The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is a 1080p LCD laser projector. It's an Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector, so it's capable of projecting content at an extremely short distance from the screen or wall: it projects a 61" image at a distance of 1" and up to a 120" image at a distance of 15.2". It has two HDMI ports - one of which doubles as the ARC port - with 1080p @ 60Hz support and has an integrated 2.1 Yamaha sound system with two full-range 5W speakers and a 10W subwoofer. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support and comes with the Android TV smart interface with full Chromecast integration.
Our Verdict
The Epson LS300 is good for watching movies. It's very bright, so it performs well in bright rooms. While it doesn't have a wide color gamut, colors pop due to the projector's brightness. Its contrast is alright, so its blacks are slightly raised when viewed in a dark room. The LS300's color accuracy is excellent overall without any calibration, which is good because the projector doesn't have any white balance or color calibration.
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Very bright.
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Excellent color accuracy nearly out-of-the-box.
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Has a full suite of smart features with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
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Ultra Short Throw projector that can be placed very close to the wall or screen.
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Doesn't have any calibration features for color accuracy purists.
- 7.6 Movies
- Updated Sep 13, 2024: We mentioned the newly-reviewed BenQ X500i in the Contrast section of this review.
- Updated May 21, 2024: Updated text throughout the review according to Test Bench 0.9, mainly in the Verdict, Compared To Other Projectors and Contrast sections.
- Updated May 21, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.9. We've overhauled our Contrast tests, as we now measure contrast at various average pixel levels (APL). You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Apr 03, 2024: Mentioned the newly reviewed Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 in the Differences Between Sizes and Variants section of this review. We also added links to some of our recommendations in the Compared To Other Projectors section.
- Updated Feb 13, 2024: Review published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought and tested the Epson LS300. This projector has no variants, but Epson has other projectors in their EpiqVision line, like the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 and Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12. This projector also has a higher-tier model, the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800. The higher-tier model projects sharper images due to its pixel-shifting technology, and it's also capable of projecting 1080p @ 120Hz, which is great for gamers.
You can see the label here.
Compared To Other Projectors
The Epson LS300 is a good projector. It's expensive and is limited to 1080p output, but it's bright, is very color-accurate, and comes with a full slate of smart features. The LS300 is an Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector, so it can project a large image at a short distance from the screen. Still, if you're not cramped for space, other products offer better image quality for a similar or cheaper price.
See our recommendations for the best projectors for home theater, the best home projectors, and the best short-throw projectors.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 and Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 are very similar projectors, with the main difference being that the LS300 is limited to 1080p @ 60Hz on its two HDMI ports. In comparison, the LS800 is a 4k pixel shift projector capable of up to 4k @ 60Hz on its three HDMI ports and 1080p @ 120Hz on its third port. This means that the LS800 also projects a sharper image overall, but the LS300 is much more accurate out-of-the-box.
The XGIMI HORIZON Ultra and Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 are very similar projectors. The Epson is the most accurate projector of the two and has Ultra Short Throw capability for smaller rooms. Still, the XGIMI is a 4k projector (with pixel shift), so it projects a sharper image. The XGIMI is smaller, lighter, and has full auto keystone correction with object avoidance and autofocus, so it's easier to set up than the Epson.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is better than the XGIMI AURA. They're both Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors, which can project large images from very short distances. The XGIMI is a 4k projector, so its image looks sharper overall and is better in a dark room due to its better contrast. However, the Epson is significantly brighter and has vastly better image accuracy, so it looks truer to the content creator's intent.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is significantly brighter than the BenQ X500i, but the BenQ is better overall due to its superior contrast, wider color gamut, and advanced gaming features. The BenQ is also a much smaller unit overall, making it far easier to move around than the bulkier Epson. Finally, the BenQ projects a sharper image due to its 4k pixel shifting capabilities, while the Epson is limited to 1080p. If you need a projector for a bright room, then the Epson is better overall, and the BenQ is more well-rounded.
The Epson Home Cinema 3800 is better than the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300, although the LS300 has more connectivity options and smart features. The LS300 is also an Ultra Short Throw projector, so you can install it very close to the screen. Still, the Home Cinema 3800 is a 4k projector (with pixel shift), is a bit brighter, has better contrast, and is noticeably more color-accurate after calibration, so it's the better-looking of the two projectors.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is better than the Hisense PX1-PRO for watching movies. They're both Ultra Short Throw projectors, but the Epson is significantly brighter, with much better pre-calibration accuracy. The Hisense has a much wider color gamut but can't emphasize its colors due to its low brightness. The Hisense is a 4k projector with HDMI 2.1 ports, while the Epson is limited to 1080p, so the Hisense is enticing for gamers. Still, it's not bright enough to provide a graphically pleasant experience.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is better than the Samsung The Premiere LSP7T. The Epson is limited to 1080p, while the Samsung is a 4k projector with pixel shift. Still, the Epson makes up for it with a vastly brighter image, and is extremely accurate without needing to be calibrated. It's also more versatile as it can project on more screen sizes and at a shorter distance than the Samsung.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is a bit better than the Formovie THEATER. The Epson is much brighter and has far superior color accuracy. Still, the Formovie does project a sharper image than the Epson due to its pixel-shifting 4k technology, while the Epson is limited to 1080p. The Formovie also has much better contrast and a wider color gamut, so it looks much better in dark rooms than the Epson.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is much better than the Optoma GT1090HDR. The Epson is designed for use as an Ultra Short Throw projector, so it can be placed much closer to the screen, making it more convenient to set up. The Epson also handles colors much better, resulting in better accuracy and much brighter colors relative to pure white. Finally, the Epson has a built-in smart interface, so you can easily access your favorite streaming services directly on the projector without the need for an external streaming stick.
Test Results
The Epson LS300 isn't meant to be portable as it's a big and heavy projector, and it lacks an integrated battery, so you need to plug it in. The projector lacks auto keystone correction, so you'll need to adjust the image manually, and it also doesn't have autofocus. It does have an integrated 2.1 speaker system, so you won't need to worry about connecting it to a soundbar if you do move it.
The Epson LS300 projector uses a laser light source, which requires no maintenance and will last for 20,000 hours or more. You likely won't ever have to worry about replacing it. As it's a 1080p projector, it's limited to outputting a 1080p @ 60Hz resolution. It's an Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector, so it's capable of projecting on a 61" screen at a distance of 1" and up to 120" at a distance of 15.2".
This Epson EpiqVision LS300's peak brightness is great. Its brightness uniformity is only alright, but it's very bright overall, and it's bright enough to make colors pop. It can easily handle bright rooms.
The Epson EH LS300W has okay contrast, so it looks fine when watching content in a dark room, although its blacks aren't very inky. If you'd prefer a projector with better contrast, look up the BenQ X500i instead.
The projector has excellent pre-calibration accuracy. The white balance is great, with only very minor accuracy errors, and its color accuracy is fantastic. Its color temperature is a tad on the cold side, giving everything a slight blue tint.
The Epson EH LS300 doesn't have white balance or color calibration, and modifying the contrast/brightness or color temperature doesn't yield any improvement. Thankfully, the projector is very accurate without needing to be calibrated.
The Epson EH LS300B has a decently wide color gamut. It does an excellent job with the Rec. 709 color space, which is used with SDR content. Unfortunately, it doesn't display the wider Rec. 2020 color space very well.
The projector has Android TV built-in, and it's smooth and fast to use with a ton of available apps. The projector has full Chromecast integration, so you can play content from your phone directly on the projector. Finally, the projector has an integrated 2.1 speaker setup from Yamaha, with two full-range 5W speakers and a 10W subwoofer.
