Comparison XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 Pro

The main function of the projector.

This parameter is rather conditional, it largely depends on how the device is positioned by the manufacturer; however, for the most comfortable use, it is best to follow exactly the stated purpose. The options here can be: multipurpose, for presentations, for home theater, professional, portable, gaming. Here is a more detailed description of each option:

— Multipurpose. The simplest kind of projectors, roughly speaking – all models that do not belong to any of the specializations described below. Most of them have non-interchangeable optics, a throw distance of 1-12 m, an image diagonal of about 1-7 m (see below), and a relatively low cost.

— For presentations. Projectors designed primarily for business use, such as presentations. Usually they have a small throw distance with a rather large diagonal, which allows them to be used in small rooms; capable of working with both widescreen and conventional image formats (see below), and also support resolutions typical for computer video cards — for example, 1280x800. In this case, the actual resolution itself (see below) can be quite low. In addition, an almost mandatory feature of this type of projectors (with a few exceptions) is the presence of a D-Sub 15 pin input (see "Connectors").

— For home theater. Projectors designed primarily for film viewing. The main criterion for classifying a particular model in this category is how the projector is positioned by the manufacturer itself (in other words, whether this purpose is indicated in the official documentation). However, there are some common features: cinematographic models usually support widescreen image formats, have a high real resolution (see below) that allows you to work with HD video, and are also equipped with the appropriate interfaces (see "Connectors").

— Professional. High-end projectors with numerous advanced features and, accordingly, high cost. Usually, they are equipped with interchangeable lenses, and some are supplied without a lens at all (see below). Also a characteristic feature of a professional projector is the BNC connector (see below), although there are models without it.

— Portable projector. An ultra-compact variety of projectors: most models are pocket-sized. Such devices are intended primarily for improvised presentations. The format of work and power supply may be different. So, some models are made as separate devices with their own built-in storages and batteries (and sometimes even with a full-fledged mobile OS like Android on board). Others are similar in design to external cases or consoles and are put directly on the mobile phone during operation, using it as a source of signal and power. However, anyway, portable projectors, due to their small size, have rather low technical specifications — they have neither brightness nor high image contrast.. Battery life (in models with their own batteries) usually ranges from 40 minutes to one and a half hours. Also, this variety is characterized by cost-effective LED lamps (see below).

— Gaming. Specialized projectors designed for use in video games. Outwardly, they are often distinguished by a characteristic “aggressive” design, while the design can be done in the style of a certain line of gaming PCs or laptops. As for the specifications, they, in accordance with the name, are aimed primarily at providing a high-quality game "picture". To do this, projectors for this purpose provide, in particular, high real resolution (not lower than 1920x720, and more often 1920x1080 or more), colour reproduction at the level of 1 billion colours, support for frame rate (see below) up to 120 Hz, and also at least one HDMI input for receiving a digital signal from a computer graphics card. In addition, such models often provide support for 3D. The maximum image diagonal can reach 7.5 m or more; at the same time, ultra-wide-angle devices are also found in this category, capable of providing an image diagonal of about 3 m from a distance of about half a metre.

Minimum projector lamp life as stated by the manufacturer. Specified by the total time of continuous operation. Note that if the projector was operated without violations, then upon reaching this time, the lamp will not necessarily fail — on the contrary, it can work for quite a long time. However, when evaluating durability, it is best to focus on the claimed service life.

When working in economy mode, the brightness of the backlight is noticeably reduced, on average by 30-50%. With a decrease in brightness, heat dissipation also decreases, which saves the working life of the illuminator, thereby increasing the lamp life. Thus, the ECO mode allows you to extend the lamp life by an average of 30%. If the typical projector lamp life is 4000 hours, regular use of the ECO mode will extend the backlight life to approximately 5500 hours.

This parameter largely determines the ability of the projector to work in a well-lit room. For a dark room, 1000 lumens is enough to make the projection picture bright, rich, clear and understandable. But when working in a lit room, the projector will need at least 3500-4000 lumens. Do not confuse ANSI lumens with Peak lumens. These are two different brightness standards. To convert one type of brightness to another, you need to multiply Peak lumens by 10-12. The result will be an approximate value of ANSI Lumens.

However, experts do not recommend chasing high ANSI lumen brightness values. There are many professional projectors with brightness up to 3500 lm. The lower the brightness, the lower the power consumption, and at the same time, the life of the illuminator increases. Of course, if the projector will be installed in a work office or classroom where good lighting is required, it is recommended to purchase a model with ANSI Lumens brightness of 4000 lumens and more.

The size of the sensor affects the depth and final quality of the image. The larger the sensor, the more light it is able to process, which means the picture will be clearer and more structured. The average projector has a sensor of 0.5-0.7″, advanced projectors use sensors of 1.2-1.5″ and more.

Image formats supported by the projector.

In this case, format means the aspect ratio of the image. The general rule in this case is that the projector must support the same format in which the original content is recorded. Otherwise, the image will either be stretched in height or width, or with black stripes on the sides or top-bottom. Specifically, the formats can be divided into three main categories:

— Traditional, or rectangular. Classic formats in which the height of the picture is not much less than the width. The most popular options are 4:3, widely used in analogue TV, and 5:4, common in computer technology. Traditional formats are well suited for presentations, working with documents and graphics, and other similar tasks.

— Widescreen — formats in which the frame width is significantly (more than 1.5 times) greater than the height. The most popular of these standards are 16:9 and 16:10. These aspect ratios are well suited for games and movies; in particular, most high-definition content (HD 720p and above) is recorded in widescreen format.

— Extra wide. The formats are even wider than the widescreen ones described above — for example, 21:9. Mainly used in cinematography.

It is worth noting that many modern projectors are able to work with several types of formats at once — for example, with classic 4:3 and...wide-angle 16:9.

The projector supports HDR technology — high dynamic range.

This technology allows to expand the range of brightness displayed within a single frame — in other words, to display both very bright and very dark colours on the screen at the same time. Due to this, colour reproduction is noticeably improved; in addition, in very bright or very dark areas of the frame, small details remain visible that would not be visible in a normal image. At the same time, it is worth noting that all the benefits of HDR become noticeable only on a high-end screen with maximum dimming. In addition, this function significantly affects the cost of the projector, and the content must initially be recorded in HDR — and using exactly the technology that the projector supports (this point can be clarified in the instructions). Because of this HDR support is found predominantly among high-end home theater models (see "Main purpose").

The ability of the projector to operate in the rear projection mode (“mirroring” the image).

There are two main types of rear projection. Most often, horizontal mirroring is found in projectors — it is used when installing the device behind a translucent screen. Vertical inversion, in turn, is used in projectors with fixed keystone correction — due to their design, when mounted under the ceiling, such devices must be turned upside down, which requires the corresponding correction of the displayed image.

The closest distance to the screen that the projector can be used on. Typically, this is the minimum distance at which the image from the projector remains in focus.

This parameter is especially important if the device is to be placed at a small distance from the screen (for example, in a cramped room). Some modern projectors are able to work normally at a distance of 10 – 20 cm. Also note that the throw distances are determined primarily by the lens, and if the initial range of these distances does not suit you, perhaps the situation can be solved by replacing the optics.