For the previous couple of years, we have repeatedly praised the Anker Nebula Mars II Professional as one of many finest moveable projectors. In the identical breath, we additionally defined that this was regardless of some points: The streaming interface wasn’t nice, its colour was a bit off and it wasn’t significantly shiny (though much like its competitors). We have been let down when the Mars 3 appeared and it was a radically totally different projector.
8.1
Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air
Like
Nice measurement
Google TV streaming
Respectable colour and distinction for a transportable
Do not like
Somewhat dear
Shorter battery life
Seems Anker forked the Mars line and the true alternative to the II Professional is the three Air. It has the identical general design, a better decision and makes use of Google TV for its streaming interface; all doubtlessly stable enhancements. The battery life is down a bit of, as are the claimed lumens. How a lot of an improve it was remained to be seen (pun supposed).
After working it by way of our regular testing, the Mars 3 Air is a fairly stable improve general. The picture is improved and the streaming interface is considerably higher. The one main downgrade is the value, which is a full 20% greater than its predecessor. In the event you’re on the lookout for a transportable projector that is doubtless the perfect all-around choice.
Some specs and such
The Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air is extremely moveable, with a built-in battery, Google TV streaming and audio system.
- Native decision: 1080p
- HDR-compatible: No
- 4K-compatible: No
- 3D-compatible: No
- Lumens spec: 400
- Zoom: No
- Lens shift: No
- Lamp life: LED, so the lifetime of the projector
One of many greatest adjustments between the Mars 3 Air and its predecessor, the Mars II Professional, is the rise in decision to 1080p from 720p. Extra pixels is just about all the time an excellent factor with projectors since stated pixels are going to be enormous.
Anker lists the three Air as having 400 ANSI lumens. In probably the most correct mode, I measured roughly 252 lumens. Within the much less correct, and visibly inexperienced, Vivid mode, I received 354 lumens. Given the variances and errors in any measurement technique, I would say that is fairly shut. It is also pretty common for moveable projectors, though far decrease than conventional, battery-free residence theater projectors — even at across the similar value. As an illustration, the brightest projector we have ever examined was simply $30 greater than the three Air however 8x brighter (though in all equity, the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02 had different shortcomings).
As is typical with moveable projectors, there is no lens shift or zoom. If you’d like an even bigger or smaller picture, you simply want to maneuver the projector farther or nearer to the display screen. There may be digital focus which prompts mechanically, or you’ll be able to activate it from the distant. You’ll be able to regulate focus within the menu as effectively. There’s additionally computerized keystone correction, however I advocate you flip that off and simply do your finest to line up the projector perpendicular to the display screen or wall.
Battery life is a claimed 2.5 hours, 1 hour lower than the Mars II Professional. That is within the Eco brightness mode, which is roughly 30% as shiny as the traditional mode (roughly 97 lumens within the correct mode). There isn’t any score for the lamp life, however it’s LEDs so I would count on them to final the lifetime of the projector.
Inputs and streaming
You too can recharge your cellphone or energy an exterior machine by way of the USB output. As an illustration, you possibly can join a Roku streaming stick and energy it by way of USB.
- HDMI inputs: 1
- USB port: 1
- Audio output: Headphone output
- Web: 2.4/5GHz
- Distant: Not backlit
A single HDMI permits you to join an exterior supply like a sport console or extra streaming media machine. If stated machine is sufficiently small, you’ll be able to energy it from the USB connection. The interior audio system are first rate and you need to use the three Air as a Bluetooth speaker. If you wish to join one thing else like headphones, there’s an analog output for that as effectively.
The streaming interface is normal Google TV, which is an efficient factor. Older, and lots of cheaper, moveable projectors have both a model of Android or an irregular streaming setup. In the event you permit Google to take action, they will do a reasonably frighteningly correct job of exhibiting you content material you are considering throughout a number of streaming providers. The one draw back to the Google TV interface is it hides and scatters pretty normal projector changes throughout a number of menus. It may be a little bit of a trouble to arrange. Worse, there is a minimal of changes available basically. So even primary image changes like “brightness” aren’t accessible. Fortuitously, I discovered it was already arrange pretty effectively from the manufacturing facility, although extra changes would doubtless enhance the picture a bit of.
Image high quality comparisons
Logically I in contrast the Mars 3 Air to its predecessor, the Mars II Professional. I additionally in contrast it to the Xgimi Halo Plus, which is roughly the identical measurement, and has comparable specs, however is a bit more costly. I related them to a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier and seen them side-by-side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display screen.
First up, Anker vs Anker. The uncooked numbers indicate these ought to look pretty comparable. I measured roughly 337 lumens on the II Professional with a distinction ratio of 354:1. The three Air was a bit of dimmer at 252 with a barely greater distinction ratio at 405:1. The three Air did look a bit of dimmer, however the distinction ratio appeared greater than that small distinction implied. That is doubtless because of the 3 Air’s means to regulate the gamma and maybe higher general picture tuning. Neither projector has a full suite of picture changes. The colour temperature was much more correct and pure on the three Air, far hotter than the cool-toned II Professional. Shade was a little bit of a combined bag general, neither was significantly correct and an argument could possibly be made for “in another way dangerous,” however general I most well-liked the look of the three Air.
You too can use the Mars 3 Air as a Bluetooth speaker.
The extra decision of the newer mannequin might be the largest distinction. Whereas I all the time level out that decision is only one facet of a picture, and never a very vital one, stepping up from 720p to 1080p for a projector is a sizeable leap. From a standard viewing distance, keen-eyed viewers will be capable to see the pixels of a 100-inch 720p picture. With 1080p you’d must be sitting nearer or need to create a picture that is a lot bigger.
Subsequent up: the Xgimi Halo Plus. Specs-wise, the Mars 3 Air and the Halo Plus are very comparable. Xgimi claimed its projector able to 900 lumens, however that proved to be a selected present for fiction. I measured 284, which is principally what the three Air produces. Distinction too was principally the identical, at 368:1. In contrast to the Mars 2 Professional pairing, these two projectors regarded extra comparable visually, with a slight edge to the three Air. Probably the most notable distinction was the Xgimi’s slight pink tint, making the three Air look extra pure general.
Even when they have been the identical value, the Mars 3 Air seems to be fractionally higher than the Xgimi. They do not value the identical, with the Halo Plus costing a further $150, or about 20%, as of this writing. That’s to say, the Mars 3 Air wins this comparability, even when it would not achieve this with an enormous efficiency enchancment.
Transportable for a value
The Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air and the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 (evaluation coming quickly).
Regardless of a loss of some lumens, the Mars 3 Air is a stable improve over the Mars II Professional. It is simpler to make use of, and it seems to be a bit of higher whereas conserving the nice measurement of its predecessor. My solely problem is that it is creeping up in value. $600 is encroaching on the costs of some precise residence theater projectors which all vastly outperform the three Air.
In the event you do not want a battery, these are higher choices. If binging some exhibits or watching a film nowhere close to an outlet is your factor, the Mars 3 Air is the most suitable choice general. Is it well worth the $100 premium over the II Professional? Sure, however barely.
In addition to overlaying audio and show tech, Geoff does photograph excursions of cool museums and places world wide, together with nuclear submarines, large plane carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile street journeys and extra.
He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, and likewise Finances Journey for Dummies. You’ll be able to observe him on Instagram and YouTube.