8.2 / 10

Score

Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus

Pros

• Lamp!
• Great lifestyle-friendly design

Cons

• Fans are a bit loud
• No zoom or lens shift
• A little pricey for the performance

The Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus is a 4K projector with an aesthetic unlike anything I've reviewed before. Not only does it resemble a lamp, but it also functions as one. A strip of LEDs along the bottom can create a warm glow just by tapping the top of the projector. It's part of a new line of Epson projectors announced a few months ago.

The LED light engine creates a bright projected image, and the built-in Google TV lets you stream Netflix or just about any other streaming service anywhere there's Wi-Fi. On a bedside table, coffee table or even from a shelf, you can get a huge image with minimal impact on the rest of your decor. 

Performance isn't up to the level of non-lifestyle projectors for the same money, nor our top picks for best projector, but the image is reasonably bright and colorful, and it has built-in speakers that sound decent. Though it's a little expensive, it also looks great when it's off, which isn't something that can be said about most projectors.

Specs and such

• Resolution: 4K (pixel-shifted 1080p)
• HDR-compatible: Yes
• 3D-compatible: No
• Lumens spec: 1,000 (claimed)
• Optical zoom: No
• Lens shift: No
• LED life (Normal mode): 20,000 hours

Despite its lamp-like design, the Flex Plus has a fairly traditional projector body. It's very similar in size and specs to the EF21/EF22 from last year. What's not immediately obvious is that the projector can turn and pivot on its stand, so you can angle it where you want. You're fairly limited in placement beyond that, however, as there's no optical zoom nor lens shift.

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This is when I tell you that you're much better off positioning the projector correctly and not relying on angling the projector (and, by extension, using keystone correction, which is always a bad idea). However, I understand that most people buying the Flex Plus aren't likely looking for the ultimate in picture quality. They want something that fits into their life, not arranging their life around the projector, which can often be necessary. Just needed to mention it.

The Flex Plus puts out a claimed 1,000 lumens: I measured 655 in its most accurate mode and 817 in its brightest mode. That's within a reasonable range of its spec and well within the tolerances of different measurement gear and methods. Nearly all projectors measure less than their specs for a variety of reasons. It's brighter than the similarly priced and sized JMGO N1S 4K I reviewed earlier this year, and it's also brighter than the EF21 from last year.

Epson projectors rarely have high contrast ratios, but I measured a reasonable 468-to-1. Not great, not terrible. That's better than several recent 4K DLP projectors. The median for all the projectors I've reviewed for CNET is 490-to-1, so this is right in that range (for the math nerds, the average of all the projectors is higher because the higher-end models have correspondingly higher contrast ratios).

The Flex Plus, like most Epson projectors, is a pixel-shifted 1080p, which is two 1080p images overlaid and shifted by a fraction of a pixel. This results in greater than HD resolution on screen, but it's not as sharp as a like-priced DLP projector. Those projectors also use pixel shifting, but I've found DLP typically has a more detailed image. This is only one aspect of picture quality, though, and since most of the other aspects of the Flex Plus's image are done well, it's not a big deal. 

Connections

• HDMI inputs: 1 (eARC)
• USB port: 2 (1 USB-A, 1 USB-C)
• Audio: Headphone output, Bluetooth
• Internet: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4GHz/5GHz
• Remote: Not backlit

As is typical with lifestyle-focused projectors, there's only a single HDMI connection. If you want to connect both your gaming consoles, you'll need to swap cables or use an HDMI switcher. If you don't want to use the built-in Google TV interface, you can connect a streaming dongle and use the adjacent USB connection to power it. 

On the audio side, there are two 40mm drivers and two passive radiators. These are tuned by Bose and actually sound pretty good. The sound is strongly focused rearward, which might be unfortunate depending on where it's sitting in your setup. If the Flex Plus is between you and the screen, know that there's a distractingly bright LED power light on the back, and it doesn't seem like you can disable it. I found a Sharpie or piece of electrical tape could solve that problem. The Flex Plus can also double as a Bluetooth speaker.

Interestingly, for a projector this size, you can also power it via USB-C. Epson claims 70 minutes of playtime with a 24,000 mAh battery pack. Not quite enough for a full movie, so I wouldn't call this a portable projector, but it's a cool option to have. If you don't have a suitable table for the Flex Plus, a $200 floor stand is available to get it high enough to fill your wall with minimal keystone errors. 

Picture quality comparisons

Epson HC2350

JMGO N1S 4K

The JMGP N1S 4K is a compact, 4K projector. It's a little smaller than the Flex Plus but costs roughly the same. It also has a pivot mount design. The Epson Home Cinema 2350 is a traditional home theater projector, no gimbal or pivot here. It also costs roughly the same as the Flex Plus, so it offers a look at what you can get if image quality is a higher priority over aesthetics and ease of placement. I connected all three to a Monoprice distribution amplifier and viewed them side by side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain screen.

In terms of brightness, the HC2350 is clearly the winner. That's not a surprise, really. I measured 2,075 lumens in its most accurate mode, over 3x brighter than the Flex Plus and over 3.5x the JMGO. If you're willing to make some concessions to placement, larger, dedicated projectors are almost always going to beat lifestyle-focused designs. Just something to keep in mind. Between the JMGO and the Flex Plus, the lifestyle-oriented Epson is noticeably brighter, but the difference isn't as huge as it is between the JMGO and the Epson HC2350. 

Contrast was a bit of a different story. The eye is slightly fooled by the brightness of the HC2350, but its contrast ratio is actually the lowest of the bunch, approximately two-thirds less than the Flex Plus. Looking closer, especially at black bars when viewing 2.35:1 content, they're fairly similar. The JMGO's contrast is definitely better, with darker black bars even when considering the lower overall brightness. Its objective, measured numbers were hard to determine when I reviewed it because it had an undefeatable brightness ramping. However, subjectively, it looks like around 2x the contrast of the Flex Plus. That sounds like a lot, but it's basically "that looks a little better" when viewed side by side. A noticeable difference though not a substantial one.

Both Epsons have fairly accurate color, with the HC2350 being quite accurate, the Flex Plus less so, and the JMGO behind both. From grass to blue skies, to the subtle variations in skin tones, the Epsons look more natural and realistic. The JMGO is only a bit behind the Flex Plus as measured by my gear, but side by side, the differences are fairly noticeable. As in, it's enough different in some specific ways that it looks worse than the raw numbers suggest. This is especially noticeable with skin tones. Everyone looks a little pastier. They're not as "unhealthy" as I've seen with some projectors, but between these three, the JMGO is definitely the worst.

So, yeah, if you have the space for it, the bulkier HC2350 blows the other two off the coffee table for only a little more money. Between the two minis, it's harder to say. Epson is brighter, so that's a big deal, as is its better color. The JMGO's contrast is definitely better, and it looks a little sharper, too. Also, to me, the Flex Plus's design is better for its intended purpose. Perhaps the lifestyle projector has found me at a "less tech in my life" phase.

'I love lamp' 

(Yep, it's from the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy) 

I think the Flex Plus has a very clever design. There has been a recent push for projectors that fit unobtrusively, or at least less obtrusively, into someone's life. I love projectors and have used one as my main "TV" for over 20 years. They require some sacrifices to work well, however, so making them more lifestyle-friendly makes sense.

The gimbaled designs that have become quite common among some projector manufacturers have been an attempt to fit projectors wherever a user wants them. I get that, but my first priority is picture quality, and if you start making concessions to placement and relying on keystone correction or, gasp, digital zoom, picture quality is clearly not your priority. That's fine, but not what I'm focused on.

Also, gimbaled designs still look like projectors. Gadgets. The Flex Plus resembles a lamp. It's a stealth gadget! That in itself isn't a reason to buy it, as the picture quality is good -- it's not just fancy decor. The JMGO for the same price is better in some ways, worse in others, enough so that it's almost a wash. I'd lean toward the brighter Epson and its better colors, but the N1S 4K isn't a bad option. The significantly better HC2350 (one of our picks for best projector, FWIW) easily outperforms either of these, yet that's a bit like saying an umbrella keeps the rain off you better than a tiara. I mean, sure, but you're not going to catch me accessorizing with an umbrella.

If you're looking for something to enjoy on the occasional movie night, ready to go on your bedside table whenever you want, the Flex Plus fits in better than most lifestyle projectors and still produces a good-looking image.