The Nebula Capsule series is the foundation upon which Anker’s projector sub-brand was built. The company is now three generations into this model and has recently released a Laser variant as well. Now, Anker is aiming to make the micro projector even more portable with the Nebula Capsule Air. This new addition to the family may have a smaller footprint, but it maintains the high-quality results of its heritage.
Design
The Nebula Capsule Air projector boasts a design consistent with its predecessors in the Capsule series, resembling a slim soda can. This cylindrical shape is not merely aesthetic; it serves a functional purpose as well. The entire shell is perforated with grill holes, facilitating sound dispersion from the internal 8W speakers featuring Dolby Audio and heat dissipation from the projector’s operation.
Housed within the Capsule Air’s sleek exterior is a 34Wh battery, empowering users to enjoy portable movie watching for up to 2 hours. Complementing the battery is a power bank, ensuring users can power their entertainment on the go. The Capsule Air also packs a punch in terms of hardware, featuring a quad-core ARM chipset, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of eMMC storage, ensuring smooth and responsive performance.
The front of the Nebula Capsule Air houses the projector’s key components: the display technology and depth sensors. The lens is capable of projecting a full 720p image, ranging in size from 40 to 120 inches wide. This is marked down from 1080p from the other Capsules in the lineup, but you have to remember this is the most portable model to date. With a brightness of 150 ANSI lumens, the projected image remains clear and vibrant even in moderately lit environments.
Additionally, Nebula has included a pretty slick snap-on base. This allows for you to have multiple angles to set up the projector on a flat surface like a table, but really shines that it also has anchor holes to mount the Nebula Air to the wall. A design like this makes it great for someone who want to use this in a more permanent location, and when you need to take the system on the go, you just twist to snap it off the wall.
Ports and Inputs
The rear of the cylindrical Capsule Air is home to an array of input ports, including an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-A port, a 3.5mm auxiliary port, and a USB-C port. The USB-C port offers versatility, serving both as a charging port and a data input. For those looking to use the Capsule Air as a portable speaker or enhance their movie audio experience, a dedicated Bluetooth pairing button is conveniently located on the rear panel.
Furthering the Capsule Air’s user-friendly design, an IR sensor on the rear interacts with the updated remote included in the box. This remote, while deviating from previous designs, provides a familiar and intuitive control experience, especially for those accustomed to Google TV or Android TV remotes. Dedicated buttons for popular streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video add to the remote’s convenience.
For situations where the remote is out of reach, the Nebula Capsule Air incorporates a capacitive area on the top of its casing. This area mirrors many of the remote’s functions, featuring a D-pad for navigation, volume controls, a home button, and a back button.
Software
The Nebula Capsule Air runs on Google TV, the latest operating system for televisions from Google. While not drastically different from its predecessor, Android TV, Google TV offers a slightly faster and more visually appealing layout and design. It also makes the Capsule Air the smallest available option from Nebula with Google’s most modern version of the operating system.
A noteworthy addition to the Capsule Air’s software is its certification for the official Netflix app. This certification is significant because Netflix is selective about the streaming devices it approves, and many portable projectors, like those in the Capsule series, haven’t historically received this validation. I believe the Capsule 3 and Capsule Laser are the only other editions with this certification of no-hassle Netflix viewing.
Battery Life
Anker estimates the Nebula Capsule Air’s battery life to be around two hours per charge with typical video playback. This estimation proves accurate in practice, allowing users to comfortably watch a few episodes of their favorite shows. However, the battery obviously falls short when it comes to full-length movies exceeding Air hours in duration.
While the battery life remains a limitation, Anker partially addresses this by incorporating PowerIQ and quick charge technology via USB-C in the Capsule Air projector. This feature enables a full charge in under two hours. Users can also opt to connect an external power bank for extended viewing sessions.
One optional accessory makes this a forgettable spec. Anker has leveraged its years of power bank tech and created a $130 tripod with an integrated power cell. This doubles the battery life of the Nebula Air to four hours of total playtime.
This unique add-on is compelling and a genius way to appeal to those that are going to take the Capsule Air away from a power source on a regular basis. It’s hard to talk you out of another cost measure if you’re going to have it hardwired in your setup, but having it built into another item you’re most likely using while mobile is fantastic design.
Conclusion: A Worthy Upgrade in the Portable Projector Arena
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The Nebula Capsule Air projector represents a significant step forward in Anker’s lineup of portable projectors. The inclusion of Google TV, the official Netflix app certification, and the refined design elements make it a compelling upgrade over its predecessors. Add in the smaller size and the fantastic mounting system, and optional tripod, you have one of the most complete Nebulas to date for most users.
Priced at $400 in typical retail markets, including Amazon and Nebula’s website, the Capsule Air offers a blend of quality, performance, and value. At the time of the review’s publication, the projector was available at a discounted price of $320 to celebrate its launch. Adding the Nebula Capsule Power Bank Tripod is another investment, but I think it’s well worth the cost. Currently, you can save $30 by bundling at check out of the Capsule Air via Nebula’s website.
- Purchase the Nebula Capsule Air projector from Nebula
- Purchase the Nebula Capsule Air projector from Amazon
- Purchase the Nebula Capsule Power Bank Tripod from Nebula
- Purchase the Nebula Capsule Power Bank Tripod from Amazon
