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 84.6 and the Horizon S Max scores 81.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The X3100i edges ahead on the Mars Score (84.6 vs 81.6), but the 3.0-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the X3100i if you care most about brightness. The biggest gaps in its favor are brightness.
Pick the Horizon S Max if you care most about light source. Its strongest claims are light source.
Both ship with comparable resolution, short-throw, so those specs don't 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 tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
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 |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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