A mini projector or pico projector is a portable type of projector you can bring anywhere with you since it works like a cellphone in that it has its own battery pack. This way, you should be able to lug it around you for meetings and conferences all over the country or even the world. Additionally, they prove quite handy when it comes to projecting outdoors as well. They don’t need long extension cables in order to work, for example. Just recharge their batteries and you’re good to go.
With that said, what’s the difference between the Anker Nebula Capsule II and the Anker Nebula Capsule Max? Which one is the more advanced and expensive one? Which one is the cheaper yet decent one?
Anker Nebula Capsule II
The Anker Nebula Capsule II is a colored black Digital Light Processor (DLP) projector with 200 ANSI lumens. Its resolution is 1280 x 720 at a 16:9 HD aspect ratio.
It has a projection size of 20 to 100 inches.
Its operating system is Android TV 9.0.
Its speaker is 1 x 8W (270°).
Its video playtime length on the battery is 2.5 hours.
Its connectivity features include HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast. Its focus is a 1-second autofocus feature.
The device is ideal for personal use and home entertainment purposes as well as for doing a movie or video presentation for the businessman on the go.
The DLP projector works with Android TV and features an 8W speaker that’s pretty loud. It also has an image that can go all the way to 100 inches in size, which is perfect for conference hall or theater-sized presentations.
Because it uses DLP tech, it offers radiant viewing on the 200-ANSI-lumen range at 720p HD. This makes it capable of producing clear images in low-light theater environments.
The extra loud audio allows you to immerse yourself in hi-fi audio, particularly with the device’s premium scan-speak transducers. You can even feel the bass with pulse-pounding vibrations for good measure.
As for Android TV 9.0, this operating system allows you to personalize your Capsule II with up to 5,000 apps or so, which includes Twitch, YouTube, and Hulu. In order to use Netflix, you need to download from Google Play the Nebula Manager app instead.
- Pros
- USB-C charging port.
- Portable DLP projector.
- It’s made for personal use.
- Its speakers are quite loud.
- Works with other Bluetooth speakers.
- It can double as a Bluetooth speaker itself.
- It lasts for 2.5 hours viewing time on battery power.
- Pretty accurate keystone adjustment and autofocus.
- The brightest projector of its class at 200 ANSI lumens.
- Great for travel use since it’s easy to store and carry around.
- It features SteamLink abilities without any other devices assisting it.
- The smallest projector of its class (pico projector that’s 720p and portable).
- It can work with USB-A flash drives and thumb drives for movie viewing.
- Connectivity compatibility for HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Chromecast.
- Full-sized HDMI connection for 720p HD projections (other projector types use smaller variants and resolutions).
- It can be charged off of a regular power bank through USB-C. We recommend using the Anker charger but it works fine with other USB-C power banks.
- Cons
- Shoddy app support for the remote control.
- Chromecast can’t support Netflix content (Nebula Manager does though).
Anker Nebula Capsule Max
The Anker Nebula Capsule Max is a colored black DLP projector with 200 ANSI lumens. Its resolution is 1280 x 720 at a 16:9 HD aspect ratio. It has a projection size of 20 to 100 inches.
Its operating system is Android 8.1.
Its speaker is 1 x 8W (270°).
Its video playtime length on the battery is 4 hours.
Its connectivity features include HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Screen Mirroring. Its focus is a 1-second autofocus feature. It has everything the Capsule II offers but with a little extra on the side.
The extra amount of reviewer approval compared to Capsule II roots from its advantages in Screen Mirroring (instead of depending on Chromecast), its more media-compatible operating system, its 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM, its Octacore Processor, its screen mirroring feature instead of depending on Chromecast, its longer video playtime, and the like. Meanwhile, Capsule II has a more extensive USB compatibility feature (to include USB-C) and Android TV.
It streams fine through the built-in apps and works even better when you download Nebula Connect for the operating system, It also works with both your Android and your Apple/iOS products, even though we noticed latency and connectivity issues with the latter product type.
It takes a second to move the cursor on your MacBook when using screen mirroring and a device like the iPhone 10 often crashes and requires tedious reconnection that takes about 10 seconds, even when doing something as simple as changing the volume.
- Pros
- 4-hour video playtime.
- HD viewing (Native 720p).
- 20-100 inches for the image size.
- It includes an 8W speaker (270°).
- Cutting-edge DLP tech that’s portable.
- It offers a brightness of 200 ANSI lumens.
- Compatible with USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI.
- Screen mirroring features (for non-copyrighted content).
- Dependable 1-second autofocus and keystone adjustment tech.
- Instant clarity with its ultra-sharp, HD image with 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen).
- It has 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM that work hand-in-hand with its Octacore Processor.
- Ideal for low-light environments but bright enough to deal with some ambient lighting.
- It uses the Android 8.1 operating system, which allows you to download Hulu, YouTube, and so forth. To control Netflix, download the Nebula Connect app.
- It could be used for a wide range of applications, such as watching cartoons and educational videos for children, doing movie-based presentations for office work, and as a gaming system for teens and adults.
- Cons
- Latency and connectivity issues during screen mirroring mode for Apple products.
- Chromecast isn’t supported here and you can’t mirror or screencast copyrighted content from Netflix and Hulu.
Anker Nebula Capsule II vs. Max
So what are the differences between these two products? For the most part, as Anker-manufactured projectors, they share features and specs such as the fact that they’re both DLP projectors with the same brightness (200 ANSI lumens) and resolution (1280 x 720 at 16:9 aspect ratio). They even feature the same 1 x 8W (270°) speaker and 1-second autofocus. In those terms, they’re practically the same unit.
- Operating System: However, they differ in terms of the operating systems. The Nebula Capsule II has the more advanced Android TV 9.0, which supports 5,000 apps. Meanwhile, the Nebula Capsule Max uses the Android 8.1 operating system. Both are fine operating systems but the Nebula Capsule II is definitely compatible with a later version of the Android OS used for HDTVs.
- Screen Mirroring vs. Chromecast: They have the same connectivity features too. They share the ability to work with HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connections. However, the Nebula Capsule Max uses Screen Mirroring technology while, in contrast, the Capsule II requires Chromecast or the Google-Chrome-based screen mirroring service.
- Video Playtime and Battery Life: The Max maximizes your video playtime to about 4 hours while the Capsule II can only last for 2.5 hours or a little over half the playtime of the Max. They both last the same when plugged in for obvious reasons. The Max also uses a external power jack that offers a higher voltage charge for faster charging and concurrent charge (viewing movies as it charges).
- USB Specifications: Let’s delve deeper into the USB specs of the Capsule Max vs. Capsule II. They share the ability to read USB connections, but only Capsule II can be charged using a USB-C connection while having the ability to play USB-A memory sticks. Therefore, you can put a USB-C power bank onto your Capsule II to extend its short 2.5-hour playtime.
- The Maximum Android Experience: The Capsule Max offers better memory and computing power by having 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM working hand-in-hand with its Octacore Processor. Additionally, Android TV is a limited-service further throttled by Chromecast-style screen mirroring compared to the full Android 8.1 experience offered by the Max. Furthermore, Chromecast doesn’t support Netflix content.
Over the Horizon
At almost every turn, the Max outshines the Capsule II. For instance, the Nebula Capsule Max outdoes its Android TV counterpart the Nebula Capsule II in terms of video playtime.
The Max is also better in terms of screen mirroring features, superior RAM and ROM specs, Octacore Processor, and battery life/video playtime.
The only things that the Capsule II does better than the Max are its more robust USB-C capabilities that allow you to hook up a USB-C power bank and its Android TV 9.0 operating system that supports 5,000 apps.