Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-11 Laser Projector Review

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-11 compact and portable laser projector

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11 is a compact and portable laser projector, which retails for $699 and delivers stunning image quality in a variety of settings. With its 1000 ANSI lumens of brightness and Full HD resolution, the EF11 is a good portable solution for both home entertainment use, as well as for business presentations and classrooms. Despite the lack of 4K or HDR features, this projector manages to deliver impressive brightness and image quality.

The EF11 features a sleek, modern compact design that makes it easy to transport and set up. It also has a built-in speaker system, so you can take advantage of an all-in-one setup without having to connect to external speakers. A simple Chromecast device is the only thing you need to begin streaming.

One of the best things about the EF11 is its throw ratio. You can get up to a 150” screen at only 14 feet away. The projector is much smaller than you’d think it would be, with the length and height being smaller than many smartphones. It’s an all-around lightweight and versatile projector that punches far above its size.

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Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-11
Price	$699.00
Technology	3LCD
Displayed Resolution	1920x1080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	1000 ANSI Lumens
Light Source	Laser
Contrast	200,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	1.1:1
Lens Shift	None
Lamp Life	20,000 Hrs
Sound System	1.5-watt mono
Weight	2.7 lb
Warranty	Two (2) Years

OVERVIEW

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11, tipping the scales at a super light 2.7 lbs, features a compact design that allows for easy transportation and hassle-free setup by a single individual. Priced at a modest $699.99, the EF11 offers excellent value for money with a brightness capacity of 1000 lumens. Capable of projecting a screen as large as 150", this model is a decent solution for home entertainment enthusiasts, classroom educators, or professionals in compact conference rooms.

As part of Epson's 2023 EpiqVision EF-series lineup, the EF11 joins its counterpart - the EpiqVision Mini EF12, each boasting Full HD resolution and brightness. We had the opportunity to review the Epson EpiqVision EF12 last year. The EF12 and EF11 deliver the same brightness and resolution. However, The EF12 includes Android TV and has a custom-designed speaker system built by Yamaha that sounds better than most flat-panel TVs and many portable speakers.

The EF12's excellent picture quality and audio performance make it one of the best compact projectors on the market, which is why we reward it with a Hot Product Award. The EF11 produced the same image quality without the big sound system and smart features.

EpiqVision Mini Model Comparison
Model	EpiqVision Mini EF11	EpiqVision Mini EF12	EpiqVision Mini EF100B/w
Price	$699	$999	$599
Brightness	1000 Lumens	1000 Lumens	2000 Lumens
Light Source	Laser	Laser	Laser
Imager Type	3LCD	3LCD	3LCD
Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080	1280 x 800
Sound System	Mono (2-way)	Stereo Sound by Yamaha	Single Bass Reflex speaker
Smart Features	N/A	Android TV	Android TV
Dimensions	6.9" x 6.9" x 2.3"	6.9" x 6.9" x 5.0"	8.3" x 8.9" x 3.4"
Weight	2.7 lb	4.7 lb	6 lb

This projector uses Epson’s advanced 3LCD technology and displays 100% of the RGB color signal for every frame. This allows for outstanding color accuracy while maintaining excellent color brightness, without any distracting “rainbowing” or “color brightness” issues seen with other projection technologies. Advanced Scene Adaptive Color Correction uses automatic scene-based color correction to produce a clear and natural picture – regardless of the content being played.

Over the years we have reviewed several DLP-based portable projectors that can deliver 4K resolution, while the EF11 is a 1080P unit. However, the Epson EF11 delivered more accurate colors and better black levels than most portable DLP projectors we have reviewed. When watching content better color and contrast have a much better impact on image quality than extra resolution.

On paper, the EpiqVision Mini EF-11 might be dismissed as another small budget laser projector with little in the way of features to offer. But, you have to see it to fully realize its potential. The 1080p display and 1,000 lumens of brightness somehow manage to produce an image that rivals many of the 4K projectors at higher price points.

You will quickly forget the lack of 4K and HDR when you power on this device and start streaming some content. While the EF11 does not have smart features built-in, this projector is ready for streaming with one available HDMI port. Connect an Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or any other type of HDMI device. With all of the ports located conveniently on the side of the projector, it’s simple to connect or disconnect any additional devices.

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Even though the EpiqVision Mini EF11 does not come with any built-in Android OS, a screen mirroring feature is still available. In fact, it required no setup at all, and I was able to begin casting content from my phone right away. So even if you don’t have an HDMI media source, you can still stream Netflix, Youtube, or any other streaming service directly from your phone.

There is no pixel-shifting technology, or any tricks used to upscale your content. What you get is a clean true 1080p screen that appears crisp and detailed all the way up to its maximum 150” size. Bells and whistles are set aside in favor of compact size and lower price.

The bottom of the projector has a mounting screw, but unfortunately, it’s not the 1/4-inch screw that you find on standard tripods. This is a shame because this projector is perfect for use with a tripod. So you’ll have to get an adapter, which I highly recommend as the best mounting option.

Overall we were impressed with the EpiqVision Mini EF11 because it delivers bright accurate images from a compact package.

HIGHLIGHTS

1000 lumens of brightness
3LCD panels deliver good native contrast
Full HD resolution
Built-in speaker system
Long lifespan (20,000 hours)
Excellent color reproduction
Compact and portable design
Screen Mirroring (Miracast)
Audio out port for connecting headphones or external speaker system
PC Free projection from external USB devices
Auto Picture Skew Correction

HARDWARE

CHASSIS

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11 is a compact and portable projector that weighs just 2.7 lbs. It features a sleek, modern design that makes it easy to transport and set up. The EF11 has a built-in speaker at the rear of the unit, so you can have basic audio without using external speakers.

The front of the projector houses the lens and a small intake fan. The top of the unit has lens shift knobs for adjusting the screen as well as a power on/off button. All of the ports are located on the left side of the projector, with no hardware buttons for menu navigation. The sides of the projector have additional fans to ensure proper ventilation for the unit.

The EF11 has three adjustable feet that allow you to tilt the projector for optimal viewing. The projector also has a variety of mounting options, so you can mount it to the ceiling or wall.

The EpiqVision Mini EF-11 Inputs and Connections

There is one HDMI port that is used to connect a variety of devices, such as a Blu-ray player, a gaming console, or a streaming device. The HDMI port supports HDCP 2.2, which means that it can be used to connect to 4K Ultra HD devices. A single USB port can be used to connect a flash drive. The USB port also supports the playback of multimedia files, such as MP4, MKV, and AVI.

An audio output port is also available so you can use a 3.5mm cable to connect a speaker system or headphones for audio output. The audio output port supports stereo sound. The power port is used to connect the projector to a power outlet. The power port is a standard IEC power connector.

The EpiqVision Mini EF-11 available ports include:

HDMI port
USB port
Audio output port
Power port

LENS

The lens sits behind the chassis of the projector, making it more durable with less risk of scratches or bumps to the lens. This makes transportation easier with the ability to stack the projector with other light gear or pack it in a box with other things.

The lens capabilities of the EpiqVision Mini EF11 are very basic. You’ll find a fixed zoom with no vertical or horizontal shift capabilities. The only lens function you’ll find is the manual focus ring. While we listed some throw distances, for those who need additional information, Epson has created a free online Projector Throw Distance Simulator that includes placement info for a wide variety of screen sizes and aspect ratios.

Throw Distance By Screen Size
30 inches	2 ft
40 inches	3 ft
60 inches	5 ft
90 inches	8 ft
120 inches	11 ft
150 inches	14 ft

Auto Picture Skew Correction will help you get the perfect image. Depending on how you orient the projector to the wall, the projector will analyze the projected image and correct the vertical geometry of the picture for an ideal viewing experience.

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The remote is a simple black device that runs on two AAA batteries. Basic navigation controls, input, volume, and keystone buttons are available to use. The buttons are not backlit, but with such a simple layout you’ll find yourself memorizing the placement of the buttons fairly quickly. The volume buttons are gathered on a single rocker, so they can be felt without having to turn the lights on.

MENUS

Given that this projector has fairly basic functions, the menu is equally as simple. You can access the menu with the included remote control. You’ll find four basic menus which include Image, Settings, Info, and Reset.

The image menu lets you change the color mode and select from the options of Cinema, Natural, Dynamic, Vivid, or Bright Cinema. You will also find adjustments for brightness, light output, color, sharpness, and video range.

The settings menu will have options for sound which has volume control and sound modes. Use the installation menu keystone, zoom, projection, and OSD rotation. The operation menu has everything you need to change the setting for your screen mirroring, although the default settings should work fine.

Navigate to the info menu to check your projector info, light source info, screen mirroring info or projector software version. It’s a simple menu but provides useful details. Then finally, the reset menu can factory reset your projector which puts all of the settings back to default.

PERFORMANCE

COLOR REPRODUCTION

You’d be making a mistake if you overlooked the color qualities of this projector. While it’s a small simple projector, you’d think you were looking at a far more expensive projector based on its color reproduction. While it lacks HDR compatibility, the projector delivers a bright, vibrant image with accurate colors.

There are five preset color options available. You can choose from DYNAMIC, VIVID, BRIGHT CINEMA, CINEMA, and NATURAL picture modes. My tests showed that the brightest color mode was DYNAMIC, while CINEMA and NATURAL modes delivered the best color reproduction. All five color modes deliver a good viewing experience.

The Epson EF11 delivered better color reproduction than most of the portable LED Based DLP projectors that we have reviewed. However, if you want to fine-tune the image further, several color adjustments are available, including the Color Saturation, Tint, White Balance, and RGBCMY options.

Like most Epson home entertainment projectors that we have reviewed, the EF11 did a great job producing natural-looking skin tones. The ability of the projector's 3LCD imaging system to produce an equal amount of color lumens as white lumens resulted in bright saturated colors.

BRIGHTNESS

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11 has a rated brightness of 1000 ANSI lumens. To get a good estimate of the projector brightness, I switched the projector to its brightest mode, which is DYNAMIC, and set its Light Output to Normal (100%). I then took three to four readings about 15-20% from the center of the screen.

The EpiqVision Mini EF11 measured 960 ANSI lumens which is very close to Epson's brightness claim. Brightness is often exaggerated on these small portable laser projectors, but Epson has a good reputation for accurate brightness claims.

With a max lumens output of 1,000, I assumed that I’d have this projector set to max brightness at all times. To my surprise, I could utilize ECO mode (50% brightness) in total darkness. The brightness of the image is far greater than what I expected out of a unit this small. The EF11 was bright enough to deliver a good-looking image on an 80 to 100-inch screen in a room with moderate ambient light.

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11 Brightness
Picture Mode	Brightness Measured (ANSI Lumens)
Natural	910
Cinema	948
Bright Cinema	955
Dynamic	960
Vivid	932

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11 has a rated brightness of 1000 ANSI lumens is impressive for a compact solid-state projector. Thanks to Epsons MicroLaser Array Technology, the projector was also able to deliver most of its brightness while still delivering good color reproduction. We have not reviewed another portable Laser or LED projector at its price point that could match the EF11 light output.

BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL

The photos above show various dark scenes, giving you an idea of the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11 black-level performance. The 3LCD panels utilized in Epson home entertainment projectors offer excellent native contrast, resulting in good shadow detail and black levels. It was easy to see details in the dark areas on the screen.

Regarding picture quality, the ability to produce deep blacks is just as important as brightness. Good black levels ensure the projector accurately represents shadow details and subtle nuances in dark scenes. This enhances the sense of depth and realism, making the projected image more engaging and visually appealing. Also, deep blacks provide a solid foundation for other colors to be accurately reproduced, resulting in more natural and realistic images.

The EF11 native contrast is superior to most compact projectors in its price point. While the blacks were not as deep as one of Epson's high-end Home Theater projectors like the Pro Cinema L12000, this is only beneficial in a darkened theater or room with lots of light control. The EF11 blacks were dark enough to produce a pleasing image in a room with some ambient light.

VIDEO IMAGE QUALITY

To test the overall picture quality of the Epson Epiqvision Mini EF11, I used a number of different media sources. I hooked up a Blu-ray player, a Chromecast, and a PC with a Plex server. The content was played from local files, and Blu-rays, and streamed from platforms like Netflix and YouTube. With the native 1080p resolution, details from every media source looked very good, even at larger screen sizes.

Since this projector lacks advanced visual technologies like 4K upscaling or HDR compatibility, your more powerful media sources have little to offer. This is designed to be used with lightweight streaming devices, and it does this very well. An HD Chromecast is the perfect companion for a projector like this.

TEXT AND PRESENTATION QUALITY

Connecting a laptop to the projector via HDMI or wireless cast may result in a small screen size that doesn't take full advantage of the projector screen. However, you can use the built-in zoom feature to maximize your computer display, ensuring that all the text in your documents is clearly visible from a distance.

If your laptop properly has been properly configured to display Full HD (1920 x 1080), the text appears sharp and easy to read, with even small fonts as small as 8 points having sharp edges and minimal blurring.

AUDIO QUALITY

The small 1.5-watt internal 2-way speaker system is about as basic as they come. This would be used for setup purposes only, and maybe when you have no other option. The projector includes four different sound modes (STANDARD, VOCAL, MUSIC and MOVIE) to try to optimize the sound base on what you are watching. However, the sound quality is mediocre, as you would expect from a built-in speaker system this small.

While the system plays loud enough to understand dialogue in a small/medium size room you might what to use an external speaker solution or a pair of headphones when watching content on this projector. The projector has a 3.5mm audio out, which can be used for headphones or external speakers system. The ideal solution is to use the Bluetooth option from your streaming device to connect to a larger external speaker.

The EpiqVision Mini EF11 is a very quiet projector. In fact, it is one of the quietest portable projectors on the market. It produces just 27 decibels of noise, which is about the same as the sound of a whisper. This makes it ideal for use in a variety of settings, including classrooms, offices, and home theaters.

The EF11 is able to achieve such quiet operation thanks to its use of a laser light source. Laser light sources are more efficient than traditional lamp-based light sources, which generate less heat. This heat is then dissipated by the projector's cooling system, which uses small quiet fans.

SUMMARY

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11 Laser Projector is for people that value compact size and portability. With many other solutions, you often trade so much of the image quality in exchange for a smaller size and weight, but not here. The EF11 strikes a perfect balance between compact size and image quality, making it stand out as one of the best options in this category.

The throw distance, brightness, and quality all stand out as features that surpassed my expectations. It’s true that every once in and while you will see a brighter 4K projector on clearance around the $600 price range. However, the EF11 projector is for people that want a bright laser unit that is ultra-compact.

The Epson Mini EF11 can be compared to the Optoma HD143X. Both projectors are often on promotion for $599 and offer native Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) resolution, which means they can display sharp and detailed images. However, there are some key differences between the two projectors that may make one a better choice for you than the other.

Brightness is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a home entertainment projector. The Optoma HD143X offers a brighter image than the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11, with 3600 lumens of brightness compared to 1000 lumens. This means that the Optoma HD143X may be a better choice for use in a brightly lit room. However, the Epson EF-11 has a higher contrast ratio, which means that it can produce deeper blacks and richer colors.

With the Optoma HD143X, you get a brighter display and a zoom lens at the cost of a bigger and heavier projector, so it is not as portable. The Mini EF-11 targets customers who value excellent picture quality from an ultra-compact package. The EF11 is small and light enough to throw in a backpack and take anywhere but it is bright enough to produce a good-looking image on a 100" screen.

Very few portable laser/LED projectors can match the brightness output and picture quality of the EF11, and all of them are more expensive. If you are in the market for a portable projector to use in a dorm room, meeting space, or backyard theater, you should definitely consider the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF11.

PROS

5,200 lumens of brightness
4K Enhancement feature delivers a sharp detailed image
Good color reproduction
Large, ultra-wide 21.9 and 16:6 support enhances video conferencing
1.6x Zoom and hortizontal/vertical lens shift simplifies installation
Easy to install and set up with built-in tools and software
Laser light source with a long life of up to 20,000 hours
Auto power-on and split-screen features for simplified operation and content sharing
Customizable brightness modes for consistent performance over time

CONS

No backlit remote
Somewhat difficult built-in wireless connection system

EPSON EPIQVISION MINI EF11 - SPECIFICATIONS

Full Specifications
Projector Model	Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-11
Price (MSRP)	$699
Imager Type	3LCD
Displayed Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Native Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	1000 ANSI lumens
Light Source Type	Laser Phosphor
Light Source Life	20,000 hours
Contrast Ratio	200,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	1.1x
Power Zoom/Focus	No
Lens Shift	N/A
Interchangeable Lens	No
Ultra-Short Throw	No
Native Aspect Ratio	16:9
HDTV/4K	720P/1080i/1080P
DVI or HDMI	HDMI
3D	No
Blu-Ray 3D	No
Speakers	1.5 watt (2-Way Mono)
Noise Level (-db)	27 dB
Low Lag Gaming	No
Smart Functionality	None
Business	Yes
Classroom	Yes
Portable	Yes
Special Features	Auto Picture Skew Correction, Miracast, USB playback
Networking	No
Dimensions (HxWxD)	6.9" x 6.9" x 2.3"
Weight	2.7 lb
Warranty	2 years (Epson Limit Warranty)