Epson EF-21: A compact laser projector for modern home entertainment
Epson Epson Picture: Full Hd 21 Laser Ef Projector
Epson’s latest entry into its “EpiqVision” lineup, the EF-21, combines minimalist design with excellent functionality. It’s Epson's answer to the mass market of small portable projectors and has an affordable price tag — for an Epson — for those who love big-screen home entertainment.
The EF-21 sports a warm white or smoke-ice green finish. Its compact size makes it easy to integrate into almost any interior, whether sprucing up a living room or adding flair to a bedroom. The EF-21 has a small adjustable leg on the front but a limited range of motion. It was adequate for my testing on a coffee table while projecting it to a 100-inch screen. It also has a universal mounting hole for a tripod.
Around the projector's rear are an HDMI (ARC) port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-A, and a service-only port. The lack of eARC means no support for features like Dolby Atmos surround sound.
Weighing just 2.3kg, the EF-21 is easy to carry around, making it ideal for outdoor movie nights or on-the-go presentations. Its laser light source is designed to last up to 10 years (based on 5 hours of daily use), making it a hassle-free, maintenance-light investment.
The fans aren’t whisper-quiet, but I didn’t notice them while watching content. An Eco mode under the brightness settings slows down the fans and dims the brightness to save energy, but I chose to leave it on the standard mode.
Out of the box, the automatic focus and keystone correction kicked in almost instantly, adjusting the image to fit my screen perfectly. It responds quickly to correct the keystone when it detects movements. It also includes autofocus and the option to fit the image to your screen automatically. If you’d prefer to make all these adjustments manually, that option is available, too.
The automatic obstacle avoidance feature was a pleasant surprise — it recognised when objects were in the way and adjusted accordingly to ensure the intense projector light didn’t blind you.
This ease of setup will be a godsend for less tech-savvy users. However, while the EF-22 includes an adjustable stand for finer placement adjustments, EF-21 owners must get creative with positioning or invest in a stand.
Epson’s 3LCD technology features a brightness of 1,000 lumens and a 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The EF-21 produces sharp, vivid images with deep blacks and clearly defined shadows. Whether I was watching a high-energy action film or a moody drama, the projector maintained impressive colour accuracy and clarity. Although suitable for dimly lit environments, the 1,000 lumens may struggle in spaces with strong ambient light.
The EF-21 can project up to a 150-inch screen size, but all my testing was done using a 100-inch display. That said, the Full HD resolution is a limiting factor for those seeking 4K quality. For casual movie nights or family gatherings, it’s perfectly sufficient.
Google TV integration is a solid option as it offers access to over 400,000 movies and TV episodes from apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. I never felt the need to connect an external streaming device. The built-in Chromecast made casting content from my smartphone or laptop seamless, while Google Assistant offered convenient voice control for navigating content or adjusting settings.
The remote control makes using the projector easy. It has decent-sized buttons, and I love that it has a dedicated brightness control and allows you to access the settings menu directly. You also get a button for input select, focus, YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video.
The EF-21 is equipped with two 5W speakers, which perform admirably for a device of this size. While they don’t rival dedicated sound systems, they produce clear and balanced audio for casual viewing. What caught my attention was the ability to use the EF-21 as a standalone Bluetooth speaker — a versatile feature for music lovers or impromptu parties.
The Epson EF-21 is a stylish and capable mini laser projector for users seeking hassle-free home entertainment. It has excellent visuals, Google TV integration, decent audio capabilities, and Epson reliability and support. Although cheaper options have similar features, it’s hard to look past Epson’s reliability and aftermarket support.
€840 for Black Friday (RRP €973) Epson EF-21