Anker sub-brand Nebula just debuted the X1 outdoor smart projector. Packed with unique technology and sold alongside a wireless speaker system, it’s honestly the most exciting projector I’ve seen this year, but it costs $2,999.

The Nebula X1 is kind of beefy, clocking in at 13.7 pounds and measuring just under a foot long. While a chunky build isn’t unusual for triple-laser projectors, it seems that some of Anker’s unique technology is contributing to the weight of this beast. Not only does the X1 use an internal liquid cooling system to reduce offset fan noise, but it has a motorized lens that can tilt up to 25 degrees and zoom up to 1.67×—an extremely versatile optical zoom ratio that effectively lets you choose between short-throw or long-throw projection distances.

The projector supports a 4K resolution with Dolby Vision enhancement, of course, and its brightness clocks in at a solid 3,500 ANSI lumens. Anker also promises 110% Rec.2020 coverage (BenQ has a good explanation for that unusual “110%” figure).

But one of the biggest selling points of this projector, at least from Anker’s perspective, is the $999 wireless speaker system add-on. The projector itself has four built-in speakers, of course, but the two 80-watt satellite speakers included in Nebula’s accessory pack gives you a proper, portable 4.1.2 surround sound system. The company even includes a set of wireless microphones with the speakers, presumably for parties, corporate events, or karaoke sessions where a microphone might be appropriate.

Each of the wireless speakers are IP54 rain-resistant and have an 8-hour battery life. Plus, Anker sells a carrying case that can fit the X1 projector and all of its accessories. These speakers connect to the projector via Wi-Fi, by the way, so they only have about 25ms of latency and support Dolby Audio.

I got an early look at this projector a few months ago at CES 2025. Anker sat me down in a hotel room and played a few videos to demonstrate the quality of its wireless speakers—one video was of a nature scene, another had music. Someone asked if they could fire up a Joni Mitchell track, too, which I appreciated.

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Honestly, the audio quality didn’t blow me away. It was loud, clear, and bass heavy, but if you’re buying a projector for your home, I suggest using a regular-old soundbar or AVR for audio. The Nebula X1’s wireless speakers are definitely better than what you’d get from a projector’s built-in speaker system, but they’re best suited for outdoor or on-the-go viewing parties. (I didn’t get a chance to test the microphones, in case you’re wondering.)

That said, the X1’s tilting lens is super cool. It was the highlight of Anker’s demonstration, which is kinda funny in retrospect, as the company was a lot more interested in telling me about its wireless speaker system. Every laser projector should have this type of lens—laser projectors tend to be a bit heavy and can be very difficult to mount or place in a room, so you’re often forced to sacrifice a bit of visual quality (and take on some extra input lag) with digital keystone or zoom.

The Anker Nebula X1 launches May 1st for $2,999. The wireless speaker accessory pack, sold separately, costs $999. That said, Anker will offer a bundle for $3,298 through June 20th.

Source: Anker