To avoid the complicated setup that projectors often struggle with, Anker did something clever: placed the lens mechanism on a gimbal that can be tilted up to 25 degrees. Combined with 1.67x zoom, autofocus, keystone correction and ambient light detection, the projector fully automates your setup. First, you need to choose a spot on the screen or wall and place the projector at a prescribed distance of between 2.5 and 10 meters, depending on the size of the screen or wall. You must center the projector as close as possible to avoid digital correction (keystone correction), which can negatively affect image quality. Then the magic happens with the push of a button.
The Nebula X1 uses a feature called Spatial Adaptation to scan the area in front of it. The lens tilts up and down before showing a grid pattern, so the final image is sent almost exactly there. It’s not perfect as it can be affected by obstacles like small plants or thin cables, but for me it worked well both on the wall and on a dedicated display. The projector can adapt to the surrounding light and even the color of the wall. Another feature called Spatial Recovery lets you save these settings for frequently used locations.
Laser motors are usually heated and cooled by fans, which can cause disturbing noise. However, the Nebula X1 is the first consumer model to feature liquid cooling, reducing fan noise to a barely audible 26 dB. Thanks to this cooling system, the projector can also take up little space. This is a huge improvement in quality of life compared to most competitors.
In terms of inputs, the X1 has two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which has enhanced audio return channel (eARC) functionality. However, this standard supports high refresh rates of up to 240 Hz in 4K.
Google TV is built-in for streaming and projector control. It offers a large library of apps via Google Play and a familiar interface. You also get the official Netflix app with support for 4K Dolby Vision without having to connect a streaming device, plus support for Chromecast and Google Assistant for voice control. The downside is that it can be slow at times, especially with menu settings like the projector’s picture controls.
Image quality
Anker uses what they call “bio glass” in the Nebula’s 14-element lens to increase lens clarity, color accuracy and durability. The 4K triple laser engine has an output power of up to 3,500 ANSI lumens and a contrast ratio of 5,000:1. At the same time, it offers color accuracy with a Delta-E value of less than 0.8 and an impressive Rec.2020 color spectrum of 110%, matching premium Ultra Short Throw (UST) models from Samsung, LG and Formovie. Even the 4K Dolby Vision support I mentioned is rare among the competition.
The result is the sharpest, brightest image I’ve ever seen on a projector in this price range. There was enough light to watch a football match comfortably and without shadows on a sunny day. And if you switch to conference mode, you can increase the brightness further for a clearly visible image even with the lights on, although there is the downside of a slight blue tint.
When used in a dark room or outdoors at night, the Nebula’s image quality is the best of any projector I tested. Although it uses the same 0.47-inch Texas Instruments DMD (digital mirror device) as many other 4K models, the image is clearer and sharper thanks to the glass lens. Contrast and black levels are also flagship values in this price range and are not far behind high-end projectors from JVC and Sony, which cost twice as much. Again, this is thanks to the optics, Anker’s 6-blade dynamic iris diaphragm (another feature usually only found on high-end projectors) and the company’s NebulaMaster 2.0 image quality algorithm.
Thanks to Image Science Foundation (ISF) certification, normally reserved for more expensive projectors, color accuracy is instantly excellent in both HDR and non-HDR modes. In fact, I found my camera’s color calibration to be nearly perfect in “ISF Night” mode. This meant that the material was close to what the filmmakers had calibrated for similar TV series and films. once in Hollywood, Andor, Dunes 2 AND Spider-Man: No Way Home. If the colors are not exactly what you want, you can make manual changes. Like many other 4K projectors of this type, the X1 also suffers from slight light leakage at the edges of the image. However, it is easy to use and is only noticeable when the projected image is particularly dark.
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Anker also worked a little more on the sound. Thanks to the four built-in speakers with a total output of 40 watts, the sound quality is stable. The lack of fan noise helps a lot. The X1 itself offers decent highs and lows, but most importantly the dialogue is easy to hear and understand.
For a major audio upgrade, you can add an optional pair of Anker Nebula brand satellite speakers that automatically connect to the projector via Wi-Fi. Each contains a pair of 40-watt front speakers, a 20-watt upward-firing driver, and a 20-watt side-firing driver, which together create a surround effect. Together with the projector, they provide no less than 200 watts of sound with Dolby Audio support (but unfortunately not Dolby Atmos). They are also battery operated and can be used for up to eight hours, which is especially useful when watching outdoors. However, this also means you need to keep them charged.
To test these speakers, I chose a number of music-oriented films, e.g A complete stranger, lecturer AND rocket manwith an action film with a good soundtrack and sound effects, Dunes 2. Despite their small size, the satellite speakers ensured that elements such as music, dialogue and sound effects remained crisp, clear and evenly balanced with powerful and dynamic bass. You can certainly get better results with a dedicated 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, but these speakers offer respectable sound quality, are easy to set up and automatically sync with the picture. The X1 also supports other external Bluetooth speakers, although you may need to adjust the pairing in the menus to ensure perfect picture and sound synchronization.
Anker also offers a $4,000 bundle that includes the speakers and a pair of Soundcore microphones. These also automatically connect to the X1 and allow it to be used as a very expensive karaoke machine. They offer clear sound, but you don’t get the usual benefits of a karaoke setup, like AI voice cancellation and amplification.
Summary
The Nebula X1 is a strange company. It’s marketed as a portable outdoor projector, but it’s also the best. in Projector I have ever tried. With an impeccably sharp, high-contrast and color-accurate image, the video quality is impeccable. Its easy installation and overall dimensions also make it a great choice if you want to transport the X1. With additional satellite speakers, this is by far the best portable projector you can get.
However, the Nebula De X1 is superior to this model in terms of image quality, portability and ease of installation.
In fact, most people looking for a portable projector won’t spend more than $500, let alone $3,000. So who is this for? I think it’s ideal for buyers looking for a high-end UST or long-throw projector and want a little more versatility. Some even use it as a stand-alone indoor projector, as it can be mounted on the ceiling or on a stand. In other words, if you can afford it, use it however you want, it’s very versatile.
