The Anker Nebula P1i is a compact 1080p LCD projector built around an LED light source and a portable-friendly design. It has a pair of flippable speakers, which fold out from the sides of the projector for a wider soundstage. It runs Google TV, supports Google Cast, and has automatic focus, automatic keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, auto screen fit, and post-movement image correction for quick setup. It doesn’t have a built-in battery, so it needs external power to run. Connectivity is basic, with one HDMI input with ARC, USB-C, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, and it supports up to 1080p @ 60Hz signals.
Our Verdict
The Anker Nebula P1i is poor for watching movies. It needs a dark room because it doesn't get very bright, but even in a controlled environment, its sub-par contrast makes very dark scenes look washed out. Its color gamut and out-of-the-box accuracy are also poor, so colors don't look especially rich or natural. It's fine for casual streaming on a modest screen, but it's not a good choice if movie performance is your priority.
Contrast is good in brighter content.
Good brightness uniformity, although corners are visibly dimmer on bright images.
Terrible contrast in very dark scenes.
Not bright enough for anything but dark rooms.
Very inaccurate out-of-the-box.
Narrow color gamut in SDR and HDR content.
The Anker Nebula P1i is alright for 60Hz gaming. Its input lag is incredibly low at 60Hz in Game Mode, so games feel responsive, but its gaming performance is held back by its limited image quality and basic resolution support. Still, if you just want responsive 1080p @ 60Hz gaming on a portable projector, it works well.
Contrast is good in brighter content.
Incredibly low input lag at 60Hz.
Good brightness uniformity, although corners are visibly dimmer on bright images.
Terrible contrast in very dark scenes.
Not bright enough for anything but dark rooms.
No 4k or 1440p support.
Very inaccurate out-of-the-box.
Narrow color gamut in SDR and HDR content.
The Anker Nebula P1i has poor brightness. It's best used in a dark room on a modest screen, as it doesn't have enough light output to handle much ambient light or produce a bright, punchy image at larger sizes. Its uniformity is good, but there is some dimming in the corners, so bright full-screen images look a bit uneven. It's still usable for casual viewing in a controlled room.
Good brightness uniformity, although corners are visibly dimmer on bright images.
Not bright enough for anything but dark rooms.
The Anker Nebula P1i has sub-par contrast. Its biggest weakness is in very dark scenes, where blacks look washed out, and shadow detail lacks depth compared to many other projectors. It performs better with brighter content, but the image still doesn't have a ton of impact.
Contrast is good in brighter content.
Terrible contrast in very dark scenes.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Nebula P1i is available in one variant. Anker also sells the Anker Nebula P1, a related but different model with detachable wireless speakers rather than the P1i's flippable side speakers. The P1 also has different specs and features, so our results only apply to the P1i.
Popular Projector Comparisons
The Anker Nebula P1i is a nifty portable projector, with fully flippable side speakers that you can angle however you see fit. Unfortunately, it falters on image quality: it's dim, has sub-par contrast, and a narrow color gamut. It has very low input lag at 1080p @ 60Hz, making it a solid, cheap option for gamers on the go. Still, overall, you'll get a similar but superior experience with the Anker Nebula P1, as it's almost just as responsive and even more portable, but with better image quality. If you don't care about gaming, then the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) or the NexiGo PJ40 Pro are better units with far superior contrast, even if they don't quite offer the same level of versatility when it comes to portability.
Check out our recommendations for the best portable projectors, the best outdoor projectors, and the best projectors overall. If you'd prefer to shop for another product in the same price range, look up the best projectors under $500 instead.
The NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is better than the Anker Nebula P1i for most usages, except one: gaming. That's because the Anker's input lag at 1080p @ 60Hz is incredibly low, making it far more responsive than the NexiGo. Otherwise, the NexiGo is a bit brighter and has vastly better contrast, delivering a punchier image in a dark room. The Anker does have nicer portability features, such as an integrated handle and flippable speakers, making it a bit easier to take with you than the NexiGo.
The Anker Nebula P1 is better than the Anker Nebula P1i. While they are about equally as dim, the P1 has better contrast, a wider color gamut, and is a bit more accurate out-of-the-box. They both have a ton of features for easy portability, but the P1 is even smaller than the P1i. And while the P1i is slightly more responsive than the P1 for gaming, the latter accepts more input signals, and its far superior image quality makes for a more immersive gaming experience.
We've independently bought and tested over 80 projectors and published detailed results for each, so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab, so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodologies are also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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