Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro Review

Design

• Cleverly designed, but heavy
• Wireless speakers can be placed where you want
• Integrated controls

It’s quite hard to explain just how big the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro is. At 32.8kg, it’s an absolute beast of a projector, far larger than any other portable model, and bigger even than many home cinema models.

It does have a pull-up handle and chunky wheels for moving it, much like on the Anker Solix F3800 power station. Even so, you might want two people to lift this into a car or up stairs, and the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro is a lot bigger than the Anker Nebula X1, which had a carry case and was similar in size to other portable projectors.

Part of the reason that the projector is so big is that it has everything built in that you need, including two pairs of detachable speakers (front and rear).

The rear speakers are housed at the back. Turn the locking screw, and press each speaker to pop it out.

There’s then a choice of using the integrated feet, to stand them up, or you can use the tripod mount if you prefer.

The speakers charge while inside the main body (assuming it’s connected to power), and each one also has a USB-C connector on the back for external charging or power.

Front speakers are locked into the sides of the projector. A button on top mechanically swings them out, and you can use the projector and speakers like this.

However, if you want better stereo separation, it’s worth detaching the speakers and placing them at the front of the screen. You can use their integrated feet, the tripod mounts or, with a compatible screen, hooks to hang them in place.

A subwoofer with dual 80W speakers is built into the main chassis. As you can see, Anker isn’t messing about when it comes to surround sound.

A retractable power cable is at the front (which makes sense), but there’s no integrated battery or even space for one.

At the top of the projector is a control panel, which gives you a joystick and all the controls you need to navigate the operating system. It’s handy having everything here for quick adjustments.

Hit the button underneath and the control panel flips open to reveal storage space for two wireless microphones and the Bluetooth remote.

It’s a pretty standard remote for a portable projector, with just the essential keys: a cursor pad and select button, power, microphone (for voice requests), auto-setup, and home, settings and volume buttons. There are also shortcuts for YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

It’s nice to see that the remote is backlit, as it makes finding the right button easier in a darkened room.

At the rear, behind a flap, are two USB-C and one USB-A port, and a single HDMI input. That single input is likely to be enough, as you’re unlikely to want to use an external sound system via HDMI ARC, so you only need one input for an external device.

I like the slide-up flat the covers the proejctor’s lens, keeping it safe when not in use and during transportation.

Features

• Dolby Vision support
• Smart auto setup
• Runs Google TV

It’ll come as no surprise that the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro runs Google TV as an operating system, as do the bulk of smart projectors. It’s quick to get set up via a smartphone (Apple or Android), and the general interface is smooth and simple.

There are the same general issues in that the major streaming platforms are all available, but there’s no sign of BBC iPlayer. Life would be much easier if the BBC just opened up iPlayer to a wider installation audience. If you do want this app, or anything else you can’t find, you’ll need a streaming stick handy.

As a brand-new projector, all of the automatic set-up goodies are available, including automatic routines for focus, keystone correction, screen fit and spatial adaptation. For the latter, the projector can scan its environment, adjust its electronic tilt system, which can angle the lens between 0 and 25°, and fit the image to a screen automatically.

There’s also optical zoom, giving throw ratios between 0.9:1 and 1.5:1, which gives some flexibility for how close to the screen you place the projector. Neatly, the on-screen adjustment shows you the screen size you’re actually getting, updating live as you zoom in and out.

As always, it’s best to get the projector as straight-on to a screen as possible before using keystone correction, as this is a digital adjustment. Of course, here, that’s not as easy as with some portable projectors, as you can’t easily adjust the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro’s height; instead, go for a height-adjustable projector screen and drop that to suit. I recommend using this projector with a screen to achieve the best image quality.

Picture settings gives access to the preset picture modes. NebulaMaster is a profile that employs image detection to automatically adjust contrast for better image quality. Additionally, there are standard modes tailored for different uses, including Movie, Game, and Sport, as well as ISF Day and ISF Night modes.

Basic contrast, saturation, and hue controls are included, along with a comprehensive colour tuner (adjusting hue, saturation, brightness, offset, and gain). Additionally, an 11-point white balance correction is available for more precise image calibration.

There’s also wall colour adaptation, where the projector can automatically calibrate itself to take into account a wall’s colour. I found that this automatic system helped when using the projector during the day with the shutters open; in a darkened room, you will probably want to tweak the image a little using manual settings.

Performance

• Very bright
• Handles HDR well
• Excellent image quality

There’s a single 0.47-inch DMD chip inside the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro, which has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080. XPR technology is used to shift this chip four times per second to build up a 4K (3840 x 2160) image.

It’s a mature technology now, and I argue that you can’t tell the difference between this and ‘true’ 4K. Small font sizes are easy to read, and the image is sharp and detailed.

XPR locks the projector to 60Hz, making this kind of projector best for films and TV rather than high-frame-rate gaming.

Although the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro is much bigger than its little brother, the Nebula X1, the basic specs are very similar: the triple laser backlight is capable of a staggering 3500 ANSI lumens (similar to that of the JMGO N1S Ultimate 4K).

This level of brightness means you can watch the projector in a room without having to close curtains, although you’ll get better image quality in a darkened room.

The device has a native contrast ratio of 5000:1, which NebulaMaster can enhance to a 56,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

Dolby Vision is very good to see feature, as its dynamic metadata ensures each scene is accurately displayed. Unlike HDR10, where the metadata is fixed for the whole film or TV show and can result in lost detail.

Image quality is brilliant. High brightness really helps in high-contrast HDR scenes. With the opening funeral scene in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the fire is searingly bright, but there’s detail into the shadows, as the apes are clearly visible throughout the frame.

Likewise, in the running wheel scene in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, the wheel is bright and sharp, but there’s detail right into the back of the image.

Colours are rich and vibrant, particularly in one of the Dolby Vision modes, which are activated when that kind of HDR content starts to play. For example, the forest scene at the start of Kingdom looks lush, rich and alive.

Even non-HD content can look good, with the projector able to handle the darker scenes of Aliens, resolving detail through the frame.

With lighter footage, the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro copes brilliantly. The frozen landscape at the start of Netflix’s Frankenstein is brilliant and white, and you can feel the sun trying to push through the clouds.

Using the 4K HDR versions of Lord of the Rings, played through a 4K Blu-ray player, and the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro does brilliantly. Rivendell practically shines, while the Mines of Moria are dark and disturbing, but reveal the full detail, such as Golum climbing up the walls.

Sound Quality

• Proper surround sound
• Deep bass

Having proper 7.2.4 surround sound makes the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro stand out from the competition. There’s a handy automatic setup routine that plays sounds on the speakers to configure them automatically, showing a graphical representation of the sweet spot on-screen. It’s possible to shift the sweet spot, adjusting for less-than-ideal speaker placement.

Sound quality is phenomenal. The bridge fight in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is a good test of what a speaker system can do. With proper surround sound and Dolby Atmos, the gunshots in the distance are positioned with precision behind where I was sitting.

Placing the front speakers out of the projector and to the side of the screen gave me proper stereo separation. As Okoye’s spear swings, the sound effects travel across the speakers, drawing me into the action.

That bass speaker is impressive, too. I’m used to portable projectors having some semblance of bass, but the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro booms. Punches land with a thump, and explosions and gunshots make the room shake. It’s cinema as it should be experienced.

Should you buy it?