EPSON EF12 SMART LASER PROJECTOR REVIEW-HARDWARE

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Jarrod Buckley

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 Smart Laser Projector Review - Hardware: Control Panel, Connections, Lens,Remote Control, Menus

The EF12 is a compact design that is easily portable. Its dimensions are 5.3" x 6.9" x 6.9” and it weighs under 5 lbs. When facing the unit, the projector’s lens is located on the right side of the front panel. There are two sensors to the left of the lens and an air vent underneath them. There is no manual Focus or Zoom. The right side of the projector (when facing the lens) contains the input/connector panel, the power cord and another air vent. On the left side, there are 2 air vents. On all four sides, the top half of the projector is covered with fabric that conceals the audio system. The top panel contains the 5 control buttons.

CONTROL PANEL

The EF12’s control panel is located on the top of the projector, centered and towards the front when facing the lens of the projector. Whether the projector is placed on a table or is ceiling-mounted, the control panel will be easily accessible. There are 5 buttons: Power, Lamp On/Off, Bluetooth, and Volume Up/Down.

CONNECTIONS

Input	Amount
HDMI 2.0	2
USB with HID	2
3.5mm Headphone jack	1

All of the connectors for the EF12 are located on the right panel when looking at the lens. There is a stereo mini jack, 2 HDMI inputs, 1 USB type-A, and 1 USB type-B. The power adapter also plugs into the right panel.

Even though the Epson EF12 has a very good built-in audio system, many users may still want to connect it to an AV Receiver to take advantage of the high-quality sound available from many of the projector’s streaming apps. The projector’s HDMI2 supports ARC (Audio Return Channel), so it can deliver multi-channel audio to an external sound system.

LENS

The EF12 has a fixed lens with no optical zoom, a focal length of 13.9mm, and a throw ratio of 1:1. Image size is adjusted by moving the unit either closer to or farther from the projection surface.

Throw Distance for a 16:9 Screen

Screen Size (Diagonal)	Minimum Screen Distance
70”
80”	70 inches (179 cm)
90”	79 inches (202 cm)
100”	88 inches (224 cm)
120"	106 inches (270cm)

REMOTE CONTROL

The remote control for the Epson EF12 is about 6 inches long and black in color. It has a directional navigation pad, volume control and several options for accessing various settings and apps. The buttons have a satisfying “click” when pressed, and the overall construction feels solid. Since the remote connects to the EF12 via Bluetooth, it works when pointed in any direction; a convenient feature for someone like me that tends to point it at the projector screen.

Located in the middle of the remote, below the navigation arrows, is a button to activate the Google voice assistant. When pressed, you can use the remote’s built-in microphone for voice control of the projector or compatible 3rd Internet of Things (IoT) devices via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

MENUS

When powered on, the EF12 home screen allows the user to access Favorite Apps (customizable), All Apps, Settings, Inputs, as well as various “recommended” movies, videos, and radio broadcasts that are available from various streaming services.

Users can assign their favorite apps for easy access, and under the Apps menu, they can add or remove apps as desired. The Inputs menu gives the option of selecting between HDMI1 or HDMI2.

The Settings sub menu that is accessed from the home screen is different from the one that is accessed via the button on the remote. It allows you to access “general settings” (network, accounts, apps, device preferences, remotes & accessories), while the Settings button on the remote gives you access to “projector settings” (picture, sound, display, settings).