Nebula Cosmos 4K SE tested: can this high quality portable projector replace your big screen TV?
4K projector with up to 200in display combines laser and LED light sources and costs the same as a 55in TV
Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is a brand new laser projector with Dolby Vision, Google TV and Netflix all built in.
It uses a HybridBeam backlight that combines laser and LED light sources.
I’ve been testing it for a few weeks now since its launch at IFA in Berlin, and am super impressed by the overall image quality.
Big screen tellys are still way more expensive than a projector that can deliver much larger screen areas for less money - in this case, up to 200in display for the same price as a 55in 4K TV.
Cosmos 4K SE has a silver, largely plastic, design and build. It looks and feels premium. The projector is quick and easy to set up using the Google Home app.
Nebula is a highly reputable sub-brand of Anker that specialises in projectors and this model delivers a truly immersive experience.
All the content you would normally consume on your TV, such as movies, games and TV shows, can also be viewed on the Cosmos 4K SE.
Built-in Google TV means easy access to all your other favourite streaming apps too, such as Disney+ , Apple TV+, Prime Video, Now and Paramount+. The user interface is slick and easy to navigate.
Cosmos 4K SE key features
Brightness is rated as 1800 ANSI Lumens - enough to allow you to project up to around 90in screen size with the blinds open. Brightness is nicely balanced, and nothing is too dark or bright. Colours look rich, natural and detailed, and the contrast ratio of 400:1 works well especially in low light viewing conditions.
In a darkened room you can project to a much larger area - the firm said 200in but this is bigger than the wall in my living room. I was able to project to 150in screen size and was more than happy with the results. The system is quick to correct itself if you move it, or if an obstacle gets in the way. There’s a useful Wall Colour Adaption feature which uses sensors to detect the hue of your viewing surface if it’s not white and it will then compensate for it.
You also get a range of clever auto set-up features such as autofocus, auto keystone correction, screen detection and obstacle avoidance. The refresh rate at 4K is locked to 60Hz, incidentally
The inclusion of Dolby Vision enhances detail nicely in some content with deeper blacks and more vibrant colours. The system also uses what the company calls its NebulaMaster image processing engine, which boosts colour reproduction.
Cosmos 4K SE comes with two powerful 15W speakers built-in to add to your home cinema experience. You can also hook the projector up to a soundbar as one of the two HDMI out ports is eARC. Both ports are HDMI 2.1 so you can use them with gaming consoles. Nebula said the latency should be just 19 milliseconds.
Cosmos 4K SE other features
Under the hood is a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU with 2 GB RAM and ARM Mali-G52 MC1 GPU.
Nebula Cosmos 4K SE comes with a handy backlit remote control (and batteries), a silicone handle for carrying it around and a thread mount for sitting it on a tripod or stand.
And while it is portable enough to carry around, on a camping trip for example, do bear in mind it weighs 4.5kg.
The rear of the machine includes a USB-A port for connecting external hard drives or USB sticks.
I didn’t experience any distracting noise from the projector in operation.
You can use the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE as a Bluetooth speaker with the lens or image left switched off.
Nebula said the backlight will last for more than 30,000 hours of viewing, which is a pleasing lifespan for a projector.
The company sells a range of optional accessories. These include a handy travel case, a stand for the floor and a table stand that allows complete rotation and angling.
Cosmos 4K SE verdict
Whether you're bingeing on Netflix in your living room or enjoying a movie under the stars, the Cosmos 4K SE delivers fantastic image quality and impactful audio from a relatively compact package.
If you’ve ever considered switching from TV to projector, then this is one perfect introduction and it’s easy to recommend.
Pricing and availability
Nebula Cosmos 4K SE costs €1,099 on eu.seenebula.com, with free delivery, reduced at time of publication from €1,499. You can also buy it on Amazon for €1554.
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