NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII Review
Serious ultra short throw projector built for big screen cinema without the ceiling mount
At a glance
- Type: 4K ultra short throw (UST) tri-laser projector
- HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
- Throw ratio: 0.233:1 (space saving UST setup)
- Brightness: 2,400 lumens
- Contrast: 4,000:1 native with dynamic iris & laser dimming for much higher dynamic contrast
- Best for: Anyone who wants a 100 to 150 inch screen experience from a low cabinet, with strong dark room performance
Pros
- Excellent UST convenience, huge image from a shallow cabinet depth
- Strong contrast for movies, especially in a darker room
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support is a real win at this level
- Dynamic iris and laser dimming helps black levels and perceived punch
- Wide colour gamut, vivid tri-laser look
Cons
- Out of the box colour accuracy can need tuning compared with top rivals
- Like all UST projectors, it is much happier with a proper ALR UST screen
- Bright room performance is good but not class leading versus the best tri-laser competition
Overview
The NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII is a premium ultra short throw projector designed to deliver a true big screen cinema experience without the hassle of a long throw installation. Instead of mounting a projector across the room (or upside down on the ceiling), a UST sits on a low cabinet right under the screen and fires the image upwards at a steep angle. It is one of the most living room friendly ways to get a massive 100 inch plus picture while keeping the setup clean and tidy.
The MKII version builds on the original Aurora Pro with updated projection tech (ALPD 5.0), higher native contrast, and the addition of dynamic iris plus laser dimming. On paper, it is aimed squarely at enthusiasts who care about movie performance and black levels, while still wanting modern features like Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and low latency gaming modes.
The UST advantage
The key selling point here is the UST layout. With a throw ratio listed at 0.233:1, the Aurora Pro MKII can create a huge image while sitting very close to the wall. In plain English, you can run a large screen without a projector looming behind your sofa, without people walking through the beam, and without a long HDMI cable run across the room.
This also changes the feel of the room. A UST setup can replace the TV as the visual centerpiece. When the projector is off, the space looks like a normal living room with a screen on the wall, you could even fit a retractable screen and have a normal wall or picture with the screen retracted. When it is on, you get a genuine cinema scale image that makes films, sport, and console gaming feel far more immersive than even the biggest of TVs.
The trade-off is that UST projectors are more sensitive to screen quality and placement. A dedicated UST ALR screen is strongly recommended if you want the best contrast and the best performance in daytime viewing, because it rejects overhead light while preserving the steep projection angle.
Picture quality
The Aurora Pro is built for cinematic impact. NexiGo quotes 2,400 lumens brightness and a wide colour gamut which translates into vivid, saturated HDR highlights and that distinctive tri-laser colour pop.
Where the MKII aims to stand out is contrast. NexiGo lists a 4,000:1 native (FoFo) contrast ratio, and highlights dynamic iris plus laser dimming for significantly higher dynamic contrast. In real viewing, this matters most in dark movie scenes where UST projectors can sometimes look a bit grey. The MKII is clearly tuned for deeper blacks and more punch in mixed scenes and this reviewer was very impressed.
HDR support is strong: Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and the usual HDR10 and HLG formats are all supported, which is ideal for streaming services where Dolby Vision is common and for HDR10+ libraries too.
Setup tips that matter for UST
UST projectors reward careful setup. The Aurora Pro MKII supports keystone adjustments, but the best image comes from getting physical placement right first. Plan your cabinet depth, your screen height, and your throw distance carefully. Tools like throw calculators are genuinely useful here.
- Use a stable cabinet and avoid wobble as even the smallest vibration can affect perceived sharpness.
- If you watch in daylight, budget for a UST ALR screen rather than a plain wall.
- Prioritise physical alignment over heavy digital correction.
Gaming and everyday use
The Aurora Pro MKII is positioned as more than a movie projector. NexiGo quotes very low latency (single digit ms range), and in the broader UST space it sits among the more gaming friendly options, depending on resolution and modes you need.
In day to day use, what you notice most is convenience: it behaves like a big TV replacement. You can power it on, let the image fill the wall, and get a huge picture without turning the living room into a dedicated cinema room.
Comparison: Aurora Pro MKII vs Hisense PX3-Pro
The Hisense PX3-Pro is one of the most talked about tri laser UST projectors, and it is a very natural alternative for the Aurora. Both target a similar buyer: someone who wants a premium UST cinema setup with modern HDR support.
Bright room vs dark room performance
The Hisense PX3-Pro tends to be stronger in brighter rooms, while the NexiGo can look better in a darker room thanks to its contrast advantage and aggressive dimming approach. I'd summarise it as PX3-Pro for daytime punch and Aurora Pro MKII for night time movie contrast.
Colour accuracy and calibration
The Hisense is generally more accurate out of the box and easier to calibrate, while the NexiGo can deliver excellent contrast and colour potential but may require more tweaking to get it perfectly dialled in.
Brightness and size range
Hisense commonly lists the PX3-Pro around 3,000 ANSI lumens and an 80 to 150 inch image size range. NexiGo lists the Aurora Pro MKII at 2,400 lumens with a similarly living-room-friendly UST footprint. If you expect lots of daytime viewing, the Hisense brightness advantage can matter, especially without a top-end ALR screen.
Gaming features
Hisense is notable for gaming support and has been marketed as Designed for Xbox in this product line, with our review testing noting high refresh rate support at lower resolutions. NexiGo focuses on low latency claims too, so both can work for console gaming, but the Hisense tends to be the easier recommendation for a mixed-use bright-room gaming setup.
Key specifications
| Model | NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII |
|---|---|
| Projection type | Ultra short throw (UST) |
| Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160) |
| Projection tech | ALPD 5.0 |
| Throw ratio | 0.233:1 |
| Brightness | 2,400 lumens |
| Contrast | 4,000:1 native (FoFo) with dynamic iris and laser dimming |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| colour gamut | 107% BT.2020 |
Verdict
The Aurora Pro MKII is a genuinely compelling UST projector for buyers who want cinema scale immersion without the installation pain of traditional projection. The UST format makes it feel like a TV replacement, but the real appeal is how it leans into movie performance with improved native contrast and dynamic dimming features that can make dark room viewing look richer and more cinematic than many rivals at similar prices.
Against the Hisense PX3-Pro, the choice is mostly about your room and your priorities. If you watch a lot of content in brighter conditions and want strong out of the box accuracy, Hisense is often the safer pick. If your viewing is more evening focused and you want maximum perceived contrast and black level performance from a UST, the Aurora Pro MKII makes a strong case, especially once you spend a little time dialling in picture settings and pairing it with a good UST ALR screen.
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