I was already impressed enough with Anker’s SoundCore Nebula X1 projector when I saw it back in April. We all dream of having our own full theater in our homes, or at least something transportable enough that we could hang a bedsheet in our backyard and pretend we’re at the cinema. It was one of the first projectors with its own internal liquid cooling system to keep it from overheating. Then came along the Nebula X1 Pro, a projector so big it could be a Star Wars droid that’s large enough to pack famed R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker inside (RIP).
Anker already shared a few details for the Nebula X1 Pro, but the company is showing it off for the first time at IFA 2025 in Berlin. The beastly all-in-one projector and speaker system is as tall as a 10-year-old and comes with its own retractable handle plus two wheels to roll it out when it’s time for family movie night. The device is truly the all-in-one projector setup nobody truly knew they wanted. It supports both Dolby Vision for HDR (for better contrast and brighter highlights) and Dolby Atmos sound through its pop-out wireless speakers.
The projector specs are very similar to the existing Nebula X1—which is to say it’s impressive. The Nebula X1 Pro uses a U-shaped optical laser system that supports 4K resolution up to 3,500 ANSI lumens. That will be plenty bright for dark rooms or nighttime operation. For playing movies during the day, it may still offer quality colors and deep contrast. Whether that will be better than a TV for its high price will be up to each user. The projector has automatic sizing, focus, and obstacle avoidance features to make the picture appear in the best frame possible.
The Nebula X1 Pro hides four fully wireless speakers you can set up around your living room or backyard. The 7.1.4 speaker setup includes four pop-out front and rear speakers connected to the main projector through 12-channel RF chips. The X1 Pro’s main body acts as the 8-inch, 80W subwoofer. Each speaker should have an 8-hour battery life—long enough to entertain your friends in a full-day movie marathon, though it won’t last long enough to watch all three Lord of the Rings movies (the extended editions, of course). If your space is more constrained, you could use the two front speakers as a soundbar. The lid comes up to reveal two microphones if you’re keen on having a karaoke night.
The projector’s bottom comes packed in with a 6.6-foot retractable power cord. You’ll still need an extension cord nearby, especially if you’re bringing this droid projector outside. There’s a lot to consider with projectors, more than with TVs. This giant box promises the full cinema experience, and that’s already enticing enough. But it’s going up on Kickstarter Sept. 22 for between $4,000 and $5,000, according to Anker. The Nebula X1 Pro can handle screen sizes up to 300 inches. You can get a smaller, high-quality QD-OLED TV from the pricier brands like Samsung and still save close to $1,000. We’ll want to see for ourselves if all the wireless speakers make it the droid we’ve been looking for.
