Epson has recently announced a new series of home theatre projectors, and I had the chance to play with an EF-21G model at home.
The Epson EF-21G is a small laser projector. Thanks to its reduced size (191 x 197 x 113 mm) and lightweight (2.3 kg), it is perfect for use both at home and on the go.
The 3-chip LCD system uses individual processors for each primary colour. It uses a 0.632-inch LCD panel and a laser diode light source.
The result is 1,000 lumens output, full HD resolution, HDR10 (High Dynamic Range) support and native 16:9 aspect ratio.
The system supports different colour modes, including dynamic, vivid, natural, cinema and a custom mode.
Watching your content in a darker room is ideal, but even with the windows open and daylight coming in, the picture is very clear and shows beautiful colours.
The noise level from its internal fans is very low, measured at a max of 23 dB.
The setup is effortless. The Epson EF-21G runs on Google TV, so you don’t need an external source to start watching your favourite content. Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video are already installed, and there are even dedicated buttons on the remote control to launch these apps with one touch.
After configuring your Google account, you can easily add other apps to the system.
You can project from 30” to 150” on a screen or wall. For reference, you can get a 60” picture when positioning the projector 1.33m from the screen surface. The throw ratio is between 1.0 and 1.81.
Automatic zoom gives you a perfect picture, and auto keystone correction ensures the picture is straight. An auto-obstacle avoidance system automatically resizes the display if something—for example, a plant or some furniture—is in the way of the frame.
A built-in security feature will automatically stop the projection if someone is detected in front of the laser beam.
You can easily position the Epson EF-21G to project from the front or behind a screen, and a menu option will switch the picture as needed. You can also position it on its back to project to the ceiling, although doing so will prevent you from using any of the inputs on the back, so only streaming when doing so.
In addition to streaming content, you can connect external sources such as a laptop or disc player using either the USB-A or HDMI ports in the back. There’s also a mini-USB port for connecting cameras if you have them. It also supports local playback from files on a USB memory key.
You need Wi-Fi to connect the Epson EF-21G to your network, as Ethernet is not an option here.
When first connected it automatically installed the latest Android December 2024 security update. Interestingly, the Epson EF-21G is still running Android 11, quite behind the Android 14 available on other Google TV products.
It has two built-in 5W speakers that do an okay job if you are in a small room and don’t require great sound. It’s definitely not the same as using an external speaker system. Fortunately, it supports Dolby Digital and PCM outputs, so you can easily plug a soundbar via its HDMI ARC adapter.
I found the Epson EF-21G listed at NZ$1,499. This puts it squarely in the mid-tier range, and the features are indeed in that area. Cheaper competitors have a lot less contrast or use even older Android versions. More expensive competitors don’t seem to have built-in Google TV. I even found a much more costly competitor with half the lumens rating.
The Epson EF-21G is in its own category here, making it an interesting option for those who want something fun and portable.
