XGIMI Elfin Flip 4K review: An ultra-portable laser projector with sharp video quality

Steve Dent for Engadget

RATING : 8.6 / 10

4K laser projectors are everyplace these days, but location are still a mates of things they lack: decent prices and existent portability. XGIMI, which burst connected nan segment conscionable a mates of years ago, believes it has an reply for some issues pinch the Elfin Flip 4K. With its unsocial lightweight, tilting design, it tin beryllium group up anyplace and astatine $999, it's cheaper than astir triple-laser 4K projectors.

The Elfin Flip 4K offers outstanding image quality, comes pinch Google TV and moreover has a built-in Harman-Kardon speaker. After testing it, I deliberation it could beryllium an fantabulous first bargain for anyone wanting to dip their toed into laser projectors — arsenic agelong arsenic you don't scheme connected utilizing it successful agleam rooms.

Steve Dent for Engadget

The Elfin Flip 4K surely looks unique. It's mounted successful a squarish swivel guidelines that besides serves arsenic a handle, and tin beryllium adjusted up to 150 degrees to task from a java table, support aliases moreover up to nan ceiling. It weighs conscionable 3.4 pounds, making it 1 of nan lightest 4K projectors connected nan market. What's more, nan brushed metallic decorativeness gives it an elegant and futuristic look.

I group it up to task connected my 120-inch modular roll-down screen, though nan Flip 4K tin task an image up to 400 inches. Setup isn't afloat automatic for illustration Anker's Nebula X1 aliases different models I've tested lately, but nan 0.98x to 1.3x optical zoom, on pinch nan ray weight, made placement easy. I conscionable needed to spot it connected a array and halfway it to nan screen, tilt it up and set nan zoom. From location I ran nan car keystone accommodation and autofocus, giving maine a cleanable surface fresh and image successful astir 2 minutes.

The projector comes pinch a brace of HDMI 2.0 inputs, including 1 pinch eARC to easy incorporated audio devices for illustration soundbars aliases speakers. You besides get a brace of USB-A ports to play media files and proviso powerfulness to streaming dongles, on pinch a 3.5mm output port. It includes Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 for wireless speakers and streaming.

At room somesthesia wherever excessive cooling for nan triple laser motor isn't needed, I measured instrumentality sound connected nan Flip 4K astatine conscionable 30 decibels, which is hardly audible. However, cranking brightness tin boost nan instrumentality velocity and frankincense summation nan noise.

Unlike XGIMI's different Elfin Flip models, nan Flip 4K isn't genuinely portable because it doesn't person an soul battery. That apt wouldn't beryllium applicable successful immoderate case, arsenic nan comparatively precocious brightness and 4K spot would eat powerfulness quickly. If you scheme to return it outdoors, you'll request to person a good-sized portable artillery aliases immoderate different measurement to plug it in.

Google TV is built-in for streaming and projector power via nan slim remote. It provides a ample room of apps via Google Play positive a acquainted interface. You get certified versions of Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Max and others, positive Google Cast and AirPlay support, on pinch Google Assistant for sound control. As pinch different Google TV projectors, it was reasonably responsive but not ace snappy, truthful immoderate buyers whitethorn for illustration to usage a Chromecast aliases different streaming device.

Steve Dent for Engadget

The triple laser, on pinch nan 0.39-inch image 4K-capable spot and high-quality lenses, elevate this projector supra similarly-priced rivals. Along pinch a promised 20,000:1 opposition ratio, XGIMI says this projector covers 110 percent of nan HDR BT.2020 colour gamut and outputs 1,600 ANSI lumens of brightness. It supports some HDR10 and HLG, though not Dolby Vision aliases HDR10+. Still, those are coagulated specs for a $999 projector.

My testing confirmed nan specs are accurate, for nan astir part. I measured conscionable complete 1,550 ANSI lumens astatine nan brightest Performance mode, though colors astatine that mounting were noticeably shifted to green. When utilizing nan much emblematic Movie setting, I measured conscionable complete 1,200 ANSI lumens and a opposition ratio of 5,400:1 pinch move achromatic level enhancement (DBLE) enabled, aliases 1,600:1 pinch DBLE turned off. That's good short of XGIMI's claims, but still a bully result. It's difficult to measurement colour accuracy pinch projectors, but I clocked it astatine good complete 100 percent of BT.2020, besides an outstanding result.

In a fully-darkened room, nan Elfin Flip 4K was awesome for movies and bid for illustration Once Upon a Time successful Hollywood, Andor and Dune 2. However, it's not agleam capable for daytime sports, moreover pinch nan shades down. For that, you'll request a exemplary for illustration Anker's Nebula X1, which puts retired 3,500 ANSI lumens for much than double nan price.

Colors connected nan Flip 4K are amazingly accurate, which gave maine reference-like viewing for movies for illustration F1, Interstellar and Avengers: Endgame. Triple-laser projectors are a amended action than astir TVs successful position of colour accuracy, truthful cinephiles will emotion that facet of nan Flip 4K. As mentioned earlier, brightness isn't arsenic excellent, truthful nan HDR settings connected this projector don't supply astir nan popular you'd get from a bully OLED aliases MiniLED TV.

In its marketing, XGIMI touts nan 7-watt Harman Kardon speaker connected Flip 4K, but sound value is beautiful anemic and lacks bass if you're relying connected it alone. Luckily, nan projector besides supports Dolby Audio and Dolby Digital+ (see Engadget's explainer to study nan quality betwixt them). That will fto you link a bully situation sound strategy via nan HDMI eARC port, aliases astatine slightest usage wireless speakers complete Bluetooth 5.2.

The XGIMI Elfin Flip 4K offers amended gaming specs than astir different mid-range projectors arsenic well, pinch 1080p astatine up to a 120 fps refresh complaint (in Game mode pinch VRR support) and very debased 1ms latency pinch ALLM (auto low-latency mode) enabled. It won't excel astatine 4K gaming owed to nan 30 fps limitation, however.

Still, I was capable to do immoderate no-compromise 1080p gaming astatine 120 fps pinch VRR for titles for illustration Cyberpunk 2077 and Hollow Knight: Singsong. The tremendous screen, colour accuracy and comparatively crisp image provided a awesome acquisition and immersion that's not imaginable connected a smaller display.

Steve Dent for Engadget

It's bully to spot triple-laser projector exertion trickling down to cheaper portable models for illustration nan Elfin Flip 4K. The advantages are clear, arsenic you get a mini and ray projector that tin beryllium quickly group up and beam retired amazingly high-quality images. The drawback of this exemplary is nan laser ray output, since you tin easy find brighter models astatine astir nan aforesaid $999 value (the Flip 4K is currently connected pre-order for $899).

If brightness is important, you mightiness beryllium tempted by XGIMI's ain $1,399 Horizon 20 that besides has a triple-laser and puts retired precisely double nan ray (3,200 ANSI lumens), albeit successful a overmuch larger shape factor. A like-priced action is nan $999 BenQ GP520, which uses an RGB LED and boasts 2,600 ANSI lumens of brightness. However, that projector is besides bigger than nan Flip 4K and weighs much than doubly arsenic much.

If you're looking for nan astir stylish and portable 4K projector, XGIMI's Elfin Flip 4K is my preferred pick. It's easy to tote around, connects to your favourite streaming services, plays games good and won't disappoint connected image value — if you're successful a acheronian room.