The Epson EF12 is a tiny projector with built-in streaming and surprisingly loud audio system, all packed right into a slick-looking dice. It’s a one-stop store for film nights wherever you may run an extension twine. The draw back? For $1,000, its image high quality is not any nice shakes, with below-average distinction ratio and a reasonably dim picture in comparison with different projectors on this value vary.

LikeGreat designSounds massive for its measurementAndroid TV streaming buit-in

Don’t LikeNot very brightMediocre distinction ratioExpensive

As you may guess from its design, nevertheless, the EF12 would not intend to compete with conventional house theater projectors. For one factor, it is tiny: approach lower than a foot cubed. So it may well match nearly wherever. There are a number of HDMI inputs, Wi-Fi and Android TV. It may even double as a Bluetooth speaker. And it additionally makes use of a laser mild supply, so that you by no means want to exchange a projector bulb.The EF12 is just like the Epson EF-100 we appreciated, however with higher sound, sharper decision and fewer brightness. It prices greater than our Editors’ Choice BenQ HT2050A, however that projector is way bigger and lacks built-in streaming and good audio system. If you need one thing simply transportable with the whole lot you want for a film evening, the EF12 can match that invoice. But should you can match one thing bigger or do not prioritize built-in sound high quality, the identical cash or much less will get you a much better image with one other projector.

Cute dice: Up shut with the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
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Basic specsNative decision: 1,920×1,080 pixels HDR-compatible: Yes4K-compatible: Yes3D-compatible: NoLumens spec: 1,000Zoom: NoLens shift: NoLamp life (Normal mode): 20,000 hoursThe EF12 can deal with 4K decision and HDR video sources, however do not count on a lot of a lift in image high quality from them. This is a 1080p decision projector and no projector can actually do HDR. The lumens spec, which determines brightness, is essentially the most disappointing facet of the EF12. The EF-100, which has similarities in design and objective, is rated for twice that. A thousand lumens is not dim, however it’s not lots in an period of projectors with 3,000 and better lumens rankings, particularly for the value.There’s no lens shift, which is no surprise on this value vary, however the lack of a zoom is disappointing. The thought is in order for you a bigger or smaller picture, you simply transfer the EF12 farther or nearer to the display screen, or extra probably, no matter wall you are utilizing as a display screen. There’s computerized autofocus.

The laser mild supply is rated for 20,000 hours.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET
Connectivity and convenienceHDMI inputs: 2PC enter: NoUSB port: 1Audio enter and output: 3.5mm stereo outputDigital audio output: NoWi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac12-volt set off: NoRS-232 distant port: NoMHL: NoRemote: Not backlitThe EF12 has two HDMI inputs, and one even has Audio Return Channel to get audio from its inside apps again to a soundbar or receiver. There’s additionally a 3.5mm analog audio output. You won’t want both, nevertheless. The 5-watt built-in stereo audio system, co-designed with Yamaha, sound surprisingly good. They can fill a room and have respectable bass for such a small cupboard. They’re a bit boomy, however for the scale and comfort, they’re positively one of many EF12’s finest attributes.There is not a lot profit to built-in streaming with conventional house theater projectors, however it’s good to see in a small, doubtlessly transportable PJ just like the EF12. It’s even higher to see actual Android TV and never the Aptoide retailer discovered in lots of small projectors, which is all the time a legal responsibility.The distant is not backlit, however does include a devoted button to regulate the settings, in order that’s good. It additionally permits you to speak to Google Assistant, should you’re so inclined.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET
Picture high quality comparisons

I selected these two projectors for my EF12 comparability as a result of the Epsons are comparable in value, measurement and meant use. The BenQ HT2050A represents a extra conventional house theater projector for across the similar value. I related the BenQ and EF12 by way of a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier. The EF-100, being decrease 1,280×800 decision, ran off its personal streaming stick. I manually synced up the identical content material on each sources. I seen all of them on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display screen. The EF-100’s decrease decision is apparent proper off the bat. While 1,280×800 is ok by itself, it is not shocking that your eye is drawn to the projectors with double the pixels and the higher element that gives. Not simply element both. The picture is smoother and fewer synthetic as effectively, because the pixels are smaller and nearer collectively. With a 100-inch display screen it is not onerous to see particular person pixels from the EF-100 should you’re seated in any respect near the display screen.The EF-100 is noticeably brighter than the EF12, nevertheless, roughly on par with the HT2050A. The EF12 would not look dim, however is certainly dimmer than the opposite two. I measured roughly 650 lumens, which is watchable on a 100-inch display screen however would look higher and brighter on one thing smaller. The tradeoffs between the 2 Epsons largely cancel out. On bigger screens, the additional brightness of the EF-100 could be welcome, however its decrease decision is rather more seen. The further decision of the EF12 appears nice on a bigger display screen, however its decrease brightness robs the picture of impression. Between the 2, as a result of I believe the decrease decision could be one thing extra folks would discover by itself (with out different projectors to match side-by-side), I’d lean in direction of the EF12 for most individuals. Contrast ratio can also be fairly poor on each the Epsons. The EF12 improves upon the EF-100 a bit, however the distinction between 315:1 and 394:1 is just like the distinction between one automobile that will get 12 mpg and one other that will get 13. It’s additionally barely outdoors the vary of measurement error. In observe the whole lot appears pretty washed out on each. The decrease brightness on the EF12 does nothing to make the picture pop both.As you might need guessed, the BenQ HT2050A simply appears higher than each. The distinction ratio is considerably greater, almost 2,100:1 in comparison with about 400:1. It’s simply as vivid because the EF-100, however with a far smoother picture because of its higher pixel depend. So the picture simply appears extra pure and has extra punch because of its a lot greater distinction ratio. 
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET
ConclusionThis is a tricky one. The EF12 matches a particular area of interest: Someone who would not need, or thinks they do not need, a “real” projector. Something small to drag off a shelf for an occasional film evening. In that, it really works nice, and the interior audio system are much better than what you’d get in a standard projector. The image in comparison with the EF-100 is… for instance in a different way meh, however the higher measurement and sound makes me lean in direction of the EF12 for this particular use. Something just like the BenQ HT2050A prices much less and provides an excellent higher image, so if excessive portability is not an absolute necessity, it is a greater worth. The EF12 matches in a backpack and the HT2050A is the scale of a backpack — however it’s not heavy and should you’re not transferring it usually, who cares concerning the measurement? When it comes right down to it, if the EF12 was twice as vivid, and a bit cheaper, it might be an absolute winner. 
Geoffrey Morrison/CNET
Measurement notesFor essentially the most correct colours use the Natural colour mode. The Cinema and Bright Cinema mode oversaturates inexperienced, amongst different extra gentle colour inaccuracies. A colour temperature of 7 was pretty correct throughout the brightness vary, although tended to float inexperienced with mid- and vivid photographs. Color basically was pretty correct. Green and blue have been just about spot on their Rec. 709 targets. Red was a bit orange, yellow a bit inexperienced, cyan a bit blue and magenta a bit crimson. It was as if these colours have been all shifted clockwise on the colour chart just a bit bit.Brightness, as claimed and as measured, was decrease than you’d hope for a $1,000 projector. I measured 650 lumens within the Bright Cinema mode, lower than half the EF-100’s roughly 1,500.Contrast ratio was additionally low, at a median of 394:1. This was barely higher than the EF-100’s 315:1, however nonetheless roughly half what the typical projector can do on this value vary in 2020.Geek Box

Test

Result

Score

Black luminance (0%)

0.18

Poor

Peak white luminance (100%)

72.23

Poor

Derived lumens

650

Poor

Avg. grayscale error (10-100%)

6,457

Poor

Dark grey error (20%)

6,299

Poor

Bright grey error (70%)

6,509

Poor

Avg. colour error

3.93

Average

Red error

5.222

Average

Green error

1.049

Good

Blue error

1.483

Good

Cyan error

6.575

Average

Magenta error

3.849

Average

Yellow error

5.394

Average

Avg. saturations error

3.55

Average

Avg. colour checker error

5.4

Poor

Input lag (Game mode)

120

Average