It was perhaps for that reason why the remote from both manufacturers include a mouse functionality to circumvent Netflix’s limitation. In fact, navigating the streaming service even with a compatible app version could be frustrating as some controls required a mouse or touch. Due to certification requirements, the latest version of Netflix found in the Google Play store was incompatible with all 3 projectors. Of worthy mention also was the Netflix app with a problem not unique to the Cosmos Max: it also affected the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro and Xgimi Halo. I was able to hear the fan softly whine during silent moments, HDR sometimes looked a bit washed out, input lagged slightly for high-intensity games, and there was no physical button available to launch auto-focus without the remote. I had already mentioned the lack of physical controls and the high amount of heat production, but if mounted to the ceiling, both issues become mute. There were some things I did not like about the projector. Higher-end projectors should have a Smart TV-like user interface with the ability to install favorite apps. Had Anker gone with the non-TV version of Android, the company would have committed an unforgiveable sin for a projector in its price range! Video and audio files could be played off a USB drive formatted with a supported filesystem after downloading Total Commander (or ES Explorer) and VLC Player. Navigating the screens felt as snappy as on the excellent Xgimi Halo and was leaps better than my favorite portable, Anker Nebula Mars II Pro, that ran an antiquated Android 7.1 operating system. That meant full access to Google’s Play Store with access to thousands of apps. Today’s higher-end projectors should feature a Smart TV-like user interface with the ability to install app favorites like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO, and Plex - and in that regard, Anker delivered with a full Android TV interface by Google. Cosmos Max can throw a diagonal 30″-150″ image at a distance between 3′ and 13′. Some black areas, however, were not completely black. While the Cosmos Max was bright enough for daytime viewing with its Texas Instrument DLP, the best experience would call for a dark room for the whites and colors to pop. Dolby Digital Plus sound sources especially highlighted the four speakers’ capabilities and easily filled a large room with a combined 40W. No audio distortions were discerned below 90% volume and decent bass gave us a good amount of chest pounding while images sprung alive in crisp detail for a very cinematic experience. We were particularly impressed by the booming loud, 3D surround sound that enveloped our ears with clear delight while watching movies, TV shows, playing games, or listening to YouTube/Spotify-streamed music. We test each product thoroughly, give high marks to only the very best, and th e views expressed here are honest and our own. Keep in mind that the latter two are battery-powered, portable projectors, whereas the Cosmos Max and Horizon Pro are designed for compact, but power-hungry home cinema or auditorium-sized viewing.ĭisclosure: We received this product free in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion, whether positive or negative. As such, I will be evaluating both with their published spec sheets and draw on my prior Xgimi Halo vs Anker Nebula Mars II Pro experience to provide additional details. Anker sent one without any stipulations or restrictions, and Xgimi did not provide one in time for this writing. I was curious to see how the (4K) Anker Nebula Cosmos Max and Xgimi Horizon Pro would compare with their home cinema/auditorium-capable projectors, and so I reached out to both manufacturers for a review unit. This review will go over some projection basics and what makes a projector better than another. The Halo claimed a brighter 800 ANSI Lumen rating (see “Projector Basics” section in this review to learn more) but did not visibly give it an edge over the Mars II Pro’s 500 ANSI Lumen, and as such, was not worth the extra $250 it had asked for. Even the highly-rated Xgimi Halo (1080p) with its superior specifications and higher-end experience had me choose the Anker in the end because of its better sound, hardware controls, and built-in lens protection. ANSI/ISO Lumen-to-Room Size RecommendationsĮver since I splurged on an Anker Nebula Mars II Pro (720p) projector almost exactly a year ago for viewing movies while on the go, it was difficult to find another that would wow me. Brightness: Lumens, ANSI Lumens, ISO Lumens, and Lux.
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