Anker’s Nebula P1: The Ultimate Portable Projector for Sound Quality
The Soundcore Nebula P1 from Anker may not be the most portable Google TV projector out there, nor is it the brightest option available. It lacks a built-in battery, but it does offer a solid video experience with a strong emphasis on sound quality.
What sets the Nebula P1 apart is its detachable speakers, which provide true left- and right-channel separation, delivering a sound experience that surpasses typical all-in-one projectors like the TCL PlayCube, Xgimi MoGo, or Anker’s own Capsule models. I’ve been putting the $799 (currently discounted to $639) Nebula P1 through its paces while traveling across the European countryside in my van. While it may not be my top choice for a portable projector, I’ve developed a fondness for the P1—sometimes, the best projector is simply the one you have on hand.
Anker has been innovating in the portable projector space, starting with the high-end Nebula X1 and the massive X1 Pro. The Nebula P1 scales things down significantly from 72 pounds to just 5.3 pounds, making it a more affordable and practical option for van life or spontaneous movie nights wherever you can find a wall, sheet, or screen—and a power source or a hefty USB-C battery.
In darker environments, the P1 delivers a satisfying 1080p image, which remains the standard for portable projectors in this category. Its LED light source, rated at 650 ANSI Lumens, struggles against bright ambient light but still performs well inside my van during the day when focused on a nearby surface. However, it’s the audio that truly elevates the P1’s performance.
The detachable 10W speakers create a wide and enjoyable soundstage. After a few weeks of testing, I’ve grown quite attached to this little speaker duo. They magnetically attach to my van on either side of the projection screen, providing a tidy outdoor movie setup. Positioning the speakers near the display enhances the immersive experience, as opposed to the usual scenario where sound comes from the projector itself, making it feel disconnected from the action.
Overall, the sound quality is decent for speakers the size of soda cans. I appreciate that I can turn off the projector’s LED lamp and use the P1 as a Bluetooth speaker, with enough volume to fill an RV or living room. Madeleine Peyroux’s rendition of “La Vie En Rose” sounded fantastic, with distinct violin notes from the left speaker, a guitar strumming from the right, and her smooth vocals filling the center. However, bass-heavy tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” felt a bit lacking, as the P1 doesn’t include a subwoofer like the larger Nebula X1 and X1 Pro.
As a projector, the Nebula P1 operates quietly, measuring just 26dB from a meter away—barely audible over my snoring dog. My testing took place on cool days, so the fans didn’t need to ramp up. The speakers are rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance, while the projector itself has a more limited IP33 rating, offering protection against light rain.
Anker claims the P1’s speakers can last up to 20 hours on a single charge, which seems accurate based on my experience. They snap together magnetically and dock on top of the projector for charging when plugged into a wall outlet or a 100W-capable USB-C battery. They can also be charged directly via USB-C while in use, which is handy when they flash a low-battery warning mid-movie.
The Nebula P1 boots into Google TV in about 50 seconds from a cold start or around 5 seconds from sleep, consuming a steady 6W. During one hour of Netflix streaming at maximum brightness, it drained 51Wh of battery capacity, meaning a typical 99Wh power bank won’t last long enough for a two-and-a-half-hour film like “Pulp Fiction” without a charging break.
Anker touts the P1’s Intelligent Environment Adaptation (IEA) 4.0, which includes automatic focus, keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, and screen fitting. However, in my testing, it struggled to detect obstacles and my projector screen, likely due to the lack of black borders on my screen. To automate detection, I had to use Anker’s cumbersome “VisionFit” tech, which requires taking a photo of the projection surface through the Nebula Connect app. It’s a clunky process that I found frustrating.
On the bright side, the autofocus and intelligent keystone correction worked well, with manual overrides available for fine-tuning the image. The projector’s swivel feature also allows for more flexible placement without needing to stack books. You can save settings as presets for repeated use in the same location.
In general, I’m not a fan of portable projectors that lack a built-in battery, as it means dealing with a cable or carrying an extra battery. This is definitely the case with the Nebula P1. While I enjoyed my time with it, I would opt for the TCL PlayCube when true portability is the priority. The PlayCube is similarly priced, a bit brighter, tilts, and runs the same Google TV OS, all while fitting a three-hour battery into a more compact design. However, it can’t match the Nebula P1’s sound quality.
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Specs: Anker Nebula P1
* Display Technology: DLP 0.23” DMD
* Resolution: 1920 × 1080
* Light Source: LED
* Brightness: 650 ANSI Lumens
* Color Gamut: 124% Rec. 709
* Native Contrast Ratio: 400:1
* Light Source Lifespan: 25,000 Hours
* Aspect Ratio: 16:9
* Throw Ratio: 1.2:1
* Offset: 100%
* 3D Content Compatibility: No
* Focus Adjustment: Auto / Manual
* Projection Mode: Front / Rear / Front Ceiling / Rear Ceiling
* Keystone Correction: Auto (Vertical ±40°), Auto (Horizontal ±30°)
* Interface: HDMI 2.1 (eARC), AUX-OUT, USB-A, USB-C
* OS: Google TV (With Official Netflix)
* Modes: Projector Mode / Bluetooth Speaker Mode
* Screen Mirroring: Google Cast Built-In
* CPU: Quad Core ARM Cortex-A55
* GPU: ARM Mali-G52MC1
* RAM / ROM: 2 GB / 32 GB
* Speakers: 10W ×2 (Dolby Audio Supported)
