Verdict
Ruggedly built , tough and plan for the out-of-doors , the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a bad projector that ’s easy to carry around . At its best it ’s fun , capable of delivering an piquant and bright image . But , spend the same on a fashion model without a electric battery and you ’ll get a brighter image .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
One of the principal reason people want a portable projector for is for use alfresco , yet so many example are n’t in reality designed for this . The Anker Nebula Mars 3 horse that trends , built to withstand sprightliness out of doors .
It ’s a decent smart projector in its own right , too , with lifelike colours and flashy speakers . dividing line could be better and theNetflixworkaround is a little fiddly .
Design
apart from theBenQ GS50it seems as though most portable voguish projector are n’t especially well build to take being carried around . The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is dissimilar : it ’s racy and built for the with child outdoors .
AnIPX3 ratingmeans that it can take a direct spray of water , it ’s resistant to debris , and it can even take a cliff of 0.5 m , so will be alright if someone pink the projector over while it ’s play a motion-picture show .
When powered via the cable at the back , the galosh flap has to be opened , but there ’s a assault and battery inside , so this projector can be used when entirely sealed up .
I ’m a big fan of the slide - up lens covering . Too few projector have a genus Lens cover and those that do typically have covers that can be removed and lost .
A chunky carry handle create the projector easy to carry around , get to it feel like a tumid torch . In fact , the projector does reduplicate up as a magnanimous torch , thanks to its light . It ’s surprisingly useful to have a torch when using the projector outside , so you’re able to see what you ’re doing while set up .
There ’s a standard Bluetooth remote control for using Android TV and activate theGoogle Assistant .
Anker has also thoughtfully stuck a joystick on top of the handle , so you may do everything without even reach for the remote .
There ’s a singleHDMIinput at the back if you want to plug any extraneous twist , sitting next to twofold USB ports , which can be used to commove gadget .
There ’s a foot at the front to adjust the projector ’s slant , but you may well be better off using a tripod and the standard mount underneath . That ready it easy to stand the projector up and get it line up straight on to a blind or paries .
Features
As is received for wise projectors , the Anker Nebula Mars 3 runs Android TV , which has a big , favorable interface that ’s built for use with a remote ascendency . The same sometime issue subsist : projector are not certified to scat Netflix , so the Android idiot box version of the app ca n’t be instal , even though the other major cyclosis apps ( Apple TV+ , Amazon Prime Video , Disney+,Paramount+and NOW ) are all roll up .
As a workaround , there ’s a shortcut to the Nebula memory board , which get me download and set up the roving interpretation of Netflix . This works , to a degree , but not properly with the removed control . To select anything , the remote has to go into mouse mode , moving a great pointer around the screen . Not only is it dull to take anything but I found it too light to by chance select the wrong choice .
In a bind , this Netflix app will crop , but I ’d just stick aFire TV Stick 4 K Maxinto the back and use the built - in Netflix app there alternatively .
detector at the front of the projector can detect its slant and length from the silver screen , giving fast and precise autofocus and automobile keystone rectification . Impressively , the projector can also detect a screen and resize its image to tally automatically .
While you ’re serious off line the impression up as best you could ( directly on avoids the indigence for any digital corrections ) , the motorcar modus operandi at least intend that the Anker Nebula Mars 3 can correct for any way out fast .
Picture setting are basic with a few presets , plus a User mood , which give control over demarcation , intensity , sharpness , color temperature and da Gamma . This modal value also has a paries coloration setting , so the Anker Nebula Mars 3 can compensate if it ca n’t project onto a screenland or white bulwark ; handy for use in hotel rooms and the like .
There ’s a movement recompense option , too . While I ’m not a monolithic fan of this technology , on a large screen and with DLP tech , a trivial bit of compensation can help smooth out out the trope .
Performance
rat at 1000 ANSI lumens , the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is relatively burnished for a portable projector , although it does fall behind theAnker Nebula Cosmos Laser(1840 Lumens ) and theXGIMI Horizon(2200 Lumens ) .
Anker has an AI image mode , automatically adjusting light based on the ambient conditions . It ’s utile to have , as means that you do n’t have to set brightness manually as it starts to get darker .
Using the projector inside , I could fulfill an 80 - column inch screen during the daylight , provided I shut the curtains . Even then , the Anker Nebula Mars 3 was better suitable to bright and colourful cognitive content , as saturnine films and TV display were a bit harder to see until weak levels leave out .
outdoors , the projector exercise best in shadow , although it can be used from dusk at slightly smaller screen size .
Anker has used a 0.33 - inch DMD chips in this projector , which has a aboriginal resolution of 1280 x 720 . XPR engineering is used to lurch the chip four times per second to ramp up up a Full HD image that ’s virtually undistinguishable from the real thing .
An light-emitting diode abstemious informant provides sharp and even abut - to - edge lighting , with a life of 25,000 hours . I find oneself the projector was at its best with brilliant and shiny content . Dive into the colourful creation of Coco and the city of the all in shines in its sonority . look out Avatar : The Way of Water , Pandora truly come to life , with promising sunlight shine through the wood .
Sure , there ’s not quite the brightness to deliver the highlight that amodern HDR TVcan do , but HDR10 support does at least get more contrast and detail into the picture .
There ’s only so much that this projector can do with shadow detail . determine the bridge fight down scene in Blank Panther : Wakanda Forever , I could see what was going on , but the subtlety in the simulacrum disappears into the shadows . I found both the Cosmos Laser and XGIMI Horizon resolved more detail .
Audio is provided by a 40W 3 - way speaker . It is brassy , capable of filling a way and working well outdoors without the need for external speakers . There ’s a good bang of bass , although it lacks the rumble of a proper home - cinema organization . It can struggle a petty with very sea bass - heavy scenes , such as the fire at the first of Avatar – the sound recording gets a cutaneous senses deformed .
An integrated battery can last for up to five hour if the assault and battery is on Eco modality , which drops image luminousness . Leave the projector on its stock mode and around two hours is all you ’ll get .
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Should you buy it?
Incredibly sturdy and built to be stockpile around , this battery - power projector is design for the outdoors .
Spend the same on a rival projector without a battery and you’re able to get a much brighter picture and better contrast .
Final Thoughts
A well make and polished package , the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a simple projector to carry around , though its competition is very tough . For exchangeable money , the XGIMI Horizon is a lot brighter and has better sound recording . The Horizon does n’t have a battery , but for most people this is n’t work to be an issue , and a portable top executive station , such as the Jackery Explorer Pro , can leave tycoon on the move .
If I need a portable projector with a electric battery , I ’d probably go for the cheaper and smaller Anker Nebula Capsule 3 .
Trusted Score
How we test
We try every projector we survey thoroughly over an extended period of time . We habituate industriousness standard tryout to liken features properly . We ’ll always recount you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to refresh a mathematical product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
This model can take splashing and is ruggedised to protect it against drops .
There ’s an pick to establish the Android client , but it ’s a bit gawky .
