Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-21W Projector

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-21W Projector

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-21W is a compact smart laser projector in Warm White, built to be carried from room to room rather than fixed to a ceiling. Its 3LCD engine and laser light source produce a Full HD picture of up to 150 inches with 1,000 lumens of colour brightness and 1,000 lumens of white brightness, while Google TV is built in, so streaming does not depend on an external player. At 2.3 kg, it is sized like a small appliance and set up to correct its own picture when it lands on a new surface.

Key features

• True 3-chip 3LCD engine with native Full HD 1080p resolution
• 1,000 lumens colour (IDMS) and white (ISO) brightness, 500 lumens in Eco
• Laser light source rated for 20,000 hours, with no lamps to replace
• Google TV with Google Cast and voice search via Google Assistant
• EpiqSense auto setup: focus, alignment, screen fit and obstacle avoidance
• 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio and HDR10 support
• Built-in 2 x 5 W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1, plus HDMI with ARC for external sound

Picture quality from a small box

Because the EF-21W uses three separate LCD panels, one each for red, green and blue, colour brightness matches white brightness. On projectors where those figures differ, saturated colours can look washed out even when the headline lumen number looks healthy; here, the 1,000-lumen rating applies to colour as well. The laser source holds its output over a rated 20,000 hours and switches on and off almost instantly, and the 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio helps dark scenes keep depth in a darkened room. HDR10 material is supported, and the image scales from 30 inches up to 150 inches, with a 60-inch picture from 1.33 metres.

Setup that handles itself

Epson’s EpiqSense technology is the practical heart of this projector. Placed on a table, shelf or cabinet, it focuses automatically with its motorised lens, aligns and squares the image, fits it to the available screen or wall area, and steers around obstacles such as light switches or picture frames that fall inside the projection area. The fixed F/2.0, 13.9 mm lens and 1.0 to 1.82:1 throw ratio give placement flexibility without a zoom ring to manage. Noise is rated at 23 dB in normal mode and 19 dB in Eco, quiet enough not to compete with dialogue at the listening position.

Streaming and sound

Google TV brings the major streaming apps together in one interface, with Google Cast for sending content from a phone and the remote’s voice search for finding it. A single HDMI input with ARC and HDCP 2.3 covers a games console, Blu-ray player or laptop, USB Type A accepts storage devices and peripherals, and a headphone output handles private listening. The built-in stereo speakers, two 5 W units with Dolby Audio processing, are strong enough for casual viewing in a bedroom or living room; for a bigger sound, Bluetooth or the ARC connection can hand audio to a soundbar or speaker system.

The EF-21W suits households that want a large picture without dedicating a room to it: set it down, let it align itself, and stream. Its dimensions of 197 x 191 x 113 mm mean it stores on a shelf when the film is over.