Anker’s Nebula line has long been associated with portable, user-friendly projectors that strike a balance between performance and price. With the introduction of the Nebula X1, however, Anker is entering more premium territory. While it leaves behind some of the portability that made earlier models so appealing – most notably by excluding a built-in battery – the X1 more than makes up for it with advanced features, serious brightness, and a cinematic audio-visual experience.
The Nebula X1 sports a familiar design language in line with previous Nebula models: minimalist, modern, and compact enough to be portable if needed. The silver and gray chassis is accented by a built-in carrying handle, giving it just enough mobility to move between rooms or outdoor setups – as long as there’s access to power. At just over 8 pounds, it’s manageable without being ultra-light.
Despite its relatively compact size, the X1 feels substantial and well-built – more like a permanent home theater fixture than a grab-and-go device. That reflects its intent: this is a projector made for serious viewers who want quality without going into ultra-premium custom installs.
At the heart of the Nebula X1 is a 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution, achieved using pixel-shifting DLP technology, which provides a sharp, detailed image that will satisfy even discerning home theater enthusiasts. The 3,500-lumen brightness means it’s powerful enough to cut through moderate ambient light, although, like all projectors, it performs best in dimmer environments.
Thanks to its 200-inch maximum projection size and 13–22-foot optimal throw distance, the X1 is capable of creating a truly cinematic experience in larger spaces. A built-in optical zoom system helps maintain image quality without sacrificing resolution, avoiding the cropping issues that often come with digital zoom.
The Nebula X1 integrates a clever AI-powered gimbal system, which automatically adjusts the projection angle up to 25 degrees vertically. This allows the projector to intelligently align its image on a wall or screen without manual repositioning, accommodating a variety of placement scenarios and room setups.
This kind of intelligent projection – combined with fast auto-focus and keystone correction – makes setup feel almost effortless, even for users who aren’t AV-savvy.
The projector itself includes four built-in speakers: two 15W woofers and two 5W tweeters, offering a surprisingly full soundstage for a standalone device. But for those who want to go bigger, Anker offers an optional set of wireless satellite speakers.
Each external speaker is battery-powered and features 80W total output: 40W front-facing, 20W upward-firing, and 20W side-firing, enabling a more immersive 360-degree soundscape. This modular audio setup means you can scale your sound depending on the environment – perfect for backyard movie nights, living room karaoke sessions, or temporary home theaters.
Connectivity is robust, with dual HDMI 2.1 ports (one supporting eARC for lossless audio passthrough), a USB-A port, USB-C, and even an optical audio out for compatibility with legacy systems. That makes it easy to hook up everything from game consoles and streaming boxes to AV receivers and soundbars.
To keep things cool and quiet, Anker has equipped the X1 with a liquid cooling system, which minimizes fan noise and extends hardware longevity. Fans are still present but engage less frequently, meaning audio output is less likely to be interrupted by irritating hums or whirs.
The Anker Nebula X1 is much higher-end than Anker’s portable models, so don’t expect a similar price point. The Nebula X1 retails for $2,999 as a standalone projector. If you want the full home cinema bundle – including the satellite speakers, a protective travel case, and two wireless microphones for karaoke – the price jumps to $3,298.
For more information on the Nebula X1, visit seenebula.com.
Imagery courtesy of Anker.
