Anker Nebula Capsule Air Review: Little LED Can; Can Light a Little

The Anker Nebula Capsule Air is the company’s latest can-sized projector. I’ve reviewed the Capsule 3 and the original Capsule. They both perform well for something so small. The Air is dimmer than the Capsule 3, one of my picks for best portable projectors, but it’s also smaller and cheaper, a reasonable tradeoff depending on how you plan on using it. 

The usual caveats apply to the Capsule Air, in that it’s not very bright and its image isn’t very accurate. But perhaps that’s a high bar for something the size of a Coke can. With Google TV built in it’s a fantastic and portable way to watch just about anything, anywhere.

Specs and such

• Resolution: 720p 
• Lumens spec: 150
• Zoom: No
• Lens shift: No
• Battery life: 2 hours (claimed, Eco mode)
• LED life (Normal mode): 30,000 hours

The Capsule Air is a tiny projector with tiny specs to match. It’s 720p when most projectors are 1080p or 4K, but there is a built-in battery that should last around 2 hours. For something the size of a beverage can, that’s all entirely fine. 

Anker claims a light output of 150 lumens. I measured 84 in the Custom mode and 102 in the less-accurate Conference mode. This is certainly in the same range of other tiny pocket projectors. The original Capsule, for comparison, put out 85 which is effectively the same. The contrast ratio is surprisingly good — again, for a small projector — at 381:1. That’s double what the original Capsule could manage and more than some recent, larger  and more expensive projectors.

There’s no zoom or lens shift — no surprise there — but there is an autofocus that automatically adjusts if you move the projector. Anker recommends screen sizes from 30 to 80 inches, mostly because larger images will be quite dim. This is, after all, only 85 lumens. While 100 inches is possible, the projector starts getting big mad and repeatedly requests you to move it closer to the screen. You can still focus the image at that distance, though. And as long as you don’t disturb it further it eventually stops pestering you. 

Connections

• HDMI inputs: 1
• USB port: 1 (USB-C)
• Audio: Bluetooth
• Internet: Wi-FI 2.4GHz/5GHz
• Remote: Backlit, also an app

Despite its small size and likely expected use as a portable streaming display, there’s an HDMI input on the back. This is great if you want to connect a game console, for instance. It can double as a Bluetooth speaker, and is roughly the size of one, too. It won’t play as loud as a dedicated speaker, but it sounds decent enough if you just want to carry the single device.

Unlike some portable projectors, the Capsule Air has an USB-C connection that can charge and, in some cases, fully power the projector. If you have a battery bank with a 45W output (PD2.0), you can increase the 2-hour playback claimed playtime in Eco mode. If you don’t have a battery like that already, Anker sells one that’s built into a tripod base that doubles the playtime and gives the Air a little place to sit. 

A screw-on base is included in the box which lets you tilt the Air so it can project higher than where it’s sitting. There is some upwards throw, but the bottom of the image is roughly the height of the Capsule. So if the projector is on the floor and you want the image high on the wall, this tilting base allows that but at the expense of having to use keystone correction. This base also has a metal ring that lets you hang the Capsule upside down. Anker envisions hanging it from a hook on one wall to project on another. Clever idea, that. 

Picture quality comparisons

Aaxa M8 Laser Projector (review pending)

Anker Capsule 3

The Capsule 3 is the bigger, more powerful brother to the Capsule Air. It’s what spending a bit more can get you. The Aaxa M8 Laser (review pending) is roughly the same price as the Air, but with different design priorities, as you’ll see. I connected them to a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier and viewed them side-by-side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain screen.

The two Capsules are far more similar than they are different. They can produce — once you turn off all the extraneous picture “enhancement” settings — a reasonably accurate image that’s pleasing to watch. While the colors aren’t super accurate, they’re close enough given the size and price. The contrast ratios aren’t amazing, but they’re at least as good as many expensive, full-sized, 4K projectors. 

So what does spending more on the larger Capsule 3 get you? Looking closer at the numbers: The 3 is a little brighter at 123 lumens, and its contrast ratio is a little better, at 471:1. Side-by-side these differences are subtle. With regular content does the 3 look a little brighter and a little more contrasty? Yes… but barely. Personally, I think I’d go for the Air and just make the screen a little smaller. 

The 3 is by no means bulky, but it’s noticeably larger. It’s not that it couldn’t fit in the same places, but it has roughly 50% more total volume which could be noticeable in a backpack or purse. The Air is also, as of this writing, 30% cheaper. While I haven’t reviewed it, the Capsule 3 Laser is likely a little brighter than either of these, but it’s even more expensive. Which is to say, yes the larger Capsules are marginally more capable, but the Air performs well enough and wins out on size and price. To me, size and price are the point in a pico projector.

Meanwhile, the competitive Aaxa M8 Laser is a bit of a surprise. I’ve reviewed a few of Aaxa’s projectors, and while they’re typically bright for their size and price, the image quality hasn’t been great. The M8 Laser is wildly oversaturated, almost cartoon-like, but the image is quite good otherwise. It has a nearly 3x better contrast ratio than the Capsule Air and is significantly brighter. Even in the Normal brightness mode it puts out an impressive-for-the-size 343 lumens. 

I can’t fully say it wins against the two Capsules however, more that it’s an alternative for specific uses. For one, the streaming options are more limited, including the mobile, standard-definition version of Netflix. Also, the fans are seriously loud. To get the impressive brightness there are tiny fans spinning away like their lives depend on it, which can be distracting, depending how close you’re sitting. However, if you definitely need more than the Capsule Air’s 85 lumens and you don’t mind something that’s larger, louder, and less convenient, the M8 Laser is an interesting alternative. I’ll dive in more with our full review soon.

Can the can? It can.

The Capsule Air is a smart evolution of Anker’s portable projector design. Every generation gets better in some way. Make no mistake, the Capsule Air is dim. But for the price and size this seems like a reasonable tradeoff. I like the included tilting-base and the optional tripod accessories, even though the latter does increase the total price a bit. For something to take camping, or an impromptu movie night in the basement, however, the Capsule Air’s impressive portability is fantastic.