that can drive two 4.3K screens at 90Hz. It can handle up to 12 cameras simultaneously. It has 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity.
Author’s Note:Some rumors claimed that Samsung’s XR headset is a high-end device that is priced lower than Apple’s Vision Pro. Its success will depend on the number of apps and games that are available on the platform and how well it integrates with Android smartphones, tablets, and Windows-based computers and laptops.
In comparison, Meta’s Horizon Store already has plenty of games, and it is already a great gaming platform. So, headsets from ASUS and Lenovo will have access to all those games on launch day. Samsung and Google have an uphill task ahead of them.
Horizon Forbidden Westhas come to PC, and it’s given me another reason not to buy a PS5. I’ve bought every generation of PlayStation console since the OG model, but with Sony‘s shift to (belatedly) porting most of its exclusives to PC, it just doesn’t seem worth splashing out on a new console when I can just wait for the games I want to play to come to me.
So, I was very happy to hear that Horizon Forbidden West was going to be ported to PC. As a big fan of the original game, which I played on PS4, I’d been looking forward to playing it.
Of course, as a visually-impressive first-party game from Sony, I was also keen to see how it performed on our 8K rig. As you can see in the specs box on the right, our rig has remained largely unchanged for over a year. This is because it remains a formidable machine – and, crucially, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card that does the bulk of the work when gaming has yet to be beaten. It remains the best graphics card money can buy.
With rumors swirling that Sony is planning on releasing a more powerful PS5 Pro console in the near future that could target 8K resolutions through a mix of more powerful hardware and upscaling technology, Horizon Forbidden West at 8K on PC may give us an idea of the kind of visuals future PlayStation games may offer.
It also suggests what obstacles Sony will face if the PS5 Pro will indeed target 8K resolutions. Despite being almost two years old, the RTX 4090 GPU still costs more than its original launch price, hovering around $2,000/£2,000. While the PS5 Pro will likely be more expensive than the standard PS5, there’s no way it’ll be even half the price of Nvidia’s GPU – and that’s before you add in the cost of the other PC components required. Basically, you can’t currently buy an affordable 8K gaming machine that is priced for mainstream success. That’s the scale of the challenge Sony faces.
(Image credit: Future)
Spoilt for choice
One of the best things about Sony’s initiative to bring its games to PC, apart from giving me an excuse not to spend money I don’t have on a PS5, is that they usually come with an excellent choice of PC-centric options, including support for upscaling technology from Nvidia and support for ultrawide monitors.
Horizon Forbidden West continues this streak, and the PC port has been handled by Nixxes Software, which has handled many previous PlayStation to PC ports.
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This latest release is particularly noteworthy as not only does it support DLSS 3 for Nvidia RTX graphics, but it also supports competing upscaling tech in the form of AMD FSR 2.2 and Intel XeSS.
All three of these features allow the game to run at a lower resolution, with the images upscaled so that the game appears at a higher resolution, but without the additional strain on your PC’s graphics card.
This mainly allows less powerful GPUs to hit resolutions with graphical effects enabled that they usually wouldn’t be able to handle. It also allows the mighty RTX 4090 to reach the demanding 8K resolution (7680 × 4320) in certain games while maintaining a playable framerate.
By supporting the three major upscaling tools, Horizon Forbidden West gives users much more choice (both FSR and XeSS work for a range of GPUs, while DLSS is exclusive to recent Nvidia GPUs) – and it also gives me a chance to see which upscaling tech performs the best.
(Image credit: Sony)
First up: DLSS
First, I played Horizon Forbidden West at the 8K resolution of 7680 × 4320 and the graphics preset at ‘Very High’ – which is the highest quality on offer. With DLSS turned off (so the game is running at native 8K), my 8K test rig managed to run Horizon Forbidden West at an average of 32 frames per second (fps).
Considering that this is a graphically-intensive game and running at the highest graphics and at a resolution that’s pushing around 33 million pixels, this is very impressive, and is a testament to the raw power of the RTX 4090, the rest of the components inside the rig built by Stormforce Gaming, and the talents of Guerrilla Games (developers of the game) and Nixxes Software.
I feel that 30fps is the minimum frame rate for a playable game, so if you wanted to play Horizon Forbidden West at a native 8K resolution, that’s certainly possible. If you drop the graphics preset, then the frame rate will go up – though at the cost of graphical fidelity.
Of course, you don’t spend around $2,000 on a GPU to get 32fps in a game, so I turned on DLSS and set it to ‘Quality’, which minimizes the amount of upscaling performed to preserve image quality as much as possible. This led the average framerate to jump to 45fps, with a maximum frames per second of 60.7fps.
One thing to note with my results, which you can view in the chart above, is that because Horizon Forbidden West doesn’t have a built-in benchmark tool, I had to play the same section over and over again, using MSI Afterburner to record my framerate. I chose a section of the game with large open spaces, water effects and a combat encounter, and I tried to make each playthrough, lasting around eight minutes, as similar as possible. However, my playthroughs weren’t identical, as some things, such as enemy attacks, would change, and this explains why there are some discrepancies between results. Still, it should give you a good idea of the difference each setting makes.
Next, I turned ‘Frame Generation’ on. This is a new feature exclusive to DLSS 3 and Nvidia’s RTX 4000 series of cards. It uses AI to generate and insert frames between normal frames rendered by the GPU. The goal is to make games feel even smoother with higher, more consistent framerates while maintaining image quality.
As the chart shows, this gave the game another bump in frames per second. I then tested the other DLSS settings with Frame Generation left on.
With DLSS set to Ultra Performance, I hit 59.3fps at 8K – basically the 60fps goal I aim for in these tests, which offers a balance of image quality and performance. With Ultra Performance, the RTX 4090 is rendering the game at a much lower resolution, then using DLSS to upscale to 8K, and this reliance on upscaling can lead to an image quality that can suffer from a lack of sharpness and detail, and graphical artifacts. The good news is that DLSS 3 is a big improvement over previous versions, and the hit to graphic quality is far less noticeable these days.
So, thanks to DLSS, you can indeed play Horizon Forbidden West at 8K. But how does AMD and Intel’s rival technologies cope?
(Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
AMD FSR 2.2 tested
AMD’s FSR 2.2 technology isn’t as mature as Nvidia’s DLSS 3, but it has a noteworthy feature that DLSS lacks: it’s open source and doesn’t just work with AMD graphics cards – Nvidia and Intel GPUs can make use of it as well.
This makes it far more accessible than DLSS, which is exclusive to new and expensive Nvidia GPUs, and for many people this flexibility makes up for any shortfall in performance.
As you can see from my results above, FSR 2.2 provides a decent jump in frame rates compared to running Horizon Forbidden West natively at 8K, though at each quality setting, it doesn’t quite keep up with DLSS 3’s results.
The best results I managed was with FSR set to ‘Ultra Performance’, where it hit 55.2fps on average. Below DLSS 3’s best results, but certainly not bad, and close to doubling the performance of the game compared with playing it natively.
As well as being unable to hit the same highs as DLSS 3, AMD FSR 2.2’s image quality at Ultra Performance isn’t quite as good as DLSS 3 at similar settings, with a few instances of shimmering and ghosting becoming noticeable during my playthrough.
(Image credit: Sony)
Intel XeSS results
Finally, I tested out Intel’s XeSS technology. While there is a version of XeSS designed to run with Intel Arc graphics cards, as with FSR you can use XeSS with various GPU brands, so there is yet another upscaling tool that gamers can try out. As with most things, the more choice there is for consumers, the better.
XeSS hasn’t been around for as long as DLSS or FSR, and as you can see from the results above, it wasn’t able to match either of Nvidia or AMD’s solutions. There’s no ‘Ultra Performance’ mode either, so XeSS hits its highest framerates with XeSS set to ‘Performance’, with an average of 50.6fps. This leads to a perfectly playable experience at 8K, but it’s noticeably more sluggish than when playing with DLSS at Ultra Performance.
However, it still gives you a decent fps bump over native 8K, and with Intel being one of the biggest proponents of artificial intelligence, I’m pretty confident that XeSS performance will improve as the technology matures. The fact that you can use it with GPUs from Intel’s rivals is also a big plus.
(Image credit: Sony)
Conclusion: DLSS for the win (again)
Once again, DLSS 3 has proved to be the best way of getting a game to run at 8K and 60fps with minimal compromises.
Not only did it allow the RTX 4090 to hit 59.3fps on average while playing Horizon Forbidden West, but it also looked the best with minimal impact to image quality.
This may not come as too much of a surprise – DLSS has been around for quite a while now, and Nvidia has been putting a lot of work into improving the technology with each release.
Also, while Nvidia’s preference for proprietary tech means you need the latest RTX 4000 series of GPUs to get the most out of it, this does at least mean Team Green can make use of exclusive features of its GPUs such as Tensor Cores. With AMD and Intel’s more open implementations, they are unable to target specific hardware as easily – though FSR and XeSS are available to a much wider range of PC gamers.
And, while FSR doesn’t quite match DLSS performance with Horizon Forbidden West, it comes close, and if you don’t have an Nvidia GPU, this is a fine alternative. As for XeSS, it shows plenty of promise.
So, upscaling tech has made gaming at 8K on PC achievable, and it’s great to see increased choices for users. So, if Sony is indeed working on a PS5 Pro that aims to run games like Horizon Forbidden West at 8K, it’s going to have to come up with its own upscaling tech (or adapt FSR or XeSS) if it wants to compete.
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra proves that projector technology is now so good that you really don’t need to spend the earth in order to get a fantastic viewing experience. While the 4K long-throw projector might be pretty pricey, in projector terms it’s a steal at $1,699 / £1,749 / AU$3,499.
Despite the lack of native Netflix support that plagues all smart projectors, the XGIMI Horizon Ultra is a fantastic projector that punches well above its weight in terms of picture quality. It has a plethora of ports, onboard Dolby audio and image adaptation technology that makes it a breeze to use. 4K images are incredibly sharp and crisp, and the colors are vibrant and accurate. The blacks are deep and HDR performance brilliant, with great brightness even in well-lit conditions.
This small, functional package is portable and stylish and would suit any home as a portable or stationary projector for fun, entertaining, and serious content consumption. It’s the world’s first long-throw projector with Dolby Vision support, and also a great companion to devices like the Apple TV 4K.
In gaming mode, it can even be used for casual console play, although it’ll be limited to 60Hz and pros will find the 18ms latency intolerable. Considering the best 4K projectors usually cost north of $3–4,000 / £3-4,000 / AU$4–5,000, the XGIMI Horizon Ultra is a serious bit of kit and a very solid upgrade to the Horizon Pro.
XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4K review: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future)
Release date: August 2023
Price: $1,699 / £1,749 / AU$3,499
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra was released on August 31, 2023. It’s available in the US, the UK and Australia for £1,749 / $1,699 / AU$3,499, respectively, directly from XGIMI’s website, which also serves a couple of other territories including Canada. It’s available at the same price from Amazon, although buying it from XGIMI directly gets you a free XGIMI 4K streaming stick (not tested here) included.
XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4K review: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Screen sizes supported:
40 – 200 inches
Brightness (specified):
2300 ISO Lumens
HDR support:
HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
Optical technology:
Dual Light (LED+Laser)
Smart TV:
Android TV 11
Connections:
2 x HDMI (1 with eARC), USB x 2, 3.5mm, Optical
Dimensions:
(H x W x D) :265 x 224 x 170mm
Weight:
5.2kg (11.4 pounds)
XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4K review: Design and Features
(Image credit: Future)
Very elegant and unique styling
Strong selection of ports
Intelligent Screen Adaption for ease of use
Out of the box, the XGIMI Horizon Ultra really catches the eye in terms of styling. Compared to its predecessor, the Horizon Pro – a rather uninspiring black box – the flow cover facade and the cream PU leather exterior really make the Ultra stand out. That’s less alluring if you want a projector to be subtle and out-of-sight, but otherwise, the Ultra won’t look out of place perched on any coffee table, stand, shelf, or anywhere else for that matter. Both materials feel premium to the touch, if a little liable to scuffing. As a long-throw projector, there’s a good chance you’ll have it on display, and the Ultra will definitely turn heads for all the right reasons. The Ultra is also pretty tiny, measuring just 26 x 22 x 17cm (H x W x D), meaning it doesn’t take up too much space and can be hidden if you really need it to be. Given that lovely design though, I can’t imagine why you would. It also weighs just 5.2kg (11 pounds), so it’s pretty easy to move around.
The unique design continues with the motorized facade, which moves up and down when you power the projector on (or off), revealing the projector array when in use and hiding it when it’s off. I love this unique touch, as it gives the projector the faintest sense of life and personality. The “Misty Gold” design, as XGIMI refers to it, is very classy and a far cry from the usual dull, grey, soulless boxes that projectors usually manifest themselves as.
One fairly obvious omission that I can see is the lack of legs or any kind of stand. The Ultra sits completely flat on whatever surface it is placed on, with no recourse for angling it or adjusting the height. This is offset somewhat by the excellent keystone correction we’ll come to shortly, but I think it would really benefit from some legs or an adjustable base, just to make positioning it a bit more intuitive. XGIMI is planning to release a stand next year.
Given the price, the UItra has a surprisingly comprehensive array of ports. Notably, two HDMI slots including one that supports eARC. This means you can plug it straight into a soundbar, AVR or my personal favorite, stereo HomePods, for potent sound that matches the visuals. This is a feature home cinema enthusiasts will love, but if you don’t want to fix yourself to a home theater setup, the Ultra also boasts two 12W Harman Kardon speakers. The onboard speakers support DTS-HD and DTS-Studio Sound in the form of DTS-Virtual: X, Dolby Audio, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus. In short, it’ll support basically any audio format you could wish for with speakers that can easily fill a room. I was really impressed with these, and their clarity is evident as soon as you switch on the projector. True audiophiles will want to use more expensive audio equipment, but for everybody else, those speakers will be marvelous.
There’s also an optical audio port, 3.5mm headphone port, two USB ports, Bluetooth 5.2, and Wi-Fi 6. The latter is important because the Ultra is a smart projector, so reliable, snappy Wi-Fi is paramount when it comes to surfing for content and streaming it. In my experience, the Wi-Fi speeds have been consistent and good, with no buffering or lag to speak of throughout testing.
(Image credit: Future)
The Ultra boasts a long-throw image size of between 40 and 200 inches, although XGIMI says the “best viewing experience” is enjoyed somewhere between 60 and 120 inches. Any bigger than that, and you might see some drop off in quality. The other caveat, of course, is that you’re going to need quite a large room to get the projector far enough away from your wall or screen, with a throw ratio of 1.2-1.5:1.
The Ultra’s party piece feature is its ISA 3.0 technology. Intelligent Screen Adaption was one of my favorite features of the Horizon Pro, and this iteration brings some cool upgrades. ISA essentially ensures that wherever you place the Ultra, and wherever you point it, the picture is cast as a perfectly oriented rectangle calibrated for the surface. The Auto Keystone process kicks in as soon as you switch it on, or can be triggered manually from the menu. This will automatically adjust the corners of your display to give you the best picture. It can also detect and avoid obstacles like plants or shelves, and its intelligent wall color adaption adjusts the colors accordingly, so you don’t necessarily need a screen to enjoy the best picture. The final ISA feature is eye protection, which disables the picture if an object (such as a child or a pet) is detected in front of the fiery combo of lasers and LEDs, preventing injury. It’s this ISA 3.0 tech that makes the lack of feet and adjustment less of an issue. Autofocus and optical zoom are also present, and when all are set to automatic, you can pick up the projector and move it around at will, getting a perfectly oriented picture every time you place the projector down.
Being a smart projector, the Ultra runs Android TV 11. Getting a 4K projector with Dolby Vision and smart capabilities built-in is quite the package, and the operating system pulls its weight. Personally, I’m fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, so I found some of the OS a bit clunky, but Google users will feel right at home. Overall the interface is snappy, certainly more so than any TV OS, and offers a good variety of content sources including Amazon Prime and YouTube. The glaring omission is Netflix, which the streaming giant doesn’t license for projectors. This means the Ultra isn’t at a disadvantage versus rivals, but most users will probably be pretty miffed to find the world’s most popular streaming service isn’t supported natively on their fancy $1,700 projector. The box comes with a leaflet detailing a workaround, which is fine, but it doesn’t support Dolby Vision content. If you want Netflix in all its HDR glory, you’ll need an extra smart TV stick or an Apple TV 4K plugged into its HDMI socket.
The Ultra comes with a well-built and handy remote that includes voice control, the only thing that’s lacking is a play/pause button.
Design and Features score: 4.5/5
XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4k review: Picture Quality
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Stunning detail
Brilliant colours
Excellent brightness
I’d like to say that the Ultra’s picture quality is impressive for a plug-and-play smart projector that only costs $1,700 (pocket change in projector land), but it’s not. It’s impressive period. I was absolutely blown away by how crisp and clear the 4K viewing experience was. The hybrid dual light really puts a shift in to deliver expansive colors and great brightness. At dusk and with a light on the picture was clearer and more vibrant than our 4K TV, even projected onto a painted wall, rather than a screen.
On paper, the Horizon Ultra puts out 4K video with 2300 ISO Lumens of brightness. It also uses both LED and Laser technology, and the results are pretty astonishing.
Out of the box, you can simply turn on the environment and color adaption settings and let the projector do all the work for you, so how does that perform?
Firing up Amazon’s We are Newcastle United, the Ultra stuns with razer sharp details and true-to-life colors I didn’t think a $1,700 projector could manage. The 2300 ISO lumens brightness should see users through in almost any lighting conditions. Darker content, like the exploding space scenes of Apple’s Foundation, definitely stretches the projector’s lower end of color, but I was viewing during the day with floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of light. Even then, everything was clear and visible, the daytime brightness working overtime to ensure everything was clearly illuminated.
Disable the automatic color settings and take manual control, however, and the Ultra really starts to shine. Literally. There’s a plethora of modes for different viewing scenarios, including classics like movies and sports, as well as a gaming mode. These all have individual settings for motion blur and HDR. There’s a high-performance mode, but the noise from the fan is oppressively loud. The most interesting one is the “brilliant” setting, which enables awesome performance in daylight. When you whack the brightness up to nine or 10, the Ultra gives off the low-light performance of a TV, with every inch visible even in the darkest scenes. It took me a while to wrap my head around these settings, but once you start making adjustments the results are fantastic.
(Image credit: Future)
In dark rooms and scenes that call upon color, the Ultra delivers absolutely mind-blowing clarity and colors that really pop off the wall. If you want to use it during the day or as a replacement for a TV, simply crank up the settings and watch it shine. Arguably more impressive is the auto brightness which adjusts to changing light conditions. Having completed some testing in daylight, I closed my curtains, expecting to see the color change, but the image remained perfectly static in terms of brightness, adjusting in real-time, which is epic. Lighting is often the downfall of a projector, but the Ultra offers two excellent choices. There are the smart auto-adjusting settings that let you take a back seat at the expense of some performance, or there’s a deep vein of controls that will let you squeeze every lumen of performance from within. Thanks to precise calibration, there’s not a lighting scenario or type of content that will cause the Ultra to stumble.
When it comes to detail, the Ultra uses pixel shifting and XDR technology. In layman’s terms, it pumps out enough pixels for Full HD, then shifts them (four times each frame) to generate a 4K image. The technology is incredible and the results are a flawless 4K image that even purists wouldn’t sniff at. Watching Dune in HDR was like being back at the IMAX cinema where I first saw it. I’m exaggerating slightly, of course, but the viewing experience is leaps and bounds ahead of any 4K TV.
The projector is locked to 60Hz, and viewing some Forza Motorsport gameplay on YouTube, I was impressed by how smooth it was, there was no tearing or any sort of distortion. From a viewing perspective, the Ultra would be perfect for playing games, and there’s even a low-latency mode that reduces input lag to 18ms if you’re mirroring a gaming device like a smartphone.
Picture quality is the crux of any projector worth its salt and I was blown away by the Ultra’s performance. It certainly knocks my old go-to, the Horizon Pro, out of the park, and that was no slouch. My wife and I are in the throes of transforming our entire living room to incorporate the Ultra as our daily media driver in place of our 4K TV, such is our confidence in its performance.
Adding a screen will bring even more to the equation, eliminating any imperfections of a painted wall and giving you the perfect blank canvas to project onto. However, I’d argue that a big draw of the Ultra is that you don’t need a screen to get the best experience.
Picture Quality score: 4.5/5
XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4k review: Value
(Image credit: Future)
Seems like a steal given the picture quality
There are brighter options out there
Styling is a big plus
When you consider our top picks for the best 4K projector on the market, the Horizon Ultra stacks up very well in terms of value. Our four-star favorite, the Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is an eye-watering $4,999, more than twice the price of the Ultra. It does offer a 120Hz refresh rate, but it’s not that much brighter, offers the same resolution, and has a much smaller projection size of 130 inches. Our number two pick, the BenQ TK700STi is brighter and cheaper, but again falls behind on projection size. What’s more, neither supports Dolby Vision and both look like they were designed by an accountant. The Ultra costs more than the BenQ, which is probably the closest alternative, but a plethora of features such as the Intelligent Screen Adaption suite and the LED + Laser combo definitely sets it apart.
Value score: 4.5/5
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and Features
The unique styling really sets it apart, Intelligent Screen Adaptation is a game-changer. Potent speakers, too.
4.5 / 5
Picture Quality
Immense color and detail, plus excellent performance in all lighting conditions.
4.5 / 5
Value
Well priced in its market and the only long-throw Dolby Vision option, but certainly not the cheapest 4K option.
4.5 / 5
Should you buy the XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4k?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4k review: Also consider
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Comparison: 4K projectors
BenQ W1800
Optoma Technology UHD55
BenQ W2710i
Price:
$1,379
$1,799
$1,699
Screen sizes supported:
60-200 inches
300 inches
200 inches
Brightness (specified):
2000 ANSI Lumens
3,600 Lumen
2,200 lumens
HDR support
HDR 10, HLG
HDR10, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Optical technology:
DLP with lamp lighting
DLP with lamp lighting
DLP with lamp lighting
Smart TV:
N/A
Android
Android
Connections:
2x HDMI 2.0
2 x HDMI 2.0
HDMI 2.0 x 3
How I tested the XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4k
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Tested at home using a variety of content and different lighting conditions
Used a variety of media sources including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and more
I have experience with multiple XGIMI projector offerings and wider home theater
I put the XGIMI Horizon Ultra through its paces in my own home. That means it saw lots of different lightning (as much as Scotland allows), including daylight, dusk, and night. I also tried the projector with different levels of ambient lighting, to get the full spectrum of color. Most testing was done against a plain wall, as well as a screen. I tested the projector using a combination of Dolby Vision, HDR, and 4K content. This is the third XGIMI projector I’ve owned, and I’ve been testing home theater, audio, and displays for a number of years.
The world of artificial intelligence is exploding at the moment thanks to huge advancements in AI technology and services made available during 2023. As a byproduct of the new large language models and AI agents being created we’re witnessing a significant shift in the capabilities of robots. Gone are the days when robots were limited to simple, repetitive tasks. Today, they’re stepping into roles that demand creativity and the ability to solve complex problems. The coming year, 2024, is expected to be a pivotal one, with experts predicting a major leap forward in robotic AI that could redefine what robots are capable of in the near future.
Robots are no longer just about doing the same task over and over. They’re starting to take on jobs that require them to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. This AI robots change is thanks to the rapid development of AI models and algorithms that are becoming more sophisticated. For instance, robots can now handle complicated tasks that combine thinking and physical action, thanks to multimodal AI models.
The hardware of robots is also getting better, which is just as important as the software improvements. These hardware upgrades mean robots can do tasks that need more precision, like household chores. But it’s not just about the physical side of things; robots are getting smarter, too. They’re developing the ability to understand and learn, which is key for them to work on their own in different places.
Robotic AI advancements
We’re also seeing AI robots that can do more than just one specific job. Thanks to new technologies like Transformers and large language models, robots are starting to understand and interact in ways that are more like humans. This means they can be used for a wider range of tasks, which is great news for many industries.
Here are some other articles you may find of interest on the subject of robotics :
AI robots are getting better at doing many things at once. New models, like RT1 and RT2, are helping them learn how to switch between tasks and handle new situations. This kind of flexibility is really important for robots to be useful in the real world, where things can change quickly and without warning.
Having a lot of different and detailed training data is crucial for teaching AI robots how to do things. The Open X embodiment dataset and the RTX model are good examples of this. There’s also a new method called Auto RT that makes it easier to create a lot of training data, which helps robots learn and improve their skills faster. Plus, robots are getting better at tasks that require fine motor skills, which means they can do things they couldn’t do before.
How AI will be be integrated into robotics in the near future
Integrating artificial intelligence, particularly Transformers and large language models, with robotics represents a significant advancement in the field of AI and robotics. This integration is expected to enhance the capabilities of robots, making them more autonomous, interactive, and efficient in various tasks.
Understanding and Processing Natural Language: One of the primary integrations involves the use of large language models in enabling robots to understand and process natural language. This allows robots to interact more naturally with humans, understand commands, and even engage in complex conversations. For example, a robot in a customer service role could understand and respond to a wide range of customer queries with the help of a language model.
Contextual Understanding and Learning: Transformers in language models excel at understanding context, which is crucial for robots operating in dynamic environments. This means robots can learn from previous interactions and adjust their responses or actions accordingly. For instance, a domestic robot could learn household preferences and routines, adapting its tasks to suit the changing needs of the household.
Decision Making and Problem Solving: The integration of AI with robotics also enhances the robot’s decision-making capabilities. By processing large amounts of data and identifying patterns, robots can make informed decisions, solve problems, and even predict future needs or challenges. In industrial settings, this could mean optimizing production processes by predicting equipment failures or maintenance needs.
Sensor Data Interpretation: Robots are equipped with various sensors to interact with their environment. AI, particularly machine learning models, can interpret this sensor data more effectively, allowing for more nuanced and adaptive responses to environmental stimuli. For example, a robot navigating a warehouse can better understand and react to obstacles or changes in its path.
Ethical and Safe Interaction: As robots become more integrated into everyday life, ensuring ethical and safe interactions is crucial. AI models can be trained to recognize and adhere to ethical guidelines and safety protocols, ensuring that their actions do not harm humans or violate social norms.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Finally, the integration of AI with robotics paves the way for continuous learning and adaptation. Robots can learn from new data, adapt to new tasks, and improve their performance over time without requiring extensive reprogramming.
The idea of using AI robots in real-life situations, especially in fields like manufacturing and logistics, is getting more realistic. As robots start working in these areas, they’ll be able to collect more data and learn even faster. This could lead to big improvements in how these industries operate.
Looking ahead, the potential for robotic AI is enormous. The technologies we’ve talked about are laying the groundwork for a future where robots are more than just helpers—they’re partners in coming up with new ideas. As these advancements continue, we can expect them to have a big impact on both society and the way we work.
Filed Under: Technology News, Top News
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