Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 Smart Portable Projector Review

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Phil Jones

The EF22 is designed to be moved from room to room while delivering a high-quality viewing experience

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is a versatile, portable smart laser projector priced at $999.99, designed for users who need high-quality visuals in a compact form. Featuring Epson’s 3LCD technology, it delivers vibrant, Full HD resolution with 1,000 lumens of color and white brightness from is nearly maintenance-free with a 20,000-hour laser light source.

Full HD resolution and HDR10 support make the EF22 ideal for watching movies, gaming, or streaming. The EF22's stereo speaker system delivers good sound quality from it compact chassis.

A built-in Google TV platform provides access to over 10,000 apps, including Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube TV, turning the EF22 into a self-contained entertainment hub. With Dolby Audio stereo speakers, it offers impressive sound without external speakers.

Weighing just 6.6 pounds and equipped with a 360-degree swivel stand, the EF22 is easy to move and set up in any room. Epson’s EpiqSense™ technology simplifies alignment and focusing, ensuring a sharp image on virtually any surface.

The EF22 is available in a variety of colors. It fits seamlessly into modern home aesthetics, making it a functional yet stylish addition to any room. The EF22 caters to individuals and families who want a projector that can easily be moved from room to room while delivering a high-quality viewing experience.

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Pros

Good color reproduction
Good sound quality
Google TV with Netflix support
Swivel stand enhances install flexibility

Cons

Auto keystone and focus adjustment are sluggish
It is expensive for its rated brightness
Lower resolution than a similar price 4K DLP projector

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 Specs
Price	$999.99 (MSRP)
Technology	3LCD
Displayed Resolution	1920 x 1080
Light Source	Laser
Rated Brightness	1000 ISO Lumens
Contrast	5,000,000:1 (Dynamic)
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed
Operating System	Google TV
Sound System	5 Watts x 2 (Dolby Audio)
HDR	HDR10, HLG
Dimensions	7.5 × 9.3 × 7.5 in. (191 × 236 × 191 mm)
Weight	6 lbs, 10 oz

Overview

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Epson is one of the leading projector manufacturers, and they build different series of projectors to meet the needs of different markets. So, whether you're in a small business looking for a projector for your meeting room to show presentations, a large church looking to project visuals in your main auditorium, or a home theater enthusiast who wants to enjoy movies in your media room, Epson has a solution for you.

The Epson EpiqVision Mini projector series was designed for those looking for a compact, high, high-quality projector that they can easily move from room to room. While these projectors do not have a built-in battery, they're great for someone who wants to move the projector from room to room, home to home, or play a movie outdoors during backyard movie night.

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is a compact lifestyle projector that is small and light enough that it can be easily moved from room to room. The EF22 is one of the smallest Epson projectors, but it's feature-packed and delivers good picture quality. The EF22 offers Full HD 1080p resolution, ensuring crisp and detailed visuals. The EF22 can produce 1000 lumens brightness, and its laser light source is rated for up to 20,000 hours of use, ensuring long-lasting performance with virtually no maintenance.

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Epson EpiqVision Mini Model Comparison
Model	EF22	EF22
Price (MSRP)	$999 MSRP	$899 MSRP
Brightness	1000 ISO Lumens	1000 ISO Lumens
Light Source	Laser	Laser
Displayed Resolution	Full HD (1920 x 1080)	Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Sound System	15watts x 2	15 watts x 2
Operating System	Google TV	Google TV
Stand	Swivel plus Tilt	None
HDR	HDR10	HDR10

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 and EF21 are the latest additions to Epson’s lineup of portable projectors, designed for users seeking both performance and portability. Regarding brightness, picture quality, audio performance, and smart features, the new EF22 and new EF21 are identical. However, the higher-end EF21 costs about $100 more since it includes a built-in swivel and tilt stand. This stand makes it easy to angle the EF22 to project on to any flat surface. For example, I could lie in bed and fire the projector at the ceiling. Both projectors are available in several colors to blend seamlessly into your decor, but the EF22 is available in more colors.

Unlike most portable projectors, which utilize a single-chip DLP, the EF22 is equipped with Epson's 3LCD technology. This system uses three separate liquid crystal panels to simultaneously produce red, green, and blue light. This method eliminates the rainbow effect, a phenomenon often experienced with DLP projectors where flashes of color disrupt the viewing experience.

3-chip 3LCD technology produces an exceptionally bright and colorful image

The main benefit of a 3LCD projector is its ability to deliver the same amount of brightness whether you are displaying pure white or colors like red, green, or blue. The results are brighter and more accurate color reproduction.

The Epson EF22 supports for HDR10 and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) HDR technology enhances contrast and color depth, making images appear more dynamic and lifelike.

The EF22 is equipped with a Google TV operating system. This platform provides access to over 10,000 apps, including popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube TV. Users can browse and play content directly from the projector without needing an external device such as a streaming stick or media box. The Google TV interface is intuitive and customizable, allowing users to personalize their home screen with recommendations based on viewing habits.

The inclusion of Google TV also enhances the EF22’s portability. Users can move the projector from one room to another without worrying about reconnecting external sources. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the EF22 simplifies content streaming while offering options for connecting to other devices when necessary. This means once you move the projector to the desired location and it's connected to your Wi-Fi network, you're ready to go at displaying content. In addition to the built-in streaming services, you can cast video from a smartphone or a mobile device.

Google TV provides access all the popular streaming services and thousands of apps

The inclusion of Google TV also enhances the EF22’s portability. Users can move the projector from one room to another without worrying about reconnecting external sources. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the EF22 simplifies content streaming while offering options for connecting to other devices when necessary. This means once you move the projector to the desired location and it's connected to your Wi-Fi network, you're ready to go at displaying content. In addition to the built-in streaming services, you can cast video from a smartphone or a mobile device.

The EF22 is equipped with a built-in speaker system that supports Dolby Audio. The projector delivers clear, balanced sound to fill a medium-sized room without distortion. This built-in audio system eliminates the need for external speakers in most scenarios, making the EF22 a convenient all-in-one solution for home entertainment.

The compact Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 has been designed to move seamlessly from room to room. Its built-in 360-degree swivel tilt stand makes projecting an image onto walls, ceilings, or angled surfaces simple. However, the stand does not include a locking mechanism, making the EF22 prone to accidental misalignment if bumped

Its portability is complemented by an intuitive setup process powered by Epson’s proprietary EpiqSense™ technology, which automatically resizes, focuses, and aligns the image to fit virtually any surface. This feature dramatically reduces the time and effort traditionally associated with projector alignment and keystone adjustments. This flexibility makes EF22 ideal for use in various home environments, whether a living room movie night or a college dorm gaming session.

The swivel tilt stand make t easily to project on any flat surface including the ceiling

DESIGN

The compact Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 has been designed to move seamlessly from room to room. The EF22 measures 7,5’ high x 9.3” wide X 7.5” deep, and it weighs around 6.6 pounds. The unit's built-in 360-degree tilt swivel stand makes projecting an image onto walls, ceilings, or angled surfaces simple. However, the stand does not include a locking mechanism, making the EF22 prone to accidental misalignment if bumped.

Its portability is complemented by an intuitive setup process powered by Epson’s proprietary EpiqSense™ technology, which automatically resizes, focuses, and aligns the image to fit virtually any surface. This feature dramatically reduces the time and effort traditionally associated with projector alignment and keystone adjustments. This flexibility makes EF22 ideal for use in various home environments, whether a living room movie night or a college dorm gaming session.

The EF22 is available in various colors, including Stone Blue, Opal Green, and Onyx Black, allowing users to select a model that complements their decor. Its sleek and minimalist design ensures it fits seamlessly into any setting.

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is available in five colors

The front of the chassis is the Lens and IR receiver. There is also a camera that the projector uses for auto-keystone correction and focus, along with a Smart eye protection sensor.

The air intake vents are located on the bottom of the projector and the air exhaust vents are on the side. Looking at the back of the EF 22, you will find one HDMI input and a USB input, where you can connect a USB device such as a webcam, external HDD, or keyboard. There is also a headphone jack and a USB service port.

While the projector only has one HDMI input, this is fine because most people will utilize the projector's internal streaming services most of the time. Still, it is nice to be able to connect a gaming system or laptop to the projector. The EF22’s HDMI input also supports ARC (Audio Return Channel), so it can send audio for its internal stream services "upstream" to an external audio system or soundbar.

The EF22 is equipped with a fixed lens with motorized focus and can be used with screens up to 150”. The EF22 can project a 100" image from 88 inches away. The motorized lens focus ensures sharp image regardless of the screen size chosen.

Throw Distance for a 16:9 Screen
60 inches	52" (132 cm)
70 inches	61" (155 cm)
80 inches	70" (178 cm)
90 inches	79" (201 cm)
100 inches	88" (224 cm)
120 inches	106" (269 cm)
150 inches	133" (337 cm)

Whether you're projecting on a ceiling, wall, or angled surface, the EF22’s EpiqSense™ technology is designed to simplify setup. This feature automatically resizes, focuses, and aligns the picture to ensure a perfect fit on any surface, dramatically reducing setup time. This makes the EF22 a good option for those who want to frequently move the projector between different rooms or locations. Note that this feature works best with screens ranging from 30 to 100 inches.

PERFORMANCE

Picture Quality

The Epson EF22 delivers accurate colors when viewing HDR and SDR content

With its Full HD resolution, the EF22 lacks the sharpness of a similarity priced 4K DLP projectors at a similar price point, but its overall image clarity remains respectable for its class.

The Epson EF22 utilizes a 3LCD projection system and a blue laser phosphor light source. This setup delivers more accurate-looking colors than many single-chip DLP portable projectors. While the projector’s blue laser phosphor light source can’t deliver the wide color gamut a tri-laser light source provides, the EF22 avoids the oversaturation often seen in those models. Instead, the EF22 produces realistic and well-balanced colors for HDR and SDR content.

The projector offers several picture modes, including DYNAMIC, VIVID, NATURAL, CINEMA, and CUSTOM. Among the default options, the CINEMA mode delivers the best balance of brightness and color accuracy straight out of the box. While the CUSTOM mode looks identical to the NATURAL mode, but it allows adjustments to settings such as contrast, saturation, sharpness, and gamma, offering users more control over image quality.

Black levels on the EF22 are better than most DLP projectors in this price range, but they still appear closer to gray when compared to other Epson 3LCD home entertainment projectors. This limitation makes it less ideal for darker content like The Batman or Harry Potter, but it performs well when displaying bright scenes, such as sports, animation, news, and sitcoms.

The effective HDR tone mapping takes full advantage of EF22’s rated brightness of 1,000 ISO lumens by maintaining decent on-screen brightness while maintaining highlight details.

For those who want to make adjustment to things like BRIGHTNESS and CONTRAST to optimize Epson EF22 to their room, several free test patterns are available on Murideo’s website and YouTube channel. Check out our YouTube video on utilizing several of these test patterns called

Here are links to several free test patterns on the Murideo website and their YouTube channel. Murideo also has detailed written instructions for using its test patterns in the resource section of its website. Also, check out our YouTube video on utilizing several test patterns called Optimize The Image of a Projector or TV Using Free Murideo Test Patterns.

The Epson EF22 has a rated brightness of 1000 lumens. To measure the unit’s brightness, I switched to projector to its DYNAMIC which is it's brightest mode, and ensured the laser light source output was set to maximum. The EF22 produced 990 lumens, which is close to Epson’s rated brightness.

Picture Mode Brightness
DYNAMIC	2328 lumens
VIVID	2120 lumens
NATURAL	2165 lumens
CINEMA	2027 lumens

The Epson EF22's laser light source produced a bright image on a 100" screen

Since the EF22 is a 3LCD projector, colors appear brighter than those of a single laser DLP projector with the same rated brightness. Regarding screen size, the projector produces the best HDR results on screens that are 90 inches or smaller, while SDR content performs optimally on screens up to 100 inches.

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 offers better black-level performance than many projectors I have reviewed. While Epson doesn't list the projector’s rated native contrast ratio, the EF22 did a good job displaying subtle details in the dark areas of the screen. In addition, the EF22 includes dynamic laser dimming technology, which boosts the projector's dynamic contrast ratio.

The EF22's black level and shadow detail were better than most DLP-based portable projectors.

While its black levels and sharpness fall short of dedicated home theater projectors, the EF22 offers excellent color accuracy and usability for casual viewing. Its combination of performance, portability, and smart functionality makes it an ideal choice for smaller spaces, particularly for those who value convenience and natural-looking image quality.

Smart Features

The EF22 utilizes Google TV, which is an improvement over the Android operating system used in previous EpiqVision Mini projectors. Google TV provides access to over 10,000 apps, including popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube TV. Google TV also delivers a more intuitive interface, providing content recommendations and personalized viewing options. Since the EF22 also has Google Cast, you can also cast content from Chromecast-enabled apps.

This means once you move the projector to the desired location and it's connected to your Wi-Fi network, you're ready to go at displaying content. I placed the EF22 on the nightstand beside my bed and used the swiveling stand to aim the projector at the ceiling, which produced a bright, colorful 80” image. Since the EF22 supports HULU, which I use to watch live TV, I could kick back in bed and watch Sports Center or the Local news before I sleep.

Smart features, streaming apps and projector adjustments can be quickly accessed from the Google TV menu system

Sound Quality

The EF22 has a high-quality internal stereo speaker system that features Dolby Audio technology, designed to provide richer and more immersive audio. While the projector is compact, the sound system has enough power to fill a medium-sized room with sound. This makes the EF22 a good choice for those who want an all-in-one device without the hassle of additional audio equipment. The EF22 includes four sound modes which are STANDARD, VOCAL, MUSIC, and MOVIE. The EF22 can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker.

The EF22’s HDMI input also supports ARC (Audio Return Channel), so it can send audio for its internal stream services "upstream" to an external audio system or soundbar.

We don’t measure fan noise, but Epson states 22 dB (Normal) and 18 dB (ECO), which is very quiet. When watching content, I didn’t notice any fan noise from my sitting distance about 8 feet away.

SUMMARY

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 stands out as a compact, portable Full HD laser projector designed to meet the diverse needs of modern home entertainment. Priced at $999.99, the EF22 combines advanced technology, user-friendly features, and an aesthetic appeal, making it a strong contender in the lifestyle projector market. Its balance of portability and functionality caters to families, gamers, and casual users looking for a versatile entertainment device.

Weighing just 6.6 pounds, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is crafted for convenience. Its compact size and lightweight build make it easy to transport between rooms or even homes. The projector’s integrated 360-degree swivel stand enhances its adaptability, enabling users to project images on walls, ceilings, or angled surfaces without the need for complex setups. This feature is especially advantageous for unconventional spaces, such as projecting visuals onto a ceiling for relaxed, reclined viewing.

Central to the EF22’s appeal is Epson’s 3LCD technology, a hallmark of the brand that eliminates the rainbow effect commonly associated with DLP projectors. This system uses three separate liquid crystal panels to produce red, green, and blue light simultaneously, resulting in vibrant, accurate color reproduction. With a brightness rating of 1,000 lumens for both color and white light, the EF22 delivers consistently vivid images, even in dimly lit environments.

The projector supports Full HD 1080p resolution and HDR10, as well as HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) for enhanced contrast and depth. This ensures a dynamic and lifelike viewing experience, whether users enjoy movies, streaming content, or playing games. Although the EF22’s brightness may struggle in brightly lit rooms or when projecting onto large screens, it excels in standard indoor settings.

The EF22 also includes a Google TV, which gives you access to over 10,000 streaming apps, including almost popular ones, such as Netflix, Disney, YouTube TV, Hulu, and HBO Max. In addition to the built-in streaming services, you also can cast video from a smartphone for a mobile device. The built-in Dolby Audio stereo speakers deliver impressive sound quality, and the system plays loud enough to fill a small to medium-sized room.

The EF22’s 360-degree swivel stand also allows it to project onto unconventional surfaces, such as ceilings. Epson’s proprietary EpiqSense™ technology automates image alignment, resizing, and focusing, simplifying setup.

The EF22 is available in an array of colors, including Stone Blue, Opal Green, and Onyx Black, allowing users to select a model that complements their decor. Its sleek and minimalist design ensures it fits seamlessly into any setting.

If you are interested in purchasing this projector, please support Projector Reviews.com and ProjectorScreen.com by utilizing the link below

The EF22’s portability and quick setup make it ideal for various use cases. Families can use it to host movie nights in the living room, gaming enthusiasts can enjoy immersive gameplay in their bedrooms, and professionals can rely on it for presentations in different spaces.