| Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $429.00 |
| Technology | 3LCD |
| Displayed Resolution | 1280 x 800 |
| Brightness (Manufacturer Claim) | 3000 ISO Lumens |
| Light Source | 188Watt UHE Lamp |
| Contrast | unlisted |
| Zoom Lens Ratio | 1.35:1 |
| Lens Shift | None |
| Lamp Life | 6,000 Hrs (12,000 Hrs ECO) |
| Sound System | 5-watt mono |
| Weight | 5.3 lb |
| Warranty | one (1) Years |
OVERVIEW
Having a bigger and more immersive screen makes any event better.
“As hybrid work continues to grow, professionals need easy-to-use tech that works well in different places and for many uses,” said Kenny Tang, Product Manager at Epson America. “Whether you’re giving a presentation during the day or watching movies with friends at night, a larger, brighter screen really makes a difference. The EpiqVision Flex projectors offer the best of both worlds—convenient, flexible, and super bright big-screen images.”
Epson says their EpiqVision Flex projectors are made to “own any room.” The CO-W01 model lets hybrid workers enjoy clear, bright visuals for work presentations like PowerPoints, plus the quality needed for movies and TV shows.
The EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 can project images over 300 inches. While I don’t have a 300-inch screen to test, it performed great at 100 inches in my lab. Its vertical and horizontal keystone correction, along with zoom and manual focus, make it perfect for people who move their projector around a lot.
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is a compact projector perfect for hybrid workers—great for both work presentations and home movie nights.
Unlike many DLP competitors, this 3LCD projector has equal color and white brightness, making colors look bright and vivid even in rooms with some light. Epson says the CO-W01 offers 3,000 ISO lumens for both white and color brightness, based on official testing standards. Keep in mind, the brightness can change depending on how you use it.
Epson measures brightness using ISO Lumens (an international standard), not ANSI Lumens (a US standard). Both measure projector brightness but use different methods. For more details, see the Brightness section of this review.
Color brightness (or Color Light Output) is a useful way to compare projectors because it measures how well colors show up, not just white light. This means even projectors with similar white brightness can look very different depending on how they handle colors.
While the CO-W01 is small and easy to move, it’s not a smart projector with built-in apps. But with an HDMI port and speaker, you can easily connect streaming devices to watch movies and shows with good sound and picture quality. If you want a smart version, check out the EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02 ($629), which runs Android TV and supports apps like Netflix, Apple TV+, YouTube, Hulu, and more.
For this review, Epson sent Projector Reviews an EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 projector to test. I connected it to different devices like a Kaleidescape movie server and player, Apple TV 4K, and a PlayStation 5 using high-quality HDMI cables. The image was projected onto a 100-inch Elite Screens Aeon fixed frame screen with special Edge Free® and CineWhite® UHD-B materials.
Key Features:
Price: $429
Native resolution: WXGA (1280 × 800)
Uses Epson’s 3-chip 3LCD technology
3,000 lumens for both color and white brightness
Built-in speaker
Advanced Scene Adaptive Color Correction
Vertical keystone correction: ±30°
Manual horizontal keystone correction: ±30°
Digital zoom: 1.0 to 1.35x
Size with feet: 11.6″ W × 3.4″ H × 8.3″ D
Size without feet: 11.6″ W × 3.2″ H × 8.3″ D
Weight: about 5.3 lbs
HARDWARE
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is small and easy to move around.
With its size of 11.6″ x 3.4″ x 8.3″ (including feet) and weight of about 5.3 lbs, it’s very portable. You can easily move it around your home or office, or even carry it in a backpack. All you need is a power outlet to use it, making it simple and flexible.
Whether you split your time between working at home and the office, travel a lot for work, live in a dorm, or just want a portable projector at home, the EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 fits the bill. It’s great for showing presentations during the day and enjoying movie nights in the evening. The bigger, more immersive screen makes everything better.
CHASSIS
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 has one HDMI port on its right side (when facing the front).
At the front, you’ll find the lens, remote sensor, and a lever to adjust the front foot for leveling. On top, there’s the speaker, power button, status light, and a manual focus wheel. The right side also has an HDMI ARC port (for audio), a USB-B port, a USB-A port, and the air intake vent.
At the back, there’s the power plug and a spot for a security cable. While the plastic build won’t stop a thief, the cable holder can keep it safe if it falls from a ceiling mount. The left side has the air exhaust vent and a security slot for a lock.
The projector has a built-in speaker, but you can also connect it to an external soundbar or AV receiver using the HDMI ARC port for better sound.
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 remote has all the basic buttons you need, like power, keystone, source, enter, volume, mute, and a directional pad. It also has a handy quick access button for Color Modes.
These Color Modes are made to give the best brightness, contrast, and color for different types of content and rooms. You can pick the mode that fits your needs or try out different ones to see what looks best.
Like many portable projectors, this remote doesn’t have backlit buttons, which makes it hard to see in the dark. The white remote with dark grey buttons can be tricky to use without extra light, like a phone flashlight or a lamp.
LENS
According to Epson’s User Guide (pages 25 and 124), the EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 can project images from 25 inches up to 378 inches in its native 16:10 aspect ratio. For 16:9, it goes up to 367 inches, and for 4:3, up to 334 inches. Epson’s website says it can show images up to 300 inches. In my tests, I projected between 75 and 100 inches.
The projector also has Auto Picture Skew Correction, which adjusts the vertical shape of the image to make sure it looks perfect no matter how you position the projector.
| Throw Distance By Screen Size (16:10 Aspect Ratio) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 40 inches | 43 to 58 inches (108 to 147 cm) | |
| 60 inches | 65 to 87 inches (164 to 222 cm) | |
| 80 inches | 86 to 117 inches (219 to 296 cm) | |
| 100 inches | 108 to 146 inches (274 to 371 cm) | |
| 200 inches | 217 to 293 inches (550 to 744 cm) | |
| 300 inches | 325 to 439 inches (826 to 1116 cm) | |
Epson offers a free online Projector Throw Distance Simulator for those who want more details on projector placement. Just choose the CO-W01 model, and the tool will show you the best distances for different screen sizes and aspect ratios, adding to the info we already shared.
Keep in mind, factors like how far the projector is from the screen, the video format, and zoom settings can affect the picture’s size and quality. In my testing, the projector was bright enough to deliver a good image at 100 inches, even with some light coming in after I partially opened the blackout shade.
MENUS
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is easy to use, and its menu system is simple too. You can navigate it with the remote control. The menu has six main sections: Image, Settings, Network, ECO, Info, and Reset
Image Menu:
You can change the color mode with options like Dynamic, Vivid, Presentation, Cinema, sRGB, and Blackboard. You can also adjust light output, color, sharpness, and aspect ratio.Settings Menu:
This menu covers installation, display, operation, language, and reset options. You can adjust horizontal and vertical keystone, zoom, projection type, test patterns, and screen size (4:3 or 16:10). The operation section lets you tweak HDMI link, sleep mode, and auto source search, though the default settings work fine for most users.Network Menu:
Here, you can turn the Wireless LAN Power on or off and configure other network settings.ECO Menu:
Control the projector’s light output and set sleep timers and standby modes.Info Menu:
Find basic info like lamp hours, resolution, refresh rate, and serial number.Reset Menu:
Restore all settings to factory defaults.Performance – Color Reproduction:
Don’t overlook the color quality of this small projector. Even without HDR, it produces bright, lively, and accurate colors thanks to Epson’s Advanced Scene Adaptive Color Correction and 3-chip 3LCD tech.This feature analyzes the content you’re watching and adjusts the colors to match perfectly. It considers things like ambient light and color temperature to make the image look natural and true to life, whether you’re watching movies, presentations, or photos.
Epson’s advanced 3LCD system splits light into red, green, and blue beams. Each color goes through its own LCD panel, creating separate images. These images are then combined using a special prism before the light reaches the lens, giving you rich and accurate colors. This process helps avoid the “rainbow effect” seen in some other projectors.
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 has great color accuracy right from the start. Like many Epson projectors, its brightest mode is called DYNAMIC.
DYNAMIC: The brightest mode, good for bright rooms. It keeps colors balanced even at high brightness.
VIVID: Makes colors more saturated and vibrant.
PRESENTATION: Highlights small details and text, great for presentations.
CINEMA: Best for watching movies in dark rooms, giving a natural and cinematic look.
sRGB: Matches standard computer display colors for the most accurate colors.
BLACKBOARD: Made for projecting on green chalkboards or similar surfaces, adjusting colors to look right.
I mostly used CINEMA mode for natural colors but switched to DYNAMIC or VIVID when there was more light in the room.
The projector looks good right out of the box, but you can tweak brightness, contrast, and sharpness to suit your room. Free test patterns from Murideo’s website and YouTube channel can help you fine-tune the image. They also provide easy step-by-step guides.
BRIGHTNESS
Epson says the EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 has 3,000 ISO lumens of brightness. In my tests, I measured 3,624 ANSI lumens.
Epson shows the projector’s brightness as 3,000 ISO lumens for both white and color light. They don’t give an ANSI lumens number. Both ISO and ANSI lumens are common ways to measure projector brightness, but ANSI numbers are usually higher. According to the standard, 1 ANSI lumen equals about 0.8 ISO lumens.
To test, I used my Murideo SIX-G Generator with a full white test pattern. I set the projector to its brightest settings—High Light Output and Dynamic Color Mode—and took several brightness readings near the center of the lens.
At max brightness, I got 3,624 ANSI lumens. Using the conversion, that’s about 2,899 ISO lumens, very close to Epson’s 3,000 ISO lumens claim. Keep in mind the exact numbers can change a bit depending on testing conditions.
I also measured brightness in all six picture modes. Here are the results in ANSI lumens:
Dynamic: 3457
Vivid: 2279
Presentation: 2698
Cinema: 2279
sRGB: 2428
Blackboard: 1704
Getting over 3,000 ANSI lumens from a small, $429 projector makes the EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 a strong choice for both business use and fun, like outdoor movie nights.
BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL
The photos above show dark scenes that give you an idea of the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01’s black level performance. The blacks look more like dark greys, which is common for many compact projectors in the same $429 price range.
When judging picture quality, it’s important to think about how you’ll use the projector. The CO-W01’s black levels could be better, but it’s not designed to compete with high-end home theater projectors in dark, dedicated rooms. Instead, this projector is made for places like conference rooms, classrooms, or multi-use spaces where there’s more ambient light and deep blacks aren’t as important. Plus, its 3000 lumens brightness is more useful in these brighter environments.
VIDEO IMAGE QUALITY
You can make big changes to the picture on the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 by adjusting the Color Mode, Light Output, and Color Temperature settings.
The video looks really good right out of the box, but tweaking these settings can improve the image a lot.
At first, I kept the Light Output on High and switched between Cinema and Dynamic Color Modes to find the best look for my rooms. The photos I took at different resolutions show this, but they haven’t been color-corrected, so the real image quality might actually look better than the pictures.
TEXT AND PRESENTATION QUALITY
The Flex CO-W01 can handle Full HD signals, but its native resolution is WXGA (1280 x 800). If you connect a laptop via HDMI or wireless casting, the initial image might look small and not fill the screen. But using the built-in zoom feature, you can adjust the display so all text is clear and easy to read, even from a distance.
When your laptop is set to WXGA or Full HD, the text looks sharp and readable, even small fonts like 8 points have clear edges with little blur. The Presentation mode is great for showing slides, documents, charts, and spreadsheets clearly.
AUDIO QUALITY
The built-in speaker of the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 sounds better than you might expect for its small size. While it doesn’t offer a wide range of sound dynamics, the 5-watt mono speaker is loud enough for a typical family room, classroom, or meeting room.
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 has a built-in 5-watt mono speaker.
Its HDMI port lets you send better-quality audio to external devices like a soundbar or home theater system. For testing, I connected the projector to my advanced audio setup, and it worked perfectly.
If you often move the projector for work presentations, the built-in speaker is good enough. For its size, the CO-W01’s audio does a solid job meeting your sound needs on the go.
SUMMARY
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 Portable Projector is a new 3LCD lamp-based model from Epson, priced at $429. It has WXGA resolution and supports Full HD video, making it great for work and entertainment. Unlike many DLP projectors, it shows brighter, more vibrant colors even in rooms with some light because it has equal color and white brightness.
Epson says the CO-W01 delivers 3,000 ISO lumens for both white brightness and color brightness. These numbers come from standard tests called IDMS 15.4 for color light output and ISO 21118 for white light output, as explained on page 10 of the user guide.
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is great for hybrid work, letting you do both professional presentations and watch movies at home. It’s not a smart projector, but it has an HDMI port and built-in speaker for easy streaming. To use smart apps like Amazon Prime Video or Disney+, you’ll need to plug in a streaming device (like a Fire Stick) or choose the $629 EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02, which has built-in Android TV for easy streaming.
Here’s a quick comparison between the two:
| Model | CO-W01 | CO-FH02 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $429 | $629 |
| Resolution | WXGA (1280 × 800) | Full HD (1920 x 1080) |
| Brightness | 3000 ISO Lumens | 3000 ISO Lumens |
| Smart Features | No | Yes – Android TV |
| Keystone Correction | Manual | Auto (Vertical) |
| Speakers | 5-Watt Monaural | 5-Watt with Bluetooth |
| Size (W x D x H) | 11.6″ x 8.3″ x 3.4″ | 12.5″ x 8.3″ x 3.4″ |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs | 5.7 lbs |
Both have similar brightness and connectivity, but the CO-FH02 offers higher resolution and built-in smart TV features. Choose the CO-FH02 if you want built-in streaming without extra devices. If you already have a streaming device or want a budget option, the CO-W01 is a solid pick.
Few projectors under $500 match the CO-W01’s brightness and picture quality, making it a great choice for meeting rooms, trade shows, or outdoor movie nights.
Pros:
Epson’s 3-chip 3LCD tech
Advanced Scene Adaptive Color Correction
3,000 lumens for color and white brightness
Works well for movies, meetings, and remote learning
16:10 native aspect ratio, supports 16:9 and 4:3
Built-in speaker
Compact design
Cons:
No built-in battery for easier portability
Remote control has no backlight, making it hard to use in the dark
EPSON EPIQVISION FLEX CO-W01 – SPECIFICATIONS
| Full Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Projector Model | EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 |
| Price (MSRP) | $429 |
| Imager Type | 3LCD |
| Displayed Resolution | WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels) |
| Native Resolution | WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels) |
| Brightness (Manufacturer Claim) | 1000 ANSI lumens |
| Light Source Type | 188 Watt UHE Lamp |
| Light Source Life | 6,000 hours (12,000 hours ECO) |
| Contrast Ratio | Not Listed |
| Zoom Lens Ratio | 1.35x |
| Power Zoom/Focus | No |
| Lens Shift | N/A |
| Interchangeable Lens | No |
| Ultra-Short Throw | No |
| Native Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| HDTV/4K | 720P/1080i/1080P |
| DVI or HDMI | HDMI |
| 3D | No |
| Blu-Ray 3D | No |
| Speakers | 5 watt Mono |
| Noise Level (-db) | 38 dB |
| Low Lag Gaming | No |
| Smart Functionality | None |
| Business | Yes |
| Classroom | Yes |
| Portable | Yes |
| Special Features | Advanced Scene Adaptive Color Correction |
| Networking | No |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 11.6 inches x 8.3 inches x 3.4 inches |
| Weight | 5.3 lb |
| Warranty | 1 year (Epson Limit Warranty) |