Pint Sized Home Theater Punch! XGIMI's MoGo 2 Pro Portable Projector Review

Manufacturer & Model
XGIMI MoGo Pro 2 Portable Projector
MSRP
$599
Link
https://amzn.to/44zukFO
Highlights
Lightweight and small in size, built-in intelligent screen adjustments for simple set-up, compatible with 4K HDR signals, 400 ISO lumens, Android TV 11 and Chromecast built-in, onboard Bluetooth for streaming music, easy Netflix workaround.
Summary
The MoGo 2 Pro is XGIMI's latest portable projector installment. Featuring 400 ISO lumens and tuned to a D65 color temperature standard, it utilizes ISA 2.0 to set up an impressive picture with little to no effort. And its all-new built-in speaker system is extremely impressive. Our testing found lots to love about this small, easy to deploy projector.
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Today’s review puts a spotlight on an exciting new entry in the portable projector segment, XGIMI’s MoGo 2 Pro. This particular model is the more powerful of two recently announced models by the Chinese manufacturer, the other being the MoGo Pro.

The MoGo 2 Pro officially begins shipping today, April 25th, and lands at a killer price point. Tagged with an MSRP of $599 and available for $549 at launch, XGIMI has managed to pack lots of tech in a form factor that stands just over 6” tall, with a footprint roughly 4.5” wide and deep.


The Walk Around
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At first glance, the MoGo 2 Pro could pass for a Bluetooth speaker, as most of its body is wrapped in an artfully perforated protective shell. Beneath that shell are two 8 Watt speaker units firing to the left and right, flanking a “transparent bass diaphragm” that’s visible through a window on the rear of the projector. XGIMI says this design results in an audio chamber with 2.1 times the volume and 2.6 times the power of its previous MoGo Pro model, with sound quality digitally managed through four different DSP modes.

The back side houses several ports, including HDMI 2.0 for external sources like a Blu-ray player or cable box, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-A port that’s handy for streaming sticks, and a USB-C port for power. Unlike the previous MoGo generation, the MoGo 2 Pro doesn’t have an internal rechargeable battery, which means the only way to ditch the power cable is by adding your own 65 Watt power bank – unfortunately, that’s an added cost left for you to tackle.

The front carries the projector’s primary lens, which is situated behind a rectangular glass window. You’ll also find three sensors the projector uses to fine tune the image.

In all, the MoGo 2 Pro is an attractive package, and its 2.5 pounds of girth feels solid in the hands. I particularly like its color, described by XGIMI as “Sandtone-textured Mocha Gold,” which helps the projector disappear in a room’s landscape.


Onboard Technology
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Tapping an LED light source with 25,000 hours of life and 400 ISO lumens of output, the MoGo 2 Pro is a DLP Projector with standard 1080p HD resolution. That resolution is achieved through pixel shifting and an imaging chip that isn’t native 1080p, which likely helps keep the overall price point low.

If you read through XGIMI’s marketing materials, mentions of HDR and HDMI 2.0 might lead you to believe that the MoGo 2 Pro can also throw a 4K image. Alas, that’s not the case. Yes, you can feed it a 4K HDR signal, but internal video processing downconverts that signal to 1080p SDR. The image is still fully HD capable, filled with a massive amount of color (up to 90% of DCI-P3 and 125% of rec.709). On top of that, color accuracy is anchored by a color profile that trends toward D65 (a standard used by Hollywood post-production facilities).

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Onboard Intelligent Screen Adaptation (ISA 2.0) uses the projector’s front sensors to make set-up and use a breeze. To start, it has both Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance and Intelligent Screen Alignment. When you turn the projector on, or move it while in use, these technologies utilize a 3D ToF depth sensor to analyze a surface and situate the image away from objects (like a light switch) or the edges of a movie screen. Autofocus is also triggered at start-up and after small movements to the projector, as is automatic keystone correction, making it incredibly easy to get a clean, squared-off, image without the hassle of perfectly aligning the projector with a screen or a wall.

Google’s latest smart TV operating system, Android TV 11, brings Google Assistant and the Google Play Store into the fold. It provides access to plenty of streaming apps, and the ability to mirror both Android and iOS devices.

Netflix compatibility remains a bit of a fly in the ointment for XGIMI. At time of press, XGIMI says it's actively exploring avenues to ink an official agreement with Netflix. In the meantime, you’ll need to access the service through an external device (like a streaming stick) or by sideloading Netflix using an easy workaround detailed in a pamphlet included with the projector. I opted for the latter and had Netflix up and running in a matter of minutes.


Out of the Box
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The MoGo 2 Pro ships in attractive, high-quality packaging. My sample arrived safely double-boxed with form-fitting bubble wrap protecting the inner box. Most of the packing materials are recyclable, save for bubble and plastic wrap and foam end-caps that slip on the top and bottom of the projector. Hopefully, XGIMI will continue to innovate and develop 100% recyclable packaging – the Earth would certainly appreciate it.

The projector ships with a remote, a power cable, and quite a bit of printed information.

Set-up is a breeze, only slowed by having to manually enter Wi-Fi and Google account passwords with the remote. That process is expedited for users with an Android phone – sorry Apple fans, you’re out of luck if you’re tied to an iPhone.

Expect to spend about 10 minutes getting the projector unboxed and ready to rock.

Once running, I used Spears & Munsil’s HD calibration disc to tweak the image. For those that are curious, I ended up bumping contrast down to 45 and brightness to 53 in the projector’s standard picture mode. I also bumped the RGB color controls up a few notches. Of course, your environment is unique, so your best bet is to use a Spears & Munsil disc or a free resource on the internet to make any picture adjustments.


Use
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Ease of use is one of the MoGo 2 Pro’s best attributes. Thanks to its intelligent screen adaptation tech, you can basically set it on any surface (or screw it on a tripod), point it at a surface, and the projector takes care of the rest. Within a matter of seconds, it can throw an image, keystone, and focus with impressive results. For moments where an image requires tweaking, there are manual controls in the menu system, but it’s just as easy to gently move the projector and restart the auto-adaptation process.

The projector is capable of aligning an image away from objects, such as a light switch, and it can accurately sense the edge of a traditional projector screen, making necessary adjustments by resizing a visible image within the entirety of its throw capability. In other words, if it’s positioned to throw an 80” image, it will shrink and keystone an adjusted image within that space – it doesn’t make adjustments using a motorized lens. In doing so, it leaves a slightly greyed, sometimes uneven border that resembles the original unadjusted image space. Purists might find this border distracting, but XGIMI’s implementation gets the job done in a way that most users will appreciate.

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Sourcing media from apps like HBO Max and Netflix is a snap, and the projector quickly detects a Blu-ray player connected via HDMI. It’s worth noting that MoGo 2 Pro’s Android TV interface is intuitive and easy to navigate with the remote or voice control. I especially appreciated the remote’s physical layout, which leans on tactile queues to streamline usability in dark environments.

The projector is capable of throwing an impressive image that’s loaded with detail and natural colors. Skin tones appear natural-looking and whites weren’t overly crisp with a blue push. I found overall brightness to be adequate for a dark room, but barely passable when challenged with lots of ambient light.

Movie and TV content looks quite good, especially when considering the MoGo 2 Pro’s overall size. The projector does struggle with extremely dark scenes, losing detail. That’s not much of a surprise tho, especially considering its overall light output capabilities.

One nifty feature is ISA 2.0’s “intelligent eye protection.” This detects when an object enters the projection area, automatically dimming output. This is a great feature for owners with kids or pets that might run in front of the projector and take a peek at the lens.

Audio is shockingly good for a projector of its size. Informal measurements of all four audio modes – Movie, Sports, Music, News – show that the Movie mode (red) is tuned to deliver the most impactful bass, with usable output down to 110 Hz. The Music (green) mode sacrifices a bit in the extreme low-end for more punch in the 300 Hz – 500 Hz range, while Sports (blue) and News (orange) modes shave quite a bit off down low while bumping in the 2 kHz range (likely for speech intelligibility).

You can see these measurements in the graph (below), developed using measurements taken in-room, directly by the projector. Yes, lots of smoothing is applied – these measurements are meant for purposes of discussion only.

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I found the Movie mode delivered quite a bit of sonic character, loaded with textures and decent hints of depth. This is how I’d use the project (for both media and streaming music) if it were in my home.


The Wrap
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There’s so much to like about the XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro, that its shortcomings are easily overshadowed. With a price landing under $600, it won’t break the bank. And for that money, you’re granted a ton of versatility that’s easy to enjoy. This is a product that less tech-savvy buyers will love.

Overall brightness and difficulty showing detail in dark scenes are the projector’s two biggest drawbacks, but it does quite well with content that is easier to display. In general, the smaller the image, the less brightness comes into play. Based on my testing, the MoGo 2 Pro hits its stride in a dark room with an image size capping at 70 or 80”. Add in its audio prowess, and you have a movie machine that can take the fun just about anywhere you want it to go.

If you'd like to purchase the XGIMI MoGo Pro 2 Projector and want to support AV NIRVANA, click on one of our affiliate partners, below.*





XGIMI MoGo Pro 2 Projector Specifications
  • Brightness: 400 ISO Lumens
  • Resolution: 1920x1080
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (HD)
  • Display Type: 0.23" DLP x 1
  • Color Processing: 8-bit
  • Video Modes: 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60
  • Data Modes: MAX 1920x1080
  • 3D Modes: Full HD 3D
  • Lamp Type: LED
  • Lamp Life: 25,000 hours
  • Optional Lenses: No
  • Lens Shift: No
  • Throw Distance: 3.5' - 17.5'
  • Image Size: 39.93" - 200.21"
  • Throw Ratio: 1.20:1 (D:W)
  • Projector Size: 6.33" x 4.68" x 4.25" (HxWxD)
  • Weight: 2.4 lbs
  • Audible Noise: 38 dB
  • Internal Speakers: 8.0 Watts × 2
  • Power: 65 Watts 100V - 240V
  • Connections: Mini Jack, HDMI 2.0, USB x 2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
*AVNirvana.com makes a small commission on purchases made through affiliate links. Our trusted affiliates include B&H Photo, Best Buy, and Amazon. Our reviews are independent of any affiliate status.
 
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