You just invested in the ultra-portable Xgimi Horizon Pro projector and now you need a screen that will do its stunning 2200 ANSI lumen, Full HD picture justice. With so many projector screen options out there, how do you choose the right one to pair with your Horizon Pro?
In this article, we will discuss the best projector screens for XGIMI Horizon Pro. We will compare different types of screens, such as fixed-frame screens, portable screens, and outdoor screens. We will also discuss the factors you need to consider when choosing a projector screen.
So whether you are looking for a high-end screen for your home theater or a portable screen for your next camping trip, we have you covered.
What to Look for in a Projector Screen for the Xgimi Horizon Pro
Here are the most important criteria to evaluate when selecting a projector screen for the Horizon Pro:
- Size – The Horizon Pro supports screen sizes from 30” up to 300”. Consider your room size, seating distance, and projected image size needs. Bigger is not always better when it comes to projector screens.
- Aspect Ratio – Match your screen’s aspect ratio to the Horizon Pro’s 16:9 native aspect ratio for the most accurate image without black bars.
- Gain – Look for a gain around 1.0-1.3 for the brightness level of the Horizon Pro. Avoid screens with gain over 1.5.
- Surface – Matte white screens offer the best color accuracy and work well in ambient light. Grey screens provide better black levels in dark rooms.
- Budget – Projector screens range from $100 to $2,000+. Set a budget to narrow down your options.
- Mounting – Do you want a portable tripod screen or permanent wall/ceiling mount? This affects your screen choices.
- Type – Fixed frame, motorized, ultra short throw, ambient light rejecting, and more. Pick the screen type that aligns with your setup.
Next, let’s dive into the top screen options in various categories for the Xgimi Horizon Pro.
Best Budget Pull-Down Screens for the Horizon Pro
Pull-down projector screens provide an easy, affordable way to enjoy a big projected image. Here are two great budget options:
1. Elite Screens Manual B
Sizes: 92” to 135” diagonally
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Gain: 1.1
Price Range: $175 – $300
The Manual B from Elite Screens is a top seller thanks to its low price and solid performance. The matte white surface works well in rooms with some ambient light and provides accurate color reproduction. Assembly is quick and easy. It lacks fancy features but provides great value.
2. Elite Screens Manual Series
Sizes: 80″ to 200″ diagonally
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Gain: 1.1
Price Range: $175 – $500
The Manual Series M is Elite Screen’s most affordable fixed frame screen. Despite the low price, it offers good quality components and easy assembly. The matte white surface works well for movie watching in a dark home theater with controlled lighting.
Best Fixed Frame Projector Screens for the Horizon Pro
Fixed frame screens provide a permanent, wall-mounted screen surface that stays tensioned and flat for the best viewing experience. Here are excellent fixed frame screens for the Xgimi Horizon Pro:
1. Elite Screens Aeon CineGrey 5D
Sizes: 92” to 200” diagonally
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 native, 2.35:1 available
Gain: 0.8
Price Range: $500 – $2,000
With its 5-layer grey screen material, the CineGrey 5D rejects ambient light, boosts contrast, and delivers deep blacks – perfect for dark home theaters. It has a wide viewing angle and excels with 4K and HD sources. The sturdy fixed frame ensures the large screen stays perfectly flat.
2. Silver Ticket STR-169220-G
Sizes: 120” to 200” diagonally
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Gain: 1.2
Price Range: $200 – $750
Silver Ticket offers an affordable fixed frame screen starting under $250. Despite the lower price, the quality is excellent with a sharp white matte surface and even image brightness. The frame assembles easily and mounts directly to the wall. A perfect budget upgrade over a pull-down screen.
Best Motorized Screens for the Horizon Pro
Motorized screens provide the ultimate viewing experience, quietly lowering and raising at the push of a button. Here are two excellent powered screens for the Horizon Pro:
1. Elite Screens CineTension 2
Sizes: 100” to 200” diagonally
Aspect Ratio: 16:9, 2.35:1, 2.37:1, and 1.89:1 versions available
Gain: 1.1
Price Range: $1,500 – $3,000
The CineTension 2 uses a quiet motor to smoothly lower and raise the screen. The durable all-aluminum case protects the surface and mounts nearly flush to the wall or ceiling. The matte white material delivers accurate colors with ambient light rejection.
Best Ambient Light Rejecting Screens for the Horizon Pro
If you need to use your projector in a room with windows, lights, or other light sources, an ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen is the solution. Here are two outstanding ALR screens for the Xgimi Horizon Pro:
Elite Screens Lunette AcousticPro 1080 P3
Sizes: Up to 180” diagonally
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Gain: 0.8
Price Range: $1,500 – $4,000
With black backing layers and grey screen material, the Lunette washes out ambient light for deep contrast when you can’t fully darken the room. The specialized layered material also offers acoustic transparency for speakers behind the screen.
Best Outdoor Projector Screens for the Horizon Pro
Want to watch movies outdoors after sunset? An outdoor projector screen makes it possible. Here are great weatherproof screens for the Horizon Pro:
Elite Screens Yard Master 2
Sizes: 135” to 180” diagonally
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Gain: 1.0
Price Range: $100 – $300
This durable outdoor screen on a portable stand has weather resistant casing and UV protected screen material. The tempered glass-like CineWhite surface washes away rain and easily wipes clean after outdoor use. Bright enough for the Horizon Pro.
Screen Types – Fixed, Tensioned, Roller, or Portable
Beyond the projection surface, the other key decision is the screen mounting system. Let’s compare the pros and cons of various options:
Fixed Frame
Fixed screens maintain a perfectly flat, rigid surface via sturdy side and top braces. This ensures smooth images without waves or distortion. They provide a built-in border and fast installation on walls or ceilings. However, fixed screens lack portability or storage options.
Roller
Roller screens retract vertically into a housing for a clean hidden look. This allows easy storage and portability. However, the rolling mechanism can lead to slightly more waves or optical artifacts in the projected image. These are best suited for temporary setups.
Tensioned
Tensioned screens use mechanisms like screws, tension rods, or motors to keep the surface flat and wrinkle-free. This delivers excellent image quality on par with fixed screens. Electric models make it easy to deploy, stow, and control the image area.
Portable
Portable screens assemble and collapse quickly for transport and storage. Models like foldable tripods or tab-tension systems maximize portability and convenience. However, they lack some of the perfectly taut, flat characteristics of fixed/tensioned screens.
So in summary, fixed and tensioned screens are best for dedicated permanent home theaters focusing purely on image quality. But portable and roller screens provide lots of versatility for on-the-go projection or mixed-use spaces.
Related: Xgimi Horizon Pro vs Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K
Key Considerations When Pairing a Screen with the Xgimi Horizon Pro
Screen Size – Go Big or Go Home
One of the first decisions is screen size. The Horizon Pro can create a 100-300 inch image, so your options are wide open. Consider:
- Room size – Will an enormous screen overwhelm the space? Leave room for seating.
- Seating distance – Sit too close and you’ll need to scan to see everything. Too far and details are lost. The recommended distance is 1.2-2.7x the screen height.
- Usage – More immersive films demand bigger screens. Presentations can be smaller.
- Ambient light – Larger screens hold up better in rooms with some light.
A 120-150 inch screen is a popular living room size. For dedicated home theaters, 220 inches and up creates true movie magic.
Aspect Ratio – Match Your Media’s Shape
Aspect ratio defines a screen’s width-to-height geometric shape. Options include:
- 16:9 – The most common widescreen ratio for HD TV and movies.
- 2.35:1 or 21:9 – Ultra-wide cinematic format used for many blockbuster films.
- 4:3 – Traditional full screen standard. Good for HD TV reruns and gaming.
- 16:10 – The native resolution of the Horizon Pro. Works well for presentations.
For versatile use, a 16:9 screen is a safe bet. Cinephiles may favor an ultra-wide 2.35:1 screen. Pick the ratio that best fits your expected content.
Projection Type – Where Will You Mount It?
Horizon Pro’s ultra short throw lens lets you position the projector just inches from the screen. But how will you mount the screen itself?
- Wall-mounted – Simple, space saving. Allows maximum portability of the projector.
- Ceiling-mounted – Keeps the floorspace open. Retractable screens roll up when not in use.
- Floor-standing – Freestanding rigid frame or tripod options. Easy to move.
- Tabletop – Compact screens to sit on a credenza or media console.
Consider your room layout, existing furniture, and portability needs. A wall or ceiling mount often works best for fixed installations.
Screen Material – The Right Surface for Sparkling Images
The screen material impacts brightness, color accuracy, viewing angles, and contrast. Key surface types include:
- Matte white – Most common. Ideal for rooms with ambient light. Offers wide viewing angle. Can lack contrast.
- Gray – Excellent contrast and black levels. Narrows viewing angle. Best for fully light controlled rooms.
- Black – Uncommon. Provides the deepest blacks for a truly cinematic experience. Very narrow viewing angle. Critically placement-sensitive.
- Ambient light rejecting (ALR) – Special layered screens that reject overhead lighting. Pricier but excellent daylight performance.
- Acoustic transparent – Allows speakers to be placed directly behind the screen. Impacts sound quality minimally.
Matte white is the safest, most flexible choice for the Horizon Pro. Gray boosts contrast in dedicated theaters. ALR is great for rooms with moderate ambient light.
Screen Gain – A Measurement of Reflectivity
Screen gain or brightness indicates how reflective the screen is. A gain of 1.0 represents a basic matte white screen. Higher numbers reflect more light for brighter images. Watch for:
- Gain of 1.0-1.3 – Works in any lighting but image won’t be extraordinarily bright.
- Gain of 1.5-2.0 – Provides punchier, vibrant images. Don’t exceed 2.0 gain for projectors under 3,000 lumens.
- Gain above 2.0 – Very reflective but prone to hotspotting, where image center is overly bright.
Most Horizon Pro screens should have moderate 1.1-1.3 gain. Exceptions are rooms with lots of light, or extra large screens where more gain provides added illumination.
Ambient Light Rejection – Controlling the Environment
The Horizon Pro can produce quality images even with some ambient light in the room. But controlling lighting is still ideal, especially with more reflective screen materials. Options include:
- Blackout shades – Ensure daytime light is fully blocked. Allow night viewing any time.
- Directional lighting – Keep general overhead lights off. Use landscape or sconce lights focused away from the screen.
- Bias lighting – Light the area around the screen to reduce eye strain without washing out images.
For occasional daytime viewing, ALR screens also counter overhead lighting very effectively.
Screen Brands – Quality and Budget Options
With so many choices, brand reputation can offer peace of mind. Well-known projector screen manufacturers include:
| Brand | Known For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Screens | Wide selection. Value line and high-end AEON series. | $100-$4000 |
| Stewart Filmscreen | Top cinema brand. High performance materials. | $800-$20000 |
| Da-Lite | Broad range including ALR and acoustic options. | $200-$5000 |
| Silver Ticket | Amazon best-seller. Wide spectrum of sizes. | $100-$1000 |
| VIVO | Affordable basics. Focus on ease of setup. | $50-$500 |
| XY Screens | Quality acoustically transparent and ALR screens. | $300-$3000 |
Elite, Da-Lite, and Silver Ticket offer excellent performance for the money. Go premium with Stewart or XY for the ultimate image.
Manual vs. Motorized – Convenience and Control
Both manual pull-down and motorized screens work well with the Horizon Pro. Differences include:
Manual
- Lower cost
- Simple operation
- Can be less prone to malfunction
- Require physical effort to raise/lower
Motorized
- Convenient power operation
- Integrate with home automation
- Allow remote control
- More moving parts may fail over time
- Often quieter and smoother-looking
Motorized screens cost 2-3X more but provide ease of use. Manual pull-downs are budget-friendly simplicity.
Screen Perforations – Unnecessary for UST Projectors
Screen perforations allow speakers to be placed behind acoustically transparent screens. This can create seamless home theater aesthetics.
However, XGIMI’s ultra short throw Horizon Pro is designed to sit right below the screen. There’s no need to put speakers behind the image surface.
Skip the perforated screens which can impact gain and viewing angles. Enjoy the Horizon Pro’s built-in Harman Kardon soundbar instead.
To recap, here are the key factors to weigh when choosing a projector screen for the 300 ANSI lumen Xgimi Horizon Pro:
- Aim for a 0.9 to 1.3 gain – any higher will lead to a too-bright image that lacks contrast and detail. Look for screens specifically labeled as recommended for lower output “LED” or “portable” projectors.
- For a great size match with the Horizon Pro’s 854×480 native resolution, choose a 100 to 120 inch 16:9 screen. This fills your field of view without excessive oversized pixelization.
- Rooms with well controlled lighting allow you to benefit from a basic matte white screen surface for accurate color reproduction.
- For rooms with ambient light issues, consider a grey screen like the CineGrey 5D or an ALR screen like the Lunette AcousticPro to noticeably boost contrast.
- Motorized screens like the CineTension 2 provide an awesome luxury but fixed frame screens work very well at a lower cost.
Pair the Xgimi Horizon Pro with the right screen, and you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking projection setup that makes ordinary TVs jealous. A screen designed for its light output and resolution capabilities allows the Horizon Pro to really spread its wings and perform at its best. Enjoy your awesome new projector and screen!
