Let me say this up entrance: the Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K is a bizarre product. Not essentially in a nasty approach, it is simply… completely different. This projector is looking for — or maybe forge — a specific area of interest, and I am not completely certain it will probably pull it off. With its deal with and compact dimension it is simply tote-able, like different transportable projectors, however at its $2,200 checklist value, it is actually costly for one thing that you’re going to haul round like a low cost Bluetooth speaker.

6.8

Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K

$2,200 at Amazon

Like

• Brilliant
• Compact
• Android TV built-in

Do not Like

• Costly
• No zoom
• Few image changes

The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K Laser does plenty of issues properly. It is exceptionally shiny with first rate picture high quality, it has streaming built-in, and its audio system play loud sufficient for his or her dimension.

However ultimately, it merely prices an excessive amount of for what you get. Quite a few cheaper projectors, resembling Anker’s personal Nebula Mars 2 Professional, are simply as compact, if not as shiny or high-resolution. The truth is, because the Nebula 4K Laser lacks a battery and must be plugged in, it is much less versatile than many different compact projectors. In the meantime its lack of zoom, common total efficiency and restricted image changes put it a step behind extra historically configured 4K projectors. That is not all the story, nevertheless. 

Cosmos by the numbers

• Decision: 3,840×2,160 pixels
• HDR-compatible: Sure
• 4K-compatible: Sure
• 3D-compatible: No
• Lumens spec: 2,400
• Zoom: No
• Lens shift: No
• Laser life: 25,000 hours

The Cosmos Laser 4K is, you will be stunned to study, a 4K laser projector. It is rated at 2,400 lumens. I measured it at 1,607, which is excellent. The truth is, the brightness and the successfully everlasting laser gentle supply means the Cosmos Laser 4K will likely be brighter for longer than lamp-based projectors, with out having to pay for brand new lamps each few years. 

Nevertheless, there is no zoom or lens shift, so putting the Cosmos Laser 4K is extra finicky than conventional 4K projectors. If in case you have a display screen already, there’s precisely one place you may put the projector. An inch nearer, and you do not fill the display screen. An inch too far, and the picture overflows across the edges. The shortage of lens shift is not stunning; most projectors on this value vary do not have it. Nevertheless, there’s solely a modest upward throw, so if you happen to’re anticipating to place it on a espresso desk, I hope your display screen is fairly low.

The autofocus works rapidly, which is sweet. Like most transportable projectors, there’s additionally computerized keystone, which it’s best to all the time flip off. 

Then there’s the huge deal with, the Cosmos Laser 4K’s most blatant design function. I suppose it makes the projector extra “transportable.” Nevertheless, on the similar weight as most different projectors on this value vary (10.7 kilos), you will want a extremely large backpack to lug it round.

As I discussed, there is no battery. Wherever you find yourself utilizing it, you will want energy, similar to each different “conventional” projector.

Soundwise, there’s branding in all places that it was tuned by Harman Kardon. I am of a sure age and career that these phrases nonetheless imply one thing. At most quantity it performs loud sufficient, however actually not one thing that might fill a yard. If you happen to’re ear-level and in keeping with the audio system it may be fairly piercing. It has extra bass than you’d count on, and provided that no projector sounds “good,” total this is not a giant deal.

A pleasant assortment of connections

• HDMI inputs: 1
• USB port: 1
• Audio output: Bluetooth
• Web: 2.4GHz/5GHz
• Distant: Not backlit, additionally an app (Android/iOS)

On one hand, there are only a few bodily connections: only one HDMI and one USB. Actually, although, you do not want greater than that with projectors. Even if you happen to have been to make use of the Cosmos Laser 4K in a standard position in a house theater, you are solely operating one HDMI cable to the projector, ideally utilizing a receiver or soundbar because the HDMI switcher.

I respect that precise Android TV is in-built. Whereas not as clean an interface as, say, Roku, it really works properly sufficient. You do get all the main streaming companies, like Disney Plus, HBO Max, and so forth. There are a number of quirks, like no 4K with Vudu, however that is a minor knock.

In on a regular basis use, Android TV behaves like a layer positioned on high of the projector’s base person interface. Principally something I wanted to do to the projector required a number of, generally unintuitive, steps. Sure associated settings are in completely separate menus. If all you need to do is activate and zone out to some Netflix, that is simple sufficient. If you wish to change the brightness or modify some image settings so the picture appears to be like higher, all of it takes much more steps than the single-button entry different projectors have.

Not that there are loads of image settings. There are far fewer changes right here than different projectors, a difficulty we have talked about in different Anker projector evaluations.

The distant can be a bit troublesome. In the course of the preliminary setup you want to program which buttons management the quantity, entry the HDMI enter and so forth. Worse, if the projector decides to “overlook” these choices, which it did mid-review for me, you are caught with the quantity set at no matter it was earlier than the distant was forgotten. On the similar time I attempted to reconnect the app and that, too, would not join. I did ultimately get it working once more, and a number of firmware updates have been launched to handle this subject, so hopefully Anker may have it labored out by the point you learn this.

Image high quality comparisons

For my comparisons I selected the Optoma UHZ50 4K laser projector, as old-school a design as a 4K laser projector will be. It is $500 dearer, so in roughly the identical value ballpark, however has zoom, lens shift and much more image changes than the Anker. I linked each projectors to a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier and considered them side-by-side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display screen.

Trying on the specs, these projectors ought to look extraordinarily comparable, and on my display screen they did as properly, no less than at first look. Gentle output is mainly the identical, with a slight nod to the Anker.

The Optoma had a transparent benefit in distinction ratio nevertheless, so its picture had extra depth and appeared much less washed-out than the Anker’s. I measured a distinction ratio of 652:1 on the Anker, which actually is not unhealthy in comparison with this class of projectors, however the Optoma measured 1,007:1 and was visibly superior.

Essentially the most noticeable distinction, nevertheless, is the colour. First, the Anker has a slight greenish tint, which was noticeable side-by-side in opposition to the Optoma, however in isolation would not be a giant deal. Past that, nevertheless, the Optoma simply appears to be like much more pure. Greens look a bit too inexperienced on the Anker. Caucasian pores and skin tones, for instance, look a bit extra synthetic, with a slight pallor in comparison with the Optoma. In-between tones are somewhat off as properly. A salmon-colored jacket on the Optoma appeared beige through the Anker.

I did not have the UHZ50’s cheaper brother, the UHD35, available for comparability. That projector is mainly the identical dimension because the UHZ50, however prices $1,350. It is solely barely dimmer than the Cosmos Laser 4K (1,567 vs. 1,607 lumens), which will not be noticeable. The distinction ratio is successfully the identical, 649 vs. 652:1. No streaming on the UHD35, nevertheless it does have a little bit of zoom. You may have to exchange the lamp each few years, however stated lamps are round $100. So even if you happen to’re expecting 4 hours an evening, each night time, on the very best lamp setting, that is over 22 years earlier than you’d cowl the value distinction. Which is to say, for approach much less cash you will get an identical picture, extra versatile everlasting placement, or roughly the identical portability — minus the massive deal with, in fact.

Total the Anker would not look unhealthy by any stretch. However with a value this excessive, “not unhealthy” is hardly a promoting level. 

A Cosmos of potentialities

One of the best ways to consider the Cosmos Laser 4K is that it is a transportable projector on steroids greater than a house projector with a giant deal with. That does not excuse its lacking options and efficiency as a lot because it explains a few of it. For $2,200, nevertheless, I do not assume it is unreasonable to count on extra of each.

In the long run I do not fairly get who this projector is for. To me, an costly projector requires a house theater surroundings, with audio system and an actual display screen. If you’d like one thing momentary and extremely transportable, two grand is some huge cash to be lugging round, large deal with or not. Certain, the Cosmos Laser 4K is way brighter than your typical transportable projector, however actually, is the Optoma UHZ50, which you could possibly carry with one hand in a pinch, that a lot much less “transportable”?

If portability is what you are on the lookout for, I counsel going for one thing smaller, cheaper and battery-powered. If you happen to drop it, or it will get knocked over by partying racoons, it is much less of a loss. Anker’s personal Mars II Professional is way dimmer and has approach much less decision, nevertheless it works nice in that position. You simply cannot have as massive of a display screen to your outside film nights, however you would not must run an extension wire.

If you happen to’re within the value vary of the Cosmos Laser 4K, I believe the larger adjustability, flexibility and picture high quality of the Optoma UHZ50 or UHZ35 is a more sensible choice. 

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