Nebula Mars 3
Nebula's dedicated outdoor projector, and the only battery model in this group rated at 1,000 ANSI lumens. ProjectorCentral confirmed the rating, and The Smart Home Hookup's battery test held close to full brightness for just under two hours, then ran just over five hours in Eco mode. An IPX3 splash-resistant body, a 185Wh battery and a 40W speaker make it a self-contained backyard cinema, at the cost of a 10 lb chassis and an older Android TV 11 platform without native Netflix.
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Our Verdict
The only projector here that is genuinely bright on battery: ProjectorCentral confirmed its 1,000 ANSI lumens, more than double the MoGo 4 Laser's 550 ISO rating and about 2.5 times the Mars 3 Air's measured 399, and its 185Wh battery ran about 2 hours at full brightness and just over 5 hours in Eco in The Smart Home Hookup's test. It is also the only pick with a water-resistance rating (IPX3) and the only one whose 40W speaker can carry a yard full of people. It costs about $230 more than the MoGo 4 Laser, weighs roughly three times as much and lacks native Netflix on Android TV 11, but no other battery projector here fills a 100-inch backyard screen as well.
Score Breakdown
Pros & Cons
Pros
- •Rated 1,000 ANSI lumens, confirmed by ProjectorCentral: by far the brightest picture on battery power in this list
- •185Wh battery: about 2 hours at full brightness and just over 5 hours in Eco mode in The Smart Home Hookup's test
- •IPX3 splash resistance and a 0.5 m drop rating suit damp lawns and campsites
- •40W speaker is loud enough to carry a backyard movie without an external speaker
Cons
- •Runs Android TV 11 with no native Netflix app, so most owners add a streaming stick
- •About 10 lb, roughly three times the weight of the compact picks, and its speaker is mono
Specifications
| Resolution | Native 1080p (DLP) |
| Rated Brightness | 1,000 ANSI lumens |
| Light Source | LED |
| Battery (Video) | Up to 5 hrs (Eco); ~2 hrs at max brightness |
| Speakers | 40W (mono) |
| Smart OS | Android TV 11 (no native Netflix) |
| Weight | 9.9 lb (4.5 kg) |
| Weather Resistance | IPX3 splash-resistant, 0.5 m drop-rated |
Quick Answers
What is the resolution of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 resolution: Native 1080p (DLP).
What is the rated brightness of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 rated brightness: 1,000 ANSI lumens.
What is the light source of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 light source: LED.
What is the battery (video) of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 battery (video): Up to 5 hrs (Eco); ~2 hrs at max brightness.
What is the speakers of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 speakers: 40W (mono).
What is the smart os of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 smart os: Android TV 11 (no native Netflix).
What is the weight of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 weight: 9.9 lb (4.5 kg).
What is the weather resistance of the Nebula Mars 3?
Nebula Mars 3 weather resistance: IPX3 splash-resistant, 0.5 m drop-rated.
Who is the Nebula Mars 3 for?
It suits large backyard screens of 100 inches or more, starting a movie at dusk, before full darkness, double features on one charge in Eco mode. It is not the right pick for hikers or anyone carrying gear any distance, buyers who want Netflix built in, tight budgets.
Is the Nebula Mars 3 worth buying?
Nebula's dedicated outdoor projector, and the only battery model in this group rated at 1,000 ANSI lumens. ProjectorCentral confirmed the rating, and The Smart Home Hookup's battery test held close to full brightness for just under two hours, then ran just over five hours in Eco mode. An IPX3 splash-resistant body, a 185Wh battery and a 40W speaker make it a self-contained backyard cinema, at the cost of a 10 lb chassis and an older Android TV 11 platform without native Netflix. It ranks #1 in our Top 5 Battery-Powered Projectors for Outdoor Movies. The only projector here that is genuinely bright on battery: ProjectorCentral confirmed its 1,000 ANSI lumens, more than double the MoGo 4 Laser's 550 ISO rating and about 2.5 times the Mars 3 Air's measured 399, and its 185Wh battery ran about 2 hours at full brightness and just over 5 hours in Eco in The Smart Home Hookup's test. It is also the only pick with a water-resistance rating (IPX3) and the only one whose 40W speaker can carry a yard full of people. It costs about $230 more than the MoGo 4 Laser, weighs roughly three times as much and lacks native Netflix on Android TV 11, but no other battery projector here fills a 100-inch backyard screen as well.
Who Is This For?
Best For
- Large backyard screens of 100 inches or more
- Starting a movie at dusk, before full darkness
- Double features on one charge in Eco mode
Not For
- Hikers or anyone carrying gear any distance
- Buyers who want Netflix built in
- Tight budgets
Where to Buy
Appears In
Compare Head-to-Head
Customer Reviews
Alternatives to Consider
XGIMI MoGo 4 Laser
XGIMI
A 2.9 lb triple-laser portable rated at 550 ISO lumens, with a built-in 360-degree stand, Google TV with licensed Netflix and dual 6W Harman Kardon speakers. Trusted Reviews and Expert Reviews both found its picture brighter and richer than other compact portables. The weak spot outdoors is the 71Wh battery: rated at 2.5 hours in Eco, it lasted 92 minutes at maximum brightness for Trusted Reviews and ran out during a garden screening in What Hi-Fi's test.
Nebula Mars 3 Air
Nebula (Anker)
The lighter, cheaper sibling of the Mars 3: a 3.7 lb native 1080p LED projector rated at 400 ANSI lumens, which ProjectorCentral measured almost exactly (399 lumens peak). It adds Google TV with licensed Netflix and dual 8W Dolby speakers that Creative Bloq and How-To Geek both singled out as excellent. The Smart Home Hookup ran it for 3 hours 23 minutes on battery, but at about 128 lumens, so it is a full-darkness projector once unplugged.
XGIMI MoGo 4
XGIMI
The LED version of XGIMI's MoGo 4, sharing the Laser model's 2.9 lb body, 360-degree stand, 71Wh battery, Google TV and dual 6W Harman Kardon speakers for about $190 less. ProjectorCentral measured 404 lumens against a 450 ISO rating, and What Hi-Fi praised a sharp, punchy picture while noting thin sound and slightly over-saturated color. It switches to Eco mode automatically when unplugged, which is how it reaches its rated 2.5 hours.
Dangbei Freedo
Dangbei
The least expensive Google TV pick in this group, a 3.1 lb 1080p LED projector with a 165-degree gimbal stand and a protective carry case in the box. Trusted Reviews and Pocket-lint both rated its picture good for the price, but ProjectorCentral measured about 310 ANSI lumens in Movie mode against a 450 ISO rating, and its 60Wh battery is rated at 2.5 hours only in Eco mode. Pocket-lint saw about half the charge gone after an hour.