Nebula Capsule II Smart Mini Projector Review

Anker have been ruling the portable projector market in recent years, and whilst more expensive than the many cheap non branded alternatives out there, you do get a much better proposition for your money.  The Nebula Capsule II is an update to the original super portable projector that adds to the original offering.

It is worth iterating that this is an ultra portable projector suited for taking with you, perhaps to use on the side of your caravan on the move or out in the back garden.  As such it does come with some compromises that you won’t find on less portable models.  So if the compact size is not an issue for you, it might pay to look at alternative models.

For a small device it does a good job of producing images up to 100″ in size and can deliver a whole movie on a single charge (although you might need a backup up battery to get through Gone With the Wind).

Functionality

There isn’t a lot of competition when it comes to finding a more compact feature rich projector out there at the moment.  At just over half a kilogram in weight and barely bigger than a coke can, this really can be described as portable.

Of course, such a design does lead to some concessions.  The Capsule II isn’t the brightest model on the market, but its 200 ANSI Lumens is an improvement on its predecessor.  This does impact the battery life which clocks in at around 2.5hrs.

Charging is carried out via a USB-C port.  In addition to this there is an audio-out 3.5mm port should you want to improve on the inbuilt speaker, a full size USB port, and an HDMI socket.  This enables you to plug in, and power, an Amazon Fire Stick for example.

The whole thing is powered by Google’s Android TV solution.  It’s worth noting that some reviewers on Amazon have complained that not all apps were available (eg Netflix) to them when they tried to install, but thanks to inbuilt WiFi and Android support, you can always use Google’s Chromecast technology to kick off streaming from your phone.

Image Quality

It’s important to set your expectation when judging the Capsule II’s image quality.  This is a portable device and as such isn’t designed to replicate the cinema experience.  It is also fairly limited in brighter viewing environments.   But those limitations aside, the Nebula is able to project very watchable results in low light conditions.

An inbuilt auto focus ensures a clear image, this is a handy feature for a projector that is always going to be moved around.  Whilst the device can play from a 4K source, it can only deliver 720p output, and although the built-in speaker is clear and loud, it won’t replace a surround sound system.

But this model is ultimately all about ease of use and portability and on that front we have to praise it.