The Xgimi Vibe One has entered the portable projector market with a compelling proposition: to offer a natural, distraction-free viewing experience at a price point that significantly undercuts its competitors. As the cheapest projector reviewed by What Hi-Fi?, the Vibe One aims to prove that affordability does not necessarily mean compromising on core performance. This review delves into its capabilities, exploring its design, features, picture quality, and sound performance to determine if it lives up to its budget-friendly promise.
Price Point: Disrupting the Market
The Xgimi Vibe One enters the market at a remarkably accessible price of £219 / $269 / AU$479. This positioning immediately sets it apart from other portable projectors, which often command significantly higher figures. For context, the closest competitor in terms of price that What Hi-Fi? has tested is the Wanbo Vali 1, which retails for £270 / $279 / AU$499. While the Wanbo Vali 1 garnered a solid four-star rating for its balanced image, it is described as more of a "coffee table projector" due to its lack of a built-in battery and larger, heavier design, thus targeting a different user segment than the Vibe One.
Further up the price spectrum, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air, a projector previously recommended by What Hi-Fi?, launched at a considerably higher £550 / $600 / AU$1300. This stark price difference places the Xgimi Vibe One in a unique category, appealing to consumers who are seeking an entry-level portable projection solution without breaking the bank. The aggressive pricing strategy suggests Xgimi’s intent to capture a significant share of the budget-conscious market, making outdoor movie nights and casual entertainment more accessible.
Design and Portability: A Multifunctional Lantern Aesthetic
The Xgimi Vibe One deviates from the conventional projector design, opting for an aesthetic that resembles a modern camping lantern. This design choice contributes to its portability and versatility. Weighing a mere 1.4kg, it’s comparable in weight to a large pineapple, making it exceptionally easy to transport. The inclusion of a sturdy handle further enhances its carry-friendliness, solidifying its status as a truly portable device.
Available in two color options, cloud ash and blue spark, the Vibe One also offers a playful element with an included sticker pack, catering to a younger audience or those who appreciate a touch of personalization. The projector’s operation is intuitive: tilting the body upwards from its base directs the light towards the desired screen or wall. A screen is highly recommended for optimal viewing.
A particularly innovative feature is the Vibe One’s dual functionality. By simply tilting the projector so the lamp faces downwards, it seamlessly transforms into a Bluetooth speaker. This is further complemented by an ambient mode, where the base illuminates with one of eight color options, adding a subtle aesthetic touch to its surroundings. This multi-purpose design not only adds value but also enhances its appeal as an all-in-one entertainment device for various settings.
Features: Balancing Functionality with Limitations
The Xgimi Vibe One offers three distinct brightness modes: Standard, Performance, and Eco. The Performance mode maximizes brightness but results in a noticeable increase in fan noise. The Eco mode, conversely, dims the brightness to conserve battery life. The reviewer found the Standard mode to strike an effective balance between brightness and fan noise, making it the preferred setting for general use.
A key feature for a portable projector is its battery life. Xgimi claims a battery life of 1.2 hours, but this figure is only achievable when the projector is operating in Eco mode. In Standard mode, the battery provided just under an hour of continuous playback. This duration is insufficient for watching multiple episodes of a TV show or a full sporting event, limiting its "go-anywhere" appeal.
Further compounding the portability concerns, the Vibe One does not support charging via a power bank. This means that users are tethered to a mains power source for extended viewing sessions, somewhat diminishing its true portability. This limitation is a crucial consideration for potential buyers who envision using the projector in locations without readily available power outlets.
The projector boasts a native 1080p resolution and can project an image up to 150 inches. It claims a maximum brightness of 250 ISO lumens. While this figure might seem modest compared to higher-end projectors, the review emphasizes that actual performance is the true measure. Connectivity options include a USB port and an HDMI input, allowing for the connection of external devices such as Blu-ray players or gaming consoles.
The inclusion of Google TV as the built-in operating system provides access to a wide range of streaming services, including Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. However, the absence of native support for BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 is a notable drawback. While Google Cast can be used as a workaround, the reviewer experienced issues with casting from both Android and Apple devices, which further limits content accessibility. This lack of seamless integration with popular UK streaming services could be a deterrent for some users.
Picture Quality: Naturalism and Detail at a Budget Price
Despite its budget price tag, the Xgimi Vibe One delivers a surprisingly impressive picture quality, particularly in its ability to render a natural and distraction-free image. During testing in a pitch-black room, utilizing an Oppo UDP-203 Blu-ray player for optimal source material, the projector’s Movie mode was found to offer the most cinematic experience, characterized by warmer colors and well-rendered dark details.
Initial impressions of the default Movie mode settings revealed a punchy, albeit slightly oversaturated, image. However, with minor adjustments to contrast and sharpness, the reviewer was able to unearth a more natural picture. This calibration brought forth more balanced and striking colors, effectively portraying the lush green hues of trees in a scene from "Civil War."
The projector’s strength lies in its ability to render faces with a naturalistic quality. Even in dimly lit interiors, the Vibe One managed to extract subtle details on the faces of characters, with skin tones appearing balanced and realistic, avoiding both fading into the background or appearing overly vibrant.
The Vibe One also demonstrates commendable performance with darker content. In the opening sequences of "Alien: Romulus," the deep black of space was rendered with an impressive depth for a projector in this price bracket. While it struggled to differentiate the darkest elements of the scene – such as the precise boundary between a ship and the void – its performance was still considered strong given its cost.
A good sense of three-dimensionality was also observed, particularly in scenes where a xenomorph fossil drifts towards the camera, enhanced by the contrast between the dark fossil and the ship’s interior. Motion handling was another area where the Vibe One excelled, exhibiting surprisingly natural movement. A scene from "Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings" involving a bus chase demonstrated smooth and convincing motion, contributing to the overall realism of the viewing experience.
Recognizing that many users might employ this projector in brighter environments, the review also assessed its performance with ambient light. While a portion of dark detail was lost, the colors remained balanced and eye-catching. The review cautions that bright sunlight would present significant challenges, making it difficult to enjoy content like a Christopher Nolan film, but it would suffice for daytime viewing of sports, provided the short battery life is managed.
When directly compared to the Wanbo Vali 1, the Xgimi Vibe One emerged as the clear winner in terms of detail and color reproduction. While the Wanbo might appear brighter, the Vibe One’s crisper edges and more insightful handling of dark scenes rendered the Wanbo looking comparatively murky. Ultimately, the Vibe One is praised for its ability to get the fundamentals right, delivering a balanced, natural-looking picture that significantly exceeds expectations for its price point.
Sound Quality: A Compromise for Portability
The audio performance of the Xgimi Vibe One is where its budget limitations become most apparent, despite the advertised involvement of JBL in its sound system. With only two speakers driven by 3 watts of amplification, the sound output is understandably constrained. While the projector can achieve a reasonable volume for its size, it struggles to deliver impactful audio, even at maximum volume.
In movie playback, the lack of punchy bass is evident. A scene involving a landing helicopter, for instance, sounded more like a "knife on a chopping board" than the powerful military hardware it should represent. The more significant issue, however, is the difficulty in discerning dialogue. Voices can become lost in the mix, particularly in scenes with background noise. In "Alien: Romulus," the conversation between characters was muddled with radio chatter, making it hard to follow, a problem that would be exacerbated in noisier environments.
When dialogue is audible, it can sound somewhat tinny and artificial. In "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2," the lack of tonal richness in the characters’ voices and the absence of bass detracted from the emotional impact of a scene. Compared to the Wanbo Vali 1, the Xgimi Vibe One falls short in audio performance, with the Wanbo offering louder output and clearer voices.
The review strongly recommends supplementing the Vibe One’s audio with an external Bluetooth speaker. Even a compact option like the JBL Go 4 is suggested as a significant upgrade for movie viewing and would also serve as an excellent standalone music speaker.
Verdict: A Budget Champion with Room for Improvement
The Xgimi Vibe One presents a compelling package for consumers seeking an affordable entry into the world of portable projectors. Its most significant triumph lies in its picture quality, which delivers a detailed and cinematic experience that punches well above its weight class. The naturalistic image rendering and ability to handle challenging dark scenes at this price point are particularly noteworthy.
However, the projector is not without its shortcomings. The limited battery life and the absence of USB power bank support restrict its true portability. Furthermore, the audio performance is a considerable compromise, necessitating an external speaker for a satisfying viewing experience.
If the Vibe One were to boast improved sound quality and a more robust battery, or the convenience of USB-C charging, it could undoubtedly have achieved a perfect five-star rating. As it stands, the Xgimi Vibe One is a highly commendable budget projector that excels in its core visual function, offering a natural and immersive picture that makes it a standout option for those mindful of their spending.
Key Specifications:
- Projector Type: LED LCD
- Screen Size: Up to 150 inches (claimed)
- Native Resolution: 1080p
- HDR Support: No
- Dimensions (hwd): 31 x 14 x 12 cm
- Weight: 1.4kg
Pros:
- Exceptionally affordable price point.
- Delivers a natural and detailed picture for its class.
- Compact and lightweight design with a sturdy handle.
- Versatile functionality as a Bluetooth speaker and ambient light.
- Integrated Google TV for streaming access.
Cons:
- Limited battery life, especially in Standard mode.
- No support for USB power bank charging.
- Underwhelming audio performance requiring an external speaker.
- Lack of native support for some popular streaming services (e.g., BBC iPlayer).
- Casting functionality experienced issues during testing.
What Hi-Fi? Verdict:
Xgimi’s projector may be the cheapest we have seen, but it nails the basics to deliver a natural, distraction-free picture. While compromises in battery life and sound quality prevent it from achieving a perfect score, its visual performance at this price point is exceptional, making it a highly recommended option for budget-conscious consumers.
