Verdict
Although cheaper than its predecessor , the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE introduces Dolby Vision alongside a hybrid LED / laser backlight – It ’s a potent combination . With gloomy luminousness than some competition , HDR capacity lacks some puncher , but this projector produces clean , realistic colours and is still shining enough to see at large screen sizing without a blackout elbow room .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE tag a leap forrard in performance and standards for the projector company , acquaint Dolby Vision for the first time in its argumentation - up , along with a double LED and laser backlight .
This modelling does sacrifice brightness compared to its predecessor , which intend that HDR content does n’t quite have the punch here that it does on rival framework .
Design
The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE look similar to theAnker Nebula Cosmos Laser 1080P , with a similar carry hold on top that do it easy to move the projector around the sign of the zodiac ( well , as well as you’re able to do for a projector that weighs 4.5 kg ) .
There ’s no protection for the genus Lens on the front , so you might want to buy the optional carry case if you mean to move the projector around a lot , particularly outside your home .
There ’s no insolent stand or desegregate adjustment on this projector , so if you want more flexibleness as to where it points , you might want to buy a projector and use the standard thread mountain underneath . Anker also sells a scope of tripods and stands if you favour .
There are some obvious differences between this and the Cosmos Laser . For starters , the Cosmos Laser had a plug - in Android dongle that went in a pother at the rear , and was call for to provideNetflix . As the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE runsGoogle tv set , it ’s endorse for Netflix , so there ’s no need for the dongle .
That hit liveliness well-off , and means that there are two free HDMI ports ( the Cosmos had one ) . Both ports areHDMI 2.1 , with one supportingHDMI eARC , so you may run auditory sensation to a soundbar or speaker system . There ’s also a USB port and a 3.5 mm audio output .
Aside from a superpower push button , the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE is rather devoid of control , so the bundled Bluetooth remote control is required ( or the Nebula app ) . It ’s a very similar removed control to those I ’ve witness with other projector , with the minimal range of controls and an mix microphone for voice commands .
Here , Anker has added an light-emitting diode backlight to the remote control . It ’s a simple upgrade but it does make the remote gentle to see when using it in a darken elbow room .
Features
Google TV has rapidly become the criterion for advanced impudent projectors , and it ’s good to see it here . As well as micturate setup fast ( you’re able to use your Io or Android phone ) , the operating arrangement supports Netflix natively .
All of the other major streaming apps are uncommitted , too , with support forAmazon Prime Video , Apple TV+,Disney+ , Now andParamount+ . At the time of authorship there was no BBC iPlayer or Channel 4 , but ITVX and My5 were there .
As I ’ve come to expect , the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE has several smart auto - setup features , include autofocus , auto linchpin correction , CRT screen detection and obstruction dodging . All work well , and make it wanton to get a square , in - focus moving-picture show . I always have to mention that it is ripe to get the projector line up manually as best you may , as the figure adjustment feature are digital corrections that deoxidize overall resolve .
New to this model is Wall Color Adaption , which uses the sensors on the front to find the wall coloring and then counterbalance for it . That ’s really handy if you ca n’t encounter a plain white wall to envision on to , and the scheme is far more accomplished than the manual systems that let you pick from a limited option of wall colours . I ’ve seen this feature article on the JMGO N1S Ultimate 4 K , and it ’s just as impressive and utile here .
For more in - depth picture control , the projector has a set of image presets that you could choose from , let in Standard , Vivid , Sport , Movie , Game and Conference . The fresh musical mode is NebulaMaster , where the projector detects high spot and shadow and uses gamma 2.2 curve to adjust direct contrast dynamically .
When Dolby Vision content is evidence , the picture modes change to Dolby Vision Dark , Dolby Vision Bright or Dolby Vision Vivid .
advance stage setting include a colour tuner , and 11 Point White Balance Correction , so the image can be fine-tune to beseem the environment and capacity that you ’re watch .
Performance
As a DLP projector , the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE has a 0.47 - inch DMD chip indoors , which has a native solution of 1920 x 1080 . XPR technical school shifts the bit four times per frame to work up up a 4 K image . This is a mature technology now , and this projector is undistinguishable from a ‘ true ’ 4 kilobyte presentation , with a sharp range of a function from side to side .
It does lock the 4 jet refresh to 60Hz , which is fine for most content , although it can be worth leaving the motion recompense feature film turned on at the lowest setting just to get rid of any potential judder .
Once again , as seems received for this form of projector , the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE has a fixed throw ratio of 1.2:1 , so you do n’t have to put the projector too far back from the acoustic projection control surface to get a decent image .
Anker say that this projector can go up to 200 - inches , which is realistically large than the walls in most rest home . Of course , the size of it of image that you could plan depends on the ambient brightness .
Rated at 1800 ANSI Lumens , the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE is more or less dimmer than its herald , the Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser . This is probable to be because the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE utilize a HybridBeam backlight , combine LED and optical maser light sources .
It ’s like technology to that on theXGIMI Horizon Ultra , and design to grow high brightness images with natural colours and get disembarrass of some of the potential downsides to laser backlights , such as speckling . I should sharpen out that the Horizon Ultra manages 2300 ISO Lumens ( around 2875 ANSI Lumens ) , so is considerably shiny .
Overall , Anker say that this projector covers 123 % of the Rec.709 color gamut , and that the backlight will last for 30,000 minute .
That said , 1800 ANSI Lumens is n’t a speculative level of light at all . At this level , I could watch a large screen ( 80 - inches+ ) at heart with the blind undetermined . I find that this level of viewing was best for bright capacity , and that when watching moodier films I had to shut the blind .
I find screen brightness to be comparatively even , with no detectable undimmed or dark patches . I then take in a lot of films and television set to see what the projector is adequate to of .
Dolby Vision is a welcome plus . With dynamic metadata , each scene is optimize for HDR . It helps create a more natural and plentiful prototype than you get with the more generic HDR10 , where the metadata is static and built or an intact photographic film or video show . That said , what ’s possible is still limited by a combination of brightness and the backlight , as well as the picture way chosen .
Watching Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes , I found that the opening funeral scene meet a little from disturbance in the picture . Turning the manner from Dolby Vision Bright ( image on the unexpended , below ) to Dolby Vision Dark ( correct image ) sorted that out and give a more natural picture .
What the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE ca n’t do is deliver dark Black and very lustrous highlights , as the fire scene shows . The image is safe , clean and elaborate , but a bright projector , such as theJMGO N1S Ultimate 4Kreally brings that aspect to aliveness with searing highlight . Below , I ’ve make the shot with Dolby Vision Bright ( left ) and Dolby Vision Dark ( Right ) .
With brighter content , such as the timber scenes in Apes , the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE is very in effect . Again , colour do n’t pop in the same way of life as they do on a brighter model , but they ’re copious , natural and elaborate .
Switching to Guardians of the Galaxy 3 , the dark scenes with Rocket ’s friends are rendered about as well as you may get on a projector . Blacks are middling good , considering it ’s a projected icon , and there ’s detail throughout the frame .
With the scene in the running play wheel with the High Evolutionary , there ’s again a conflict between Dolby Vision Bright ( left ) and Dolby Vision Dark ( right ) . I find that shiny option give more point , but with more noise . Overall , a brighter projector , such as the Horizon Ultra or N1S Ultimate 4 K are adept at extracting more detail .
Dual 15W speakers are built - in with support for Dolby Audio and Dolby Digital Plus . They ’re pretty effective speakers , on equality with a good television set . I found them vindicated for audio , trashy enough to fill a room and well - balanced . They miss some bass , but for world-wide watching , they ’re good ; for fix use , I ’d belike use the eARC end product with a more powerful environs organisation .
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Should you buy it?
Overall great image quality and good contrast proportion , mixed with structured Netflix make this portable projector a safe all - rounder .
If you want to make the most out of HDR content or watch under a wider range of lights , you ’ll want a brighter projector .
Final Thoughts
There ’s a lot of contention , all with various limitations and benefit . TheXGIMI Horizon Ultrais brighter and also has Dolby Vision but it does n’t have a aboriginal Netflix client , and it costs a few hundred pounds more .
pass more on theJMGO N1S Ultimate 4Kand you get a much hopeful depiction and a more flexible stand , although you sacrifice Dolby Vision . With the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4 K SE , the price is very good for a Dolby Vision projector and there ’s Netflix built - in , although it ’s not quite as hopeful as the contest . For a range of alternative , read our guide to thebest portable projectors .
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FAQs
Yes , melt Google TV , this projector has a native , official Netflix client .