The Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K is the first mini-projector that is bright enough to work in a home environment – but it is even better at night or in a darkened media room.
The Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K was initially a successful Kickstarter crowd-funded project to produce the ultimate, smallest, 4K projector. As such, specifications tended to meet crowd expectations.
So, let’s start with a few definitions. This is part of the new breed of Texas Instruments DLP projectors that range from 480p to 4K and from a few hundred lumens to, in this case, 2400 ANSI lumens.
Typically, these projectors have a LED light source with a half-life [50% brightness] of 20,000 hours at 100% brightness and 30,000 hours at 70% brightness. Then you throw them away. But this is different.
It has an ALPD 3.0 [Advanced Laser Phosphor Display] – laser-excited fluorescent materials using a red and blue two-colour laser and Phosphor technology developed for cinemas. Lamp life is 25,000 hours, and it is not user replaceable. It reaches 50% of the Rec.2020 and 80% DCI-P3 colour gamut. You find similar laser sources in high-end Sony and Barco projectors.
It is different from 4K LCD lasers because it uses Texas Instruments DLP technology comprising a micro-optical-electro-mechanical system [MOEMS] that modulates light using a digital micro-mirror device [DMD].
Its Faux-K [4K] in that each of the 1920 x 1080 micro-mirrors hosts 4 pixels using XPR fast-switch pixel shifting and is independently modulated [moved]. It means that it can equally handle 1080p and lower content well. Nebula uses the best, currently available DLP471P, a .47” DMD.
Four things set the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K apart from the crowd.
First, Nebula Cosmos has integrated Google/Android TV 10 and HDMI, USB-A, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth input. That means the entire device is Google Certified and, by inference, Netflix certified. You could add a Google TV 4K dongle to any HDMI-enabled projector, but the integration is nice.
Second, is the ALPD3.0 Laser light source – it is not a low-cost LED.
Third, it is the first 4K DLP projector that meets or exceeds every CyberShack test. I guess at $4295, it should, although at that price, it is not too much of a stretch to step up to short throw 3LCD/lasers.
Finally, Nebula is part of the Anker Innovations group, and its brands include Anker, Eufy, Soundcore and more. That means local support and an Australian consumer law-compliant warranty – something you will not get from the Chinese cheapies on Alibaba.
Australian Review: Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K projector Model D0408
WebsiteNebula Australia and Anker Product page Price$4295 but currently at JB for $3995FromJB Hi-Fi is the authorised retailer – other sources are grey market and not covered by warranty.Warranty1-Year ACL and 30-day money-back guaranteeNebulaNebula is a small team of innovators and visual engineers at Anker who are dedicated to bringing the best entertainment experience to the home and outdoors.MoreCyberShack projector news and reviews
We use Fail [below expectations], Pass [meets expectations] and Exceed [surpasses expectations or is the class leader] against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass[able] rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed.
You can click on most images for an enlargement.
First impression – Exceed
I initially rejected the offer to review this device because I felt that at $4295, it was a little rich for Joe and Jane Average, and frankly, I was not all that impressed with micro LED/DLP projectors. However, Anker’s marketing manager Harold Xu reached out to me and convinced me to take a second look.
That was in the form of attending the pop-up Nebula Streaming Cinema at Darlinghurst – a 4-seat cinema with a 150” screen and what looked and sounded like a pretty awesome Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 soundbar—damned good marketing!
The experience was enjoyable. Here was a relatively inexpensive 4K projector filling a 150” screen with pretty good colour and details. I was quietly impressed at its flexibility.
It is pretty stocky at 212 [H plus handle], 170 [W], and 220 [D] mm x nearly 5kg. The handle makes it easy to move, but it is more luggable than portable.
The lens and Time-of-Flight [ToF] sensors are on the front to enable auto focus and keystone correction.
On the rear is the power, HDMI, USB, and AUX ports, as well as a cover over the removable Google Android TV dongle. On top are the usual touch controls.
Underneath is a ¼” tripod socket, and I strongly recommend that you get a solid tripod that will stably hold 5kg to mount it on.
On the sides are 2 x 10W speakers and 2 x 5W tweeters – one left and one right stereo channel.
The remote control is standard Google Android TV with dedicated Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Disney+ buttons. It has a mic and button press to access Google Assistant.
Setup – Easy enough – Pass+
Presuming you know Google TV, it is a simple matter of adding your Gmail account and Wi-Fi 2.4 or 5Ghz password [you should use the 5Ghz for streaming].
The projector will auto-focus and keystone. The Time-of-Flight sensors do a reasonable job if it is on a horizontal surface.
Make sure you update the Google Android TV and the Projector firmware [from the settings button], and you are away.
Next, download and install digital TV streaming apps and anything else you like from the Google TV Play store.
Nebula Connect App – Pass
The App does not require a sign-in or account [excellent]. It is pretty limited to
- Volume up/down
- Power on/off
- Source Selection
- Google TV setup and projector setup
- Force auto-focus and keystone
- Trackpad for home screen navigation
Mounting and screen – Pass+
First, set the device on a relatively horizontal flat surface just below the viewing height [the bottom of the image corresponds to the bottom of the lens]. It has a 1.27:1 throw meaning [screen size/distance from the screen].
- 60 inches 1.68 m
- 70 inches 1.97 m
- 80 inches 2.25 m
- 90 inches 2.53 m
- 100 inches 2.81 m
- 110 inches 3.10 m
- 120 inches 3.37 m
- 130 inches 3.65 m
- 140 inches 3.93 m
- 150 inches 4.22 m
Remember that for every 2x increase in the diagonal image size, projector brightness [ANSI lumens] needs to increase by 4x to maintain constant image brightness [nits]. Ergo the bigger the screen, the lower the nit brightness. We feel that it is better up to 100” when it is harder to defeat ambient light after that.
The screen type also impacts image brightness – different surfaces have different reflective characteristics. Most wall surfaces [painted walls and cotton sheets] have negative gain [one lumen in results in