Epson EF-12
Xgimi has been making smart projectors and laser TVS since the Chinese company arrived on the scene in 2013. Now armed with seven portables, ranging from standarddefinition up to 4K, it’s here to take on Epson, Benq and Anker Nebula as the go-to brand for your all-in-one big screen needs. The mid-range Xgimi Halo has a built-in battery, 800 Ansi-lumens LED light source and 1080p HDR output; so does this projector meet all your needs?
At the limit of portability
At 11cm tall, 15cm wide and weighing 1.6kg, the Halo is about as large as you’d want a portable projector to be. Inside is a 2x 5W Harman Kardon sound system and a DLP projector set-up with a 0.33in DMD (digital micromirror device) at its core. The LED light source is claimed to last for 30,000 hours of viewing, or eight hours of use per day for 10 years. The light is focused by a fixed lens with a 1.2:1 throw ratio that produces a picture of between 30 and 300in, with a 100in image possible at a distance of 2.67m.
On the outside, there is an HDMI port (Arc-enabled), a USB and a 3.5mm headphones socket too. You can plug in games consoles, disc players, external speakers and play files on USB sticks, hard drives or the 16GB of internal storage space. Two-way Bluetooth is available too, so you can play music through the Halo sound system from your phone, or output the projector’s audio signal to a wireless speaker.
Control of all this and more is through the voice remote control. It includes buttons for direct access to the settings menu and input selection as well as the usual navigation, volume and focus controls. There is a built-in battery with up to four hours of video and eight hours of audio playback, and tucked beneath the Halo is a kickstand, which is useful for angling it into the right position.
The Halo's Google’s Android TV 9.0 OS takes care of the apps and menus. Google Assistant provides an effective voice search, and there is also the Chromecast screen sharing technology to fill in those app gaps, of which there are a few.
Setting up the picture projection itself couldn’t be easier, as the Halo is fitted with autofocus and auto-keystone. Rated at less than 30db, it runs far quieter than a traditional home cinema projector. It’s also 3D-enabled, if you have content and a pair of active shutter glasses.
As soon as you switch on the Halo, you get a good idea of just how bright it can go – it's pretty much on a par with the more expensive Epson EF-12. Even with some ambient lighting, we can still see what’s going on, and that bodes well for outdoor cinema use. Playing Bumblebee on 4K Blu-ray, that translates to a strong picture with plenty of colour saturation. The sky is a beautiful sapphire blue, the candyfloss a brilliant synthetic pink and the paintwork of the cars is a line-up of wonderful teals and burnt oranges.
However, when the light levels drop, the Halo comes unstuck. Black depth is decent, but the detail within those dark zones is scant. We struggle to find much in the way of individual hair strands on Charlie’s head as she rides her scooter off to the scrapyard. There just isn’t enough care in handling the contrast on offer.
The contrast is even more problematic with standard-def content. We watch Up In The Air on DVD and though upscaling is handled well, the Halo struggles to produce any difference in the blocks of black or navy blue in the suits of the business people. As impressive as this projector can be, at the first sign of a difficult frame, the Halo’s big, punchy strengths turn out to be its most significant weaknesses too.
Acceptable AV stopgap
The 2x 5W Harman Kardon sound system in the Xgimi Halo makes an acceptable stopgap for AV and music listening needs. The Bumblebee soundtrack is a pleasure to listen to through the projector, with plenty of weight and a clear tonal balance that never threatens to get too bright even when we push the volume upwards.
Xgimi has chosen to have the drivers facing forwards on the Halo and that seems an odd choice. The throw distance means you’re likely to be sitting behind the projector with the sound going in the wrong direction. Even in front of the Halo, it still lacks a little precision compared with the Epson EF-12.
The Xgimi Halo makes a good stab at a serious step-up portable projector. Its brightness, battery, storage, speakers and connectivity options mean that it looks the part of a punchy and convenient travel projector. It’s still small enough to throw into your bag, but big enough to give some impact around the house or the garden. However, its picture quality isn’t up to the standards of those around it. Splash out on the Epson EF-12 and you get a more sophisticated machine.
Projection wherever and whenever is the promise of the Epson EF-12. That means portability and all-in-one functionality for sound and content too. After all, it’s no good taking a portable projector into the garden if you still need to connect it to your Blu-ray player and sound system.
The Epson EF-12 has a built-in sound set-up that offers a much greater scale than the 2W sound systems often tacked on to budget home cinema projectors. It also has wi-fi and an Android TV smart system with access to music and video streaming services on the Google Play store.
With no battery on board, the EF-12 still needs mains power, so this is a portable projector for home use and not one to take camping. Add an extension cable and there’s no reason why it can’t turn your garden into an outdoor cinema.
Compact dimensions
The only way this projector could look any more portable would be if it had a carry handle. Its compact dimensions give it a small and accommodating footprint, which is handy given that this is a fixed-lens projector and the only way to make the image bigger or smaller is by moving the EF-12 closer to or further from your screen. Fortunately, there’s plenty of scope with projection angle and the amount of keystone correction available means that the EF-12 doesn’t need to be face-on for a decent image.
While there’s no weatherproof rating, Epson sees the EF-12 as compatible with outdoor viewing. The boxy build helps – the lens is nicely shielded and the protective finish gives the impression it could survive being carted around.
We’d like to have seen a battery inside, but a garden extension cable is your friend here. If your wi-fi doesn’t reach that far, you can play local film files through the USB port or from its 10GB of internal storage. There are two HDMI sockets (ARC and HDCP 2.3 compatible).
For the built-in audio, there’s a Sound by Yamaha 2x 5W sound system. That HDMI ARC means you can use a soundbar if you prefer and there’s also a 3.5mm audio-out socket for headphones. Epson has also included Bluetooth so you can turn the EF-12 into a wireless speaker for music playback.
There’s a row of buttons on the top of the device for power, Bluetooth and volume, but the handy remote control should cover every function you need, from autofocus and auto-keystone to direct access to the system’s app offering.
The EF-12 is another in Epson’s long line of 3LCD models. That’s three 0.62in LCD panels, which combine to create a 1920 x 1080 full-colour image. The 1000-lumens laser light source shines through these panels, bringing an expected lifetime of up to 10 years. The other bonus is the quiet operation, with the noise level quoted at just 27db.
Apps are of prime importance to the experience and you’ll find them on the Android TV OS homepage, though some popular services, such as Netflix, BBC iplayer, All 4 and Now are missing. Fortunately, Chromecast is on board and it’s possible to cast most missing services from your mobile, tablet or laptop to your projector. Google’s voice search facility removes the hassle of tapping away on virtual keyboards.
While 1080p is as much resolution as you’ll get out of the EF-12, it can handle a 4K input and even support HDR10 too. Watching Deadpool on 4K Blu-ray, the three superheroes stand out brilliantly as they swagger towards their showdown at the shipyard. There’s a black depth on offer that makes us feel as if we’re getting value out of our 4K Blu-ray – it’s an exciting, attention-grabbing picture.
Taking it down to the EF-12’S native Full HD, with Jupiter Ascending on Blu-ray, and it's the same story – strong, dynamic and thoroughly enjoyable. Dark detail is impressive, and the EF-12’S black depth means we can appreciate how alone they are inside the candle-lit shipping container. However, it doesn’t manage as much nuance to colour as the best non-portables, nor deliver quite as much in the way of shading. Yamaha and Epson have done a good job with the EF-12'S audio set-up. It’s an expressive system with enough precision to hold its own even in scenes with heavy action, such as the alleyway fight. We can pick out all the laser pulses, the voices, explosions and movement of the characters and that’s no mean feat for a small box such as this.
The Epson EF-12 is probably the best portable projector we’ve seen at this price. It’s bright and punchy with a capable built-in sound system making it a credible option. If the simplicity of an all-in-one projector appeals, we'd recommend taking the EF-12 for a spin.
The LG Cinebeam offers all the components of a home cinema system of separates – a 4K HDR picture, stereo sound, an array of smart sources – but in a unit you can carry in a holdall and set up wherever you choose. Though there are sacrifices to be made on performance, the great beauty of the LG Cinebeam is its versatility and intuitive simplicity. As long as you have a wall or ceiling upon which to throw a picture, you can have it up and running in a matter of minutes. It makes a great case for itself as one of the best outdoor projectors you could buy.
Flip the lid that conceals the lens and you’ll find a mirror on the inside. This allows the Cinebeam to shine at any surface and in any position. Stand it upright and you can have your picture on the ceiling or reflect it towards a wall.
Ideal placement can predictably take a little time first time round, but the Cinebeam’s Auto Vertical Keystone helps you get a decent picture sized between 66 and 150 inches, with focus and zoom easily controllable by a pair of dials at the lens-end of the projector.
The Cinebeam’s claimed 20,000-hour laser life means you could watch a film every day for the next 22 years before it needs replacing. You’re likely to need plenty of source options, then, and LG’S smart hub has you covered with access to several TV and film apps, including catch-up and streaming services.
In terms of physical connections, there are two HDMI ports and a further pair for USB (one 3.0, the other 2.0). The USBS are handy for connecting a hard drive or USB stick holding video content, while HDMI is ideal for a 4K Blu-ray player or games console, or for hooking it up to a home cinema amp.
Harman Kardon has kitted the Cinebeam out with a 7W-per-channel stereo-speaker system, meaning you need not add anything at all. However, built-in Bluetooth means you can add a wireless speaker or soundbar, and there are 3.5mm aux, SPDIF and optical digital connections for wired sound.
Given the portable nature of the Cinebeam, we are pleased to get an impressively crisp and detailed picture, with decent depth and natural hues straight from the box. It is bright enough without being garish, vibrant enough to combat a less than gleaming white wall or projector screen, and paints subtle tones rather than overcooked colours. That isn’t to say it can’t make a picture pop sufficiently, but the balance is more about finesse than immediacy when it comes to contrast and colour.
Artificial intelligence
The only area in which the Cinebeam can irk a little is in terms of motion. LG'S Trumotion technology automatically smooths frames to sidestep the judder you’re likely to get with a projector, but it can often feel somewhat artificial.
Nonetheless, the Cinebeam produces a smashing picture, and its sonic talents are equally impressive. This is still, of course, a sound coming from a projector, and nowhere near that of a dedicated home cinema package. The presentation is fairly light – you can’t put in any sizeable drivers without their vibrations shaking the projector itself – but other than that the Cinebeam performs well.
It’s fast, dynamic and goes quite loud; you may also be surprised by how well stereo imaging is produced, with certain effects travelling a decent distance either side of the Cinebeam. If you have a wireless speaker or soundbar in the house, simply connect it via Bluetooth or the aux output, and marvel at how well the projector works as an audio source.
Now able to go louder, with substantially more weight and presence, the unit still manages to translate that rhythmic, expressive presentation from the Cinebeam’s own speakers.
It is perhaps difficult to know exactly where to place LG’S Cinebeam in terms of product category. Is it a projector, a source, or a whole system you can improve with well selected add-ons?
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter because it holds up well in all regards. For those who want to throw a film upon their wall every now and then, it provides a fine picture and impressive sound for its size; for those who want to build a system, the Cinebeam affords you time to do so without missing out on entertainment in the interim.
This is one of those rare times innovation meets performance.