Anker launches impressive portable 4K laser projector, plus a soda can-sized Google TV projector
Nebula, Anker’s smart entertainment brand, has just unveiled two brand new and very different projectors: a portable one that’s barely bigger than a soda can, and a 4K laser model that can handle 200-inch displays. Both projectors run Google TV with Netflix built-in and the usual array of apps.
The larger of the two is the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE. It’s 4K with Dolby Vision and Nebula’s proprietary NebulaMaster image processing engine, which the brand says delivers improved contrast and color accuracy. It puts out 1,800 ANSI lumens and can create an image of up to 120 inches in normal lighting conditions and a massive 200 inches in darker conditions. The brightness and color reproduction is achieved via a hybrid lighting system that combines LED and laser light, which Anker says delivers higher brightness and improved color.
The audio system here is 2x 15W full-range drivers with Dolby Audio, and the projector has auto-sensing and some automatic corrections for screen adjustment, obstacle avoidance and wall colour adjustment. It seems like an interesting addition to the best 4K projectors, as it’s big and quite serious, yet designed to be somewhat portable, with a handle on the top.
It costs $1,299 and is available for purchase now. We are waiting for information about a release in other countries and will update this article as soon as we can.
Pocket-sized projection power
The Nebula Capsule Air is shaped like a soda can and is only slightly larger than one. Despite its small size, it can deliver up to 150 ANSI Lumens for up to two hours via its built-in battery. The resolution is 720p and it can deliver a 60-inch image in normal lighting and 100-inch in the dark. The USB-C port supports PD (power delivery), so it can be used with a power bank or wall charger, as well as on battery.
At its $399 asking price, it seems like a very tempting option among the best portable speakers—it’s less than half the price of Samsung’s Freestyle Gen 2 Projector, for example, which doesn’t have a built-in battery.
There are three new accessories for the Capsule Air. The snap-on base is included with the projector and allows you to tilt the projector up to 30 degrees or 90 degrees when it is mounted on the wall. An example of a usage scenario is that parents use it to project cooking videos while they and their children are cooking.
That’s exclusive to the Air, but Nebula also made a gimbal stand ($49.99) for 360-degree angle adjustment, and a tripod with a power bank built in to double your playback time and offer more viewing angles. That one costs $129.99. Both of these accessories are compatible with the entire Capsule line, not just the Capsule Air.
Like the Cosmos 4K SE, the Capsule Air is available to buy now – and Anker is offering a $200 early bird discount on the Cosmos if you order early. We can’t tell you how good they are yet, of course, but we plan to review both as soon as we can.
