NEBULA Mars 3 Outdoor Portable Projector, 5H Battery

We purchased this projector over Black Friday, and waited until Spring to really start using it (we're in Minnesota). We like to sit outside and have bonfires, and wanted a way to watch sports and movies outside. This projector is even better than expected. Super bright, very clear picture (the auto-focus is an underrated feature!), sound is great, and easy to use. Connects to wi-fi quickly and easily, super easy to setup, and we have not found an issue with it yet. We have been using it against our grey garage wall, as we just ordered a screen and are waiting for it to arrive. But even on the garage wall, it still works really well. We are very happy with this projector and are excited to use it on our patio and camping.

Just gave away two older projectors. I hated the hookups to power, hdmi cables, speakers etc. Android app compatibility is a game changer. We installed our YouTubeTV and Amazon Prime Movies which also greatly simplifies our setup and means we spend more time enjoying movies as a family. This projector is soooo simple to use and so smart, whenever I move it, the screen size, angle, focus all automatically optimize the bright clear picture. The little features like the dimmable area light, charging for other devices add a lot of functionality. So much fun for the kids to project on the ceiling and to take it camping, yard or on the patio. Excellent product!!!

I tried a few projectors starting with the Anker Nebula Solar. I like that model quite a bit but wanted something newer with a bit more power (If you want something almost as good but your budget is limited I highly suggest that model). I then tried the Samsung Freestyle which is horrible in every way, please do not waste your money. Next I tried the Xgimi Horizon Pro 4k. It was on sale but still at the higher end cost wise but promised a much better picture. It did have a high level of brightness but I was disappointed by the picture quality. Even though it projected native 4k the picture quality felt subpar to my 1080p Anker and no matter what motion setting I adjusted I could never get the picture to look right without the “Soap Opera” effect. I was about to splurge on the Anker Laser Cosmos 4k when I discovered Anker’s newest model the Mars 3. It is not native 4k but accepts 4k signal. This confused me but the best way I can explain it is that it does not project native 4k but the high quality input signal puts out what I suppose could be described as 1080p+(less pixels but HDR, enhanced sound, and a surprisingly sharp image). I am so happy I went with this model. Not only is it 1000$ cheaper than the 4k model but it has so many cool features that make it portable. I like the AI image feature. That automatically adjusts the brightness based on your environment. Also out of any projector I have experienced the included speakers are fantastic. Since this model is meant to be taken around the house and outdoors Anker put the strongest speakers of any model into this baby. I considered getting external speakers for my Solar, but with the Mars 3 I am extremely happy with the built in sound. My two issues which I hope can be easily fixed by a software update is that there is some lag as far as loading and menu navigation with the remote. It is not terrible, no where near as awful as the Samsung Freestyle but still noticeable. I didn’t feel that was enough to lower my rating a star but something to think about. Also this does not come with native Netflix. There is a easy workaround by using an included Anker app however the experience is still not great. My suggestion is to just plug a Fire TV or Roku stick in if you use Netflix. You can pick one up for around $20. Again annoying but not worth losing a star. If you are debating different brands and models and looking at laser/4k try this first. I think most people will be happy with it and it is so much cheaper than the 4k models out there.

I have owned three or four portable projectors over the years. My family loves to go on road trips, and to have neighborhood movie nights in our front yard by our fire pit or out by the pool. The Nebula Mars 3 is the best portable projector I’ve ever owned by a mile. The picture quality is great, even if its only 1080p. Its bright, has excellent auto-focus and auto-keystone, and includes Android TV right on the projector. The sound quality is impressive, a My only gripe is the projector’s Android TV operating system. It is incredibly sluggish, to the point that it can be frustrating to use, which is really a shame considering all of the other wonderful things about the projector. In addition to being sluggish, you have to install the Netflix app through Anker’s weird Nebula app, and you get what appears to be the same experience you’d get on a phone, not on a TV. You have to use a virtual “mouse” to move around the app, which is annoying. I am sure that this has to do with Netflix restrictions, not Anker, and good on them for coming up with a solution, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying. All that said, compared with all of the others on the market, this projector still comes out on top for me. My hope is that with some OS updates, the sluggish performance can be solved, which would easily make this a five-star item.

Just got this for my RV. This projector and 70 screen work perfectly for the throw (about 6ft) I needed in a smaller space in my tow hauler. Only tested a bit but very happy with the picture and sound. I am using a fire stick on HDMI. I was not sure if I should get this one or the cosmos because of the lumens. This is 1000 and the cosmos is 1800-2200 but this has higher watt speakers, longer battery life and built for outdoors. So based on what I needed this fit perfectly. Works good on low ambient light (all curtains closed) on a 70” screen and amazing at night on my 70” for inside screen and 100” for outside screen. I am guessing this would look great on a 120” or bigger. There are calculators you can use to figure out what lumens, screen size, screen gain and lighting for your needs. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what projector and screen. The calculators help a lot. Both my screens are 1.0 gain, This would be my minimum. The video is on the 100” pretty bright ambient light as you can see.

The projector is wonderful… at home… with WiFi. As far camping goes to watch movies it is a joke. A gimmick. We recently went camping. I downloaded movies on Disney+ on my phone, brought my cables to connect, got the kids all set up to watch Star Wars for the first time in the canyon where the first Star Wars was filmed in the California desert. Setting set. Equipment running. Kids and parents jazzed for this moment and……nothing. Not supported. I have Disney app on the nebula. Disney app on my phone. But no way to play the thing. Nebula’s answer….bring a computer without the HDCP restriction or download movies to a hard drive in FAT32 format then download a file player app on the nebula then play the files that way. What a hassle. The entire idea behind this projector is the fact that you can take it into the woods and the weather and watch movies. My phone is dust proof and water resistant like the projector. Not my computer. It will not work with my Apple movies that I have purchased and downloaded either. What a waste. What a disappointment. What a total failure to execute on Anker’s behalf. I reiterate… this is a gimmick. This is a joke.

• OVERVIEW: It's a Keeper (updated after 1year of use) My love/hate relationship with the Nebula When you watch reviews of the Nebula Mars 3 online, the people giving you their opinions uniformly praise this projector. Usually, this is a red flag for me. But, I am pleasantly surprised at how well it performs and lives up to the praise. The hardware and the build quality are solid. This is the mobile projector Apple might have designed and built if projectors were part of their product line-up. Physically handling the projector and accessories, the engineering, and attention to fit and finish are substantial. I initially gravitated to the Cosmos Laser 4K. However, the Cosmos Laser lacks an internal battery and the AI Environment adaption features. Also, the Mars 3 was almost 1/2 the cost of the Cosmos with a better feature set, IMHO. After living with this projector for the better part of a week, putting it through its paces, and digging through all its menus — I suffer no buyer's remorse. This one is a keeper. The one sticking point for me, though not a deal killer, is that Netflix is not native to the Mars 3. You can sideload it as an APK (the projector comes with easy instructions and a single-button install). Or you can use your favorite streaming stick.) • SET-UP: Easy but a Little Finicky The set-up was easy, but I spent the better part of an evening getting things set up "just right" because I'm a little obsessive-compulsive. So, if you're OCD like me, you'll want to skim the Quick Start Guide and familiarize yourself with the image correction and focus controls. The AI does a great job, but sometimes, you need the human touch on focus. Last, Mars 3 will automatically ask permission to update the Firmware and the Software ASAP after you connect to WiFi. (This is a good thing as it lets you know the manufacturer is paying attention to updates.) • THE GOOD STUFF: Image + Sound Quality The projected image is rich and vibrant, even at 150in - 200in size. It won't replace your regular TV for daytime use, but both in-house and outside, the Mars 3 really shines at night (see my projection comparison images). Color, contrast, and brightness really pop in the dark. Live football games, action movies, and even more reflective and slow scenes of nature show off how gorgeous the picture quality is. As for sound, as long as your sound levels are 25% or above, the 40W speaker fills the room. The Dolby Audio is crisp, clear, full, and rich. People who love concert movies and extra bass can always pair Bluetooth speakers or a sound bar to enhance the music. But unless you're a great distance from the projector, the 40W is more than enough. (EDIT on SOUND QUALITY) Many reviewers complain about the Nebula's speaker sound quality/volume when playing movies. This issue is specific to how certain movies' have recorded their soundtrack. Some movies have crystal clear dialogue and sound beds. While others sound muddy and have dialogue that sounds muffled. An example of this sound issue is "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." In the case of this movie, Harrison Ford's dialogue always sounds muffled because he's mumbling. But when he yells, the dialog is clearly audible. Sound on TV shows and YouTube videos are much, much clearer. • THE VERDICT: If you're looking for a versatile, weather-proof projector that has everything built-in (portability, incredible video quality, rich speakers, streaming capabilities, long-lasting batteries, and the ability to function as a charging pack, flashlight, and Bluetooth speaker) this one is a no brainer. (If you plan on lugging this around, Anker makes a dedicated padded carrying case for the Nebula and all its accessories.) UPDATED 2025 After a year of use I have a love/hate relationship with with my Nebula. When it works it’s a keeper. One of my best Amazon purchases. When it doesn’t work, 99% of the time it’s the built in AndroidTV. EVEN after repeated software updates, the AndroidTV is still consistently sluggish and unresponsive. Like many others have said here, you’re better off choosing a different streaming stick or streaming box and using the built in input selector than using the native built-in AndroidTV.

I’ve used it for several days, and I would like to recommend this projector to anyone who wants to use it as a replacement for a TV! The resolution of 1980x1080 is more than enough to use at home (even though it is built for outdoor activities), but the brightness level also surprised me! I bought this project because it has a built-in battery, and it makes my life much easier!!! I can take the projector with me everywhere, and it will automatically adjust to a bright and clean image for me, in about 5 seconds!!! Besides that, this projector is originally built for outdoor use. It can be used as a charger, an emergency lighting device, or a speaker. The only concern I have for this projector is it is a bit heavy for me, I hope it can be smaller and lighter in the future generations. I’ll take it to a real camping site in the next couple of weeks, hopefully, I’ll enjoy the outdoor movie with my friends there!! I’m very excited and looking forward to it!!

Very happy with the quality👍🏻

Clear and crisp picture quality even when there’s a lot of light in the room/during the daytime. Sound is very clear too. There is no fan noise either which is a huge plus. Definitely worth the investment.

Epic. Absolutely love it. After connecting my apps to the nebula connect. I was good to go. I love its recentering and straightening ability. Sound and picture is awesome. I think we get a movie and a half out of the full battery.

This projector is really easy to use and has a great picture? The speakers also sound pretty good

Fantastic projector. Mich brighter than I expected with good sound quality. The only thing I don't like is that there is no native Netflix app. There is a clunky Netflix app built into the software which is finicky and not as nice to use as the Netflix app on your phone or smart TV.