Hardware

Published on February 20th, 2024 | by Andrew Bistak

Nebula Mars 3 Air Review

Nebula Mars 3 Air Review Andrew Bistak
Score

Summary: The Nebula Mars 3 Air is like having your own portable cinema with its own smart features.

5

Portable cinema


Projectors are a fantastic way of up-sizing your visual entertainment which makes them ideal for watching blockbuster movies such as Dune, streaming the latest episodes of The Witcher or playing games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, however like some VR headsets, they are tied down by cables. However not all projectors are the same – cue in the Nebula Mars 3 Air, a high quality portable projector that boasts an equivalent TV size of a massive 150” which really does create that true cinema experience for sharp images and bright colours.

Not only does it display 1080p HDR video, it comes with an inbuilt speaker and a battery charge of up to 2.5 hours, including technology that autocorrects and adjusts the clarity with just a push of the button. The Mars 3 Air also comes with everything you need to start your wireless streaming of video, music and presentations as you cast from your smartphone or notebook equivalent device thanks to the functionality of Google TV. Additionally it comes with a HDMI connector so you could connect your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X next-gen console plus a USB port that allows you to access files directly from a USB stick.

Mars 3 Air Highlights

  • Take the Big Screen Anywhere: This portable Google TV projector lets you watch all of your favourite content and apps—including Netflix—wherever you are
  • Jaw-Dropping Display: Enjoy a truly cinematic experience with rich detail and high clarity thanks to the 1080p HDR display and 400 ANSI Lumens of brightness
  • Ultra-Long Playback: Fully charge to enjoy watching up to 2.5 hours of movies and series, or listen to up to 8 hours of music
  • Dual 8W Dolby Audio: Delivers immersive sound for movies, and can even function as a portable speaker to pump out the music at a party
  • Set Up in Seconds Our Intelligent Environment Adaptation Technology performs screen fit, auto keystone correction, autofocus, and obstacle avoidance in just 3 seconds

As it comes with Google TV, you can access all your popular streaming services directly from the device such as Netflix (built into the device), Disney+ or Hulu, however you do need to connect the Mars 3 Air to the internet which could be via your home Wi-Fi or smartphone. The best way to control the projector is via the included remote control and Nebula keeps its design simple. To make it even easier, some of the buttons light up which is perfect when it becomes dark. There are also some controls on the Mars 3 Air itself and as this is an Android device, the projector supports voice control via Google Assistant.

Unboxing Gallery

Google TV also allows you to install other apps in order to increase the scope of what this portable projector can do. For example, if you want to watch movies from your USB stick, you need to install a File Manager app and then a movie viewer such as VLC – both are free. This then allows you to insert a USB stick into the rear of the unit and then by loading the File Manager, you select what film you want to watch which automatically loads via VLC. It should be noted that you do need a Google account to access Google TV, however for most, this is a moot point.

If use the device as a standalone music speaker, the battery boasts up to 8-hours and surprisingly, the dual 8W Dolby Audio speakers are quite loud for something so small – of course if you want that blockbuster experience, you need to connect some bigger speakers which can be achieved via Bluetooth or via the AUX input. So when connected to the impressive JBL Boombox 3, we had an awesome cinema experience outside near our pool… sorry neighbours.

The Nebula Mars 3 Air is a well-designed and sturdy product with accessible controls and inputs. The device is quite compact (178 x 122 x 133mm) and lightweight (1.58kg) which makes it quite portable. It also comes with a mains charging cable and there is even a screw thread underneath the projector so you can connect it to a tripod. However if you don’t have this, a coffee table or chair works just as well or I’m sure you can find something lying around the house or even your campsite. If you are using it outdoors, I would recommend a portable project screen or a projector screen curtain.

Setting up the Nebula Mars 3 Air is super easy and it is done through a wizard via the projector itself. The only caveat is that you need an internet connection to successfully complete the setup which also includes downloading the latest updates for the Mars 3 Air. While connected to the Internet, this allows you to download a myriad of different entertainment apps and of course stream video and music from your favourite services. If you have limited internet access or no internet at all, this is where the USB connectivity comes into play as you simply plug it into the Mars 3 Air and you can then play videos and music. Or a HDMI device like the PlayStation 5 or a Blu-ray Player.

If you have used a relatively new smart TV before, you should have no issues with navigating Google TV as the interface is very straightforward and quite simple. Thanks to the technology behind the projector which includes an ARM-Cortex processor with 2GB of RAM, the interface is very responsive, including streaming movies from your phone, internet or loading them directly from a USB connection. Further, connecting a HDMI device to the projector is simple as well as you just connect the device (e.g. PlayStation 5) and choose HDMI as the input from the menu and presto, your next-gen gaming just got a 150” upgrade.

Gallery (Indoors)

Gallery (Outdoors)


In terms of video quality, the Nebula Mars 3 Air and as mentioned, it supports a resolution of 1080p that is more than ample for a portable projector and with its intelligent environment adaption technology, it will calibrate your “screen” such as a wall or projector screen to ensure better image quality. Even if the projector is on angle, it will auto-correct. The ability to perform a screen fit, auto keystone correction, autofocus and obstacle avoidance took only 3 seconds which was impressive.

The 400 ANSI Lumens rating means that the Mars 3 will work in a larger room with ambient light. However if you are using the Mars 3 outdoors, you will want to use it at night in order to have the best possible experience. Given that, we watched the Taylor Swift Eras Tour Concert and Super Mario Bros movies outside and wow, what an awesome activity for the family. Again, good resolution, including vibrant colours that popped, especially in the Super Mario Bros Movie that was like playing a video game.

On the flipside and inside, streaming The Witcher Season 2 from Netflix and Halo Season 2 from Paramount+ created that cinema like-experience. Given our TV is only 60”, you really notice how big 150” is – with the family saying words such as “wow” and “awesome”.

Gaming is another fantastic opportunity with this portable projector and games such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage or Star Wars Jedi Survivor just made the entire gaming session so much more immersive. The only caveat is that you need to have the lights dimmed or off in order to create brighter colours and deeper blacks. But yes, gaming is super fun on the Nebula Mars 3 Air. Also, if you are using the projector inside, I would recommend you use the mains to power the device that allows you to have brighter video quality, without worrying about the battery charge.

Final Thoughts?

If you’re on the hunt for a portable projector that literally has all the entertainment bells and whistles, it’s hard to look past the Nebula Mars 3 Air. It is compact and lightweight with some excellent features that make it perfect for both indoors, outdoors and even on holiday trips. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to take the big screen everywhere! It’s also a smart projector as well, not just with the Google Assistant but also the way it adjusts the picture quality to improve it for your viewing pleasure.

Highlights

  • 150-Inch Screen
  • 400 ANSI Lumens With 1080p HD Resolution
  • Dual 8W Dolby Sound
  • Use as a portable speaker and listen to your favorite tunes anywhere.
  • Cast From Your Phone or Laptop
  • Intelligent Environment Adaptation 3.0
  • Performs screen fit, auto keystone correction, autofocus, and obstacle avoidance in just 3 seconds.
  • 2.5H Playback on a Single Charge
  • Multiple Ports to Connect External Devices
  • Google TV


About the Author

When he's not trying to save the world, Andrew enjoys travel (although loathes turbulence), going to the movies, reading and being a dad to his two dogs (and now twins) with his wife.


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