Getting a decent projector for home use is a tough task. Carrying the baton for decent and reasonably priced projectors is the XGIMI Elfin. With its form factor, the projector punches well above its weight in every respect. Be it producing crisp and sharp-looking pictures in a dimly lit environment or producing engaging sound with just the two 3W speakers inside, it does a great job. It has a DLP 0.33” DMD display chip and a peak advertised brightness of 800 ANSI Lumens. Also, baked in are things like 3D experience and Android TV with Chromecast, which we will talk about later in this article.
XGIMI Elfin: Key Specifications
The XGIMI Elfin comes with a decent selection of features that make it an enticing option when you are out in the market for a sub-₹1 lakh range. It has AndroidTV baked in to allow standalone use and a decent selection of ports, allowing input from external devices.
Display Chip: DLP 0.33" DMDResolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080P)
Brightness: 800 ANSI Lumens
Speakers: Dual 3W Harman / Kardon Speakers
Operating System: Android TV 10.0
Intelligent Screen Adaption: Auto Focus/Auto Keystone Correction/Auto Obstacle Avoidance/Auto Screen Alignment
Ports: HDMI x 1 (ARC Supported), USB2.0 x 1, Audio x 1, DC x 1
Size/Weight: 7.5 x 7.6 x 1.8 inches / 2 kilograms
Throw Ratio: 1.2 : 1
Mounting Type: Tripod Mount
XGIMI Elfin: Build and Design
In terms of build quality and portability, too, it earns a few extra brownie points, making it an impressive overall package. The plastic used in both the remote and the projector feels great and gives a premium feel to the device. At just 0.9 kg of weight and a height of 5 cm, this projector is pretty compact and be tucked away in a shelf when not in use. The quarter-inch screw hole at the base of the projector also makes mounting it easier on say a tripod. The remote also carries the premium build and design of the projector and its overall feel and construction never failed to impress us. It in terms of its functionality, it does its job well.
XGIMI Elfin: Performance
The XGIMI Elfin is HDR10+ certified and is capable of projecting a 1920×1080 picture on the screen, which is good enough for casual content consumption. However, if you want a higher resolution image that looks like you are sitting in a theatre, then you should look elsewhere. The other thing that this projector is short on is the number of features on offers. Due to the nature of its construction, manual zoom and focus adjustment are impossible. There is no option to adjust the aspect ratio of the projection and no option that would enable you to choose the colour of the wall that the picture is being projected on, which pull down the image it is able to project on the wall. Nevertheless, the remote does a great job of taking care of the controls.
Elfin also claims to have a great 3D mode. However, during our usage, the experience was a little underwhelming. We did not have extremely high expectations, considering the price and form factor of the device, but the thing is, why settle for less? We believe a bit of refinement was required and would have been a great addition to the device as a whole.
XGIMI Elfin: I/O
It makes up for all of its problems with the other things it brings to the table. For audio output, it has an 3.5mm audio jack that helps you connect to external audio devices, enhancing the viewing experience. The sound quality for a projector of this size is pretty impressive. The focus adjustment using the remote, which has a toggle to switch the volume buttons between volume and focus, is very easy and convenient. And the keystone adjustment it performs, coupled with its intelligent obstacle-avoiding capabilities, raised a few eyebrows in the room. Connectivity-wise, it has a USB and an HDMI port, making it sufficiently well connected for home use. During extended use, while we were using the projector, its fans got a bit loud, but that is expected. However, factor that in when you are about to make a purchase decision for this device.
The XGIMI Elfin also gains a point in terms of its stand-alone functionality. By this, we mean that given that this projector has Android TV 10.0 baked in, you don’t need an external input device to view content. It has an HDMI port that can be utilised for viewing content from a laptop or any other external device if the needs be. But the flexibility that Android TV offers, with the apps that come baked in, and the ones that can be loaded into the device, take the operability of the XGIMI Elfin to a whole new level. It also has Chromecast built-in, so that is also an added bonus!
XGIMI Elfin: Verdict
Coming to our final verdict. As you may have guessed by reading the rest of this article, we loved what Elfin offered. The only things we could have wished to be added to this device would be a better projection resolution and an ethernet port. The resolution part is self-explanatory, and when it comes to an ethernet port, what it would do, is make for a better connectivity solution for the ones who are planning for a more permanent installation of this projector. Final words – If you are out in the market looking for a sub-one lakh projector for use in your home for any kind of use, then this should be on your wishlist.
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Satvik Pandey
Satvik Pandey, is a self-professed Steve Jobs (not Apple) fanboy, a science & tech writer, and a sports addict. At Digit, he works as a Deputy Features Editor, and manages the daily functioning of the magazine. He also reviews audio-products (speakers, headphones, soundbars, etc.), smartwatches, projectors, and everything else that he can get his hands on. A media and communications graduate, Satvik is also an avid shutterbug, and when he's not working or gaming, he can be found fiddling with any camera he can get his hands on and helping produce videos – which means he spends an awful amount of time in our studio. His game of choice is Counter-Strike, and he's still attempting to turn pro. He can talk your ear off about the game, and we'd strongly advise you to steer clear of the topic unless you too are a CS junkie. View Full Profile
