AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs XGIMI Horizon 20: Which to Buy

The XGIMI Horizon 20 rates 4.6 among 4K projectors; the AWOL Vision Aetherion Max rates 4.4 among ultra short throw ones. The XGIMI Horizon 20 costs $1,940 less ($1,559 vs $3,499).

AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs XGIMI Horizon 20

XGIMI Horizon 20

#7 in 4K4.6Full review

A flexible smart 4K laser projector for living rooms and game rooms, with real lens shift and zoom that most lifestyle projectors lack.

Amazon $1,559

$1,559

AWOL Vision Aetherion Max

#3 in Ultra short throw4.4Full review

A bright triple laser ultra short throw TV replacement for a living room, and one of the best big screen projectors for gaming.

Amazon $3,499

$3,499

Prices were last checked October 29, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.

Scores side by side

These two sit in different type classes (4K and ultra short throw), and each is scored against the reference points for its own class, so a rating says how well each does among its own type peers. How we rank explains each factor.

Factor weight	XGIMI Horizon 20	AWOL Vision Aetherion Max
Overall rating	4.6/5	4.4/5
Brightness 25%	89 3,200 ISO lumens	86 3,300 ISO 21118 lumens
Value 15%	89 $0.49 per lumen	63 $1.06 per lumen
Resolution 10%	100 4K (pixel shift)	100 4K (pixel shift)
Streaming 15%	100 Google TV with licensed Netflix	100 Google TV with licensed Netflix
Setup 10%	100 Autofocus, auto keystone, 1.2x zoom, lens shift	50 Auto keystone
Light life 10%	50 light source life not published (neutral score used)	100 25,000 hour RGB laser
Gaming 10%	100 1 ms input lag	100 1 ms input lag
Warranty 5%	50 2-year warranty	50 2-year warranty

Independent measurements

XGIMI Horizon 20

No independent test published yet.