Smart Projectors Showdown: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 vs. XGIMI Halo+

As home entertainment evolves, smart projectors have carved out a fascinating niche between traditional TVs and full-size home theater projectors. Today, we're comparing two standout models in this space: the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 ($999) and the XGIMI Halo+ ($849). I've spent significant time with both of these projectors to help you decide which might work best for your specific needs.

The Rise of Smart Compact Projectors

The concept of a "smart projector" has transformed dramatically since 2020. What began as basic projectors with a few built-in apps has evolved into fully-fledged entertainment hubs with sophisticated operating systems, auto-adjustment features, and impressive image quality packed into increasingly compact forms.

The XGIMI Halo+ was released in late 2021 as an upgrade to XGIMI's original Halo, bringing improved brightness and intelligent screen adaptation. The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 arrived a bit later in 2023, representing Epson's approach to the premium compact smart projector market with their trusted 3LCD laser technology.

These projectors exemplify how the category has matured—offering features that would have been unthinkable in portable projectors just a few years ago, like automated setup, built-in streaming platforms, and image quality that can genuinely replace a TV in many scenarios.

Design Philosophy and Portability: Different Approaches to Flexibility

The Stationary Powerhouse: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22

The EF22 embodies what I'd call a "flexible stationary" design philosophy. At 6.6 pounds with dimensions of 9.3" x 7.5" x 7.5", it's not something you'll casually toss in a backpack. Instead, Epson has created a stylish, modern device with a Stone Blue finish that doesn't scream "tech product" when placed in your living space.

Its most innovative design feature is the 360-degree rotating stand, which allows you to point the projection in virtually any direction—including onto a ceiling. This gives the EF22 tremendous placement flexibility without requiring you to move the unit itself. You can set it on a coffee table and rotate it toward any wall, or even project onto the ceiling for bedtime viewing.

The downside? You're always tethered to a power outlet. Epson clearly prioritized performance over battery-powered portability, focusing instead on creating a premium viewing experience that stays put.

The True Portable: XGIMI Halo+

In contrast, the Halo+ embraces true portability. At just 3.53 pounds (1.6kg) and measuring 172 x 114 x 145mm, it's designed to go wherever you do. Its clean, minimalist design features a mesh speaker grille wrapping around the lower portion and a sleek gray upper housing.

What truly defines the Halo+ is its built-in 59.454Wh battery, delivering up to 2.5 hours of projection—enough for most movies. This transforms how and where you can use it: backyard movie nights, camping trips, hotel rooms, or simply moving from room to room without hassle.

Having used both projectors extensively, I've found the Halo+'s portability opens up entirely new use cases. Recently, I set it up for an impromptu movie night on a friend's patio—something that would have been impossible with the EF22 without extension cords and planning.

Image Performance: Where the Differences Really Matter

Display Technology: 3LCD vs. DLP

The EF22 and Halo+ use fundamentally different projection technologies, which creates distinct viewing experiences.

Epson's EF22 employs 3LCD laser technology, which splits light through three LCD panels (one each for red, green, and blue) before recombining them. This approach typically delivers:

• More accurate and vibrant colors
• No "rainbow effect" (color artifacts sometimes visible with DLP)
• Higher color brightness relative to white brightness
• More consistent brightness over the projector's lifespan

The Halo+ uses DLP (Digital Light Processing) with LED illumination, where light bounces off a chip containing microscopic mirrors. This typically provides:

• Better perceived sharpness and detail
• Higher contrast ratios
• Smaller possible form factor
• Good reliability with fewer components that can misalign

In practice, the EF22's 3LCD system produces noticeably more vibrant and natural colors, especially in content with lots of vivid hues like animation or nature documentaries. The Halo+'s DLP system handles high-contrast scenes better—think starfields or nighttime cityscapes—with deeper blacks in controlled lighting.

Brightness: A Significant Advantage for Epson

Probably the most important practical difference between these projectors is brightness:

• Epson EF22: 1,000 lumens (both color and white brightness)
• XGIMI Halo+: 700 ISO lumens

This 30% brightness advantage for the EF22 is significant in real-world use. Using both projectors in my moderately lit living room, the EF22 maintained vivid, watchable images even with some ambient light, while the Halo+ required more aggressive light control to appear equally vibrant.

It's worth understanding that Epson uses the standardized ANSI lumen measurement system, while XGIMI uses ISO lumens. These are similar but not identical measurements, though the real-world brightness difference is still substantial regardless of measurement standards.

The EF22's laser light source also maintains its brightness more consistently over time compared to the Halo+'s LED system, which will gradually dim over its lifespan.

Color Performance and HDR

Both projectors support HDR10 and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) formats, bringing that extra pop to compatible content. However, they handle HDR quite differently.

The EF22 leverages its higher brightness and 3LCD system to deliver more impactful HDR. Watching "Our Planet" on Netflix, the vibrant underwater scenes showed significantly more color volume and highlight detail on the Epson. This makes sense—HDR effectiveness is closely tied to a display's maximum brightness and color capabilities.

The Halo+ handles HDR respectably for its class, but can't match the Epson's impact. It does, however, maintain better black levels in dark rooms, which helps preserve contrast in darker HDR scenes.

In SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) content, the differences are less pronounced, though the EF22 still delivers more saturated colors while the Halo+ offers slightly better perceived sharpness despite both having 1080p resolution.

Setup Experience: Automated Intelligence

Modern smart projectors have revolutionized the once-tedious setup process, and both of these models showcase impressive automation.

Epson's EpiqSense Technology

The EF22 features Epson's EpiqSense system, which automatically:

• Focuses the image for optimal sharpness
• Corrects keystone distortion when the projector isn't perfectly aligned
• Adjusts image size to fit your screen or wall area

These adjustments happen within seconds of powering on, and you can also trigger recalibration from the remote. I've found the auto-focus to be particularly reliable, maintaining sharpness even as ambient temperature changes (which can affect focus in projectors).

The 360-degree rotation combined with auto-keystone means you can place the projector almost anywhere with a line of sight to a suitable projection surface. However, it lacks the obstacle avoidance feature found on the Halo+.

XGIMI's Intelligent Screen Adaptation (ISA)

The Halo+ takes automation a step further with its ISA system, which includes:

• Automatic focus and keystone correction
• Screen alignment to fit content to available space
• Intelligent obstacle avoidance, which identifies objects like picture frames and adjusts projection to avoid them

This obstacle avoidance feature is particularly clever—point the Halo+ at a wall with artwork, and it will automatically resize and reposition the image to project around obstacles. It's not perfect (very small objects may be missed), but it's impressive technology that simplifies setup.

In day-to-day use, both projectors make the traditional hassles of projector setup virtually disappear. This accessibility represents one of the biggest technical advancements in consumer projectors over the past few years.

Smart Features: Google-Based Ecosystems

Both projectors run Google-based smart platforms, though with some differences in implementation and performance.

Google TV on the Epson EF22

The EF22 runs the newer Google TV interface, which evolved from Android TV with a more content-focused approach. The home screen highlights recommended shows and movies across your services rather than focusing on apps.

Google TV provides access to thousands of apps through the Google Play Store, including major streaming services like Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. The built-in Chromecast functionality also makes it easy to cast content from your phone or tablet.

However, like many Google TV devices, Netflix compatibility requires some extra steps during setup (though it works fine afterward). The EF22's more powerful processing also provides a smoother, more responsive interface experience compared to the Halo+.

Android TV on the XGIMI Halo+

The Halo+ runs the slightly older Android TV operating system—still highly capable but with a more app-centric interface. It provides access to a similar range of streaming apps and includes Google Assistant for voice control.

One persistent issue with XGIMI projectors, including the Halo+, is that Netflix isn't natively supported in the most straightforward way. You'll need to use workarounds like casting from another device or installing alternative launchers. This remains a frustration for a premium device.

Both systems support voice commands through their remotes, allow for Bluetooth headphone connections, and provide similar access to content. The EF22's interface feels slightly more modern and intuitive, but the core functionality is comparable.

Audio Performance: Surprisingly Capable Sound

Both projectors feature dual 5W speaker systems, though they differ in sound signature and capabilities.

Epson's Dolby Audio System

The EF22 features a custom-tuned audio system with Dolby Audio support. The speakers deliver relatively full sound with surprising bass response for a compact unit. At moderate volumes, dialogue is clear and movie soundtracks maintain good presence.

In my living room (approximately 15' x 20'), the EF22 can fill the space with sound adequately for casual viewing. For movie night, you'll still want to connect to external speakers for truly immersive audio.

XGIMI's Harman/Kardon Speakers

The Halo+ features Harman/Kardon-tuned speakers that deliver clear, detailed audio. The sound profile emphasizes vocal clarity, which makes dialogue particularly easy to understand, though it has slightly less bass impact than the Epson.

The Halo+ supports Dolby Audio, DTS-HD, and DTS-Studio Sound formats, giving it good flexibility with different content sources. Its speakers are especially impressive considering the unit's portable nature—significantly better than what you'd find in most laptops or tablets.

Both projectors support Bluetooth audio output to connect to external speakers or headphones, and both can function as standalone Bluetooth speakers to play music from your phone—a nice bonus feature.

Longevity and Maintenance: Lamp-Free Advantages

Both projectors use solid-state illumination systems, eliminating the periodic lamp replacements required by traditional projectors.

The EF22 uses a laser light source rated for 20,000 hours—about 10 years at 5 hours of daily use. Laser illumination tends to maintain consistent brightness and color performance throughout its lifespan, with minimal degradation.

The Halo+ uses an LED light source rated for 25,000 hours. While LEDs technically last longer, they gradually lose brightness over time, with noticeable dimming likely in the later stages of life.

Neither projector requires air filter cleaning or maintenance beyond occasional dusting, making them significantly more convenient than traditional lamp-based projectors.

Value Consideration: Different Priorities

At $999, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 positions itself as a premium offering in the compact smart projector category. You're paying for superior brightness, better color performance, and the versatility of 360-degree projection.

The XGIMI Halo+ at $849 represents a more balanced value proposition, especially if portability matters to you. The built-in battery alone justifies much of the price, and you're still getting excellent auto-setup features and good overall performance.

In a dedicated home theater setting with controlled lighting, the brightness advantage of the EF22 becomes less critical, potentially making the Halo+ a better value. However, in multi-purpose spaces with variable lighting, the EF22's extra brightness might be worth the premium.

Home Theater Considerations

For dedicated home theater use, a few additional factors become important:

Image Size and Throw Distance

The EF22 can project images from 30" to 150" diagonal, while the Halo+ ranges from 40" to 200". Both use fixed lenses with similar throw ratios, meaning you'll need to physically move the projector to change image size.

In smaller home theaters, both perform well, though the EF22's ability to go down to a 30" image gives it more flexibility in extremely tight spaces.

Gaming Performance

For gamers, input lag (the delay between your controller input and seeing the result on screen) matters. The Halo+ edges out the EF22 with slightly lower input lag, making it marginally better for gaming. Neither matches the response times of gaming monitors, but both are suitable for casual gaming.

Integration with Home Theater Systems

Both projectors offer HDMI connectivity for external sources, though the Halo+ includes eARC support for better audio passthrough to compatible audio systems. This gives it a slight edge in complex home theater setups where you're using an external A/V receiver.

How to Decide: Making the Right Choice

After extensive time with both projectors, my recommendations come down to your specific needs:

Choose the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 if:

• You'll use your projector primarily in one location
• You often watch content in rooms with ambient light
• Image quality and brightness are your top priorities
• You want the most vibrant colors possible
• You value the 360-degree flexible placement

The EF22 excels as a TV replacement that happens to be a projector—capable of delivering excellent image quality in various lighting conditions while fitting elegantly into your living space.

Choose the XGIMI Halo+ if:

• You want to use your projector in multiple locations
• You need battery-powered portability for outdoor use
• You typically watch content in controlled lighting
• You're looking for the more affordable option
• You value maximum versatility

The Halo+ shines as a go-anywhere entertainment solution that doesn't significantly compromise on performance, especially in favorable lighting conditions.

Both projectors represent the impressive evolution of the smart projector category. The EF22 pushes the boundaries of image quality in a compact form factor, while the Halo+ emphasizes versatility and portability. Your choice ultimately depends on which of these approaches better aligns with how you'll actually use your projector day to day.

Whichever you choose, both offer a level of convenience and performance that makes traditional home projection seem needlessly complicated by comparison—and that's perhaps the most impressive technological achievement they share.

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