For years, projectors have fought an uphill battle against the ever-growing size of flat-screen TVs. Sure, they’ve long been the go-to choice for true home cinema fans, but there were always trade-offs—needing a near-pitch-black room, dealing with noisy cooling fans, and the unavoidable reality of high-wattage bulbs burning out at the worst possible moment.

Epson says its latest EpiqVision mini laser projectors, the EF-21 and EF-22, are designed to shake up the equation, offering a compact, stylish, and competent alternative to a traditional TV. With laser technology replacing bulbs, built-in smart streaming, and a sleek design, the company claims these new models bring big-screen entertainment into more homes—and onto more surfaces—than ever before.

This writer was fortunate to attend an Epson event at its North Sydney HQ last night, where the EF-21 was put to the test alongside a couple of its direct competitors. First impressions? It certainly impresses with its depth of colour and ability to maintain reasonable image quality in well-lit areas—something that’s often a struggle for projectors in this price range. Even with ambient light, the picture remained bright and engaging. At the same time, darker scenes showcased Epson’s 3LCD technology in action, avoiding the dull, washed-out look that some single-chip projectors suffer from.

Unlike some of their bulkier predecessors, these portable projectors weigh just 2.3kg (EF-21) and 3.0kg (EF-22), making them easy to move from room to room or even take on the road. The EF-22 also features a built-in adjustable stand, letting users project onto walls, ceilings, or even the floor without fuss.

With screen sizes up to 150 inches, it’s a tempting alternative to a massive TV—especially when you consider that LG’s 97-inch OLED, currently one of the largest consumer TVs on the market, will set you back the price of a small car!

Epson claims that its 3LCD technology ensures richer colours and a more balanced image compared to single-chip DLP projectors, which sometimes push brightness at the expense of colour accuracy. The 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio is also said to help define deep blacks and intricate shadow detail, making the most of darker scenes.

That said, as with any projector, a little light control goes a long way—while it can work in a brighter space, a drawn curtain will still give the best results. We also need to be realistic—this isn’t the 6,000-lumen powerhouse that is Epson’s QL3000 Series, but for what it is, the EF series delivers an impressive and highly watchable image.

Google TV is built-in, meaning you can access Netflix, YouTube, and various other streaming services without plugging in a separate device. Google Assistant support is also included for voice control, which is perfect for skipping menus or for those moments when you need an answer to something completely unrelated to what you’re watching.

Setting up used to be the Achilles’ heel of projectors, but Epson has loaded the EF-21 and EF-22 with auto-adjustment features to make things as painless as possible. Auto focus, auto keystone correction, and auto screen fit all align the image even when the projector isn’t placed dead-on to the wall or screen.

The auto obstacle avoidance feature is particularly clever. It automatically adjusts the display if an object is in the way, which is useful if your setup space isn’t ideal.

For audio, both models come with twin 5W speakers, and Bluetooth connectivity allows for easy pairing with external speakers or soundbars. You’re going to need it, by the way—while the built-in sound is adequate for a smartphone speaker, it won’t deliver the full-throttle impact you’d want for a Friday night Top Gun session in the backyard.

While Epson's EpiqVision EF-21 and EF-22 have already been available in other regions, they've just landed in Australia and New Zealand. We look forward to testing the EF series, putting it through its paces in a real-world environment to see how it holds up for movie nights, gaming, and everything in between. 

The EF-21 is priced at £649 / US$899.99 / A$1,299 / NZ$1,499, while the EF-22—offering additional flexibility with its built-in stand and enhanced audio—comes in at £849 / US$999.99 / A$1,599 / NZ$1,849.

For more information visit Epson