Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser

Verdict

Small and simple to hold round, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is a good little projector for taking motion pictures on the go. It’s loud and its laser backlight does an excellent job of resolving element, dealing with shadows nicely whereas producing wealthy colors, supplied the show space is darkish sufficient. The dearth of a correct Android TV model of Netflix is somewhat disappointing, and this projector is sort of costly. If bodily measurement and the battery are the 2 most essential elements, this projector is an efficient alternative.

Introduction

Whereas sensible projectors appear to be getting brighter and greater with every new model, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is one thing of a return to the great previous days: a projector little larger than a can of beer that may go all over the place.

Its laser backlight is one thing I’ve not seen on such a small projector, serving to with color depth and shadow element. It’s not low-cost, and there are brighter projectors for a similar amount of money, however if you would like a really transportable projector, this one is an efficient alternative.

Design

• Weighs simply 950g
• HDMI output
• Small measurement

The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is refreshingly small. It’s not a lot larger than a big can of beer. Whereas its 950g weight is greater than an equal can, it’s not a lot for a projector and it’s simple to throw the Capsule 3 right into a bag and carry it all over the place you need.

It’s a disgrace that there’s no carry case for this projector. I’d get a bag, at the very least, to forestall the glass lens cowl from getting scratched on a time out.

Though the projector runs Android TV internally, and subsequently has sensible apps, there’s a HDMI port on the rear that may take as much as a 4K enter sign, and it helps HDMI eARC if you wish to ship audio to a suitable soundbar.

There’s a single USB-C port, which supplies energy and, if required, offline storage. If you wish to present energy and use offline storage on the similar time, Anker recommends utilizing a hub with a 60W charger; the projector itself requires only a 45W energy adaptor.

Though the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser might be positioned on a desk, it does have a tripod mount beneath, which supplies a bit extra flexibility.

There’s a small Bluetooth voice distant within the field, which is used to navigate via Android TV. It really works nicely sufficient, however I did discover that the choose button was somewhat too near the cursor keys, and it was simple to maneuver the selector as a substitute of urgent OK.

Options

• Auto keystone and focus
• Netflix needs to be sideloaded
• Runs Android TV

As with the vast majority of sensible projectors, such because the XGIMI Halo+, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser runs Android TV. This OS is designed for use with a distant management and large screens. Right here, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser has sufficient energy to run this working system easily.

The primary streaming apps can be found from the Google Play Retailer, together with Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, NOW and Apple TV+. There aren’t any UK-based catch-up apps out there.

A much bigger miss is Netflix, which may solely be put in on licensed gadgets, such because the Samsung Freestyle. Anker’s workaround is to offer an APK that may be put in through the Nebula Play app. That’s helpful in that Netflix is supplied, however the model supplied is the cellular model of Netflix.

I couldn’t get this to work with the distant management, so I switched the Nebula smartphone app, utilizing the mouse mode. Right here, I managed to sign up, however I couldn’t get Netflix to scroll down.

To make use of Netflix, I simply plugged an Amazon Fireplace TV Stick 4K Max into the projector’s HDMI port and used this as a substitute.

Setting the projector up is straightforward. Drop it down and it’ll routinely modify keystone (horizontal and vertical) and focus. I discovered that the projector received the outcomes proper every time I used it. The one factor that this projector doesn’t have are the flowery display detection and impediment avoidance that the XGIMI Mogo 2 Professional has.

Efficiency

• Wants darkish situations
• Laser backlight handles shadow element nicely
• First rate audio

Rated at 300 ANSI Lumens, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser isn’t significantly vibrant. I discovered that through the day, I needed to shut curtains to maintain the sunshine out to get a big TV-sized picture. Because it will get darker, the projector can deal with as much as a 120-inch picture, though sticking round 80-inches makes probably the most quantity of sense.

With a throw ratio of 1.2:1, this projector must be positioned 1.59m from a display to ship a 60-inch image, so it doesn’t want an excessive amount of room to get a big picture.

As is frequent for transportable projectors, this one makes use of DLP. There’s a 0.23-inch DMD chip, which has a local decision of 960 x 540. XPR expertise is used, which shifts the sensor 4 occasions per body to construct up a better decision Full HD picture. I’m fairly impressed by this expertise. Whereas not as sharp as a projector with a local Full HD picture, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser comes shut.

There’s a single laser backlight right here. Rated to final for 30,000 hours, the benefit of laser over LED is that the sunshine doesn’t diminish with age. It’s additionally a whiter gentle, which helps in relation to colors and element.

Though this projector isn’t that vibrant, it doest help HDR10, and has the facility to resolve element throughout the image, though it misses having the ability to present the searing highlights {that a} brighter mannequin can present.

Fireplace up one thing vibrant and vibrant, resembling Coco, and the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser actually reveals the wealthy and vibrant colors to their finest. Some projectors this vibrant battle somewhat and might look flat.

Turning to darker content material, I watched the bridge combat sequence in Black Panther: Wakanda Ceaselessly. With a projector at this brightness degree, it’s often a alternative between highlights or shadow element, however the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser does a fairly good job of doing all of it, with an excellent quantity of element down within the darkest elements of the picture.

Spend extra and get a brighter projector and also you’ll get higher outcomes, for certain, however what the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser does is show sufficient element that I might see what was occurring.

There’s not a lot in the best way of picture management, with sliders for brightness, distinction and sharpness, and color temperature and gamma controls. There’s additionally a wall color management, which helps modify the image colors to make-up for having to venture on a non-white wall; useful for travelling the place you don’t have a lot management over what you venture on.

There’s an 8W Dolby Digital speaker inside, which is sweet contemplating the speaker’s measurement: loud sufficient that I didn’t want exterior audio system, and clear sufficient to make speech simple to know. There’s not a lot in the best way of bass, and there’s some subtlety misplaced alongside the best way, however as an all-in-one projector the speaker does a adequate job for on-the-go motion pictures.

There’s a built-in battery that lasts for two.5-hours when watching movies. Realistically, that’s one common feature-length movie. Change the projector to Bluetooth speaker mode and it could possibly final for 10 hours on a cost.

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