Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | ViewSonic - X2-4K | XGIMI - Horizon S Max |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 2900 lm | 3100 lm |
| Short-throw | true | false |
Between the X2-4K and Horizon S Max, the X2-4K comes out ahead in short-throw, while the Horizon S Max wins on brightness. Overall, the X2-4K scores 73.5 and the Horizon S Max scores 75 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (73.5 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 X2-4K if you care most about short-throw. The biggest gaps in its favor are short-throw. The single most decisive one: Short-throw: true (vs false).
Pick the Horizon S Max if you care most about brightness. Its strongest claims are brightness. The single most decisive one: Brightness — 6.90% more. 3100 lm vs 2900 lm.
Both ship with comparable resolution, light source, 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: ViewSonic - X2-4K or XGIMI - Horizon S Max?
XGIMI - Horizon S Max leads the current Mars Score by 1.5 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare brightness, short-throw against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose ViewSonic - X2-4K if…
ViewSonic - X2-4K has the measurable edge on is short throw.
Choose XGIMI - Horizon S Max if…
XGIMI - Horizon S Max has the measurable edge on brightness lumens.
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 ViewSonic - X2-4K wins
- ▲Short-throw: true (vs false).
Why XGIMI - Horizon S Max wins
- ▲Brightness — 6.90% more. 3100 lm vs 2900 lm.
Spec comparison
Image
| Spec | ViewSonic - X2-4K | XGIMI - Horizon S Max |
|---|---|---|
| Resolutionⓘ | 4K | 4K |
| Brightnessⓘ | 2900 lm | 3100 lmlead |
| Contrast | 3000000:1 | 2800:1 |
| Light source | Laser | Laser |
| Short-throw | truelead | false |
Smart & Connectivity
| Spec | ViewSonic - X2-4K | XGIMI - Horizon S Max |
|---|---|---|
| Smart OS | Google TV | Android TV |
| HDMI inputs | 2 | 2 |
| Built-in speakers | true | true |