Nothing says “fun” like chilling in the backyard or down by the lake in the evening with a movie on the big screen with friends and family. The portable projector market has become saturated with fly-by-night unknown brands with questionable specs and too-good-to-be-true prices. But one of the top selling performance projector brands is also playing along this summer with a big discount on a little projector. Epson’s EpiqVision Mini EF12 Smart Streaming Laser Projector is now on sale for $699.99 ($300 off MSRP).
Check out This Deal on Amazon, Crutchfield or Best Buy
Unlike budget projectors, the Epson EF12 features a laser light engine rated to last at least 20,000 hours and capable of displaying 1,000 Lumens of color and white brightness. Its 3-chip LCD light engine offers excellent color reproduction free from any rainbow effect (RBE) or diminished color brightness found on many single-chip DLP projectors.
The projector has Android TV on-board with access to thousands of streaming services built-in, so you won’t need a separate streaming stick or media player. If you want to connect a gaming console, PC or Blu-ray player, there’s not one but two HDMI ports. The EF12 supports HDMI 2.1 as well as ARC (Audio Return Channel) for connection to an external soundbar or receiver. There’s also a 3.5mm variable line level aux output for connecting a powered speaker. You may not need the external speaker though as the Epson includes a 5W Yamaha stereo sound system with AudioEngine DSP technology on board for a wide, full soundstage in a compact package.
The Epson EF12 does require standard wall power (it’s not battery-powered) but it weighs less than 5 pounds and measures only 7 inches on each side and 5 inches high. It’s pretty easy to move around your house, into the yard or to a vacation home. It can project an image up to 150 inches diagonally and while it doesn’t require a screen, you will get much better performance with one like the Elite Screens 120-inch OMS120H2 portable indoor/outdoor screen ($179 at Amazon). The screen collapses for storage and can be hung on a wall or set on the ground using its (detachable) sturdy metal legs.
The projector’s native resolution is Full HD 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) but it also accepts 4K inputs with HDR 10 and HLG support for a wide range of colors and HDR (high dynamic range). And before you invite people over, be sure to check out Ian White’s tips for a successful backyard theater.
The Bottom Line
Those in search of a small projector for impromptu movies nights or gaming sessions in your living room or backyard will find a lot to like in the Epson EF12. With 1,000 Lumens of white and color brightness, built-in streaming and build in speakers by Yamaha, your backyard will be sure to be the hit of the neighborhood.
Where to buy: $999 $699 at Amazon, Crutchfield or Best Buy
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