Nebula Mars 3 Air
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.
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Our Verdict
The pick for sound and runtime per dollar: its dual 8W Dolby speakers outclass the MoGo 4's 2 x 6W pair, and it lasted 3 hours 23 minutes on battery in The Smart Home Hookup's test, longer than either MoGo. It sits below the MoGo 4 Laser because that runtime comes at only about 128 lumens, and ProjectorCentral measured just 145 lumens in Eco mode, so it needs full darkness. It edges the MoGo 4 on audio and battery endurance even though the MoGo 4 costs about $40 less.
Score Breakdown
Pros & Cons
Pros
- •Dual 8W Dolby speakers are the strongest audio among the compact picks here
- •Google TV with officially licensed Netflix, plus auto focus, auto keystone and obstacle avoidance
- •Measured brightness matches the 400 ANSI rating (399 lumens peak, ProjectorCentral)
- •Battery ran 3 hours 23 minutes in The Smart Home Hookup's test, long enough for most films in its battery mode
Cons
- •Drops to roughly 128-145 lumens in battery/Eco mode, so the image needs full darkness and a modest screen
- •Reviewers found the Google TV interface sluggish
Specifications
| Resolution | Native 1080p (DLP) |
| Rated Brightness | 400 ANSI lumens |
| Light Source | LED |
| Battery (Video) | Up to 2.5 hrs rated (3 hrs 23 min measured in Eco by The Smart Home Hookup) |
| Speakers | 2 x 8W (Dolby Audio) |
| Smart OS | Google TV (licensed Netflix) |
| Weight | 3.7 lb (1.7 kg) |
| Weather Resistance | No IP rating published |
Quick Answers
What is the resolution of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air resolution: Native 1080p (DLP).
What is the rated brightness of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air rated brightness: 400 ANSI lumens.
What is the light source of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air light source: LED.
What is the battery (video) of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air battery (video): Up to 2.5 hrs rated (3 hrs 23 min measured in Eco by The Smart Home Hookup).
What is the speakers of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air speakers: 2 x 8W (Dolby Audio).
What is the smart os of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air smart os: Google TV (licensed Netflix).
What is the weight of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air weight: 3.7 lb (1.7 kg).
What is the weather resistance of the Nebula Mars 3 Air?
Nebula Mars 3 Air weather resistance: No IP rating published.
Who is the Nebula Mars 3 Air for?
It suits backyard movie nights after full dark, buyers who want good built-in sound without a separate speaker, households that stream mostly from Netflix. It is not the right pick for dusk viewing or screens over 100 inches, anyone who needs brightness on battery, damp campsites.
Is the Nebula Mars 3 Air worth buying?
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. It ranks #3 in our Top 5 Battery-Powered Projectors for Outdoor Movies. The pick for sound and runtime per dollar: its dual 8W Dolby speakers outclass the MoGo 4's 2 x 6W pair, and it lasted 3 hours 23 minutes on battery in The Smart Home Hookup's test, longer than either MoGo. It sits below the MoGo 4 Laser because that runtime comes at only about 128 lumens, and ProjectorCentral measured just 145 lumens in Eco mode, so it needs full darkness. It edges the MoGo 4 on audio and battery endurance even though the MoGo 4 costs about $40 less.
Who Is This For?
Best For
- Backyard movie nights after full dark
- Buyers who want good built-in sound without a separate speaker
- Households that stream mostly from Netflix
Not For
- Dusk viewing or screens over 100 inches
- Anyone who needs brightness on battery
- Damp campsites
Where to Buy
Appears In
Compare Head-to-Head
Customer Reviews
Alternatives to Consider
Nebula Mars 3
Nebula (Anker)
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.
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.
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.