Prime Day offer
Just in time for long summer evenings and late World Cup matches, the XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser is available on Amazon Prime Day for only €499 instead of €749. Prime Day runs until June 26th.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: Mobile design for spontaneous movie nights
Externally, the MoGo 4 Laser remains close to the normal MoGo 4 (here is our testThe housing is cylindrical, pleasantly compact, and can be flexibly positioned thanks to the integrated 360-degree stand. Measuring 96,5 × 96,5 × 207,6 millimeters and weighing around 1,32 kilograms, the projector fits easily into a backpack. While packing the portable screen adds a bit more weight, it still falls squarely into the "take it with you spontaneously" category.
The build quality is very high, just like the standard model. The matte plastic feels robust, the swivel stand makes spontaneous angle adjustments easy, and the ports are conveniently located on the side. These include HDMI with ARC, USB-A, and USB-C for charging via Power Delivery.
Like the regular MoGo 4, this one also features an ambient light. It glows in various colors, can run subtly in the background, or be combined with music, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
Also included are four magnetic creative filters. These attachments transform the projector into a kind of projection lamp, casting patterns like waves, moonlight, or abstract light patterns onto walls, ceilings, or tent canvases. They aren't necessary for the actual movie experience, but they make a nice bonus for creating the right atmosphere before or after a film night.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: Mobile outdoor screen
We tested the MoGo 4 laser projector together with the XGIMI Mobile Outdoor Screen. It offers a projection area of 70 inches, or 155 x 87,2 centimeters, and is therefore well-suited to the small laser projector. With a projection ratio of 1,2:1, the MoGo 4 laser requires a distance of approximately 1,9 meters for a 70-inch image, making setup on patios, balconies, or small gardens easily possible.
The setup itself is quick and easy. The screen uses an elastic rope system, which means the frame almost automatically takes shape. With a little practice, it can be set up in about a minute, without having to struggle with poles, screws, and fabric panels.
Weighing just 1,5 kilograms, the screen is light enough to take along with the projector. When folded, it measures only about 45 centimeters in length and disappears into the included carrying bag. The frame is made of aluminum alloy, and ground anchors are included for use on grass or softer surfaces.
In practice, a projection screen makes a clear difference compared to a normal wall or a bed sheet. The surface remains smooth, the fabric stretches taut, and wrinkles are hardly an issue. A clean projection surface is especially important for laser projection, because otherwise colors and sharpness quickly lose their impact.
The setup isn't completely windproof, of course. The ground anchors help in light summer breezes, but in stronger gusts, it's best to set up the screen in a more sheltered spot. However, it worked very well on a patio or in the garden with some protection from the wind.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: Google TV with real Netflix app
XGIMI has opted for Google TV as the operating system for the MoGo 4 Laser projector. The interface is clear, responsive, and brings all the important streaming apps directly to the projector. Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, and other services can be used conveniently without any DIY work or the need for an external streaming stick.
Chromecast is also integrated, which makes it easy to transfer holiday pictures, YouTube clips or quickly shared videos from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to the projector.
Included for operation are a classic Bluetooth remote control with backlighting and a small mini remote. The larger remote is for Google TV, while the mini remote is primarily used for controlling the light, volume, and quick actions directly on the device.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: Automatic alignment with tight limits
The MoGo 4 laser projector doesn't require millimeter-precise alignment for a perfect image. This is especially beneficial in the garden, where the projector might be placed on a wobbly table, the ground uneven, or the screen not perfectly aligned, saving you a lot of fine-tuning. Continuous autofocus automatically focuses the image as soon as the projector is moved, while automatic keystone correction compensates for tilted images up to a certain degree.
The automatic adjustment isn't a free pass for every slanted garden table setup. The more the correction has to intervene, the more likely the original projection area will be visible as a faint halo of light. You also shouldn't expect fully functional screen detection or obstacle avoidance.
On the outdoor screen, the image must be manually adjusted to fit the surface if it isn't perfectly aligned immediately. While this can be done easily via the settings, it's not quite as automatic as with larger XGIMI models.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: Strong image quality (in the dark)
The MoGo 4 laser projector projects in Full HD with 1920 × 1080 pixels. It uses DLP display technology with a 0,23-inch DMD chip. Text, faces, and fine details appear crisp, movies look sharp, and motion is rendered smoothly.
The biggest difference compared to the standard MoGo 4 lies in the laser light source, which, at 550 ISO lumens, is slightly brighter and renders red, blue, and green tones more intensely without appearing unnatural. Especially in the standard or film profiles, the projected image creates a much more immersive home theater experience in the garden in the evening than one would expect from such a small cylinder.
The contrast is good for a portable projector, but it depends on the ambient light. For a true summer movie experience, the sun should be gone. In twilight, the image is still somewhat flat, but the contrast improves noticeably with each passing minute of darkness. For this transitional phase, there's a brightness mode that slightly brightens the image, making the MoGo 4 Laser somewhat more usable in low light.
However, this isn't without its drawbacks. In this mode, the image takes on a slight greenish tint and appears less naturally calibrated. Furthermore, the fan becomes noticeably louder, which is more apparent in quiet film scenes than in normal picture mode. As soon as stray light from garden lamps, windows, or streetlights falls on the screen, the image loses even more depth. Light sources behind or beside the screen should be strictly avoided.
As is typical with lasers, a slight glitter effect can be noticeable on highly textured surfaces. However, this wasn't a problem during normal movie use on the XGIMI screen. The smooth, taut surface works well with the projector.
The MoGo 4 laser has some headroom for larger images, but the 70-inch screen is its sweet spot. Anyone projecting 100 inches or more should ensure complete darkness.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: Suitable for casual games
Gaming is also possible with the MoGo 4 laser. In game mode, the latency at 1080p and 60 Hz is up to 20 milliseconds when automatic correction is deactivated. With automatic correction activated, the latency increases to up to 56 milliseconds.
Those who play competitive shooters or are particularly sensitive to input lag should disable automatic correction and align the projector as precisely as possible. However, the gaming performance is more than sufficient for a typical summer evening with friends. A round of Mario Kart on the 70-inch screen in the garden is surprisingly fun.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: Strong sound
The sound comes from two Harman Kardon speakers, each with six watts of power. For its size, the MoGo 4 Laser sounds surprisingly mature. Voices are clear and intelligible, music has a good amount of body, and the sound remains clean even at higher volumes.
For a movie night for two or a small group, this is perfectly adequate. Naturally, there's a slight lack of bass outdoors because the sound isn't reflected off walls. The speakers also reach their limits more quickly in windy conditions, during conversations, or if you're further away from the projector.
For those watching with multiple people or wanting a more cinematic experience, a Bluetooth speaker can be connected, or an external audio system can be connected via HDMI ARC. In Bluetooth speaker mode, the projector also functions as a portable speaker with ambient light, even without an image being displayed.
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser: A movie night is possible with battery power.
The integrated battery has a capacity of 71,28 Wh and is supposed to allow up to 2,5 hours of video playback in Eco mode. In this mode, the brightness is slightly reduced, but the battery life is noticeably extended. In practice, this is usually just enough for a movie night without needing a power outlet, as long as you're not watching a particularly long film like Saving Private Ryan or constantly using maximum brightness.
Charging is done via USB-C with Power Delivery, meaning the projector can also be powered by a sufficiently powerful power bank. As a music speaker, the MoGo 4 Laser lasts significantly longer. Up to six hours of music playback are possible when the projection functions are not active.
