Nebula X1 Review: A Premium Outdoor Projector

Projectors with good image high quality are normally too massive to journey properly, whereas small transportable ones typically don’t look nice. The Nebula X1 tries to have it each methods, together with add-on wi-fi audio system, for an unimaginable out of doors watching expertise that may very well be higher than individuals’s indoor setup.

Native Decision

3,840 × 2,160

ANSI Lumens

3,500

Projection Know-how

RGB Laser

Connectivity

HDMI 2.1 (eARC), HDMI 2.1, USB-A, USB-C, Audio-Optical

The Nebula X1 has distinctive brightness and beautiful 4K readability, that includes a patented triple-laser optical engine, and delivering 3,500 ANSI lumens. It pairs with wi-fi audio system for 4.1.2 encompass sound.

Execs & Cons

• Accommodating built-in gimbal
• Loud quantity from on-board audio system
• Noticeably brilliant picture
• Comparatively transportable

• Wi-fi audio system extra value
• Can nonetheless get heat
• Google TV has its tough edges

Worth and Availability

The Nebula X1 is available for purchase now and retails for $2,999.99. Importantly, this value solely consists of the projector, and never its two companion wi-fi audio system.

The audio system can be found individually for $699.99 or might be bought as a part of different, numerous bundles. A carrying case, audio system, and microphones are a few of the equipment out there for the X1 projector.

The X1 Is Critical About Enjoyable Instances

Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek

After testing a number of completely different sorts of projectors through the years, the Nebula X1 is likely one of the first that I felt I may use in almost any surroundings for any kind of occasion. Minus a battery, it has every little thing you must watch a film on the go, packed into its 13-pound body.

After all, being transportable with a deal with, embedded audio system, and onboard streaming companies whereas not sacrificing brightness or decision doesn’t come low-cost. The $3,700 value together with the wi-fi audio system is an enormous funding.

Right here’s what the X1 entails if you’re critical about offering enjoyable film nights or comparable out of doors exhibits.

The Image Is Brilliant and Sharp

Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek

The X1 incorporates a 3,840 x 2,160 decision from its triple laser supply and three,500 ANSI lumens. It has 5,000:1 native distinction (56,000:1 dynamic distinction), a 14-element all-glass lens, can challenge as much as 300 inches, and has an auto micro gimbal with 25 levels of tilt.

To deal with all these options in a self-contained, transportable enclosure, the X1 is liquid-cooled. Past the scale and warmth advantages, Anker says that this cooling additionally lowers the noise stage to 26 decibels—close to imperceptible.

Curiously, I nonetheless felt some warmth from the X1. After watching a two-hour baseball sport on the projector, my hardwood flooring beneath and the route behind the system was extraordinarily heat. The ground wasn’t fairly “sizzling,” however it was simple to inform the place it had been sitting.

It’s exhausting to overstate how nice the X1 appears to be like, projecting a brand new film onto a 100-inch display in my yard. The visuals are brilliant and crisp, which makes the viewing expertise infinitely higher than a low-cost battery-powered projector.

Remember, nonetheless, that even with the excessive lumen rely, no projector can actually outshine the solar. I couldn’t see something on an outside display within the late afternoon, round 4:30 PM. Inside, in a room with home windows, the image was extra seen. Pretty much as good as this projector is, you’ll nonetheless want to attend at the least till nightfall to start out the film.

The X1 is meant to scan the projection floor and regulate the picture mechanically for the most effective place, measurement, and readability. I had a number of combined outcomes with this, however basically, it acquired shut more often than not. It was much less concerning the adaptation of projecting onto a clean wall inside or a display outdoors and extra concerning the automated sizing that was hit and miss for me.

It virtually all the time shone exactly throughout the out there area. When it didn’t, I discovered the controls to manually regulate the image measurement and form complicated and annoying. I didn’t want to the touch these handbook controls typically, so it isn’t price belaboring the purpose, however they felt unintuitive and took somewhat longer to situate within the warmth of the second. When different persons are excited to get the film going, you don’t wish to fuss with becoming the scale appropriately.

The X1 Is Constructed on Google TV

Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek

The Google TV software program is a double-edged sword. It offers entry to all of the streaming apps you may need. I used to be capable of entry my library of iTunes motion pictures by the Apple TV app. I may stream free exhibits on Tubi or watch baseball video games on MLB.TV. It’s all there.

Personally, I even just like the Google TV residence structure, which mixes streaming content material, bought motion pictures, and reside TV choices. The factor I’ve come to despise is the generic settings. The software program is generic sufficient to work on a variety of TVs and projectors, so it typically feels missing in areas the place the units are distinctive.

The encompass sound wi-fi audio system, for instance, aren’t within the Sound menu, however are in an Equipment menu farther down, nested within the settings greater than I might have hoped. That is nothing new for lots of projectors, however it could possibly get somewhat tiring.

Encompass Sound Exterior Is Hit or Miss

The flashy function of the X1 is that it helps first-party wi-fi audio system. Remember, nonetheless, that the projector doesn’t include them within the field. They’re an additional value.

When you determine to not go for the pair of audio system that value $700—$350 every—you’ll be able to nonetheless anticipate respectable sound from the built-in drivers. They get loud and sound comparatively full. It’s not saying an excessive amount of, however the X1 sound might be the most effective I’ve heard from a projector of its measurement.

In my yard, which measures round 1,200 sq. ft, the quantity was lots loud at 70%. To my ears, the fullness and high quality have been extra detailed than simply listening to a skinny TV’s included audio system.

The true deal with is to make use of the wi-fi audio system. They function 200 watts of energy, as much as a 97 decibel quantity, and eight hours of battery life. With every little thing firing, the X1 has a 4.1.2 encompass sound system.

In my out of doors utilization, I had a tough time choosing out many of the encompass results from the facet top-firing drivers. Their presence created a greater wall of sound, however the lack of partitions and reflection that indoor audio system profit from simply isn’t there when used outdoors.

The increase in sound high quality, nonetheless, is noticeable. I believed that speech was extra audible and clearer. The addition of audio system means the quantity can get louder, too, although you’ll solely want that for big occasions with an enormous crowd.

The quick folding legs of the audio system are intelligent and work properly. Every has a quarter-inch thread too to be used on a tripod. There have been two instances when one speaker didn’t join mechanically. I had to enter the settings and reconnect it. On the whole, although, you merely flip the facility on and the audio system join.

Ought to You Purchase the Nebula X1 Projector?

Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek

The Nebula X1 is an unimaginable projector. It’s extra highly effective and succesful than it has any proper to be. I’ve a number of quibbles with the system, however nothing that ought to cease you from shopping for it. The one factor that can cease individuals of their tracks is the worth.

For the time being, nonetheless, if you would like a projector that may carry out indoors and outdoors with an all-inclusive design, there’s not a lot else that matches the X1, no matter value.

Native Decision

3,840 × 2,160

ANSI Lumens

3,500

Projection Know-how

RGB Laser

Connectivity

HDMI 2.1 (eARC), HDMI 2.1, USB-A, USB-C, Audio-Optical