If you’re the mobile type, or someone who’s barely within casting distance of your TV, you’re probably consuming media in a handheld rectangle with poor speaker performance and a small screen that’s hard to share. prize. I’m here to tell you that there is a better way.
Xgimi’s new MoGo 2 Pro smart projector runs Android TV version 11.0, letting you stream all your favorite videos over fast Wi-Fi, plus a moderately bright LED lamp (and fan) and a Bluetooth speaker when you turn it off. also works as Everything you need in a compact little beamer. Everything is separate except for the battery for true portability.
Over the past month, I’ve spent the past month using the MoGo 2 Pro in campers all over Europe, in tiny off-grid homes on muddy fields, and in surf shacks where the North Sea winds. In each case, it has proven itself to be an all-in-one source of adaptable, rarely disappointing, shareable entertainment.
One of the best things about the MoGo 2 Pro is how easy it is to set up the first time and every time you use it.
MoGo 2 Pro supports Android Quick Start, making it very easy to copy your Google account and Wi-Fi settings from your Android phone. Android TV now makes it easy to log into each streaming service by providing a QR code that you can instantly authenticate with your Android phone without having to enter tons of passwords.
I’m glad the initial setup was quick as I had to factory reset the MoGo 2 Pro once after upgrading to firmware version 2.8.147. It takes about 10 minutes from factory settings to populate the credentials for the 6 media services. Netflix is a media giant only and must be installed via a workaround Formally I support several projectors. Simple hacks are relatively easy to perform, but most people would be hesitant to install apps from outside the Google Play Store. The projector has his Chromecast built in, so you also have the option of just casting Netflix from your phone.
Xgimi’s little projector is perfectly stable even when you’re staggering, as pressing the Bluetooth remote often lags the UX. But it’s rare to find a $500 projector with a fast interface.
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In normal use, MoGo 2 Pro wakes up within 5 seconds from standby. However, when I reconnected the power, the Android TV booted from scratch in about 50 seconds, then another 10 seconds or so to perform all the automatic screen adjustments (which can be disabled if desired). increase.
MoGo 2 Pro has a built-in time-of-flight sensor that can find a flat, unobstructed surface to project an image on. It then automatically focuses the image, performs keystone correction, and creates a properly aligned rectangle. It’s not perfect, but you can usually find the surface you want, but only if it’s smaller than the image you want. Luckily, Xgimi gives you the option to instantly jump into manual adjustment mode to fine-tune your display if needed, without having to hunt through menus.
Xgimi’s second-generation screen-adaptive technology isn’t as good as the marketing promotion suggests, but it’s an improvement over previous versions. This was so useful on the MoGo 2 Pro that I checked the setting to automatically adjust keystone correction each time I moved the device, and moved it around a lot. This way you avoid cumbersome manual adjustments and only need to tweak the beamer until you get the desired result.
The projected image is about what you would expect at this price point. A modest 400 ANSI lumens spreads across a 1920 x 1080 image and looks better at 30 inches (when all the light is concentrated) than at 200 inches. HDR10 is supported, but it works more like a bullet point on the spec sheet than something you’ll notice while viewing.
If you’re not too picky, you can watch casual YouTube videos in a room with plenty of ambient light. Mogo The 2 Pro is best viewed in the darkest possible room. Only then will you be able to see the bright, rich and vivid images that Xgimi’s latest portable projector can produce.
In medium to low lighting it looks like this:
When using it as a Bluetooth speaker, it is recommended to first turn off the lamp and fan by pressing and holding the power button on the remote control and selecting “Display off”. It then silently waits for a Bluetooth connection, transforming the projection box from a pair of 8W side-firing speaker drivers into ordinary speakers for music with reasonably balanced sound.
For its size, the projected image and sound produced are pretty good. be moved.
The MoGo 2 Pro always boots in eco mode (low brightness, low volume), which can be annoying if you’re always near a power socket. When connected to a 10,000mAh (40Wh) battery, the MoGo 2 Pro was able to boot up the projector and play the first 40 minutes. Babylon When set to Bright and Movie presets. When connected to a power meter, I found that the power consumption averages around 40W in eco mode, but rises to around 48W on average when eco mode is turned off. Xgimi lists the power required for the MoGo 2 Pro as 65W.
It feels strange that a projector designed to be all-in-one and portable has no onboard controls other than a simple power button. A few times I’ve misplaced my Bluetooth remote and had to grab my Apple or Android device to launch the Google Home app remote. It worked fine, but I usually sat closer to the MoGo 2 Pro, so I would have preferred the built-in playback and volume controls.
Photographer Chase Jarvis is credited with saying, “The best camera is the one with you,” and the same applies to displays, speakers, and media streamers. The MoGo 2 Pro may not be the brightest video projector, the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker, or the most powerful media streamer, but it’s so small and compact that you can easily throw it in your luggage or backpack and take it anywhere. .
Yes, the MoGo 2 Pro ditched the internal battery from the original MoGo Pro in favor of better speakers. However, you can also power it from a battery pack you already own. For most people, I think Xgimi made the right decision.
At $599/€599, the Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro is nearly $300 under Samsung’s disappointing Freestyle portable projector. The original his MoGo Pro was already one of the best portable projectors, but the MoGo 2 Pro improves on it in almost every way.
Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
