Epson being an abbreviation for “Son of Electronic Printer” is the largest manufacturers of computer printers and other peripherals. And interestingly, Epson is world’s No.1 projector manufacturer. They produce projectors for both Office and Home segments, and offer unique tech features like 3-Chip LCD tech solution, iProjection App, Color brightness, etc.
We tried our hands on the Epson EF-100 and we have one word about our experience, Amazing! The experience is further augmented by the visual clarity, good sound and extreme wireless-ness!
The form factor of the device is so small and well built, you start gathering confidence the moment you unbox it. And the economy added with Look ma! No wires! Brought awesomeness to the OEM Android TV enabled compact projector. The 3LCD tech takes your TV out of TV and pastes it to your wall. Accompanying sound equates your slim TV’s mortification to admission of culpability. And it weighs only 6 pounds.
Pro tech specs
- 1920 x 1080 crystal clear resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio
- Advanced 3-Chip, 3LCD Technology
- Very bright and colorful projections (upto 150inches)
- Really good Bass-reflex speaker (with Bluetooth speaker support)
- 1.35 Digital zoom with Easy Manual focus
- 2,000 lumen laser light source
Cons
- Missing lens cap for protection during transport
- Exhaust fan sound (the usual culprit)
- No carry case
- Missing HDMI cable to connect to TV source or Mobile device
- Strangely no Amazon Prime support
You will need Amazon Fire TV Stick to be able to stream from Amazon Prime, which should fit nicely into the HDMI input.
A clean and simple Setup
Just power up the device and put it on a table and your room wall will immediately rise to glory. Pairing the projector to the two remotes (“YouTube”, “Netflix” and “Apps” dedicated buttons) is simple, just press two buttons simultaneously and it is paired via Bluetooth. The on-screen setup instructions are noob-level. Our test device upgraded to Android 9 Pie almost immediately when it connected to Wi-Fi.
You need to connect to your Google Play account to be able to download Apps. The remote also has a dedicated Google Assistant Voice Search button for keyboard-less operation. Although you can go to Google Play Store for Android TV and download streaming services of your choice, Epson projector comes with pre-loaded list of most popular streaming apps form across the globe.
The image level and volume buttons on top of the projector provide for an easy operation. And the projector acts as a full-time replacement for your LED TV with Bluetooth connectivity for your soundbar.
Noteworthy Features:
Extra Bright Display
You will not need to turn off lights in the room to be able to fully enjoy the projector display, it is really bright. The projector is powered by a 2,000 lumen laser light source that delivers unmatched brightness to the still or video content. This is definitely a significant technical achievement in mini-laser class digital projection.
Twin glorious tech features
The EF-100 projector comes with the iconic Epson MicroLaser array technology that has a unique multi-array laser diode setup. It not only provides for better brightness, also enhances the black densities. The result is an exceptionally bright and clear image, way ahead of most projectors in its class.
The 3-chip laser projection tech streams videos like a dream. It projects full RGB signal for each frame rendering better color accuracy. The EF-100 is world’s smallest 3LCD, true laser-based projector.
Wireless LAN Module
The projector comes along with HDMI dongle (ELPAP12) which is a 1.8GHz quad-core streaming device and runs Android TV OS (based on Android 9 Pie). The two full feature remotes provided along with it make it convenient to enjoy audio and video streaming and gaming on the Epson EF-100 projector. You can watch your favorite streaming Apps like – Netflix, Disney+, HBO NOW, YouTube, tubi, Peloton, TED, RedBull TV, etc. The Epson EF-100 has built-in Google Assistant for easy voice search and a complete keyboard-free operation.
Sound
The EF-100 comes with a built-in bass-reflex speaker, it honestly has a very good sound output. You can also connect your soundbar to the projector via Bluetooth. And you can open the flip open the side cover (right over the power input) and find the beloved 3.5mm stereo jack. This headphone jack can also act as an output to external speaker via the aux cable (buy separately).
Projection ergonomics
EF-100 has throw ratio range of 1.04 to 1.40, which means that in order to display a 100” image, you’ll need to keep the projector about 2.4 mtrs away from wall or curtain screen. The projector also has vertical auto keystone correction for automatic vertical geometry rectification. As the projector is heavy, the in-built stand tends to incline a bit when fully protruded.
A bit about environment
The projector is RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant and is a recyclable product. The company, Epson America, Inc. is a SmartWay Transport Partner, a voluntary program that encourages best practices in freight supply chains. Member partners benchmark their operations and monitor efficient operations like fuel consumption and improve overall performance.
Our view
The image brightness per cubic inch of projector is par excellence, way ahead of its competition. It is conveniently portable and build quality is super sturdy. While it is economical for the entrepreneur’s office, it fits well into family TV budget too. The Epson Ef-100 is certainly the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to compact projectors
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