Choosing the perfect portable projector can feel overwhelming. When comparing the XGIMI Halo and Halo+, one clearly stands out. I recommend the XGIMI Halo+ for its superior brightness and incredible versatility. Its built-in battery and powerful Harman Kardon speakers make it an all-in-one entertainment powerhouse. If you’re stuck between these two excellent options, this detailed review will break down everything you need to know to make the right choice.
Why Do I Recommend The XGIMI Halo+?
While both projectors are top contenders in the portable market, the Halo+ offers several crucial advantages over the original Halo that make it a more versatile and powerful choice for most users. It builds upon the solid foundation of the Halo, refining key areas that elevate the entire user experience. Here’s a detailed breakdown of why the Halo+ is the superior investment and the one I recommend.
- Superior Brightness for More Versatile Viewing: The XGIMI Halo+ boasts a significant upgrade in brightness, delivering 900 ANSI lumens compared to the 800 ANSI lumens of the original Halo. This extra brightness means the Halo+ performs much better in rooms with some ambient light, giving you more flexibility on when and where you can use it. You won’t always need a perfectly dark, cave-like room to enjoy a clear and vibrant picture, making it more practical for everyday use.
- True Portability with a Robust Built-in Battery: Both models feature a built-in battery, but the performance and reliability of this feature are critical for a portable device. The Halo+ is equipped with a 59Wh battery, providing up to 2.5 hours of consistent playtime. This transforms it into a truly portable device, perfect for backyard movie nights, camping trips, or presentations where an outlet isn’t available. In contrast, while the Halo also has a battery, some users have reported shorter life and less consistent performance, making the Halo+ the more dependable choice for on-the-go entertainment.
- Immersive Audio by Harman Kardon: Both projectors are equipped with dual 5W Harman Kardon speakers, but the tuning and performance on the Halo+ feel more refined. The speakers deliver impressive, room-filling sound with clear dialogue and a respectable bass response. The audio from the Halo+ is noticeably rich and immersive, often eliminating the need for an external speaker for casual viewing. It provides a more complete, out-of-the-box cinematic experience compared to many other portable projectors on the market.
- Advanced Operating System (Android TV 10.0): The Halo+ runs on the official Android TV 10.0, a newer and more responsive version than the Android TV 9.0 found on the original Halo. This provides seamless access to over 5,000 apps via the Google Play Store, including favorites like HBO Max, Disney+, and Prime Video. The user experience on the Halo+’s Android TV 10.0 is smoother and more intuitive, offering a wider ecosystem of apps and a more familiar interface for many users.
- Enhanced Build Quality and Premium Feel: The Halo+ maintains the sleek, robust design of its predecessor but with a more polished finish. It has a substantial, premium feel with its sturdy build and metal grille. It feels like a device built to withstand the rigors of being moved around frequently. Like the original, it also includes a built-in kickstand for easy angle adjustments, a simple but incredibly useful feature.
- Smarter and Faster Intelligent Screen Adaption (ISA): While both projectors feature XGIMI’s excellent ISA technology, the Halo+ benefits from upgraded hardware that makes these processes faster and more accurate. The Autofocus and Auto Keystone Correction are almost instantaneous. More importantly, the Halo+ adds Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance and Intelligent Screen Alignment, which the original Halo lacks. This means the Halo+ can automatically resize its screen to avoid obstacles like light switches and fit perfectly into a projector screen, a huge step up in convenience.
- Better for On-the-Go Gaming with Low Latency: The Halo+ introduces an enhanced Game Mode with a latency of just 26.5ms. This is a significant improvement that serious gamers will appreciate. Combined with its bright picture and built-in battery, the Halo+ is a fantastic option for gamers who want to take their experience on the road. You can easily connect a console and play anywhere with minimal input lag, a feat that is more enjoyable on the Halo+ thanks to its more responsive performance.
- HDR10+ Support for Enhanced Visuals: The Halo+ takes visual quality a step further by supporting HDR10+, an advanced version of the HDR10 format found on the original Halo. HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata to optimize brightness and contrast for each scene, resulting in a more nuanced and lifelike picture. This means you’ll see more detail in both the darkest and brightest parts of the image, making movies and shows look even more stunning.
Side By Side Comparison Chart: XGIMI Halo vs Halo+
| Feature | XGIMI Halo | XGIMI Halo+ |
| Brightness | 800 ANSI Lumens | 900 ANSI Lumens |
| Operating System | Android TV 9.0 | Android TV 10.0 |
| Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance | No | Yes |
| Intelligent Screen Alignment | No | Yes |
| HDR Support | HDR10 | HDR10, HDR10+ |
| Game Mode Latency | ~40ms | 26.5ms |
| Weight | 3.53 lbs (1.6 kg) | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) |
| Dimensions | 4.46 x 5.70 x 6.75 in | 4.49 x 5.71 x 6.77 in |
| Release Date | 2019 | August 2021 |
| Price | ~$449 (Varies) | ~$499.99 |
What Common Features Can XGIMI Halo vs Halo+ Do?
Despite their key differences, the Halo and Halo+ share a core set of impressive technologies that make them both excellent portable projectors. These shared features are a testament to XGIMI’s commitment to user-friendly, high-quality projection experiences that deliver cinema-level entertainment anywhere.
Stunning 1080p Resolution and 4K Support
At their core, both the XGIMI Halo and Halo+ deliver a crisp, native 1920x1080p Full HD resolution. This ensures you get a detailed and sharp picture that’s perfect for watching movies, binging TV shows, and even for gaming. The clarity is outstanding for portable projectors, avoiding the pixelated look you might find on cheaper, lower-resolution models. They also both accept and downscale 4K content, so you can still enjoy media from 4K sources like a Blu-ray player or streaming device, and the projector will render it beautifully in its native 1080p. This versatility ensures you are not limited by the source material, providing a consistently high-quality viewing experience.
Powerful Audio by Harman Kardon
Both projectors are equipped with a set of two 5W speakers professionally tuned by the audio experts at Harman Kardon. This is a standout feature in the portable projector market, where built-in audio is often an afterthought. These speakers produce a rich, clear, and surprisingly powerful sound that can easily fill a medium-sized room. The dialogue in movies is crisp, and there’s a respectable amount of bass that adds depth to action scenes and music. For most casual viewing sessions, whether indoors or out in the backyard, the audio on both the Halo and Halo+ is so good that you won’t feel the need to connect an external speaker, making them true all-in-one entertainment devices.
True Portability with a Built-in Battery and Kickstand
The defining feature of the Halo series is its true portability, enabled by a powerful built-in battery. Both models are designed to be taken anywhere, freeing you from the constraints of power outlets. You can host a movie night in the backyard, give a presentation in a conference room without searching for a plug, or take it on a camping trip for entertainment under the stars. Complementing the battery is an integrated kickstand at the base of each unit. This simple yet brilliant design feature allows for quick and easy adjustment of the projection angle without needing to stack books or find a separate tripod, reinforcing their plug-and-play nature.
Effortless Setup with Auto Focus and Auto Keystone Correction
XGIMI has made projector setup remarkably simple with its intelligent adjustment features. Both the Halo and Halo+ are equipped with Auto Focus, which uses a high-precision camera to ensure the image is sharp and clear the moment you turn it on, eliminating the need to manually fiddle with a focus dial. They also feature 4-Point Auto Keystone Correction. This function automatically squares the image, correcting for both vertical and horizontal distortion when the projector is placed at an angle (up to ±40 degrees). This means you don’t have to place the projector perfectly centered in front of the screen; you can set it up off to the side and still get a perfectly rectangular image in seconds. This level of automation removes one of the biggest traditional projector hassles.
Extensive Connectivity and Casting Options
You’ll have no problem connecting your favorite devices to either projector. Both models feature an essential array of ports, including an HDMI 2.0 port for hooking up a gaming console, laptop, or Blu-ray player, a USB 2.0 port for playing media from a flash drive, and a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting headphones or an external sound system. For wireless connections, they support stable dual-band 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. Furthermore, Chromecast is built-in to both projectors. This allows you to effortlessly cast content—photos, videos, or streaming apps—directly from your smartphone, tablet, or computer, adding another layer of convenience for sharing and streaming.
Common Features of XGIMI Halo vs Halo+
| Feature | XGIMI Halo | XGIMI Halo+ |
| Native Resolution | 1920 x 1080p | 1920 x 1080p |
| 4K Input Support | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Dual 5W Harman Kardon | Dual 5W Harman Kardon |
| Power Source | Built-in Battery & AC Power | Built-in Battery & AC Power |
| Auto Focus | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Keystone Correction | Yes (4-Point) | Yes (4-Point) |
| Connectivity | HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Chromecast Built-in | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Stand | Yes (Kickstand) | Yes (Kickstand) |
A Detailed Comparison Of the XGIMI Halo vs Halo+
Design and Portability
The design of the XGIMI Halo and Halo+ is nearly identical, and for good reason—it’s a winning formula. Both are compact, stylish, and built for life on the move. The XGIMI Halo weighs in at 3.53 pounds, a perfectly manageable weight for a device that packs so much technology inside. Its sturdy, perforated metal casing feels premium and durable, ready to be tossed in a bag for a weekend trip. The integrated kickstand at the bottom is a small but brilliant touch, providing easy angle adjustments on any flat surface.
The XGIMI Halo+ follows this exact blueprint, weighing just slightly less at 3.5 pounds and having virtually the same dimensions. You get the same robust build quality, the same convenient kickstand, and the same elegant, minimalist aesthetic that looks great in any setting. The true distinction in portability comes not from the physical design, but from the more reliable battery performance and superior brightness of the Halo+, which gives you more freedom to use it in a wider variety of environments, truly fulfilling its portable promise.
Image Quality and Brightness
The most significant and impactful difference in performance between these two projectors is the image brightness. The original XGIMI Halo produces a respectable 800 ANSI lumens, which is quite bright for a portable projector and delivers a vibrant picture in a dark room. For dedicated movie nights where you can control the lighting, the Halo’s image is sharp, colorful, and engaging. However, its performance can suffer if there’s ambient light, causing the image to look somewhat faded or washed out.
The XGIMI Halo+ addresses this directly with an upgrade to 900 ANSI lumens. While a 100-lumen increase may not sound dramatic on paper, it makes a noticeable difference in practice. This extra brightness allows the Halo+ to maintain better color saturation and contrast in rooms that aren’t completely dark. You can comfortably watch during the day with the curtains drawn or in a living room with dim lighting. The Halo+ also adds support for HDR10+, which uses dynamic metadata to optimize contrast on a scene-by-scene basis, providing a more nuanced and lifelike image than the standard HDR10 on the original Halo.
Audio Performance
When it comes to audio, both the XGIMI Halo and Halo+ are equipped with dual 5W speakers custom-tuned by Harman Kardon, placing them a cut above most competitors. The sound system in the XGIMI Halo is impressive, delivering clear audio with enough volume to fill a small to medium-sized room. For a portable, all-in-one device, the sound is rich and well-balanced, and you can enjoy a movie without immediately feeling the need to reach for an external speaker. It’s a complete package right out of the box.
The XGIMI Halo+ uses the same speaker hardware but seems to benefit from slightly more refined tuning, likely optimized for its newer software. The audio profile feels a bit more dynamic, with crisp highs and a slightly punchier bass response. While the difference is subtle, the Halo+ provides a marginally more immersive audio experience. For audiophiles, the 3.5mm jack and Bluetooth connectivity on both models offer easy ways to connect to a more powerful sound system, but for everyday use, the built-in Harman Kardon speakers on both projectors are more than capable.
Operating System and Smart Features
The smart interface is a key area where the XGIMI Halo+ demonstrates its evolution. The original Halo runs on the solid and reliable Android TV 9.0. This system gives you access to thousands of apps through the Google Play Store and offers a clean, user-friendly experience with integrated Google Assistant for voice commands. It’s a functional and comprehensive smart TV platform that gets the job done for streaming and content discovery.
The XGIMI Halo+, however, comes with the upgraded Android TV 10.0. This newer version offers a snappier, more fluid user interface and better overall system performance. Navigating menus and launching apps feels quicker and more responsive. Crucially, the Halo+ also introduces the full suite of XGIMI’s ISA technology, adding Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance and Intelligent Screen Alignment. These features, which are absent on the original Halo, automate the final, finicky steps of setup, making the Halo+ a truly “set it and forget it” device. This advanced intelligence is a major quality-of-life improvement that makes the Halo+ feel like a next-generation product.
Conclusion
After a thorough comparison, the XGIMI Halo+ is my top recommendation. It takes everything that made the original Halo great and improves upon it in key areas. Its superior 900 ANSI lumens brightness, faster and more intelligent screen setup, lower latency game mode, and refined Android TV 10.0 experience make it an incredibly versatile and capable projector. It’s the perfect device for those who want a high-quality, hassle-free cinematic experience both at home and on the go. While it comes at a slightly higher price, the added features provide significant value and an all-around superior user experience that is well worth the investment.
However, the XGIMI Halo is still an excellent choice, especially if you can find it at a discounted price. If you primarily plan to use your projector in a dark room and don’t need the advanced obstacle avoidance or ultra-low latency for gaming, the Halo offers fantastic performance. Its 800-lumen image is still bright and beautiful, and the Harman Kardon speakers deliver great sound. Ultimately, your choice depends on your budget and how you plan to use your projector, but for the most complete and future-proof package, the Halo+ is the clear winner.
FAQs
- Can both projectors be used in daylight?
The XGIMI Halo+ is the better choice for daytime viewing due to its higher brightness of 900 ANSI Lumens. In a room with curtains drawn, it can produce a watchable image. The Halo, with 800 ANSI Lumens, performs best in dark rooms or at nighttime, as its image may appear more washed out in brighter conditions. - Does the XGIMI Halo+ have Netflix?
No, like the original Halo, the XGIMI Halo+ runs on a version of Android TV that does not natively support the Netflix app. The easiest and most reliable way to watch Netflix is by plugging a streaming stick, like an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku, into the HDMI port of either projector. - Which projector is better for outdoor movies?
Both projectors are excellent for outdoor movies thanks to their built-in batteries. However, the XGIMI Halo+ has a slight edge due to its higher brightness, which will help the image look more vibrant against the evening sky as the sun sets. Its more reliable battery also gives peace of mind. - Can I connect a gaming console to these projectors?
Yes, both the Halo and the Halo+ have an HDMI port, making it easy to connect consoles like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch. The Halo+ is the superior choice for gaming due to its dedicated Game Mode, which lowers input lag to an impressive 26.5ms. - Do I need a separate speaker for the Halo+?
For most situations, you likely won’t need a separate speaker. Its dual 5W Harman Kardon speakers provide excellent, room-filling sound that is clear and well-balanced. However, for a true home theater surround sound experience, you may still want to connect to a dedicated audio system via Bluetooth or the 3.5mm jack. - Which projector is easier to set up?
The XGIMI Halo+ is easier to set up. While both models have auto focus and auto keystone correction, the Halo+ adds Intelligent Screen Alignment and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance. These features automatically fit the picture to your screen and resize it to avoid objects on the wall, making the setup process completely automated and foolproof. - Is the price difference between the Halo and Halo+ worth it?
Yes, for most people, the price difference is worth it. The extra brightness, advanced ISA technology (obstacle avoidance and screen alignment), lower latency game mode, and more responsive OS on the Halo+ offer significant quality-of-life improvements that justify the higher cost and provide a more premium experience. - What is the maximum screen size for these projectors?
Both projectors can project an image up to 200 inches. For the best image quality, however, it’s recommended to stay within the 80-150 inch range. The Halo+’s higher brightness will maintain better clarity, color, and contrast at larger sizes compared to the original Halo.
Alex Turner is a dedicated product researcher and reviewer at TopBuyGuide.com, known for his clear, honest, and data-driven insights. He spends countless hours testing, comparing, and analyzing products to help readers make confident and informed buying decisions.