Review - This projector looks like R2-D2, runs Android, and kicks ass - Android

This projector is going to come with me just about everywhere for a while. It's that much fun.

I like a good projector as much as the next nerd, but my living room has multiple sunlights and it's just not practical for that room. In a world of socially distanced hangs and avoiding being indoors with other people, a portable projector and an inflatable screen you can take anywhere opens up a whole new world of opportunities. And if you're looking to go that route, the Anker Nebula series regularly outshines the competition.

Anker's Nebula Capsule 2 has been out for a little while now, but today a limited edition release brings an epic new paint job, a few enhancements, and bragging rights among Star Wars fans the world over. Lots of people own some version of R2-D2, but if you've got the cash you can now own a version of everyone's favorite astromech droid with a projector baked in.

Get Excited

Anker Nebula Capsule II R2-D2 Edition

Bottom line: An already-great projector now has a fun paint job and beeps along in a way that you can't help but smile, though if price is what you're worried about this probably isn't for you.

The Good

• Autofocus tech is insanely good
• Excellent battery life
• Android TV is pretty great in this form
• Decent speaker

The Bad

• Netflix experience is Not Great
• Some small firmware quirks

$700 at Amazon

Jump to:

• What's awesome
• What could be better
• Competition
• Should you buy it?

Anker Nebula Capsule II R2-D2 Editon: Price and availability

The Anker Nebula Capsule II R2-D2 Editon costs $700, which seems like a lot of money for a portable projector, but it's a freaking R2-D2, officially licensed by Disney. The regular Nebular Capsule II Mini costs $580, so you're definitely paying a premium for the privilege — but what a privilege, right?

Anker Nebula Capsule II R2-D2 Edition: What's Awesome

It's an R2-D2 that can actually project things for you to watch. How cool is that?! How many kids have wanted this ever since Luke Skywalker first hear "you're my only hope" from the hologram in front of him? The Nebula design is perfect for this. The cylinder with a slightly curved top isn't obvious when it's in the standard all brack design, but once you see it in the blue and white it comes together very well. And if the design isn't enough to put a smile on your face, hearing the iconic chirps and beeps when the Capsule boots up every time is guaranteed to.

Even without the astromech paint job, the Nebula Capsule 2 is a fantastic portable projector. While the display resolution is only 720p, the laser autofocus on the projector lens ensures the image is perfectly sharp no matter where you have it pointed. I've had it set up on a counter drawing a 20-inch screen in my kitchen and outside on a tripod (thanks to the screw mount on the bottom) pointed at an 80-inch screen and it's been perfect. And if you happen to be pointing this thing at a weird angle, the software will compensate and crop to ensure everything looks like it's being projected head-on.

Once you've got your projector set up and turned on, the interface is straight-up Android TV. You can choose to control this projector either with the included remote, the buttons on the top of the casing, or with your phone through either the Anker app or as a Chromecast target. The range of control options is super impressive, especially if you've brought this projector out of your home. It's the kind of thing you can only really do with Android as a software layer on TVs and projectors, which is nice. And because it's Android TV, there's a huge selection of streaming apps ready to be installed. Disney+, Amazon Prime, and just about everything else I threw at this worked great. When I got curious about something not available through Android TV, it was super easy to use the HDMI port on the back to connect, say, a Roku or even a traditional Blu-ray player.

Included in this projector is an eight-watt, 270-degree speaker with two passive bass radiators that fire from the back of the cylinder. If you're indoors, this is more than enough for decent sound quality to fill a room and be enjoyable no matter what you're watching. In fact, Anker is so happy with this speaker that when you're not using it as a projector you can press a button and use the cylinder as a Bluetooth speaker.

If you're outdoors, you may find this a little on the quiet side if you're more than ten feet away from it. Fortunately, there's a 3.5mm jack on this projector if you want to connect something a little louder. And if you want a big screen and no public audio, you can easily pair a Bluetooth headset and have the best of both worlds.