Nebula by Anker Mars 3 Air review: Neat, bright, and not too pricey

The portable projector is an increasingly practical tool in the creative's toolkit; if you make videos there is much to be said for viewing them on the big screen (or reasonably white wall). Of course they're also great for watching movies and all your favourite video and indeed acting as a display if, like this, they have HDMI ports.

The Nebula Mars 3 Air is one of quite an extensive range from Nebula, a brand belonging from Anker, and – like other higher-end portable projectors – it boasts 1080P native projection and, importantly, a battery, meaning you can use it without being plugged in. (One thing to note; Nebula's naming could have a little more variety – they also have a 'Mars 3', which is a different device).

What makes this device special too is that rather than running Android TV or any of the more obscure solutions I've tried on other portable projectors, Anker/Nebula provide Google TV so this device essentially acts like a smart TV (you can download all the apps, Prime, Apple TV etc.) and has very straightforward interface, especially if you're registered with Google or YouTube, and the Netflix app is included with official support so you don't even have to download it.

TV enthusiasts will also know that means we're looking at a device with voice control via Google Assistant though if you prefer there is also a phone app.

Build and handling

The Mars 3 Air has adopted a pretty straightforward rectangular block with handle approach to the design, though on closer inspection everything is designed and assembled with a notable sense of chic, from the bottom up.

Speaking of, there is a black plastic base plate with an array of vents spaying around where it meets the dark silver shell. Only a tripod screw hole (don't worry, that's metal) is cut from the base, while the shell – all four sides a single moulding – has cutouts at the back for a more serious vent with ports and switches at the top. At the opposite end is the projector lens itself, while at either side there are grids for the active cooling (fan).

Atop the device you'll find a a directional button, repeating the one on the remote, and – when powered up, four pinprick lights to indicate charge level. Arcing over that is the rubber handle with the name embossed. Additionally inside there is a motion sensor to trigger the automated keystone correction process (which is definitely more successful than some projectors I've tested, quicker and introducing less aliasing).

The Nebula also has a remote control which which works via infra-red and (after pairing) Bluetooth – pretty much an industry standard for projectors. A nice touch is backlighting for some of the buttons. As Netflix is 'official' it gets its own button, as does Prime. There are also volume keys, though it'd be nice to see a traditional pause icon (yes, I'm old enough to remember VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray et. al. and don't like being sent to the menu all the time).

Some projectors have their own software, or attempt to layer Android TV so that you switch in and out of it. Google TV is different, and all the TV settings are fully integrated, not that there are actually that many options. That makes for very straightforward usability and in the vast majority of circumstances that's all you'll need. 

There is, for example, a 60MHz 1080P gaming mode disables the trapezoid processing (keystoning) for absolutely the quickest response times – though you need to position the projector yourself. 

Performance

The 400 ANSI lumens deliver a bright picture in a dim room, and the picture is notable for being even and sharp. Thanks to the throw ratio, you'll get an impressive image size even in a small room, and you'll certainly be happy up to 120-inches or so, though it'll happily focus past 150-inches and look fine in a dark space.

When I put the projector off-angle the automatic keystoning was impressively fast to correct and, in comparison to most projectors I've tested, the area of the image that wasn't being used was nicely dim. That's good evidence of good contrast from the LED light source which has a claimed service life of 30,000 (not something I can test!)

I was a little less impressed with the device's ability to detect objects which it is meant to be able to do but I didn't notice in practice, not that I've ever actually found this an especially useful feature.

The videos I tested were broadly encouraging. One scene which is great for testing the projector's quality is the dénouement of musical animation Sing 2, which asks a lot of the speakers, color, and detail as assorted animals of different sizes (with contrasty hair and spines aplenty) perform.

For a bit more human drama I also viewed the sequence in Sully shifting from air traffic control to externals of the aircraft. Here the dimmer areas seemed a little exaggerated to my eye, but to be fair I was testing on a white all – not a screen – at this point and I find the look quite cinematic. The only TV show that gave me any cause for concern in all my testing – though it might have been the Disney+ app – was Europe from Above, which has a lot of swooping drone shots. I'd swear I occasionally caught a few judders on these.

Verdict

This is a very good entertainment projector, with a sharp picture that has good overall quality, even near the edges, and one of the better auto-keystoning systems I've tested plus a battery which lives up to its promises. Google TV is great for entertainment, though the remote would benefit from a pause button.

While I do have my worries about the software, which I didn't find exactly laggy but definitely felt could be snappier, I think the projector would be far more flexible if, like a lot of modern phones, tablets, and laptops, it charged via a USB-C socket. I struggle to see why Anker didn't opt for that method since the cable can take the wattage needed (they can run a high-end laptop, after all) and the same connector can take a DisplayPort video signal from a computer or phone into the bargain. It wouldn't hurt Anker's battery business either!

If, however, you only want to watch one movie away from the power brick, then in my test the projector comfortably surpassed the 2 and a half hours promised for the battery when in eco mode, which is fine in lower light, making this well suited to occasional portability but less ideal for those needing input & power flexibility on the move.

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The Asus ZenBeam L2 is a pricier option in the same category and exactly same brightness, but it has two substantial improvements; it has USB-C port so you can charge without a dedicated brick, and the battery lasts longer.

The Emotn N1 is a cheap alternative that still has a 1080P image is also Netflix-approved, though lacks the Google TV and the battery – you'll need to find a power outlet, but it is reasonably quiet, has a good, bright image, wi-fi, and probably has the edge on sound too.