Packaging and Accessories

XGIMI operates several retail channels directly, and my original plan was to begin with the shipping packaging as per usual to give you a better idea of how well the actual product box is packaged and whether your favorite courier's shenanigans can get to it. As it turns out, the shipping box is larger than my entire photo backdrop would have reasonably accommodated! What you see above is the product box itself, and even here I had to struggle to get all the photos taken. This is a large box for a large item, and it's heavy to where you should certainly be careful when moving it around. XGIMI doesn't go fancy with the product box, opting for thick cardboard without a banderole, and black and white text and renders follow. There's the company logo, product name, marketing tag line, and render of the projector on the front, but little else on the sides. As with other previously XGIMI units, we find out that this is indeed an Android TV-compatible projector, rated to consume up to 350 W power. There are cutouts on the side to better lift and move it around, with a double flap in the middle and two side flaps keeping the box closed in transit.


Opening the box, we see an extremely thick piece of foam with cutouts to host the projector underneath even more snugly for good protection. A matching foam piece on the bottom adds to this, which is good to see considering the XGIMI Aura is certainly a flagship-class projector. Cutouts in the foam host the accessories separately, and we see the relevant items all come inside individual foam wraps, too. XGIMI includes paperwork in the form of a registration pamphlet, FAQ list, warranty guide, and quick start manual. The manual especially is quite thick, although mostly because it caters to multiple languages. It is well worth going through as it may well cut down your setup time and solve some frustrations if you get stuck at any point.


The larger footprint of the XGIMI Aura allows for an integrated PSU, so all you need is the adapter cable going to the AC mains plug itself. I have here the UK version of the same, able to provide up to 5 A at 250 V with an integrated fuse for OVP/OCP. The XGIMI Aura is rated for a maximum intake of 350 W, so the cable will work just fine. This is not a portable projector by any means, so there is no integrated battery, or need for any quick charging capability.


The remote control that comes with the XGIMI Aura is an upgrade in terms of fit and finish over the one that shipped with the XGIMI Halo I had reviewed a couple of months ago and appears to be the same as for the Horizon Pro lineup. It's a predominantly aluminium remote with a two-tone finish that looks and feels quite the part, and matches the Aura in the color scheme, too. The layout itself is no different from before, and that I am happy about since it is quite petite, making it comfortable to hold, similar to a high-end smart TV remote from Samsung if my own TV remote is anything to go by. There is a D-pad with a metallic finish; it is of a circular form factor that clicks with reasonable travel. Above that are the Google Assistant, quick settings, and power on/off buttons, and below it are the Android TV navigation keys and volume control buttons. On the bottom above the battery compartment is an auto-focus button, which is handy on a projector, one that will make many breathe a sigh of relief no doubt. A lock on the back needs to be pressed down to get the battery compartment to pop out, and the remote takes two AAA batteries, which are once again not included! Once bought and put in, the remote weighs ~100 grams. One other thing I will point out is that no two sets of adjacent buttons are shaped the same—some are convex, others are flat or convex, some have ridges even. This will help easily find the button you are looking for without needing to look at the remote, at least once you've gotten used to the system.


Be careful with everything from now on out, since all that's left is the projector itself. Slide off the foam wrap and you will be greeted with a behemoth of a projector even compared to old-school, bulky 4:3 VGA-only units that no doubt many of us have used much to our chagrin. There is a protective plastic cover on top, which has markings pointing out the various I/O options aboard should you need a quick refresher before peeling it off and using the projector for good.