The Anker Nebula Mars 3 updates and improves on one in every of our favourite transportable projectors, the Mars II Professional. It would as properly have simply renamed it, as a result of it bears little or no resemblance to its predecessor. The Mars 3 is greater, brighter and has a severe (and severely cool) design — plus it has Android TV 11 inbuilt. There are LED lights galore, making it way more spectacular to take a look at than a typical projector.
To associate with 1080p decision and a claimed 1,000 lumens, there is a 185-Wh battery which Anker says offers you round 5 hours of playtime in Eco mode. It may possibly even double as a Bluetooth speaker.
7.6
Anker Nebula Mars 3
Like
Lovely design
Sounds surprisingly good for a projector
LEDs in every single place
Do not like
Expensive
Wonky Netflix implementation
Sadly, together with all of the improved aesthetics and efficiency comes a corresponding value hike, and it is vital — that’s, it is double. At $1,100 this places the Mars 3 in direct competitors with dwelling projectors just like the BenQ HT2060 and Epson HC2350. These haven’t got a battery, however they do provide higher efficiency. That does not make the Mars 3 any much less intriguing, nevertheless. Let’s take a look.
A number of LEDs
- Decision: 1,920×1,080 pixels
- HDR-compatible: Sure
- 4K-compatible: Sure
- 3D-compatible: No
- Lumens spec: 1,000
- Zoom: None
- Lens shift: None
- LED life: 25,000 hours
There are such a lot of LEDs throughout this factor it seems to be like a prop from Tron. That is factor in my e-book. The again of the deal with has a segmented circle that reveals battery stage, there is a gentle bar on the again that may shed some illumination on a camp desk, and, throughout bootup, there is a purple ring across the lens. The buttons on the highest are backlit too.
Not by accident, I am certain, the Mars 3 has a powerful familial resemblance to the Cosmos Laser 4K, as an illustration: Each have large, sturdy handles as an integral a part of their design. The Mars 3 goes one step additional by including buttons and a joystick on prime. I believed possibly I may lure ghosts with it however it seems this resemblance is merely coincidental. Given how heavy the projector is (practically 10 kilos), the deal with is a good suggestion.
A claimed 1,000 ANSI lumens is an enormous bounce from its predecessor, which had a light-weight output someplace round “OK.” I measured roughly 549 lumens in its most correct mode, which is first rate for a conveyable projector, however about half what you will get from different ~$1,000 projectors. Within the much less correct Vivid mode, I received 984 lumens, which is impressively near the spec. Nonetheless, it’s visually fairly inexperienced. That gentle is coming from LEDs, which Anker charges as having a lifespan of 25,000 hours. So mainly the lifetime of the projector.
No zoom or lens shift, however the focus is automated.
There isn’t any lens shift, which is no surprise, and no zoom, which is. Few projectors on this value vary have lens shift, however the lack of zoom means there’s precisely one place you possibly can put the projector to suit a selected display measurement. To fill a 100-inch display, for instance, it needs to be 9.22 ft away. Like many latest projectors, the Mars 3 has automated focus, which works properly sufficient. It additionally has automated keystone adjustment, which fortunately you possibly can disable, as it’s at all times unhealthy in my expertise.
One holdover from the Mars II Professional that I do like is the lens cowl, which doubles as an influence swap. Slide open the quilt, the projector activates. Slide it closed, it turns off. Easy and efficient.
It is received a deal with!
The entrance of the deal with has back-lit buttons and a joystick for navigation.
- HDMI inputs: 1
- USB port: 1
- Audio enter: 3.5mm
- Web: 2.4GHz/5GHz
- Distant: Not backlit
With a HDMI and a USB for energy, you possibly can join a streaming stick if you happen to do not wish to use the Mars 3’s built-in apps. You may wish to do that, as I will clarify in a second. Moreover, not solely can you employ the projector as a Bluetooth speaker, however there’s an analog aux-in if you wish to join an analog supply.
On the again and sides are three drivers that share 40 watts of energy. That is a good quantity greater than most projectors. There is a shocking quantity of bass, and the treble is kind of clear. It is one of many higher “Bluetooth audio system” I’ve heard. It may possibly play fairly loud, too, although it struggles a bit and overly accentuates highs at max quantity.
Solely within the Customized image mode are there any fundamental settings. There may be nonetheless no brightness management, i.e. the management to regulate the black stage. That is one thing inexplicably lacking on a number of latest projectors like this. There may be distinction and a gamma management no less than, so you possibly can modify the picture to some extent. To be clear, there’s a Brightness management, however it controls the whole gentle output and never the black stage. In Anker’s protection, that could be a much better use of the phrase “brightness” for a picture adjustment, however not having the standard management in any respect is disappointing. You possibly can flip off MEMC, aka the cleaning soap opera impact, fortunately.
The again panel of the Mars 3.
Regardless of the value tag, putting in Netflix takes some further steps, simply because it does on many finances projectors. You possibly can’t obtain it from the Google Play Retailer. As a substitute, it’s important to obtain it through the Nebula Play app. Sadly, it is the cell model of the Netflix app, which suggests it isn’t designed to work with a distant. Your finest different is to make use of the Nebula app’s trackpad. You possibly can’t forged a Netflix present out of your telephone to the projector both. It is also customary definition solely. That is an annoyance in a finances transportable projector, however in a product with an $1,100 MSRP, it is just about inexcusable. I am certain there are legitimate causes for it, however to the tip consumer, these do not matter. Maybe most infuriating, if you happen to exit out of Netflix it continues taking part in in a window and there would not appear to be any option to cease it taking part in apart from restarting the projector. Including your individual streaming stick will clearly curtail this downside.
Image high quality comparisons
I might initially thought I might examine the Mars 3 to the Mars II Professional. Appeared logical, till I appeared on the value. So I skipped that. The Mars 3 performs means higher than the II Professional, no shock there. As a substitute, I in contrast it to 2 of our favourite latest projectors. The BenQ HT2060 is mainly the identical value because the Mars 3 whereas the Epson HC 2350 is about $100 dearer. I related all of them to a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier and seen them side-by-side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display.
The variations had been readily obvious. The distinction on the BenQ is noticeably higher, 1,380:1 vs the Epson’s 348 and Anker’s 258. The BenQ seems to be prefer it has extra depth than the opposite two, which appeared pretty washed out by comparability. Black letterbox bars had been extra grey with the Anker and Epson, and particularly so within the latter’s case, resulting from its vibrant picture.
Slide the lens cowl right down to activate the projector.
The Epson’s brightness is in a league of its personal, one of many brightest projectors I’ve ever examined and simply its foremost energy. The BenQ is half as vibrant, whereas the Anker is a bit more than half once more. As such, it appeared dim. It additionally means you possibly can create a a lot bigger, extra watchable picture with the Epson, even the BenQ, in comparison with the Anker. Although, in fact, you may must run an extension twine with the primary two if utilizing it outdoors.
The Anker has some sturdy colours, although it isn’t as correct as the opposite two. Inexperienced and purple are a bit oversaturated, and secondary colours like magenta and cyan are a bit off. By itself, the Anker seems to be colourful, however the others simply look a bit extra sensible.
The element is sweet, although. The Mars 3 makes use of a DLP chip, just like the BenQ, so it is extraordinarily sharp and has no movement blur.
The distant is Bluetooth and IR.
The place does this go away us? Nicely, I believe the BenQ is finest for videophiles and movie purists. It is probably the most pure by far. Somebody in search of the largest, brightest picture potential, whereas nonetheless having first rate coloration and backbone ought to go for the Epson. The Anker is finest for individuals who completely want a battery. If you are going to use this close to a plug, the opposite two are much better choices.
Movin’ on up
The LED gentle from the Anker Mars 3.
Again within the ’90s, my household liked Volkswagens. We had three at one level. Then that was it. None since. I keep in mind my dad and mom scoffing as VW moved upmarket. “That a lot? For a Volkswagen?” They’d owned a number of within the ’70s after they had been among the most cost-effective vehicles you possibly can purchase. When corporations attempt to shake off their finances roots, they run the chance of dropping their present followers, simply within the hope for brand spanking new, extra well-heeled ones. Is that Anker’s intention? It certain appears that means with the Mars 3. I liked the Mars II Professional because it had a improbable measurement and it was straightforward to make use of. Whereas not one of the best performer, it did properly sufficient and nothing was overly mistaken. In comparison with the Mars 3, it looks like one other firm’s product totally.
The Mars 3 is an impressively polished product. It feels luxurious, has a stellar design, and the myriad LEDs make it appear to be a spaceship in comparison with most conventional projectors. The worth has inflated with this transfer upmarket and it is double the price of the Mars II Professional. Does it carry out twice as properly? Just about, sure. Does it carry out in addition to one thing just like the BenQ HT2060 or Epson HC2350? Nope. But it surely has a battery as an alternative.
Which brings me again to the query I at all times ask with these costly, extremely transportable projectors. Who is that this for, precisely? Are there actually that many individuals prepared to spend over $1,000 on a projector simply because it has a battery? Is it so arduous to run an extension twine for out of doors film nights? If it is for tenting or one thing removed from an outlet, would not one thing smaller be higher? With the sheer variety of projectors like this, I suppose I am lacking one thing. Apparently there is a marketplace for them. I nonetheless assume most individuals could be higher off getting a “actual” projector, both saving cash or getting higher, brighter efficiency. However if you happen to do want that battery for causes that I am unable to see, the Mars 3 is one one of the best choices presently.
