Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | BenQ - X3100i | XGIMI - Horizon S Max |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 3300 lm | 3100 lm |
| Light source | LED | Laser |
Between the X3100i and Horizon S Max, the X3100i comes out ahead in brightness, while the Horizon S Max wins on light source. Overall, the X3100i scores 76.6 and the Horizon S Max scores 75 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (76.6 vs 75). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the X3100i if you care most about brightness. The biggest gaps in its favor are brightness. The single most decisive one: Brightness — 6.45% more. 3300 lm vs 3100 lm.
Pick the Horizon S Max if you care most about light source. Its strongest claims are light source. The single most decisive one: Light source: Laser (vs LED).
Both ship with comparable resolution, short-throw, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: BenQ - X3100i or XGIMI - Horizon S Max?
BenQ - X3100i leads the current Mars Score by 1.6 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare brightness, light source against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose BenQ - X3100i if…
BenQ - X3100i has the measurable edge on brightness lumens.
Choose XGIMI - Horizon S Max if…
XGIMI - Horizon S Max has the measurable edge on light source.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why BenQ - X3100i wins
- ▲Brightness — 6.45% more. 3300 lm vs 3100 lm.
Why XGIMI - Horizon S Max wins
- ▲Light source: Laser (vs LED).
Spec comparison
Image
| Spec | BenQ - X3100i | XGIMI - Horizon S Max |
|---|---|---|
| Resolutionⓘ | 4K | 4K |
| Brightnessⓘ | 3300 lmlead | 3100 lm |
| Contrast | 600000:1 | 2800:1 |
| Light source | LED | Laserlead |
| Short-throw | false | false |
Smart & Connectivity
| Spec | BenQ - X3100i | XGIMI - Horizon S Max |
|---|---|---|
| Smart OS | Android TV | Android TV |
| HDMI inputs | 2 | 2 |
| Built-in speakers | true | true |