Phonandroid Nebula Mars 2 of Anker: the almost perfect Android Portable Android projector!

Avec le Nebula Mars 2, Anker poursuit son aventure dans le monde merveilleux des projecteurs portables Android. Plus imposant que le Nebula Capsule (en forme de canette), le Nebula Mars 2 améliore la qualité d’image et le son, tout en conservant les atouts d’un projecteur portable. Suffisant pour en faire un incontournable ? Réponse dans notre test complet.

Better known to the general public for its external batteries, Anker is also an excellent manufacturer of portable projectors stamped “Nebula”.The brand caused a sensation with the nebula capsule, a portable projector as small as a soda can.

With the Nebula March 2, Anker renews a more imposing but nevertheless portable model.For this new version, the brand has improved image quality, sound and integrated a complete connection supposed to meet all needs.Boosted by Android 7.1 and an interface in Android TV sauce, the Nebula Mars 2 has all the assets on paper to be a reference of the portable projectors.What about daily?We had the chance to use the Nebula March 2 for several weeks.Discover our full test!

A neat design, a complete connection

The Nebula March 2 belongs to the family of portable projectors of Anker.Do you remember the Nebula Capsule, the projector large as a can?Nebula March 2 is stronger, but remains an easy product (it weighs only 1.79kg).Besides, Anker has integrated a small fabric handle into it to facilitate transport.

Nebula March 2 therefore remains a compact product: 17.8 x 12.2 x 13.8 cm).Cubic with rounded corners, it is very elegant and will easily blend into any type of furniture.The projector will have its place in a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen and even outdoors.To facilitate its implementation, Anker has integrated a small strip of rubber on the underside surrounding the base.It prevents the projector from slipping.Note that it is possible to fix the Nebula Mars 2 to a tripod, a standard hanging system has been integrated.

Several elements give character to March 2.On the sides two grids let out the stereo sound of the projector.At the front, the projection system is covered with a cache.The optics are quite imposing.This cyclops eye is very well integrated into the whole.

On the top, Anker has brought together a set of physical buttons.A first block includes directional arrows to navigate in the menus, with the “OK” button in the center.The “Bluetooth”, “return”, “volume +” and “volume -“ volume -“volume -“.Four small diodes have also been integrated: they inform us about the battery level.

On the back, Anker gathered a ventilation grid and all the connectors: an owner charging port, an HDMI port, a USB-Type A port and an audio output.It may seem little but this connection opens up many perspectives of use.

For example, we were able to connect our game consoles to the projector via the HDMI port.You can connect a chromecast or even an Android TV box.The perspectives are then endless.The USB port, it allows you to connect a USB key or an external hard drive to access local content.I will come back to it in the "interface" part.

The design of the Nebula Mars 2 is therefore sober but the materials used are robust.Anker has well optimized the space to integrate rich connectors and very useful physical buttons.The transport strap is really a great idea.Note that a remote control comparable to those of the first Apple TV is provided in the box.Very responsive, it is quite basic and perfectly meets the needs.At all good!

An Android interface but without the Google Play Store

Launching the Nebula Mars 2 is a breeze: just lower the projector cache and off you go!To turn it off we close the cache, child's play.Like the Nebula Capsule, March 2 has a clean version of Anker from Android 7.1 with an interface adapted to TV use.

So we find exactly the same interface as that of the capsule.The menus are clear and easy to access.It is possible to configure a few parameters, access the devices connected to the HDMI port or the USB port.

Streaming services are already preinstalled on the projector: Netflix and Amazon Prime.To get more applications, you have to go to the dedicated shop called here "App Store".Unfortunately that does not give us access to the Google Play Store but to a much less rich derivative called Aptoide.Alternative shop lovers know.

Aptoide is therefore much less supplied in applications but it is possible to have fun: we find for example Spotify or Plex.Alas, OCS is always absent from the catalog, just like Molotov.Damage.It will therefore be necessary to go through a chromecast or an Android box (or Apple TV) connected in HDMI to take advantage of the service.

This is all the richness of Nebula March 2: its connection allows you to always find a way to access your content.If a streaming service is not available in the App Store, it is possible to use the HDMI port.During our test, we never felt a limit in the use of the projector: the Netflix, Amazon Prime, Plex, OCS and Molotov TV combo has occupied us.

We even let ourselves go to a few follies by connecting a Nintendo Switch and a PS4 on the HDMI port.Suffice to say that the parties of Mario Kart on Switch, Fifa 19 or NBA2K19 on PS4 have taken another dimension.If the graphic quality was necessarily less good than on a full HD or 4K TV, the screen size was incredible.

Navigation in the interface via the remote control is very fluid but Anker offers from the first start to download a companion application.It allows you to transform the smartphone into a trackpad to browse the menus or to use a keyboard for research on streaming services for example.The keyboard is a real time saving in particular to type the codes of the various services, a wound with a remote control.

The interface of Nebula March 2 is not perfect.It could be sexier, more ventilated, more modern.Being able to enjoy the Google Play Store would also have been ideal.But Anker still offers a simple and fluid experience.And the rich connection allows you to take advantage of all types of limitless content on a giant screen, anywhere, anytime.Foot !

HD image quality

Beautiful evolution on this nebula March 2: it projects an image in HD (720p) up to 150 inches (we nevertheless recommend going up to 100 inches for a denser and brighter image).Anker has also worked on the brightness of her projector: she now reaches 300 Lumens Ansi.DLP (DIGITAL LIGHT Processing) intellibright technology promises a clearer image, clearer.Besides, the system has an automatic focus function: in a second the nebula March 2 adjusts the trapeze and the sharpness of the image.Bluffing.

In fact, the quality is there but we are far from what a TV can offer, even full hd.However, these are two very different types of products.Compared to other projectors, the Nebula Mars 2 is not among the best in terms of image quality.

If HD quality is completely suitable, the lack of brightness is obvious.The slightest small source of light in the room degrades the experience.Complete black is essential to really enjoy it.Fortunately, this is the most common scenario.During our test we lit the projector in the evening to watch a movie, a series or a football match (RMC Sport + Chromecast application).Suffice to say that outside, summer, the light of the stars or the moon can slightly degrade the image quality.

We also want to specify that playing the console via the projector can cause slowdowns.It all depends on the console.With the PS4 for example, adapted to a full HD definition, we observe frames of frame.To put it simply, the animations can be jerky.We had a few misses during our FIFA 19 sessions.An image that jerks at the time of scoring a goal, it's annoying.You see what we are talking about right?

Overall the image quality is not extraordinary but very good for such a compact and especially portable projector.We gladly set up the Nebula Mars 2 on the fly in the living room, the kitchen (what, you do not watch a small episode by preparing the dinner?), Or the room.The maximum display size is undoubtedly what impresses the most.Imagine an episode of Game of Thrones on a 150 cm diagonal screen from your bed.That throws it right?

A powerful and controlled sound

The Nebula March 2 has two speakers of 10W each.It delivers stereo sound via the two grids located on the sides of the projector.And what a sound!The maximum volume reaches peaks, guaranteed immersion.

The most stunning is undoubtedly the audio quality.The risk with a powerful sound and to hear distortion, especially on the treble.None of this here.The sound is generally balanced.The treble is not garish.The format of the object and its size allow it to have a fairly imposing resonance box.Consequence: the bass is deep.Only mediums are slightly saturated when the volume is pushed to the maximum.But the sound is so powerful that we have never exceeded 70% of the volume during our test.A real success.

Autonomy, its big strong point

Nebula March 2 is equipped with a 12,500 mAh battery.The brand promises 4 hours of 720p video autonomy.This is the equivalent of two fairly long films or 5 to 6 series episodes (from 40 to 50 minutes per episode).In fact, the promises are held.It all depends on the method used to view content.Stream consumes more energy since it requires WiFi connection.Locally (with a USB key for example) we gain a few minutes of additional autonomy.The power of the volume also comes into play in the energy saving.The higher the volume, the more the bottom battery.

Autonomy is in any case sufficient to spend beautiful evenings with friends.We tested the Nebula March 2 in autumn, so we could not take advantage of an outdoor use, under the stars.But it is a use that is unanimous in the middle of summer.

Note that in Bluetooth pregnant mode, Nebula March 2 has an autonomy of around 30 hours.Count 4 to 5 hours for full recharge.Yes it's a bit long, but not so disturbing for this type of product.For example, we recharted the projector at night after watching a few episodes in bed (yes we often tell ourselves that we have a beautiful job).

Price and release date

The Nebula March 2 projector is already available at a price of 799 euros.It is distributed by Fnac/Darty, Drugstore Publicis and Boulanger.

Its price may seem high.But we must not forget that this technology concentrate allows you to transport a complete, compact and efficient home cinema anywhere.Who would have imagined being able to do this one day?