TCRThe Comparison Report

Projectors / XGIMI Horizon 20 vs LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

XGIMI Horizon 20 vs LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

Best Overall

XGIMI Horizon 20

Real optical lens shift and 240Hz — the best gaming projector here.

Wins overall by 2.0 points

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Quick Verdict

A 2.0-point gap makes the XGIMI Horizon 20 the straightforward choice here. Real optical lens shift and 240Hz — the best gaming projector here.

The XGIMI Horizon 20 and LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) are both closely matched projector models, and the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) is $700 cheaper than the XGIMI Horizon 20 ($999 vs $1,699). On Built-in Sound, the XGIMI Horizon 20 leads (8.0 vs 3.5/10) — onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio. On Brightness, the XGIMI Horizon 20 leads (7.5 vs 4.5/10) — usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates. On Gaming, the XGIMI Horizon 20 leads (9.5 vs 6.5/10) — refresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support. Overall, the XGIMI Horizon 20 scores 8.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.4/10 for the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.

Side-by-Side Comparison

SpecXGIMI Horizon 20LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
Price$1699.00$999.00
Release Year20252024
ResolutionNative 1920x1080 panel with pixel shifting to place 3840x2160 on screen — not a native 4K panel (0.47-inch DMD with pixel shift)Native 1920x1080 panel with pixel shifting to place 3840x2160 on screen — not a native 4K panel (0.47-inch DMD with four-phase pixel shift)
Brightness3,200 ISO lumens (XGIMI quotes ISO, not ANSI — expect a materially lower ANSI figure)500 ANSI lumens (independently measured at 517)
Light SourceRGB triple laser (X-Master engine)Three-channel RGB laser
Throw Ratio1.2:1 to 1.5:1 with optical zoom — standard throw, 40 to 300 inches1.2:1 fixed — standard throw, 50 to 120 inches
Contrast Ratio20,000:1; XGIMI does not state whether this is native or dynamic450,000:1 dynamic
HDR FormatsDolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker ModeHDR10 and HLG with dynamic tone mapping; no Dolby Vision and no HDR10+
Refresh Rate & Input LagUp to 240Hz — 1ms at 1080p/240, 2.2ms at 1080p/120, 3ms at 4K/60, with VRR and ALLM60Hz; input lag 20 to 30ms at 1080p60 in Game Optimizer, with ALLM
Smart PlatformGoogle TV with licensed NetflixLG webOS with Google Assistant and Alexa
Built-in Speakers2x 12W Harman Kardon with DTS Virtual:X3W mono — the weakest audio here
Lens ShiftPhysical optical shift, vertical ±120% and horizontal ±45%, without digital scalingNone
Auto SetupUninterrupted auto keystone, autofocus, Intelligent Screen Alignment and obstacle avoidanceAuto Screen Adjustment: auto keystone, autofocus and four-corner correction
Light Source Life (hrs)Not published by the manufacturer20000
Warranty12 months12 months
ColorsBlackSilver

Category Scores

Picture QualityDetail, contrast and overall image once properly set up
XGIMI Horizon 20
8.0
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
7.0
BrightnessUsable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates
XGIMI Horizon 20
7.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
4.5
ColorColour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box
XGIMI Horizon 20
8.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
8.5
GamingRefresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support
XGIMI Horizon 20
9.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
6.5
Smart PlatformBuilt-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is
XGIMI Horizon 20
8.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
7.5
Built-in SoundOnboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio
XGIMI Horizon 20
8.0
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
3.5
Setup & PlacementLens shift, zoom, auto keystone and how forgiving placement is
XGIMI Horizon 20
9.0
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
8.5
ValuePerformance and features relative to price
XGIMI Horizon 20
8.0
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
5.5
Picture QualityBrightnessColorGamingSmart PlatformBuilt-in SoundSetup & PlacementValue
XGIMI Horizon 20 LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

Picture Quality

The XGIMI Horizon 20 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on detail, contrast and overall image once properly set up. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Brightness

The XGIMI Horizon 20 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 4.5 — a 3.0-point margin on usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Color

The XGIMI Horizon 20 and LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) are level here, at 8.5/10 each. colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.

Gaming

The XGIMI Horizon 20 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.5 — a 3.0-point margin on refresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Smart Platform

The XGIMI Horizon 20 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on built-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Built-in Sound

The XGIMI Horizon 20 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 3.5 — a 4.5-point margin on onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Setup & Placement

The XGIMI Horizon 20 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on lens shift, zoom, auto keystone and how forgiving placement is. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Value

The XGIMI Horizon 20 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Best For

Choose the XGIMI Horizon 20 if…

  • Built-in Sound matters most to you — the XGIMI Horizon 20 scores 8.0/10 here (onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio).
  • Brightness matters most to you — the XGIMI Horizon 20 scores 7.5/10 here (usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates).
  • Gaming matters most to you — the XGIMI Horizon 20 scores 9.5/10 here (refresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support).
  • Value matters most to you — the XGIMI Horizon 20 scores 8.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
  • Picture Quality matters most to you — the XGIMI Horizon 20 scores 8.0/10 here (detail, contrast and overall image once properly set up).

Choose the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) if…

  • You want to spend less — it's $700 cheaper.
  • Your main use case is portable.

Pros & Cons

XGIMI Horizon 20

Pros

  • +True physical lens shift at this price is rare and makes placement dramatically easier than keystone correction
  • +240Hz with 1ms latency makes it the best gaming projector here
  • +Google TV with licensed Netflix and Wi-Fi 6
  • +Harman Kardon audio is genuinely good

Cons

  • Brightness is quoted in ISO lumens, which reads roughly 15 to 20% optimistic against ANSI-rated rivals
  • XGIMI does not state whether the 20,000:1 contrast figure is native or dynamic
  • No published laser life figure
  • Not native 4K despite the marketing

LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

Pros

  • +RGB laser gives far better colour than any LED projector at this size — up to 154% DCI-P3
  • +Genuinely beautiful 3lb aluminium design with a handle that works as a stand
  • +20,000-hour laser life
  • +webOS is a full smart TV platform, not a stripped-down launcher

Cons

  • LG's own US product page now flags this model as discontinued with a newer model available, and does not name the successor
  • 3W mono speaker is the weakest here — you will want external audio
  • 500 lumens is thin for HDR content
  • No battery, unlike the cheaper portables
  • No Dolby Vision or HDR10+

Shop by Need

FAQs

Is the XGIMI Horizon 20 or LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) better overall?+

Based on our 8-category scoring, the XGIMI Horizon 20 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.

Which is better for Built-in Sound, the XGIMI Horizon 20 or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The XGIMI Horizon 20 scores higher on Built-in Sound (8.0/10 vs 3.5/10) — onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio.

Which is better for Brightness, the XGIMI Horizon 20 or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The XGIMI Horizon 20 scores higher on Brightness (7.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates.

Which is better for Gaming, the XGIMI Horizon 20 or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The XGIMI Horizon 20 scores higher on Gaming (9.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — refresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support.

Which is better for Value, the XGIMI Horizon 20 or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The XGIMI Horizon 20 scores higher on Value (8.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — performance and features relative to price.

Is the XGIMI Horizon 20 worth the price difference over the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) is the cheaper option at $999 versus $1,699. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Built-in Sound.

Which is better suited to my use case?+

The XGIMI Horizon 20 is the better fit if you mainly care about gaming. The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) is the better fit for portable.

What's the warranty on the XGIMI Horizon 20 vs the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The XGIMI Horizon 20 ships with a 12-month warranty; the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.

Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+

If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.

Cheaper Option

Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) — $799.00

Premium Option

BenQ W2720i — $1966.00

Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.

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