The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 Smart Streaming Laser Projector is an all-in-one entertainment box for the entire home.
You can watch movies and TV shows, play YouTube videos with built-in AndroidTV support, connect your game console with an HDMI cable, or simply use your projector as a speaker to listen to music.
The EF 12 is compact, making it ideal for those looking for a highly portable projector. However, this comes with drawbacks.
Small size with a modern design
The Epson EF12 is a compact cube with air vents on each side and a speaker grille surrounding Yamaha. It has two HDMI slots, one with ARC support, along with a USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio output port and a Mini USB port. Although the projector does not have an Ethernet port, it can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi.
It’s compact enough to store on a shelf when not in use and light enough to pack in a bag when you have to take it to a friend’s house to watch a movie together. The compact projector weighs only 2.1 kg.
Below the cube is a small gray button that unlocks an outstretched leg to support the projector, which you’ll probably need to use if you don’t hold the projector on a high surface.
The projector includes a compact remote control with shortcut buttons for setup, the YouTube app, recalibration of the focus, and a built-in microphone for the Google voice assistant and more. The remote control would have been better if it had backlighting. However, it only includes a few buttons, and these are a decent size, so they don’t cause much fuss.
Bright enough in a dark room
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 smart streaming laser projector with Full HD resolution, maximum refresh rate of 60 Hz and 1,000 lumens of brightness. Middle-class projectors have a minimum of 2,500 lumens of brightness, while 2,000 lumens are enough for home theater projectors.
EF12 falls at the lower end of the spectrum, where a large projection can easily lose its vitality and brightness. However, if you plan to use the projector inside your home, where you can turn off the light and close the blinds, the brightness will not necessarily be a problem.
The EF12 accurately reproduces colors and includes five different color modes you can play with, including “Natural”, “Dynamic”, “Vivid”, “Bright Cinema” and “Cinema”. According to Epson, the EF12 MicroLaser light source has a capacity of up to 20,000 hours with a light output of 100%.
The projector does not include optical zoom, a compensation made for the convenience of a portable projector. If you do not have an optical zoom, you will need to zoom in or out on the projector on your screen / wall to make the image smaller or larger, respectively. This, of course, is inconvenient. However, finding a sweet spot that doesn’t compromise the brightness and size of the image shouldn’t be a hassle. In addition, the lightweight, compact size of the projector makes it easy to move around.
When you move the projector or turn it on for the first time, the EF12 uses its “Auto Picture Skew & Focus Correction” technology that scans and analyzes the wall / screen where you are projecting to fix any tilt or focus issues. In my experience, the function can be a little distorted at times. For example, from time to time, one corner of the projection appeared at a wild angle, while other corners appeared normally. Running the calibration procedure a second time almost always seems to solve the problem.
The EF12 includes Yamaha’s audiophile speaker system with two integrated 5 W speakers. The speakers are enough to fill a large room. The speakers have a very balanced and neutral sound, with standard bass and a sound that doesn’t distort or “rip” even at full volume.
The built-in speakers are enough for a movie night, but you have the option to connect to a standalone sound system via the ARMI HDMI port to enjoy the full movie experience. Don’t forget the popcorn!
PS5 games are fluid, PC games not so much
Competitive games on the big screen with EF12 are a no-no. When I connected the projector to my computer via HDMI and launched Valorant, the input delay was easily noticed. While the projector does a good job of reducing higher resolution images to Full HD, it has no technology to eliminate screen breakage and Rating that it works at 240 Hz on my computer did not translate well into a projection of 60 Hz.
On the other hand, casual gaming through a PlayStation 5 seems to work optimally.
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I’m not entirely sure why connecting a computer would cause an extreme input delay, while connecting a PS5 resulted in an almost perfect game with no noticeable delays. The only probable reason I can think of is that my computer was driving games in 2K, along with 240 Hz, while the PlayStation was only driving 120 Hz. Check out the smooth PS5 gaming experience on the big screen below:
A solid projector at the end
Overall, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 is a great lightweight, compact portable projector. While it has some drawbacks, such as the lack of optical zoom and the maximum 1080p resolution, the drawbacks are quickly overcome by features like the built-in speakers set by Yamaha, Android TV and autofocus.
Additional ports for connection are an advantage, especially ARMI-enabled HDMI, and so is Google Assistant support. My experience with the projector has been fluid; however, if you’re looking for a projector with a higher resolution and lower input delay during gaming, the BenQ X3000i is a better choice.
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 is available to order from the Epson web store for $ 1,299.99.