The contrast isn’t best in class, but the picture is very watchable and doesn’t tire the eyes. The EF12 displays with an impressive colour depth in comparison to its size, but it could be brighter. Vivid is the most useful since it ups the contrast without looking too garish others appear to accentuate the greens too much or leave the picture looking washed out. There are five colour modes: Dynamic, Vivid, Bright Cinema, Cinema and Natural. Once keystoned, it will boot up in around three seconds to whichever app was last open. Generally, though, it does the job and works quickly. This feature can be switched off if you don’t find it useful.Īuto-keystoning works fairly well, but it isn’t as accurate as others – the projection can occasionally look a little angled along one edge. When first turning it on, or moving it while switched on, it will auto-keystone. We found a sweet spot of around 100 inches at a distance of around 80 inches from the screen. The EF12 is capable of projecting a picture of up to 150 inches, but at this size it really starts to lose brightness. It’s a Zoom-powered app that lets you connect a webcam with a mic to the USB port for meetings. Thankfully, bespoke software is kept to a minimum the only one we found was Epson Online Meetings. It isn’t backlit and there’s no mute button, but there’s a shortcut button for YouTube, a Settings button and another for auto-keystoning. The remote itself is functional and compact, with reassuringly large and slightly rubberised buttons. You’ll find all your favourite apps and services such as YouTube, Disney Plus and Amazon directly from the apps page, which can be accessed by the dedicated Apps button on the remote. The EF12 runs on the quick and snappy Android TV, instead of the rather more eccentric Aptoide found on many other projectors. Included in the box is a sturdy metal base plate and screws that can be used to attach the EF12 to a standard projector mount. There’s no Ethernet socket, but you can use an USB-to-Ethernet connector if you don’t have access to Wi-Fi.ĭriving the EF12 is a laptop-style power pack, which has enabled Epson to keep the size of the projector down, and also inhibiting the amount of heat it produces – but you might need to find a place to put it. There’s one USB-A, in case you need to power a device such as a Fire TV stick. The EF12’s built-in Chromecast does free up the need for quite so many inputs, though. It’s worth noting that this model’s squatter baby brother, the EF-11, features only one. Speaking of weight, the EF12 weighs a very slight 2.1kg, and measures 175mm / 6.8-inch square across the top, and 135mm / 5.3-inch high.īeing quite small, we weren’t expecting the EF12 to come with a wealth of connectors, but we were pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of two HDMIs. In order to change the size of the screen, you’ll have to move it closer or farther away from the surface to which you’re projecting – which isn’t really a problem with a beamer this small and light. There’s no optical zoom, which isn’t a surprise in a projector this compact. The quick-start guide didn’t appear to mention the foot, despite it being essential. Without this, you’d find it difficult to throw an image onto a wall without propping up the front with a book. This is used to tilt the projector up towards the screen. Just underneath it, on the base, is a small grey button that releases an adjustable leg when depressed. The EF12 is just so good-looking, we’re actually swooning.Īs a result of its square shape and the location of the speakers, the lens is situated very low down in the box. The lid features more of that vintage camera texture, with a subtle and stylish bronze edge that pops and shines. The top half is wrapped in a dark grey fabric speaker grille that conceals the dual speakers. Decked out with a textured base, of the type you’d find on the grip of a high-end DSLR camera, it oozes a real feeling of quality. Of all the projectors with this kind of form factor, the EF12 has to be the best looking. The EF12, or rather the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 Smart Streaming Laser Projector (to give it its full name), is a compact cuboid system that’s incredibly easy to set up. And it’s done exactly that with the EF12. Its beamers can be found everywhere – across the US school system, offices throughout the world – so the company can afford to be a bit more experimental with its range. The Epson EF12 is both compact and attractive, features that work in its favour whether it’s being used or stashed away on a shelf.Įpson claims to be the largest manufacturer of projectors on the planet. Let’s face it, films and sports look brilliant on a big screen, but do you really want to watch the daily news roundup on a 100-inch panel? This is where smaller and lighter projectors come in. (Image credit: Future) Design and features
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