XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro: One of the Best Portable Projectors of 2023
XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro
The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro is a versatile and powerful portable projector that delivers stunning image and sound quality, all while being easy to set up and use. With a Full HD 1080p resolution, and 400 ISO lumens brightness, it provides an immersive viewing experience that’s perfect for impromptu home theaters, outdoor movie nights, or just about any other situation. The MoGo 2 Pro’s portability and convenience make it a standout choice for those seeking a big-screen experience without the high cost of a large TV, but factor in the cost of a decent 65W+ USB-C battery if you want to use it when away from a power socket.
Looking for a budget and easy-to-install home theater setup? The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro is a portable projector that packs a punch with its advanced features, impressive image quality, and compact design.Priced competitively at $599, this projector is a great choice for those who want a big-screen viewing experience without the high cost of a large TV.
What sets the MoGo 2 Pro apart from other projectors on the market is its powerful performance and versatility. It features a Full HD 1080p resolution, 400 ISO lumens brightness, and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, delivering crisp and vivid images that make movies, TV shows, and games come to life. Additionally, the projector comes with built-in Android TV, enabling you to stream your favorite content directly from the device without needing an external streaming device.
While the XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro may not match the brightness, contrast, or vibrancy of some cheaper 4K TVs, it offers something that those TVs don’t: the portability and convenience to easily set up in any room or take with you on the go.
Despite no longer featuring a built-in battery found with its previous model, it can now be powered off any 65W+ USB-C power supply or power bank, allowing you to easily move it from room to room or use it outdoors without needing to plug into an outlet.
The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro has several features that make it a standout choice for a high-quality portable projector. With its upgraded 2 × 8W speakers, it provides an immersive audio experience that puts most other portable projectors to shame. The improved sound system can get surprisingly loud and has excellent bass performance. It does an excellent job of filling most small-medium-sized rooms, so you’re able to enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows without needing to rely on an external speaker.
It also features uninterrupted auto keystone correction with obstacle avoidance and intelligent screen alignment, ensuring that the projected image is always perfectly aligned and in focus, even in tight spaces. This makes setting it up a breeze, as you may simply place the projector where you want it and let it do the rest. As with any keystone correction though, you should avoid it where possible, as you lose clarity and resolution the more skewed your image is.
Running Android TV 11, the MoGo 2 Pro gives a fast, modern, and bloat-free experience with access to thousands of apps, including popular streaming services such as Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. You can easily navigate the projector’s interface with the included Bluetooth remote, your smartphone, or even with voice commands using Google Assistant.
With all of these features and a large screen size of up to 100 inches, the XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro is a versatile and powerful projector that’s perfect for home theaters, outdoor movie nights, or just about any other situation where you want to enjoy a big-screen viewing experience without the cost or permanent installation. Plus, with its sleek and modern design, this projector will enhance any living space while providing a high-quality viewing experience. Whether you’re watching your favorite TV shows, movies, or playing video games, the MoGo 2 Pro provides a stunningly immersive experience on a budget that’s sure to impress.
Technically Less Portable, but It’s a Worthy Trade-Off
XGIMI conducted extensive market research and gathered feedback from first-generation MoGo customers to identify the most important features to prioritize in the new MoGo 2. They found that picture and audio quality were the top two priorities. At 400 ISO lumens, the MoGo 2 Pro can produce brighter and clearer images even in environments with some ambient light, compared to the 300 lumens of the MoGo Pro. The MoGo 2 Pro also boasts more powerful speakers, with dual 8W speakers that deliver richer and more immersive sound than the dual 3W speakers found on the MoGo Pro.
In addition to the hardware improvements, the MoGo 2 Pro runs on the latest Android TV 11 operating system, which offers a smoother and more user-friendly interface compared to the Android TV 9 on the MoGo Pro. The MoGo 2 Pro also supports more accurate color reproduction with 90% DCI-P3/D65, which means the colors are more vibrant and true to life, giving you an even better viewing experience.
While the MoGo 2 Pro is technically less portable than its predecessor due to the removal of its internal battery, we think the brighter and more accurate picture quality, more powerful speakers, and the latest Android TV 11 operating system make the MoGo 2 Pro a significant upgrade over the original MoGo Pro.
The need for an external power source may be a limitation for some, but it’s worth noting that the MoGo 2 Pro can still be used in a portable setting, far beyond the two hours of the MoGo Pro, thanks to its compatibility with 65W+ power banks.
Pretty to the Eyes
The MoGo 2 Pro’s sleek and modern design has a minimalist aesthetic that makes it a stylish addition to any room. The compact size and lightweight build make it easy to move around and set up, and the brushed aluminum finish adds a touch of elegance to the overall look. Additionally, the vented design ensures that the projector stays cool during use, which helps to prolong its lifespan. It’s not as quiet as I would like, as the fan is quick to kick in and certainly audible, but the more powerful speakers help drown out the droning buzz from its spinning blades. If you’re happy to trade brightness for fan noise, it’s possible to set the projector to run in ECO mode to minimize disruption.
One of the MoGo 2 Pro’s standout features is the inclusion of a 3D Time of Flight (ToF) sensor, which allows for automatic focus and keystone correction. This means that you won’t have to spend time adjusting the image every time you move the projector, which can be a real-time-saver. The sensor works well, and I found it could quickly and accurately adjust the focus and keystone as needed.
As with previous XGIMI models, the MoGo 2 Pro has a tripod thread at the bottom, which is a nice touch for those who want to the most flexibility with positioning. In many cases, I found attaching a small three-inch tripod with an adjustable head the perfect way to dial in the projector’s angle. Whether I needed to add a little bit more height or change its angle to project upwards on a ceiling, this was a straightforward way to get more customization.
The MoGo 2 Pro is stable enough to stand on a desk without wobble or movement, of course. Although XGIMI does not currently offer tripod attachments, the company has hinted at bundling them in the future. This would be a welcome addition, providing more options for customizing the projector’s placement and projection angle.
Aside from a power button, the lack of onboard controls on the device is a bit of a disappointment. The remote is easy to use and responsive, allowing you to change the volume, playback, and other settings without getting up from your seat. Still, it would have been convenient to have controls on top to adjust the volume or pause playback without reaching for the remote.
Connectivity
The XGIMI MoGo Pro 2 has everything you need to enjoy a seamless viewing experience. It comes with a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, and an HDMI 2.0 port, giving you plenty of options for connecting your devices. With fast and reliable Wi-Fi, you can stream content from your favorite apps without lag or buffering.
Should the built-in speakers be insufficient, you can use either the 3.5mm stereo output or Bluetooth 5.0 for an even more immersive audio experience.
Faster Setup
The ease of setup is one of the standout features of the XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro. Unlike most of the competition, the Smart ISA 2.0 system provides uninterrupted automatic keystone correction and focus, eliminating the need for a test pattern while it adjusts. This makes it incredibly simple to get the sharpest and largest image with minimal effort. Even if the projector is bumped or moved, the picture is automatically updated without interruption.
In comparison, the more expensive Nebula Capsule 3 needs to display its test pattern even with the slightest adjustments. This process is not only slower, but it also disrupts your viewing experience until the calibration is completed.
The MoGo 2 Pro’s ISA 2.0 system includes object avoidance and automatic screen detection. The projector can detect and avoid objects on the projection surface, such as light switches and paintings, then automatically resize the image to fit the screen. This feature is handy for those who want a clear and straight image without any hassle. While the auto setup features are impressive, there are still times when manual adjustments might be necessary. The MoGo 2 Pro does offer the option to adjust the keystone manually, giving users the flexibility to get the projection exactly how they want it.
Picture Quality
The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro significantly improves picture quality compared to its predecessor. With 400 ISO lumens of brightness, the projector performs well in shaded rooms, but colors can appear washed out in brightly lit environments. It’s worth noting that ISO lumens is not the same as ANSI lumens; they are different testing methods, and there is no direct conversion between the two. The two produce broadly similar numbers, however, the use of ISO lumens is less common.
The image appears detailed and vibrant, utilizing pixel-shifting technology with a 0.23" DMD chip to produce the final 1080p output. While this limits the projector to a max of 60Hz, the resulting image is sharp. On the other hand, 60Hz will make this less than ideal for fast-paced games or sports viewing.
We were also shown a side-by-side sports demo with the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector (seen on the left). The MoGo 2 Pro overall looks brighter, has more contrast and vivid colors, and is also slightly sharper. Beyond its better picture quality, the speakers on the MoGo 2 Pro were louder and had noticeably more bass.
The projector has four picture modes: Movie, Office, Game, and Custom. It also supports HDR10, which offers a better dynamic range and a more natural picture.
Turning HDR off may make the image a little brighter, but it also tends to wash out the colors and introduces more noise. We found the default Movie mode with HDR on to offer the best experience, but there are limited picture adjustments. Users can adjust contrast, brightness, saturation, color temperature, noise reduction, or sharpness in the custom mode, and toggle HDR. Despite the lack of fine-tuning options, the presets should be good enough for most.
Whether you want to set up a home theater in your living room, have a portable entertainment system that can be set up and just as easily be tucked out of sight when not in use, or enjoy a movie night under the stars, the MoGo Pro 2 can deliver a big-screen experience anywhere. With its compact and lightweight design, this projector is perfect for those who want a high-quality viewing experience without the hassle of bulky equipment.
The MoGo 2 Pro’s compact and lightweight design makes it an ideal projector for on-the-go use. It’s small enough to fit in a backpack or messenger bag, and its weight won’t weigh you down. It’s perfect for impromptu outdoor movie nights, business presentations, or gaming sessions. However, as with any portable electronic device, it’s essential to protect it from damage during transit. While the MoGo 2 Pro doesn’t come with a carrying case, if you’re in a pinch, you can always use any soft cloth material, such as a towel or a sweater, to wrap the projector and protect it from damage.
Android TV 11
Running on Android TV 11, the XGIMI MoGo Pro 2 has several advantages over competing projectors on the market, giving you access to the Google Play Store, where you can download all your favorite apps, including popular streaming services like Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also download games, news apps, and productivity tools, all of which can be projected onto the big screen.
With Chromecast built-in, you can easily stream content from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop directly to the MoGo Pro 2. This feature allows you to mirror your device’s screen or cast content from compatible apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify. Using Google Assistant, you can use your voice to control the projector and access information hands-free. Simply press the mic button on the included Bluetooth remote and ask Google Assistant to play a movie, answer a question, or control other compatible smart devices in your home.
Limitations
While the MoGo 2 Pro’s Android TV 11 offers access to the Google Play Store for downloading new apps, the range is not as wide as on a TV running the same operating system. This is out of XGIMI’s control but can be annoying to the user nonetheless, especially with notable apps like Netflix being currently unavailable officially through the Play Store. That said, XGIMI includes a small pamphlet that shows how to side load Netflix using the Desktop Launcher app.
The process is easy enough and only needs to be done once, however, the side-loaded version of Netflix does have some drawbacks, with the highest quality stream being limited to 1080p.
MoGo 2 Pro vs MoGo 2: Is It Worth the Extra $200?
While theXGIMI MoGo 2and MoGo 2 Pro share many similarities, there are a few key differences to remember when choosing between the two models.
Both have the same body and weight, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, with the same speakers, and running Android TV 11. Both also support HDR 10 and have a brightness of 400 ISO lumens and an image size of 40” to 200”.
However, there are a few differences worth noting.
The MoGo 2 Pro supports a higher resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, while the MoGo 2 is limited to 1280 × 720. The Pro model also supports ISA 2.0 uninterrupted autofocus, whereas the MoGo 2 only has standard autofocus and keystone correction. Additionally, the Pro features intelligent eye protection, which is unavailable on the MoGo 2. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, these differences may be important factors to consider when choosing between the two models.
A Worthy Upgrade, With Some Limitations
The MoGo 2 Pro is an excellent portable projector with significant improvements over its predecessor. Weighing under 2.5 lbs, this is highly portable and easy to carry anywhere. Despite losing its internal battery, the larger sound drivers provide impressive audio quality which should be enough to fill most rooms or movie parties. Combined with the latest Android TV 11, its impressive autofocus and auto keystone correction features make it one of the easiest and fastest projectors to set up and use.
Despite the improvements in picture quality with the MoGo 2’s increased 400-lumen brightness level and better color reproduction, it still faces limitations when used in bright environments. The projector struggles to produce a clear image in ambient or sunlight and can quickly appear washed out. To get the best picture quality, consider close the shades and dim the lights in the room.
In addition, if you plan to use the projector in a brightly lit environment, it is recommended to opt for a more powerful model like the Halo+ with 900 lumens of brightness. However, for indoor use with controlled lighting, the MoGo 2 Pro offers a great viewing experience with vibrant colors and impressive brightness levels.
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