The XGIMI Halo’s battery is a serious one. You can also opt to use other speakers or headphones by connecting them to the rear 3.5mm jack or pair them via Bluetooth. When you do want to step outside of the built-in streaming apps, the XGIMI Halo features an HDMI 2.0 port on the rear as well as a USB 2.0 port. It’s not painstaking, but compared to Google’s latest Chromecast, XGIMI’s software just isn’t as snappy and feels especially slow when it comes to Google Assistant, taking more than a second to start listening. The same was once true for Amazon Prime Video, but XGIMI has since fixed that omission, showing that it isn't just ignoring the issue.Ī second issue is just that the Android OS is a tad slow here. Netflix won’t run on it, which could be a complete deal-breaker for some. XGIMI’s implementation of Android TV isn’t quite perfect, though.

With the Halo’s internal battery, you don’t even need to connect the XGIMI Halo to the power outlet to run it. The cooling system is almost inaudible, too, and easily drowned out by the speakers.

The speakers pack a nice punch and are loud enough to fill a small room. Just get it set up with a Google account for Android TV, and it can stream content it pulls directly. You don’t need any extra gear to use the Halo properly, either. The Halo’s weight can make it a little tricky – but not impossible – to set up on a smaller tripod, though it has a small stand on the bottom to help you find the right angle without one. The whole device weighs just 1.6 kilograms, making it readily portable, though the external power supply is a bit larger and adds more weight if taking it on the go. In that space, XGIMI has fit a Full HD DLP projection system, an autofocus sensor, a pair of Harman Kardon-tuned 5W speakers, a battery, and all the smarts necessary to run Android TV along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It measures just 113.5 x 145 x 171.5mm, roughly half the size of a typical shoe box. The entire unit takes up incredibly little space for something that packs in so much. The remote is fairly typical for Android TV devices, bearing a strong resemblance to that of the BenQ X1300i projector. This means you’ll absolutely need to keep track of your remote control to manage everything else like navigation, settings, and focus. The projector itself only has four built-in controls: pause/play, volume up, volume down, and power on/off. There’s a small downside to its simplicity, though. Even if it’s built out of hard plastics, the color scheme and shape can almost pass for something more premium in build, particularly with the grille design wrapping around the front and sides of the device. The XGIMI Halo is an elegant piece of technology. (Image credit: Future) Design and features

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