When you think of a portable projector, the squat, cylindrical shape of the Anker Nebula Capsule II is likely to come to mind. Famous for its “go camping and project it on the side of your tent” marketing, it is the first port of call for those looking to purchase a travel projector. This device is one of three Nebula Capsule projectors produced by Anker Innovations, and its 720p resolution, 200 ANSI-lumens light output, and Android TV 9.0 smart platform make it the top-spec model in this trio.
These little extras come at a cost, however, to the point where the price of the Nebula Capsule II approaches that of some of Anker’s high-end Go Anywhere models. The construction of the Nebula Capsule II may be its best feature. It is not just the compact size of the device, but the solidity, sturdiness, and shape that make it so portable. It can fit in any bag, even in a coat pocket or desk drawer. It is not certified as water or shock resistant, but it is well enough made to survive a few bumps, bruises, and spilled glasses.
The only additional protection we would have liked to see is a sliding lens cap, but if you avoid putting the Nebula in the same compartment as your keys and coins, you shouldn’t worry too much. Inside is a single-chip DLP projection solution, supported by a 200 ANSI-lumen LED light and an 8 W single-driver audio system for audio. On the back are four prominent sockets: an HDMI 1.4 input, a USB Type-A for flash drives, a USB-C for charging, and a 3.5 mm headphone output.
Video and music streaming services are a good option for the Anker Nebula Capsule II, with its Android TV 9.0 operating system offering access to more than 5,000 apps on the Google Play Store. As long as you are within range of a wireless network, you can access Twitch, Hulu, Plex, YouTube, Tidal, Spotify, BT Sport, and Amazon Prime Video. Chromecast streams most other apps, including All 4, BBC iPlayer, Rakuten, and Now, but you cannot stream Netflix or Apple TV. Buy the Anker NEBULA Capsule II Smart Portable Projector right now at $599
Like most portable projectors, it is a fixed-lens device, so no zoom. It has a projection ratio of 1.3:1 and can create an image between 20 and 100 inches. Anker recommends a projection distance of 40 to 80 inches for best results, which means a screen image of 36 to 71 inches. Although sharpness and detail are slightly higher at the strength indicated by Anker, a 100-inch image is still good, especially considering that at only 720p resolution, this is not a high-resolution experience.
The tonal balance of the early scenes of The Martian on Blu-ray is quite pleasing when scaled to the 720p output of the Nebula Capsule II. Black depth is reasonable and dark details in the shadows produced by the harsh sunlight on the surface of the red planet are effective enough. Mixed lighting handling is even, with differences in reds and oranges and some granular texture in the sand and rocks.
