Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review: this well-priced 4K smart projector just rocketed its way to the top of my wishlist
DA Gadgets Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE:
two-minute
review
The
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
is
a
laser
and
LED
smart
projector
capable
of
projecting
4K
Dolby-Vision-enhanced
imagery
up
to
200
inches.
It
was
first
released
in
the
US,
followed
by
the
UK
in
August
and
September
2024
for
a
list
price
of
$1,299.99
/
£1,299.99.
It’s
cheaper
than
its
predecessor,
the
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K,
which
has
an
extra
400
ANSI
lumens
of
brightness,
and
a
full
laser
light
source,
compared
to
the
4K
SEs
laser
and
LED
HybridBeam.
The
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
has
plenty
to
boast
about
though,
with
Google
TV
built-in,
offering
effortless
access
to
popular
streaming
apps
like
Netflix
and
Disney+,
and
many
other
useful
apps,
as
one
would
expect
from
Google.
There’s
decent
support
for
external
content
too,
with
HDMI
and
USB-C
ports
making
it
simple
to
connect
a
disc
drive
or
laptop.
The
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
has
a
stated
brightness
of
1,800
ANSI
lumens
–
this
is
some
way
short
of
most
of
the
best
4K
projectors.
Our
testing
didn’t
provide
results
to
get
excited
about,
with
measurements
taken
including
122
nits
peak
brightness,
which
wasn’t
radically
different
from
the
BenQ
v5000i,
and
grayscale
accuracy
of
8,
plus
a
color
accuracy
of
3.4.
Coverage
of
the
UHDA-P3
color
gamut
came
in
at
88.9%,
with
BT.2020
reading
76.3%.
The
input
lag
measured
up,
with
35ms
of
lag
in
Game
Mode
Standard,
and
18.5ms
in
Game
Mode
Extreme.
(Image
credit:
Future)
Real-time
autofocus,
auto
keystone
correction,
and
auto
screen
fit
worked
well
when
projected
onto
small
targets,
but
I
found
I
had
to
manually
alter
the
four
keystone
points
to
get
the
image
to
sit
centrally
(just
about)
on
my
100-inch
screen.
I
could
only
watch
at
60
inches,
as
I
lacked
the
space
to
have
the
projector
the
required
7.8ft
/
2.4
meters
away
from
the
screen.
If
you
have
your
heart
set
on
getting
the
full
movie
theatre
experience
without
having
to
shell
out
on
a
house
extension,
I’d
recommend
taking
a
look
at
our
pick
of
the
Best
ultra
short
throw
projectors
instead.
When
it
comes
to
the
performance
of
the
contrast
and
brightness
when
watching
content,
darker
scenes
in
movies
and
TV
shows
with
a
dark
aesthetic
were
plagued
by
pixelated
grays
where
darker
areas
would
otherwise
be
visible
while
watching
on
a
TV.
This
isn’t
entirely
uncommon
for
projectors,
as
producing
dense
blacks
is
naturally
difficult
given
how
the
image
is
generated,
but
I
can’t
say
that
it
didn’t
subtract
from
the
otherwise
fabulous
viewing
experience.
Scenes
in
Damsel
and
Prometheus
in
particular
showcased
the
Cosmos
4K
SE’s
ability
to
deliver
stunningly
vivid
color
and
intricate
details,
no
doubt
thanks
to
the
addition
of
Dolby
Vision.
This,
along
with
the
two
built-in
15-watt
Dolby-Audio-enabled
speakers
made
watching
movies
and
series
with
this
projector
a
satisfyingly
immersive
experience.
You
can
read
further
details
about
this
in
the
Picture
Quality
section
below.
In
a
nutshell,
provided
you
have
the
space
to
achieve
the
screen
size
you
want,
you’re
happy
watching
content
in
little
more
than
a
dim
light,
and
you
have
the
space
to
place
this
chonky
example
of
a
portable
projector,
I’d
highly
recommend
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE.
(Image
credit:
Future)
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
review:
price
and
availability
List
price:
$1,299.99
/
£1,299.99
Available
in
the
US
and
the
UK
Released
in
August
/
September
2024
The
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
became
available
in
the
US
in
August
2024,
followed
by
the
UK
in
September
2024,
at
a
list
price
of
$1,299.99
/
£1,299.99.
Apart
from
the
Amazon
Prime
Day
sales,
when
it
dropped
to
$999
/
£999,
which
Anker
matched
on
the
Nebula
website,
the
cost
of
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
looks
to
have
remained
at
its
usual
price.
At
the
time
of
writing,
the
Cosmos
4K
SE
is
not
available
in
Australia.
While
unlikely
to
be
a
spontaneous
purchase
at
this
price,
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
is
still
miles
cheaper
than
all
but
one
in
our
choice
of
the
best
4K
projectors.
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
review:
specs
Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally
Screen
sizes
supported
20
–
200
inches
Brightness
(specified)
1,800
ANSI
Lumens
HDR
support
Yes,
Dolby
Vision
Optical
technology
HybridBeam
(Laser+LED)DLP
0.47-inch
DMD
4K
Yes
Speaker
15W
×2
(Dolby
Audio)
OS
Google
TV
Connections
Bluetooth,
HDMI
2.1(eARC),
HDMI
2.1,
USB-A,
AUX,
AC-in
Dimensions
10.4
x
8.7
x
6.5
inches
/
264
x
221
x
165mm
Weight
9.9
lb
/
4.5kg
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
review:
design
and
features
Google
TV
built-in
Large
but
technically
portable
Efficient
auto-correction
and
calibration
features
The
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
just
about
classes
as
portable,
though
it
is
a
bit
of
a
chonk,
weighing
in
at
4.5kg
/9.9lb,
and
with
dimensions
of
10.4
x
8.7
x
6.5
inches
/
264
x
221
x
165mm.
I
was
able
to
pick
it
up
and
carry
it
about,
but
I
had
to
be
careful
about
it.
It
would
be
even
more
of
a
hassle
if
it
wasn’t
for
the
helpful,
and
comfortable
silicone
inbuilt
handle
that
protrudes
from
the
top
of
the
projector
body.
This
projector
is
solely
mains-powered,
with
no
built-in
battery
or
compatible
battery
pack.
So
while
you
might
be
able
to
carry
it
outside,
you’ll
need
to
have
access
to
a
suitable
power
outlet
for
al
fresco
viewing.
The
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
uses
its
HybridBeam,
which
is
a
combo
of
laser
and
LED,
to
generate
images
with
up
to
a
specified
1,800
ANSI
lumens
of
brightness.
The
auto
screen
adjustment,
auto
keystone,
and
autofocus
features
did
a
great
job
of
projecting
images
that
were
rectangular
and
crisp
for
the
most
part,
especially
when
projecting
onto
smaller
targets,
which
for
me
in
particular
was
the
wall
space
next
to
my
bed.
However,
I
found
I
was
limited
to
just
60
inches
when
trying
to
watch
on
my
100-inch
screen.
This
forced
me
to
make
use
of
the
four-point
manual
keystone
correction,
as
the
Cosmos
4K
SE
insisted
on
fixing
the
60-inch
projection
to
the
upper-left
corner
of
the
screen
each
time,
which
looked
all
kinds
of
wrong.
After
some
investigating,
I
learned
that
the
4K
SE
needs
to
be
at
least
7.8
feet
/
2.4
meters
away
from
the
target
to
project
at
90
inches
or
above.
I
was
using
the
projector
in
quite
a
large
room,
so
this
seems
fairly
limiting.
(Image
credit:
Future)
Anker
claims
that
it’s
possible
to
watch
a
60-inch
projection
in
a
well-lit
room
with
windows
and
indirect
daylight,
but
unfortunately,
I
must
disagree.
The
issues
I’ve
already
mentioned
regarding
the
contrast
and
black
density
were
when
watching
in
darkness.
When
I
tried
to
watch
with
additional
light
sources
any
stronger
than
the
colorful
LED
strips
behind
my
TV,
this
contrast
issue
got
worse,
and
anything
more
than
very
dim
sunlight
made
it
very
difficult
to
see
most
of
what
was
going
on
in
whatever
I
was
watching.
Having
a
light
source
in
the
room
also
plays
havoc
with
the
Wall
Color
Calibration
feature,
which
is
intended
to
alter
the
coloring
of
the
projection
so
that
it
still
looks
correct
regardless
of
the
color
of
the
wall
you’re
projecting
against.
I
tested
this
out
in
our
TechRadar
music
room,
which
is
painted
a
deep
teal
color.
When
I
tried
this
with
some
indirect
sunlight
coming
from
the
small
window
far
over
to
the
right
on
the
same
wall
I
was
projecting
onto,
the
“color
corrected”
image
had
an
off-putting
blue
tint
to
it.
When
I
repeated
the
calibration
with
the
lights
off,
it
worked
perfectly,
and
I
was
really
impressed.
(Image
credit:
Future)
I
found
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
easy
to
control
thanks
to
the
backlit
remote
control’s
handy
voice
assistant
feature,
as
I
could
ask
Google
to
whisk
me
straight
to
the
content
I
wanted.
The
Nebula
Connect
app
also
worked
well
as
a
remote
control,
too.
I
love
that
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
comes
with
Google
TV
built-in,
as
in
my
experience
it
has
proven
to
be
the
most
efficient
Android
TV
OS
by
far.
As
expected,
it
provides
access
to
all
of
the
popular
streaming
apps
like
Netflix,
Disney
Plus,
Prime
Video,
and
Apple
TV,
plus
easy
access
to
YouTube,
naturally.
It’s
simple
to
access
content
from
external
sources
too,
thanks
to
the
USB-C
input
and
the
two
HDMI
ports,
one
of
which
is
a
HDMI
2.1
(eARC),
supporting
4K
visuals
at
60
hertz,
with
lossless
transmission.
When
it
comes
to
audio
output,
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
has
two
built-in
15-watt
speakers
enabled
with
Dolby
Audio.
I
didn’t
observe
any
issues
with
the
sound
quality
during
my
testing,
I
was
very
satisfied
with
the
quality.
I
would
have
picked
up
quite
quickly
if
there
were
any
issues
that
a
typical
user
would
notice
–
I’ve
tested
a
lot
of
Bluetooth
speakers
in
my
time
so
I
will
spot
from
a
mile
off
poor
clarity
or
if
the
bass
and
treble
are
below
par.
Design
score:
4/5
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
review:
picture
quality
Beautifully
vivid
color
Disappointing
lack
of
contrast
Immersive
cinematic
experience
When
I
got
my
hands
on
the
Cosmos
4K
SE,
I
was
really
excited
to
try
it
out.
I’d
previously
tested
the
Nebula
Mars
3
Air
back
in
my
freelancing
days,
which
I
loved,
so
I
was
expecting
big
things
from
the
4K
SE.
After
letting
it
warm
up
for
an
hour,
myself
and
my
colleague
James
conducted
tests
to
evaluate
the
projector’s
capabilities.
The
peak
brightness,
when
viewing
in
Movie
Mode
and
measured
on
a
white
10%
window
pattern,
was
122
nits
in
SDR,
which
isn’t
far
off
the
peak
brightness
reading
we
got
for
the
more
expensive
BenQ
v5000i,
and
119
in
HDR,
surpassing
the
reading
we
got
for
the
BenQ.
The
color
performance
figures
that
resulted
from
our
testing
didn’t
blow
me
away,
but
at
this
price
and
for
casual
viewing,
I
can
forgive
the
Cosmos
4K
SE
for
this.
The
projector
achieved
a
Grayscale
accuracy
of
8,
and
a
3.4
for
color
accuracy,
which
was
just
a
whisker
off
our
target
level
of
3.
Coverage
of
the
BT.2020
scored
76.3%,
and
the
UHDA-P3
color
gamut
coverage
was
also
nothing
to
shout
about
at
88.9%
meaning
that,
although
the
colors
were
satisfyingly
vivid,
they
weren’t
as
rich
and
varied
as
those
projected
by
the
LG
CineBeam
Q,
which
gave
an
impressive
reading
of
98.7%.
These
test
figures
were
obtained
while
viewing
in
HDR
Movie
Mode.
The
input
lag
in
Game
Mode
Standard
was
35ms,
and
in
Gaming
Mode
Extreme
was
18.5ms,
which
supports
Anker’s
claims
of
the
4K
SE
being
low
latency
with
under
19ms
of
lag
and
should
satisfy
the
majority
of
casual
gamers.
(Image
credit:
Future)
In
terms
of
the
brightness
and
contrast
when
viewing
there
were
mixed
results.
In
lighter
scenes,
the
whites
and
colors
were
satisfyingly
bright
and
dazzling,
but
the
handling
of
the
contrast
in
dark
scenes
left
a
lot
to
be
desired.
The
first
film
I
watched
on
the
Cosmos
4K
SE
was
Damsel
on
Netflix,
starring
Millie
Bobby
Brown.
I
can
easily
jump
straight
into
all
the
positives,
as
I
was
stunned
by
the
beautiful
imagery
that
the
projector
delivered,
but
I’ll
get
the
negative
out
of
the
way
first.
It
was
clear
fairly
early
on
that
there
was
a
contrast
issue.
When
the
main
character
Elodie
enters
a
dark
cave,
all
detail
is
lost
around
her,
with
stonework
being
replaced
with
grey
pixelated
sections.
Achieving
a
quality
deep
black
can
prove
difficult
for
projectors,
especially
those
that
don’t
possess
full
laser
optical
technology
–
with
a
238:1
contrast
ratio
reading
from
the
Cosmos
4K
SE,
it’s
hardly
surprising
that
it
didn’t
perform
brilliantly
in
this
area.
Aside
from
this,
there
were
so
many
scenes
that
took
advantage
of
the
projector’s
strengths,
likely
due
to
the
presence
of
Dolby
Vision.
The
scenes
involving
the
luminescent
grubs
and
the
crystal
caves
were
visually
stunning,
with
the
vivid
colors
and
clarity
making
Damsel
a
delight
to
watch.
During
the
opening
sequence
of
Prometheus,
the
level
of
brightness
was
impressive,
as
was
the
color
density.
The
delicate
details
on
the
spaceship
as
it
came
in
to
land
were
visible
and
clear,
as
were
the
pores
and
veins
on
the
Engineer’s
face.
The
level
of
intricacy
in
the
DNA
scenes
when
the
strands
were
getting
affected
by
the
black
pathogen
highly
impressed
me
too.
The
scene
that
really
caught
my
attention,
though,
was
when
David
has
a
drop
of
Chemical
A0-3959X.91
on
the
tip
of
his
finger.
The
close-up
shots
of
this
were
visually
stunning,
so
much
so
that
I
started
to
calculate
quite
how
I
could
incorporate
a
projector
screen
into
my
living
room
on
a
permanent
basis.
Despite
the
darker
scenes
in
Maleficent
and
Damsel
noticeably
lacking
contrast,
similar
scenes
appear
to
be
handled
better
in
Prometheus;
they
still
weren’t
perfect,
but
darker
details
were
more
visible.
(Image
credit:
Future)
Despite
my
undeniable
admiration
of
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE,
I
wouldn’t
recommend
it
to
anyone
who
regularly
enjoys
programs
with
a
darker
aesthetic.
Series
like
Marvel’s
Daredevil
take
a
real
hit
due
to
the
lack
of
good
contrast,
making
the
scenes
appear
grainy
and
low-quality.
In
Avengers:
Age
of
Ultron,
playback
was
smooth
during
intense
fight
scenes,
with
the
images
remaining
crisp
and
high
quality,
despite
the
fast
movement.
The
detail
is
fantastic
once
again,
with
the
intricate
weave
of
the
fabric
of
Hawk
Eye’s
suit
clearly
visible.
Despite
my
undeniable
admiration
of
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE,
I
wouldn’t
recommend
it
to
anyone
who
regularly
enjoys
programs
with
a
darker
aesthetic,
even
when
watching
in
the
dark.
Series
such
as
Marvel’s
Daredevil
take
a
real
hit
due
to
the
lack
of
good
contrast,
making
the
scenes
appear
grainy
and
low-quality,
which
is
a
real
shame
considering
the
projector’s
fabulous
performance
in
other
areas.
Picture
quality
score:
4/5
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
review:
value
Good
picture
quality
for
the
price
Delivers
a
satisfying
at-home
cinema
experience
Uses
Laser
and
LED
hybrid
optical
technology
At
$1,299.99
/
£1,299.99,
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
is
$400
/
£400
cheaper
than
the
previous
model,
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K,
despite
the
4K
SE
having
a
large
projection
range,
Google
TV
built
in,
and
Dolby
Vision.
This
price
difference
is
likely
due
to
the
400
additional
ANSI
lumens
and,
more
importantly,
due
to
the
original
4K
utilizing
a
laser
light
source,
compared
to
the
4K
SE’s
laser
and
LED
HybridBeam,
which
could
explain
its
lackluster
brightness.
Overall,
the
viewing
experience
was
fantastic
when
in
a
dimly
lit
room,
and
the
sound
quality
was
spot
on.
It
was
like
having
a
pop-up
cinema,
with
beautifully
vivid
colors
and
no
problems
with
fast-paced
scenes.
The
downsides
can’t
be
ignored,
however,
with
a
lack
of
contrast
in
some
darker
scenes
when
watching
in
the
dark,
and
a
distractingly
bad
lack
of
contrast
and
brightness
issues
when
watching
in
the
light,
despite
viewing
at
the
projection
size
that
Anker
claims
would
be
visible
in
a
well-lit
environment.
While
it’s
pretty
chunky,
and
not
exactly
an
attractive
addition
to
the
decor
unless
it’s
situated
in
a
casual
TV
and
gaming
den,
it
feels
suitably
robust
for
the
price.
While
the
size
and
weight
initially
made
me
question
its
apparent
portability,
this
weight
pales
in
comparison
to
other
4K
projectors
such
as
the
Samsung
The
Premiere
9,
and
the
carry
handle
definitely
makes
moving
it
about
a
simpler
task.
If
the
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
might
upset
your
Feng
Shui,
then
fear
not,
as
more
attractive
alternatives
are
available,
such
as
the
LG
CineBeam
Q,
which
you
can
learn
a
little
more
about
in
the
Also
Consider
section
below.
Value
score:
4/5
(Image
credit:
Future)
Should
I
buy
the
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE?
Buy
it
if
Don’t
buy
it
if
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
review:
also
consider
Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally
Header
Cell
–
Column
0
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
Laser
4K
Hisense
PX3-Pro
LG
CineBeam
Q
Price
$1,299.99
/
£1,299.99
$1,999.99
/
£1,799.99
$3,499
/
£2,499
$1,299
/
£1,299
/
AU$2,499
Screen
sizes
supported
20
–
200
inches
60
–
150
inches
80-150
inches
50
–120
inches
Brightness
(specified)
1,800
ANSI
Lumens
2,200
ANSI
Lumens
3,000
ANSI
Lumens
500
ANSI
lumens
HDR
support
Yes,
Dolby
Vision
Yes
Yes,
Dolby
Vision
Yes
Optical
technology
HybridBeam
(Laser+LED)DLP
0.47″
DMD
Laser
DLP
3-laser
DLP
RGB
laser
DLP
4K
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Speaker
15W
×2
(Dolby
Audio)
10W
×2
+
5W
×2
(Dolby
Atmos)
Dolby
Atmos
and
IMAX
Enhanced
for
DTS
3-watt
mono
speaker
OS
Google
TV
Android
TV
10.0
(dongle)
Google
TV
WebOS
Connections
Bluetooth,
HDMI
2.1(eARC),
HDMI
2.1,
USB-A,
AUX,
AC-in
Bluetooth,
HDMI
2.0
(ARC),
USB-A,
AUX,
AC-in
2
x
HDMI
2.1,
HDMI
2.0
(eARC),
2
x
USB-A,
optical
digital
audio
out,
3.5mm
audio
out,
Ethernet
Bluetooth,
HDMI,
USB-C
(display,
power)
Dimensions
10.4
x
8.7
x
6.5
inches
/
264
x
221
x
165mm
10.4
x
8.7
x
6.5
inches
/
264
x
221
x
165
mm
21.7
x
11.7
x
4.8
inches
/
550
x
300
x
122mm
5.3
x
3.1
x
5.3
inches
/
135
x
79
x
135mm
Weight
9.9
lb
/
4.5
kg
10.7
lb
/
4.9
kg
19.8
lb
/
9
kg
3.3
pounds
/
1.5
kg
How
I
tested
the
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
Tested
at
home
and
in
the
TechRadar
music
and
TV
testing
rooms
Tested
in
different
lighting
conditions
Measurements
were
made
using
Calman
color
calibration
software
I
got
the
Anker
Nebula
Cosmos
4K
SE
setup
and
had
an
explore
around
the
available
features,
apps,
and
settings.
I
tried
out
the
various
display
presets
to
determine
the
most
satisfying
option
for
casual
viewing.
I
watched
several
films,
series,
and
online
content
to
establish
how
well
the
projector
handled
the
different
aesthetics.
I
tested
the
visibility
of
the
projection
by
watching
in
total
darkness,
minimal
lighting,
and
daylight.
My
colleague,
TV
expert
James,
and
I,
measured
the
white
balance
(grayscale),
gamma,
and
color
point
accuracy
using
Portrait
Displays’
Calman
color
calibration
software.
The
results
provided
Delta-E
values
(the
margin
of
error
between
the
test
pattern
source
and
what’s
shown
on-screen)
for
each
category,
providing
us
with
figures
to
assess
the
projector’s
overall
accuracy.
We
also
ran
tests
to
obtain
measurements
of
the
peak
light
output
in
both
standard
and
high
dynamic
range
modes,
and
measured
the
coverage
of
DCI-P3
and
BT.2020
color
space,
to
obtain
readings
that
determine
how
well
the
projector
can
render
the
extended
color
range.
Finally,
we
measured
the
contrast
ratio,
determining
the
brightest
white
to
the
darkest
black
that
the
projector
is
capable
of
displaying,
and
the
input
lag,
which
is
an
important
reading
if
you’re
looking
for
a
gaming
projector
in
particular.
Read
more
about
how
we
test.
First
reviewed
October
2024
