Anker’s sub-brand Nebula is not new at making projectors. However the Nebula Cosmos Max 4K is likely to be its finest one but. I’ve reviewed a few different cheaper, and moveable projectors from Nebula, and truthfully, I didn’t have plenty of excessive expectations for the Cosmos Max 4K. As my earlier expertise discovered that these projectors have been low-resolution and really dim. Powerful to see even in a darkish room. That’s not the case with the Nebula Cosmos Max 4K. Which is especially excellent news, given the worth tag right here.
Anker additionally ditched AOSP Android for its projectors, and adopted Android TV. Which is the proper transfer, to be sincere.
A vibrant 1500 Lumens projector
I used to be truthfully very stunned once I first turned on the Cosmos Max 4K, and even in a vibrant room with loads of daylight, I used to be capable of see the projected display on my wall. That means that you need to use this projector in the course of the day in addition to at evening. Which additionally means that you would be able to truly use this projector as a alternative to your TV.
At 1500 Lumens, it’s nonetheless somewhat dim in the course of the day, relying on how a lot mild is within the room, so you will have hassle seeing some darkish TV exhibits and films. Nonetheless, most content material, you will don’t have any hassle seeing.
And at evening, the Cosmos Max 4K seems completely beautiful. It is tremendous vibrant, generally too vibrant, if we’re being sincere.
This can be a 4K projector, however like most projectors, it is form of in the midst of 1080p and 4K high quality. It does look vibrant and sharp nevertheless. In fact, the nearer it’s to the wall (with a smaller picture) the sharper it seems. The additional away it’s, the much less sharp it’ll look. That is true of most projectors that aren’t short-throw projectors although.
The image high quality right here is kind of beautiful. And I did not miss a factor when watching TV on the Cosmos Max 4K versus my Hisense 65-inch 4K TV. Certain the TV was brighter, however image high quality was actually comparable.
Paired with Dolby Digital Plus help
In fact, with an awesome show, you want nice sound. The Cosmos Max 4K does include a 360-degree speaker built-into the projector. And it does help Dolby Digital Plus. I used to be unhappy to be taught that it doesn’t have Dolby Atmos. Although Atmos would have pushed the worth previous $2,000, so this should not be an enormous shock.
It is loud sufficient to fill a complete room with sound. And the bass is sweet and deep. With mids and highs being crystal clear. With the 2 HDMI ports on the again, you can too plug in a sound bar just like the Sonos Beam or Arc to get even higher audio. Which I did (with the Sonos Beam), however did not hold that setup. I discovered that it wasn’t actually wanted. The audio high quality on the Cosmos Max 4K was sufficient.
Aside from the brightness of this projector, the sound additionally stunned me. I used to be not anticipating it to sound this full and wealthy. However very glad that it does.
Loads of ports accessible
The Cosmos Max 4K does include a superb variety of ports. We’re two HDMI 2.0 ports able to 4K output. In addition to two USB-A ports and an optical port accessible.
As a result of there are two HDMI ports accessible, I did plug in my PS5 to the Cosmos Max 4K. And I used to be stunned but once more. I anticipated some lag, and for some video games to be not as vibrant, like Rocket League. However there was virtually no lag. It was similar to enjoying on an everyday TV. Even video games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales which is considerably darkish, performed fairly nicely on this vibrant projector. To be fairly sincere, I most well-liked enjoying on this projector than my very own TV. Principally as a result of it has a a lot bigger image. It can provide you as much as an 150-inch picture. Relying on the dimensions of your room. That is superb for enjoying the brand new PS5.
In fact, you can too use these ports to plug in a soundbar as I discussed already. Or one other set-top field. Say you do not like Android TV, you may plug in a Roku or Hearth TV. Or you are able to do what I did and plug in a Chromecast with Google TV. I actually just like the Google TV interface, so I did use that on the Cosmos Max 4K for a number of days and it labored very well.
Mainly the underside line is, you may actually construct out a pleasant leisure middle across the Cosmos Max 4K. Add in a pleasant soundbar, plug in a console, and also you’re good to go.
Construct high quality is basically spectacular
I will be sincere, when the Cosmos Max 4K arrived, it was lots greater than I anticipated. And I am not fully positive why I anticipated it to be a lot smaller. Maybe due to the opposite Nebula projectors I had reviewed have been the dimensions of a soda can? However in any case, it’s a fairly beefy projector. Given what it’s able to, that should not shock you.
It is principally product of steel. Which supplies it a very nice feel and look. There’s speaker grilles throughout the projector. With an influence button on the again, and the ports on the underside portion of the again. The entrance has the projector itself and the laser to assist be sure that it’s in focus. On prime, there’s what seems to be a little bit of glass within the center, to make a form of show. Mainly that lights up the Nebula emblem and a collection of stars. To assist make it appear to be you are wanting up on the sky. Fortunately, you may flip this off within the settings. Not that it is a dangerous factor to have, however if you’d like complete darkness, you may have that.
On the underside, there’s a slot for a tripod screw. Permitting you to mount it on a tripod, as an alternative of resting it on a desk in your lounge. There may be additionally a VESA mount accessible. That is so that you could mount it to the ceiling. Which is certainly the higher approach to make use of the Cosmos Max 4K. That approach you will not block the projector whenever you stroll in entrance of it. Nonetheless, since I reside in an house (and have to provide the Cosmos Max 4K again to Anker quickly), I did not even try and mount it to the ceiling.
The {hardware} is fairly top-notch. And truthfully, that is what you anticipate from an Anker model. That’s what Anker has made their model on. Excessive-quality merchandise at low costs.
Android TV is principally good right here
For essentially the most half, Android TV is precisely what you’d anticipate it to be on the Cosmos Max 4K. It has the entire well-liked apps like YouTube, YouTube TV, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many others.
Nonetheless, there’s one obvious omission. And that’s Netflix.
No, you may’t obtain Netflix from the Play Retailer. And no, you may’t sideload the Android TV model onto the Cosmos Max 4K. As an alternative, it is advisable sideload the cellphone model onto the projector. Props to Nebula for making it simple to do. However that is singlehandedly the largest annoyance I’ve with the Cosmos Max 4K.
Not solely do it is advisable go into the Nebula app to sideload it, it is advisable go into that app each time you wish to launch Netflix. That means you may’t add it to your property display both – which can be as a result of it’s the Android app and never Android TV app.
Actually, it’s totally annoying not having Netflix simply installable. And it is not Nebula’s fault. You see, Netflix will solely certify units that may promote 1,000,000 items – this seems to principally be “manufacturers that promote 1,000,000 units” because it’s unlikely most Android TV units hit 1,000,000. However since Nebula does not promote plenty of projectors, Netflix will not certify units just like the Cosmos Max 4K. Which implies that you’re caught sideloading the app.
This has been the case with all of Nebula’s projectors, so it is not only a drawback on the Cosmos Max 4K. Hopefully Netflix will change their stance right here although.
In any other case, it is Android TV 9 as you’d anticipate. With Google Assistant, Chromecast and extra. The general software program expertise is sweet. It is fluid and fairly fast. Actually, it is extra responsive than Android TV constructed into any TV set I’ve used previously 5 or so years. Even quicker than my Hisense Android TV. Which is basically spectacular, to be fairly sincere. And also you get a good quantity of area too. You get about 12GB of usable area – that means there’s most likely 16GB inside. After putting in all of my apps – and a few I do not typically use on Android TV – I nonetheless had virtually 10GB free. Which is nice information.
Keystone Correction is not excellent
For these which might be unaware, Keystone Correction is a function in most projectors that may routinely alter the display in order that it’s straight. It doesn’t matter what angle the projector is at. It really works on the Cosmos Max 4K, however not fairly adequate for my OCD. You see for those who put it in a nook and angle it on the wall, you may nonetheless get it straight on the wall. However the backlight will nonetheless present a rectangle that’s not straight. Which actually messes with my OCD. Clearly that will not be an issue for everybody, however it’s price noting.
You possibly can alter it your self, if it does not auto alter the best way you need it to. This can be a good function to have in case you are planning on placing the Cosmos Max 4K in a nook in the lounge and aiming it on the center of the wall.
Ought to I purchase the Cosmos Max 4K?
Total, I’m truly actually impressed with the Cosmos Max 4K. I suppose given the worth tag, I must be, proper? Nicely good projectors usually value fairly a bit of cash, so for a superb 4K projector, $1,800 is definitely considerably cheap. There’s actually solely a few points with the Cosmos Max 4K. One is the Netflix problem I discussed above, and the opposite being the truth that it isn’t a ultra-short throw projector. That means somebody can simply stroll in entrance of it and mess up the image.
If these two usually are not main points for you, then undoubtedly, you should purchase the Cosmos Max 4K.
