Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser evaluate: Compact necessity for a weekend away or yard film evening

Desk of Contents

Anker checked out a can of soda and mentioned, “Yeah, we are able to make a mini projector that’s the identical measurement.” With its compact measurement, weight of about two kilos, and spectacular show high quality, the 1080p Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector has earned a everlasting place in my journey bag. That’s, as soon as I take it down from utilizing it as my on a regular basis TV. Not solely does the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser supply a projection of as much as 120 inches, but it surely additionally doubles as a Bluetooth speaker with rattling tremendous sound high quality.

What’s to like concerning the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser

Anker has turn into one of many extra dependable manufacturers if you happen to’re in the hunt for inexpensive tech that doesn’t utterly suck. The Anker Soundcore P20i earbuds are Mashable’s selection for the greatest funds earbuds, the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 are the greatest sleep earbuds we examined, and the Anker 735 Nano charger is one in all Mashable’s tech editor’s secret weapons. So after we began testing the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector, we had been in no way stunned to be wowed.

When you’re inquisitive about an excellent moveable mini projector that impresses with picture and sound high quality, whereas additionally doubling as a Bluetooth speaker, you’ve landed on the best evaluate. Anker succeeded in making a travel-friendly projector that weighs a bit over two kilos and shows by way of a laser mild supply to offer us 300 ANSI Lumens of brightness in 1080p HD decision. 

When testing the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector, I used it inside and out of doors with an Elite Screens Yard Grasp Plus. I additionally used it at my in-laws’ home on a window shade, on a barely textured wall at an Airbnb, and on a totally white, easy wall in one other. After all, the Elite Screens was the best choice, however the different makeshift screens labored simply tremendous, and I feel you’d nonetheless be in for an excellent outside film evening if you happen to used a white sheet.

For these , listed below are some noteworthy particulars of the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector:

Specs:

• Dimension: 6.7 inches tall x 3.3 inches diameter

• Weight: 2.1 kilos

• Rated brightness: 300 ANSI lumens

• Native decision: 1920 x 1080

• Engine kind: DLP

• Inputs and interface: HDMI, USB-C

• Battery life: 2.5 hours film playback mode; 10 hours Bluetooth speaker mode (52Wh battery)

• Guarantee: 1 yr

Autofocus begins the present

After you’ve powered the Capsule 3 Laser on, it takes off on an computerized journey to search out the very best focus and keystone. For these unfamiliar with projector operate, keystone correction ensures your display is a normal rectangular form. It corrects for distortions which can be prone to occur if the projector is misaligned out of your projection floor, like if it’s not set within the middle or it’s tilting barely towards the ceiling. Earlier than you’ve gone into the Google TV menu, the Anker Nebula takes off by itself present to get the give attention to keystone right.

To be sincere, it’s one thing I by no means tire of watching. There’s an simple gratification that comes from the projector discovering the right focus. However if you happen to’re much less smitten with this present, go forward and depart the room to seize the popcorn. This course of can take a number of seconds. The Nebula doesn’t want help or intervention to get this proper about 99 % of the time. Ought to it mess up this course of, or the projector must be moved mid-show, there’s a front-and-center button on the included distant that’ll redo the method. I’ve by no means wanted to provoke a 3rd try at good focus in my testing.

A soda can with ridiculous picture high quality

There’s no use in shopping for a projector if you happen to’re going to be sad with the picture high quality, and that’s actually the primary motive why we love the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser. Given it’s the dimensions of a can of cola, the picture it may well venture is severely spectacular. Its native decision is 1920 x 1080. It is able to projecting a show of as much as 120 inches, which is a good way to impress your folks throughout a yard film evening. 

A nod to the distant

The Nebula Anker Capsule 3 Laser comes with its personal modern distant management. It has your normal buttons like energy, quantity controls, mute, and fast entry to YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video. There’s additionally a single button to ship the projector into auto focus and keystone mode. Just like the projector itself, the distant’s compact and just about unnoticeable in weight if you pack it into your weekend bag.

The distant, nonetheless, actually shines (actually) in its potential to light up when it senses a slight bump or contact. Which means you received’t should memorize the buttons’ areas as a result of they mild up in a darkish room. 

Crank the tunes

Identical to the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser impressed in picture high quality, the sound from the built-in speaker is strong. The inclusion of an 8W Dolby Digital speaker within the mini projector makes this a one-man present, and also you received’t want to hook up with your private home’s stereo system or convey alongside a Bluetooth speaker. But it surely additionally has a 3.5mm stereo output do you have to want to bodily connect with an exterior sound system.

Along with offering the soundtrack in your motion pictures and reveals, the Capsule 3 Laser can operate as a Bluetooth speaker, and not using a show. This makes it an excellent system to pack alongside for tenting or a weekend away because it’s a two-for-one, serving as each a projector and speaker.

A visit throughout the Pacific with the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser

Product testing has no borders, so I packed the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector with me to Japan as a result of why not? Because it solely weighs two kilos and has a compact form, it was fairly simple so as to add to my backpack. I studied the Airbnb photographs and knew I’d have the right white wall to lastly watch Shogun throughout my journey. I additionally simply needed to rewatch some episodes of the unimaginable Tokyo Vice (disgrace on HBO for canceling this sequence) as a result of when in Rome. On nights after I was too drained to maintain strolling the neighborhoods in Tokyo, utilizing the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser was a dream.

I pack mild — as in my one carry-on backpack is available in at underneath 20 kilos, together with all of my tech and my laptop computer. Committing to packing an additional two kilos was truly sort of a giant deal for me, however I didn’t remorse it for an immediate. Touring with the projector with built-in Google TV meant I used to be nonetheless logged into my private accounts on all streaming platforms. I didn’t should log in on the Airbnb TV after which set a reminder to myself to sign off earlier than I checked out. It was all there and loaded up. I additionally utilized the projector as a Bluetooth speaker each morning whereas preparing for the day. Plus, the Capsule 3’s USB-C charging means I didn’t should pack a separate adapter or cable. I used my cellphone/laptop computer charger, the Anker 737 GaNPrime charger.

Essential for outside film nights or residing the condo life

This portability makes me assume the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser might be superior if you happen to stay in a compact condo and don’t really feel like getting a conventional TV. These generally is a ache to maneuver with to not point out a priority for taking harm. You additionally don’t have to cope with placing holes within the wall that might be vital if you happen to went the mounted TV route.

After all, a shining level of a conveyable projector is the power to take it exterior for an epic yard film evening. The built-in battery can final for as much as 2.5 hours, which implies you’ll make it by not less than one movie or two animated Disney hits (go tropical with a double characteristic of Moana and Lilo and Sew). Be mindful you’ll want a projector display of some kind to make this film evening occur.

This isn’t the projector for daytime soaps

In case your principal viewing occasions happen throughout shiny hours within the afternoon and also you don’t have room-darkening curtains, the Nebula Anker 3 Laser might be not the best match. The 300 ANSI lumens are spectacular, particularly given the projector’s tiny measurement and inexpensive worth, but it surely’s not the best in shiny situations. You’ll lose particulars of the picture to the purpose of dropping the plot. 

The Anker Nebula’s lumens are actually designed for darkish viewing both at evening or in a room that may obtain relative darkness.

It takes a smidge of persistence to get going

Whereas I’m personally wonderstruck by the automated focus and keystone course of, getting the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser to the stage of being able to play your chosen present or film takes a little bit of persistence. The main focus course of, paired with the pretty sluggish preliminary loading of Google TV, means you may neglect the snacks, go get them, and are available again to a projector that’s simply turn into prepared in your choice. I didn’t discover this a deal breaker in any sense, but it surely does maybe point out low RAM for Google TV to run at a zippy pace.

You’ll need to decorate (bought individually)

The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser comes with the projector itself, a USB-C charging cable, an adapter, and the lovable distant, however no stand. It does, nonetheless, have a normal threaded mount on the underside so you should buy a stand or mount individually. After all, the projector works simply tremendous and not using a base, but it surely’s a worthwhile improve to have. Plus, the small measurement of the projector can truly be a unfavorable by way of avoiding knocking it over.

I journey with the compact Nebula Projector Foldable Stand, which does the job. At dwelling, I a lot choose the adjustable Nebula three-foot ground stand that retains cords tucked away. When automobile tenting or utilizing the projector within the yard, the Nebula Capsule Energy Financial institution Tripod is superior because it’s a conveyable measurement and presents an additional two hours of battery life. However because the energy financial institution tripod weighs as a lot because the projector itself, I wouldn’t advocate this selection for journey.

You’ll seemingly additionally need some type of carrying case. For the reason that Nebula Capsule is roughly the dimensions of a can of soda, I could have used a neoprene wine koozie in a pinch on one journey.

In order for you equipment like a stand or tripod, it can save you some cash by bundling them collectively when shopping for from Anker’s web site.

Laser vs. non-laser

Anker makes a non-laser model of the Nebula Capsule 3, which is just known as the Nebula Capsule 3 mini projector. It’s cheaper, barely smaller and lighter, however you lose the picture high quality that comes from a laser projector. It’s nonetheless able to give you a terrific film evening, and it’s travel-friendly, but it surely’s simply barely much less fairly in relation to the show. It’s additionally barely dimmer, coming in at 200 lumens as a substitute of the 300 lumens on the laser model. Once more, this isn’t the best projector if you happen to’ll be watching throughout the day or in a shiny room.

The usual Capsule 3, nonetheless, comes with one profit I choose considerably over the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser. The usual Nebula Capsule 3 has a USB-A port along with the USB-C and HDMI. The Laser model omits the USB-A port. Since each variations of the projector cost by way of the one USB-C port, you can’t use this port to view media. You’ll want a dongle if you happen to hope to each cost the projector and use the USB-C port for a media library with the Capsule Laser 3. That’s not an enormous deal, and you’ll seize an Anker USB-C hub to treatment this port scenario for underneath $25 at Amazon.

Is the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser value it?

At full worth, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser prices $749.99 on the time of this evaluate, but it surely goes on sale usually at Amazon for about $600. For that worth, the Capsule 3 Laser presents an unimaginable worth for a conveyable projector that comes with spectacular picture high quality in 1080p decision. There’s additionally the additional benefit that it may well function a conveyable Bluetooth speaker. When you’re taking this on a tenting journey, to a weekend cabin getaway, or on trip, that eliminates the necessity to pack a separate speaker. The Google TV addition additionally means you received’t should log into your accounts on the TV on the Airbnb. It additionally prices by way of USB-C, which is one thing you’re most likely already packing, so that you received’t have to pack an additional cable or adapter. 

With the built-in battery, you may watch not less than one film on the projector earlier than it’s good to discover a energy supply. However if you happen to’re utilizing it as a Bluetooth speaker, you may stand up to eight hours of listening time earlier than a recharge.

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