Type of projector LED LCD
Operating system Google TV
Native editing 1080p
HDR support? No
Dimensions (hwd) 31 x 14 x 12 cm
Weight 1.4 kg
A cheaper alternative to the MoGo 4, the Xgimi Vibe One delivers an incredibly consistent and cinematic image, but due to a few shortcomings, we still recommend it to its more expensive sibling.
Benefits
- A detailed, natural-looking image of money
- It gets dark enough
- Small, portable design
Evil
- The dialogue is difficult at times
- Short battery life
Type of projector LED DLP
Operating system Google TV
Native editing 1080p
HDR support? HDR10
Size (hwd) 21 x 10 x 10 cm
Weight 1.3 kg
The MoGo 4 is given a run for its money by the Vibe One, but its better battery life and better sound quality make it our overall recommendation if you’re looking for true portability.
Benefits
- Compact, lightweight design
- Sharp and sharp image
- Easy setup
Evil
- A little noise
- Slightly brighter colors
If you’re researching portable projectors, chances are you’ll have come across offerings from the Xgimi brand.
The Xgimi MoGo 4 is a compact cylindrical model that has appeared in our best portable projectors and best outdoor projectors guides since we reviewed it last year.
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The Xgimi Vibe One, on the other hand, is the first product from Xgimi’s new budget-focused ‘Vibe’ brand, targeting budget buyers beyond the MoGo 4.
We’ve gone head-to-head in our test room to see which one is the best to spend your money on.
Xgimi Vibe One vs Xgimi MoGo 4: price
Both Xgimis target the budget end of the projector market, of course, with affordability and portability as their USPs.
The Vibe One is the cheaper of the two, launching at £219/$269/AU$599. It hit shelves late last year, but discounts are already available at various retailers, making it even more affordable.
Aimed at a more premium audience, the MoGo 4 also boasts a more premium price tag. It has an official price of £509 / $499 / AU$1399, but you can find it cheaper in the UK if you shop around. We’ve often seen it drop to £399.
Despite this discount, the Vibe One still comes out on top in terms of pricing.
** Winner: Xgimi Vibe One **
Xgimi Vibe One vs Xgimi MoGo 4: build
Both projectors are compact and easy to carry, and you shouldn’t have a problem putting anything in a bag to take on the go.
Each weighs the same, too, with the Vibe One coming in at 1.4kg and the MoGo 4 at 1.3kg. So there’s no need to worry about lugging around a big projector for a movie night in the garden.
The MoGo 4 is much smaller than the Vibe One, measuring 21 x 10 x 10 cm (hwd), which is about the size of a large water bottle. The cheaper model is smaller (31 x 12 x 14 cm), but still very portable – indeed, the Vibe One has a handy handle on top that makes it even easier to carry.
Both projectors are activated in the same way: you tilt the body up from the floor to face your screen or a wall (a screen is highly recommended for a better image). The MoGo 4 offers an extra feature as the hard plastic on the side transforms into a nice stand.
The Vibe One comes in two color options: spark blue or cloud ash. You can also personalize your model with included stickers, which should be fun for kids or smart adults. The MoGo 4 is available in one finish: silver with orange layers.
The projectors offer almost identical remote controls, which allow you to control the volume, output, auto focus, and settings menu. There are also shortcuts for several streaming services to speed up menu navigation.
The Vibe One remote does not have a backlight, but the MoGo 4’s does.
With the MoGo 4, there is an additional remote control that hangs from a cord on the side of the body. This remote keeps things very minimal with only volume controls, a D-pad for menu navigation and a back button.
While both models offer a solid and compact build, the MoGo 4 takes the prize here for its solid stance and more premium feel.
** Winner: Xgimi MoGo 4 **
Xgimi Vibe One vs Xgimi MoGo 4: features
Both the Vibe One and MoGo 4 have a built-in battery, but this good news comes with a caveat: models that offer 1.2 hours of claimed and 2.5 hours of battery life, respectively.
And that’s when they’re in Eco mode, which dims the light to save energy. In our favorite Normal mode, that limited number is slightly reduced. This is not a problem for the MoGo 4, as it can be connected to a power bank using the USB-C connection, but there is no such feature with the Vibe One.
In each model, you will find one HDMI port, although ARC is only supported with the MoGo 4. Bluetooth 5.1 is available with both Xgimi projectors.
Both models deliver a 1080p Full HD picture. The Vibe One is said to offer up to a 150-inch image, while the MoGo 4 offers as little as 120 inches. Xgimi says you can take the screen size up to 200 inches with the MoGo 4, but you won’t get the best display quality available.
The MoGo 4 can be a little brighter and like the Vibe One, the projectors produce a claimed maximum brightness of 450 and 300 ISO Lumens, respectively. The MoGo 4, therefore, has a better chance of delivering a difficult image in well-lit settings.
You also get access to the Google TV smart platform with both models. This includes the usual streaming suspects like Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV. However, there is no BBC iPlayer on the cards. There is an option to use Google Cast from a smart device, but it would be nice to have native app support.
From the remote control or the settings menu, you can access auto-focus and auto-keystone adjustment. This worked very well in our test room to get used to the space, although we found ourselves using the manual features to fine tune.
There are a variety of picture modes, but for each unit, we stay in Movie mode by adjusting the rest in the settings menu.
For better battery life, the MoGo 4 takes this round.
** Winner: Xgimi MoGo 4 **
Xgimi Vibe One vs Xgimi MoGo 4: photo
Despite their small size and budget price tags, both models are impressive cinematographers with a lot to like.
The Xgimi MoGo 4 offers a rough but detailed image. If you watch Knives Out: The Mystery of the Glass Onion on Netflix, for example, we say in our review: “Sure, it doesn’t have the details of larger, more expensive projectors like the Nebula X1, but for a small piece of kit, the MoGo 4 is able to produce a well-balanced image, with tree branches in the background appearing clear.”
The colors are incredibly strong as well, so much so that they sometimes reach over-brightness. This is a decision Xgimi has made to compensate when users watch movies outdoors, but it is noticeable when watching in a dark room.
When we switch to Xgimi Vibe One, we don’t find the colors very clear. Instead, they balance better – resulting in a stunning cinematic image.
Projecting Alien: RomulusVibe One shows off its skills in dark scenes. As the ship floats through the depths of space, the projector reveals a pitch-black abyss that is surprisingly deep by budget projector standards. However, the MoGo 4 gets a little darker and manages to dig more subtleties into the dark levels at the same time.
Motion management is best done with the Vibe One. It makes movement feel more natural compared to the MoGo 4, which can get a little greasy during fast action.
The MoGo 4, as you’d expect considering its higher lumen count, looks brighter and brighter than the Vibe One. The latter will be fine for a sunny sports viewing area, but expect to lose some detail, especially compared to its more expensive cousin, if you’re watching in a well-lit area.
While the Xgimi Vibe One focuses on the basics in terms of motion capture and natural colors, the MoGo 4 is the best performer with its bright picture and deep blacks.
** Winner: Xgimi MoGo 4 **
Xgimi Vibe One vs Xgimi MoGo 4: sound
No projector can blow us away in the audio department. The MoGo 4 has two 6W speakers, while the Vibe One offers two 3W speakers, both built into their slim bodies.
They struggle to push the sound far enough to create a focused sound experience, resulting in localized performance.
The MoGo 4 offers clear and reasonably punchy vocals. It also brings an upbeat soundtrack to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyfor example, with the appropriate level of speech.
The Vibe One, on the other hand, has difficulty making voices heard. It continues with Alien: Romuluswe say in our review: “As android Andy and his human sister Rain run through a bustling minefield, their conversation is muffled by radio chatter in the background, making it difficult to decipher certain points.”
And that’s in a quiet test room – it’ll be hard to hear when you’re watching outside with a few guests.
With each model, we recommend investing in a Bluetooth speaker for a clearer, louder audio experience. Still, the MoGo 4 is a clear and concise option, so it wins here.
** Winner: Xgimi MoGo 4 **
Xgimi Vibe One vs Xgimi MoGo 4: the verdict
The Vibe One is the more affordable of the two projectors here, and its modest but detailed picture means it wins on a picture-per-pound basis.
But the MoGo 4 delivers a more cinematic image with greater brightness and contrast, making it better suited for use in a bright room – or outdoors.
In addition, the Vibe One’s disappointing battery life and mysterious lack of support for USB-C battery packs mean it’s less portable than its more expensive sibling.
So, while the Vibe One’s image performance is very impressive for its low price, the MoGo 4 is worth the upgrade for better image quality and greater performance.
**Overall Winner: Xgimi MoGo 4**