XGIMI has revealed the MoGo 4 and MoGo 4 Laser projectors. These portable projectors retain the thermos-like design of their predecessors, though they’re the first devices in the MoGo lineup to feature built-in batteries. Previous models required an external power supply, power bank, or proprietary PowerBase stand.
Thestandard MoGo 4isn’t all that different from XGIMI’sMoGo 3 Pro. It features the same 1080p video resolution, 450 ISO lumen output, and 360-degree rotatable lens as last year’s model. But XGIMI tweaked the design by adding a small ambient light to the bottom of the projector’s tabletop stand. It also added the internal battery, which can support up to 2.5 hours of video playback (or 5 hours with the PowerBase stand), plus a small mini remote control. The projector’s Harmon Kardon speakers also got a minor upgrade (they now run at 6 watts instead of 5 watts), and you can use the MoGo 4 as a Bluetooth speaker.
Of course, the addition of an internal battery comes with some weight gain. While the MoGo 3 Pro weighed just 2.43 pounds, the MoGo 4 is 2.9 pounds. It’s a relatively minor difference, but an extra pound of weight may be noticible if you toss the projector in a bag with other items.
For a more substantial upgrade, there’s the newMoGo 4 Laserprojector. As the name implies, it features atriple laser light sourcefor “flagship-level” or “cinema-grade” visuals; you get a 550 ISO lumen output, 110% BT.2020 color coverage, and a 1000:1 native contrast ratio (battery life is identical to that of the standard MoGo 4).Larger projectorsoffer far better specs, of course, but these specs are impressive for a super-portable projector. Similarly-spec’d options like theLG CineBeam QubeandSamsung Freestyleare less backpack-friendly and do not contain internal batteries.
Naturally, the MoGo 4 and MoGo 4 Laser offer XGIMI’s fancy auto-keystone and auto-focus technology for super-simple setup. And because they run on Google TV, they can access Netflix without any wonky workarounds—Android TV smart projectors are usually forced to sideload Netflix because of some obscure licensing issues that I don’t fully understand. XGIMI ships its MoGo projectors with a wireless remote control, though carrying cases and PowerBase stands are sold separately.
Though I should note that these and other ultra-portable projectors aren’t bright enough for daytime use. They’ll also look somewhat dim in any environment with ambient lighting, such as lamps or streetlights. If you want a true “home cinema” experience, you should buy a larger projector. The MoGo is better suited for travel, camping, occasional movie nights, and so on. A MoGo projector may also serve as a nice “temporary TV” if you have children or guests, because (unlike a TV) you can toss it in a drawer when you aren’t using it.
And, judging by the photos that XGIMI sent me, the MoGo 4 lineup might be well-suited for photoshoots—you know, you can project a scene onto someone for a cool psychedelic effect, and all that (check the above gallery for an example). I should clarify that any old projector can liven up a photoshoot, or help you trace an image, or make your band look cool at a dive bar. XGIMI’s MoGo 4 is just convenient because it’s compact and battery-powered. Plus, it comes with a Sunset Filter, so it can double as a warm spotlight lamp (other filters are sold separately).
XGIMI is selling theMoGo 4andMoGo 4 Laserprojectors for $500 and $800, respectively. If you bundle the MoGo 4 Laser with a PowerBase stand and an outdoor screen, it’ll run you just $900—a generous offer, in my opinion, although you could grab a much more powerfulXGIMI Horizon Ultraprojector for just a few hundred bucks more.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Portable Projector
The XGIMI MoGo 4 features an ultra-portable design and Google TV built-in. It’s the first MoGo projector to use an internal rechargable battery, and it comes with a mini remote as well as a Sunset Filter.
