Xgimi MoGo 4 review

Almost every bit of home cinema and hi-fi kit we test is a product of compromise.

In many categories, such as traditional home cinema projectors, that compromise is as ‘simple’ as (we use that word advisedly, knowing that there is no such thing as simplicity in projector design) making the picture performance compromises necessary to hit a specific price point.

With portable projectors, though, things are even trickier.

Compromises have to be made not only to hit a specific and often much lower price point, but also so that the device can be small, light and, preferably, good-looking.

Oh, and unlike a traditional home cinema projector, which will generally be connected to a dedicated audio system, a portable projector also needs to sound good.

It needs to have enough battery to get through a full movie or football match, too. And it needs an integrated smart platform.

That’s a lot to ask for, isn’t it? And it’s a conundrum we have in mind as we unbox the MoGo 4, Xgimi’s latest portable projector. Are its compromises in all the right places?

They will need to be if it’s going to fare better with us than its three-star MoGo 3 Pro predecessor.

Price

The MoGo 4 has launched for £509 / $499 (around AU$1062 on straight conversion, but we are expecting official pricing for Australia soon). This is slightly more pricey than its predecessor, the MoGo 3 Pro, which launched at £429 / $449 / AU$1099.

Both models are pretty similar when it comes to build and features, but the MoGo 4 does have a built-in battery where the MoGo 3 Pro does not. That could be a huge factor for those looking to have a projector they can take on the go.

As well as trumping its predecessor, the MoGo 4 will be looking to defeat the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air, which launched at £550 / $600 / AU$1300. This four-star model is one of the best portable projectors, boasting pleasing picture and sound quality as well as an attractive build.

Design

About the size of a large water bottle, the MoGo 4 feels genuinely portable. By twisting the body out, the hard plastic on the side transforms into a nifty stand.

There is a small remote that hangs off the body of the projector so that you don’t have to worry about taking multiple components. This remote keeps things extremely minimal with just controls for volume, a D-pad to navigate the menu and a back button.

For those looking for a more comprehensive remote control, though, there is a full-fat alternative included in the box. As well as the features on the small remote, this zapper features shortcut buttons to the home page, settings, personal profile and auto-keystone correction.

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube also have their own shortcuts on this larger remote.

Features

The MoGo 4 uses Google TV with built-in Netflix support, plus the usual streaming suspects. That includes Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, ITVX and Disney+.

However, Channel 4 and BBC iPlayer are not available here. You can get past this by using Google Cast, but it would be better to have native app support.

The projector also supports both Bluetooth (5.1) and wi-fi connectivity.

HDR support only runs to HDR10, with no Dolby Vision or HDR10+, but for a fully portable projector, this is expected.

In terms of picture modes, there are limited options. Standard mode is the most balanced for colour and is bright, while Movie mode cranks up the saturation to enhance contrast.

By default, Movie gives the picture an orange tint. When we turn the saturation down and lower the sharpness, it looks much more cinematic.

Both presets are likeable, but we find our tweaked version of the Movie preset to be best overall.

There is an Eco mode, which is required in order to hit Xgimi’s claim of 2.5 hours of battery life, but this understandably darkens the image slightly. It is activated automatically when the projector is disconnected from a power source, but it can be switched off in the settings.

For outdoor use, the MoGo 4 offers a Performance mode that brightens the image, but it also gives the entire picture an Elphaba-esque green tint, which makes it unsuitable for indoor use. With the lights up in our test room, the picture presets are more balanced and visible, so we cannot see many people using this feature.

Moving to sound, Movie mode makes vocals feel the most realistic and the music the most expressive. With Music mode, the voices are brought to the forefront, but at the expense of the bass.

Game mode widens the sound, but makes it feel artificial and thin. There is also a Sports mode for those looking to watch the latest match. This widens the soundstage.

Picture

After fine-tuning Movie mode to our desired levels, we kick off with Knives Out: A Glass Onion Mystery on Netflix in HDR10.

As the guests board a mysterious boat on the Greek coast, the natural blues and greens look bright yet realistic with the MoGo 4.

It, of course, does not have the detail of bigger, more expensive projectors such as the Nebula X1, but for such a small piece of kit, the MoGo 4 manages to portray a nicely balanced picture, with the branches of trees in the background appearing crisp.

Changing to Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes on standard Blu-ray, we are able to test out the projector’s performance when it comes to black levels. When a group of menacing apes come up against our protagonist Noa, the scene is bathed in darkness apart from the orange light of flaming sticks.

The MoGo 4 does a good job with the deep blacks, as well as making sure there is a decent amount of detail in the lighter shades. The flames also look punchy against the black background, making for an overall cinematic image.

At points, the vibrancy of the image can be a bit heavy-handed. This is likely a decision that Xgimi has made to compensate for when users are watching films outdoors, but it is a flaw worth noting as we expect the MoGo 4 will be used more in the house than outside it.

When a Nazi train filled with archeological treasures barrels along the tracks in Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny on standard Blu-ray, the motion does smear slightly, which makes for a less-than-smooth experience. Despite this, it still feels fairly natural during slower movements and is impressive for the price.

Sound

The MoGo 4’s Harman Kardon 6W speakers are reasonably detailed by projector standards, but the projector does struggle to fill the room as its sound is quite localised.

It does not go very loud, even at maximum volume, which could become an issue when watching outside, but this is just one of those compromises that has been made for the sake of cost and portability.

Still, the MoGo 4 does have a pleasingly detailed and clean sound. With the upbeat soundtrack to Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, for example, the MoGo 4 captures the bright brass notes with a crisp expressiveness.

It does struggle to make a huge impact with the lower frequencies and feels weaker in dramatic moments that rely on heavy bass, but that quality is rare to come by in a projector of this size and price.

Verdict

The MoGo 4’s ultra-portable design will be an immediate draw for many, so it’s pleasing to find that its picture is also vibrant and crisp.

With a slightly more subtle approach to colours and weightier, louder sound, this could be a five-star product – but even as it is, the MoGo 4 is still a worthy rival to the best portable projectors available right now.

SCORES

• Picture 4
• Sound 3
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro

Also consider the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air

Read our LG CineBeam Q review

Best projectors: budget, 4K and ultra-short-throw