Nebula Capsule 3 Review: A Promising Portable Projector, But Not That Bright
Companies have challenges when trying to design the perfect portable projector due to the necessity to strike a balance between brightness, software, and battery life. To appreciate the Nebula Capsule 3 to its maximum glory, turn down the lights a little.
- Third Nebula Capsule
- Third Nebula Capsule 7/10
- Four hundred fifty dollars
- Spend $50 Less
With features like built-in streaming services, a large battery, and fast setup, the Nebula Capsule 3 is an excellent portable projector. I would recommend it if you want to watch films in the dark.
The Benefits
- Portable and simple to assemble
- Powerful enough to play most films on a single charge
- Chromecast integrated
- Works as both a wireless speaker and a Bluetooth headset
- Downsides (
- Appearance is flat and uninteresting in all except the darkest lighting.
- Weaknesses in the Google TV interface
- Spend $500 at Amazon
- Nebula, $549 per
- Availability and Cost
You can get your hands on the Nebula Capsule 3 in black for $549. It doesn’t seem like you can get your hands on the earlier Capsule models that came with a tripod anymore. However, the Capsule 3 is compatible with all standard tripods thanks to its universal tripod mount.
While there is no shortage of formidable rivals, many of Capsule 3’s immediate rivals are other Nebula offerings. Though it has many similarities with the Capsule 3, the Capsule 3 Laser has a laser light source that makes it more brighter, as the name suggests. Despite its hefty price tag, the Nebula Mars 3 is the way to go if you want a brighter, more durable projector for use outdoors.
Details Manufacturer: Nebula
- Original ANSI Lumens Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- 200 – 1.2:1 – High Dynamic Range – No Audio – Dolby Surround – 30,000 hours of runtime
- Image Resolution Up to 120 inches
- Light Emitting Diode Type
- Hardware: 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, 3.5 mm audio jack, USB, quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, USB-C power supply, 2.5 hours of battery life
- Internet access via wireless means
- Built-To-Last Design with Bluetooth and Intelligent Mounting Choices
- Nebula Capsule 3 with power cord and remote control beside the containerIt was Jerome Thomas of MakeUseOf when
The handbook and remote are housed in a cardboard and foam casing, which is the first item seen when opening the package. Just below this, on one side, you’ll see the projector snugly cradled in a cardboard box. Inside, you’ll find the charging brick and USB-C cord.
The Capsule 3 feels sturdy in the hand despite its relatively low weight (which we’ll examine more in a moment). I have reviewed projectors that seemed significantly less sturdy than this one, but I didn’t drop it while testing it, and I don’t think you should either. The Capsule 3’s ability to double as a Bluetooth speaker explains why a large portion of its rear panel resembles the grill of a Bluetooth speaker.
Even on surfaces with a higher degree of slipperiness, the rubber ring on the projector’s base prevented it from moving around. The projector has a threaded tripod mount on the bottom, so it’s easy to add height, which is handy for many situations.
Completely Convenient for Portability and Setup
Nebula Capsule 3 size comparisonIt was Jerome Thomas of MakeUseOf when
A portable projector must have certain qualities that aren’t found on other projectors in order to fulfil its primary function of being usable anyplace. Although having an internal battery is the most essential component, it is not sufficient on its own. Not only must it be portable, but it must also be simple to set up and use.
Because it is about 1.5 times larger than a 12-ounce can of soda or seltzer, the Nebula Capsule 3 is convenient for travelling. However, while being positioned away from the projector’s main body, the lens still seems uncomfortably exposed. If there was even a snap-on cover to shield the glass, I could feel better about bringing it along.
The good news is that nobody could possibly make setting up the projector any simpler. After determining where to position the projector and which surface to direct its beam onto, all you have to do is push the power button located on its rear.
After this point, it’s almost automatic. As the projector determines the distance and focus automatically, a test pattern will be shown. From here, you have the option to utilise the remote control or the onboard controls to adjust the settings to your liking (more on this in the following section). I must admit that I seldom deemed this essential.
Even just a little tilting of the lens up or down might help in certain scenarios, so I ended up using a tripod. However, you are free to experiment with the setting thanks to the automated keystone correction. If you want to tilt the projector ever-so-slightly without distorting the image, you may just run the power cord below it.