Quick Answer: NexiGo — better known for webcams and computer mice — has quietly built a full projector lineup that spans $299.99 to $3,299.99. The PJ40 Pro (about $349.99, native 1080p, 800 ANSI lumens, Google TV) is the best all-around budget pick, the Nova Mini (around $649.99) is the step-up smart laser option, and the Aurora Lite (roughly $1,999.99, 4K UHD tri-color laser) is the best value ultra short throw. At the top, NexiGo currently sells two similarly-named UST flagships side by side — the original Aurora Pro (about $2,299.99-$3,000) and the newer Aurora Pro MKII (around $3,299.99) — and the naming similarity hides a real generational contrast-ratio jump between them.
Most “best projector brand” roundups skip NexiGo entirely because the name reads as a peripherals company, not a home theater one. That’s a mistake if you’re comparison-shopping on Amazon, where NexiGo’s projectors show up constantly at every price tier. We sorted the real current lineup — model by model, with the naming traps flagged — so you don’t accidentally compare an old generation against a new one. For the wider budget field, see our best budget projector guide; for the full ultra short throw category, our best ultra short throw projector roundup.
NexiGo’s projector lineup, by the numbers
- Seven current models, a 10x price spread. NexiGo’s own site lists projectors from the $299.99 PJ40 LCD up to the $3,299.99 Aurora Pro MKII — a wider price range than most single-brand roundups on this site cover, built entirely on the back of a company known first for webcams and mice.
- Two “Aurora Pro” models are sold at the same time. The original Aurora Pro (2,400 ANSI lumens, 3,000:1 native contrast, released September 2023) remains listed alongside the newer Aurora Pro MKII, which adds a Scene Adapt Engine with dynamic iris and laser dimming that pushes dynamic contrast to 30,000:1 — a real spec jump, not just a price bump, per NexiGo’s own product pages.
- The PJ40 Pro’s 800 ANSI lumens is genuinely bright for its ~$349.99 price. That’s roughly double the 400-500 ANSI most LED-engine budget projectors put out at a similar price point, matching the same bright-for-its-tier pattern this site has flagged on other budget brands like NexiGo’s own PJ40 lineup.
- NexiGo’s UST laser tier undercuts most name-brand competitors on price. The Aurora Lite’s ~$1,999.99 price for a 4K UHD tri-color laser panel sits below many Hisense and Formovie laser TVs with similar specs — worth cross-shopping if UST is the format you want.
Our top picks at a glance
| Projector | Best for | Resolution | Brightness | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NexiGo PJ40 Pro | Best overall / budget | Native 1080p | 800 ANSI lm | ~$349.99 | ★★★★☆ |
| NexiGo PJ40 (base) | Best cheaper 1080p | Native 1080p | Entry LED | ~$299.99 | ★★★☆ |
| NexiGo Nova Mini | Best step-up smart laser | Not disclosed | Laser light source | ~$649.99 | ★★★½ |
| NexiGo Aurora Lite | Best value UST laser | 4K UHD | Tri-color laser | ~$1,999.99 | ★★★★☆ |
| NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII | Best flagship UST | 4K | Tri-color laser, 30,000:1 dynamic | ~$3,299.99 | ★★★★☆ |
1. NexiGo PJ40 Pro — Best Overall / Budget
NexiGo PJ40 Pro
- Native 1080p panel at 800 ANSI lumens, per NexiGo's own spec sheet — roughly double the brightness of most LED-engine rivals near this price.
- Built-in Google TV with the full app library, so no separate streaming stick is needed.
- 20W surround-sound speaker system, unusually loud for a sub-$400 projector.
- Compact, plug-and-play design aimed at bedrooms and living rooms rather than dedicated theater rooms.
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The PJ40 Pro is the model most people should start with if they’ve never bought a NexiGo projector before — it beats most similarly-priced budget projectors on real ANSI-lumen brightness rather than the inflated “LED lumens” figures common in this price bracket. Google TV baked in means one less accessory to buy and manage. For more native-1080p budget options across brands, see our best 1080p projector and best projector under 500 guides.
2. NexiGo PJ40 (base) — Best Cheaper 1080p
NexiGo PJ40 LCD Projector
- Genuine native 1920x1080 LCD panel — not a downscaled "1080p supported" 720p unit.
- Skips the PJ40 Pro's Google TV smart platform and higher lumen count in exchange for a lower price.
- Same core panel technology as the PJ40 Pro, so image sharpness is comparable in a fully dark room.
- Best paired with a streaming stick or phone-mirroring rather than relied on as a standalone smart device.
If Google TV and extra brightness aren’t priorities, the base PJ40 gets you the same native-1080p sharpness as the PJ40 Pro for about $50 less. Watch for promotional listings using names like “PJ40 Gen3” — confirm the native resolution and lumen spec on the listing itself rather than assuming it matches either model described here, since NexiGo’s naming has some overlap across sale periods.
3. NexiGo Nova Mini — Best Step-Up Smart Laser
NexiGo Nova Mini Smart Laser Projector
- Laser light source in a compact form factor, positioned between NexiGo's LED budget tier and its full-size UST laser flagships.
- Built-in smart platform for direct streaming without an external stick, per NexiGo's own product listing.
- Priced roughly $300 above the PJ40 Pro but well under $1,000, filling the gap most budget projector brands leave between LED and laser tiers.
- NexiGo has not published full ANSI-lumen or contrast figures for this model on its own site — confirm current specs directly before buying if brightness is a deciding factor.
The Nova Mini is the right pick if you’ve outgrown the PJ40 Pro’s LED brightness ceiling but aren’t ready for a full UST laser TV’s price or footprint. Because NexiGo doesn’t publish a full spec sheet for this model the way it does for the Aurora line, we’d treat it as a step-up convenience pick rather than a spec-driven choice — check current buyer reviews for real-world brightness before committing. For a wider laser-vs-lamp comparison, see our laser vs lamp projector guide.
4. NexiGo Aurora Lite — Best Value UST Laser
NexiGo Aurora Lite UST Tri-Color Laser Projector
- Genuine 4K UHD resolution with a tri-color laser light source, per NexiGo's own listing.
- Priced below many Hisense and Formovie laser TVs with comparable 4K/tri-laser specs, making it the value entry point into NexiGo's UST tier.
- Ultra short throw design, so it sits close to the wall or screen rather than needing a long mounted throw distance.
- Sits directly beneath the original Aurora Pro in NexiGo's lineup — check the by-the-numbers section above before assuming "Aurora" alone tells you which tier you're buying.
The Aurora Lite is the pick if you want real 4K UST laser performance without paying flagship prices — its ~$1,999.99 price undercuts most established laser-TV brands at a similar spec level. Because NexiGo is a newer name in this specific category, budget for the possibility of a shorter track record on long-term reliability and support compared to Hisense or Formovie. See our best ultra short throw projector guide for how it compares against the more established UST field.
5. NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII — Best Flagship UST
NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII
- 4K resolution with a tri-color laser light source and a new Scene Adapt Engine adding dynamic iris and laser dimming, per NexiGo's own product page.
- Dynamic contrast rated at 30,000:1 — a real generational jump over the original Aurora Pro's 3,000:1 native / 6,000:1 dynamic contrast.
- Sold alongside the original Aurora Pro (~$2,299.99-$3,000), not as its direct replacement — both remain listed at once.
- NexiGo's current top-of-line model, positioned to compete with established 4K laser UST flagships from Hisense, Formovie, and AWOL Vision.
The MKII name undersells how different this is from the original Aurora Pro — the Scene Adapt Engine’s dynamic iris and laser dimming are the kind of feature normally reserved for a full new product line, not a “Mark II” refresh. If you’re comparing the two side by side, the roughly $1,000 price gap buys a genuinely better dynamic contrast ratio, not just a newer badge. For how this stacks up against the wider 4K laser field, see our best 4k laser projector guide.
NexiGo naming traps worth knowing before you buy
- “Aurora Pro” alone doesn’t tell you which generation you’re buying. Confirm whether a listing says Aurora Pro or Aurora Pro MKII — the MKII’s dynamic iris and laser dimming are a real functional difference, not a marketing refresh.
- PJ40, PJ40 Pro, and promotional “PJ40 Gen3” listings can overlap in search results. Check the listed resolution and ANSI-lumen figure directly rather than assuming any “PJ40” listing matches the specs described here.
- NexiGo doesn’t publish full spec sheets for every model. The Nova Mini in particular lacks a published ANSI-lumen figure on NexiGo’s own site — read current buyer feedback before treating it as a spec-for-spec comparison against competing brands.
- This is a newer projector brand than most on this site’s brand-roundup list. Its track record for long-term support and firmware updates is shorter than established names like Epson, BenQ, or Optoma — factor that into a purchase decision if longevity matters more than upfront price.
The bottom line
If you just want a solid, bright budget projector, the NexiGo PJ40 Pro (about $349.99) is the pick — genuine native 1080p, 800 ANSI lumens, and Google TV built in. Save $50 with the base PJ40 (around $299.99) if you don’t need the smart platform. Step up to the Nova Mini (roughly $649.99) for a compact laser option, or go straight to the Aurora Lite (about $1,999.99) for real 4K UST laser performance at a below-market price. At the top, the Aurora Pro MKII (around $3,299.99) is the current flagship — just don’t confuse it with the still-available original Aurora Pro, since the “MKII” name undersells a real contrast-ratio jump between the two. For the wider ultra short throw field, see our best ultra short throw projector guide, and for the complete picture across every projector type and budget, our best home theater projector pillar guide.