I'm no stranger to projectors and in my opinion they are much better entertainment devices than standard TV's. There's just something special about sitting down with family or friends (or both) and watching a great movie together on a huge screen. I have an 120" ALR screen and had been using my XGIMI Aura 2 UST projector daily, that is until I received the Nebula X1. I have owned and reviewed previous Nebula projectors but the X1 so far is the absolute ultimate from the brand. This projector at just shy of $3000 is an absolute beast of a machine and easily the best projector of 2025 so far.The box looked very similar to other Nebula models and the unboxing was easy enough, no big surprises inside just the projector unit, remote, power and literature. I will say that the box and the projector unit itself are quite heavy, but reassuringly so. It's a well engineered and robust machine. The projector despite the weight is relatively compact and though you likely won't be throwing this in your backpack, you could easily place it in the trunk of your car and it's portable to an extent. I love the motorized handle which is a nice touch. The curved corners and design make this look very sleek and modern. The touch controls and hidden ports all lie in the back and it's all very well considered.Setup was very easy as it's running Google TV as the operating system. I just had to go through the prompts once the remote was connected and I connected to WiFi then it was a matter of logging in with my google email address. As it's running Google TV you get access to a vast array of android APPs from the Play Store. There are so many to choose from. So far I have VLC player, Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and Max all installed and all operate well and look amazing. This is especially the case with Netflix as it supports Dolby Vision and Audio. I'm not the biggest fan of Netflix but there have been a few shows and movies I have watched and literally been blown away with the quality of image and sound. One of the key features and a huge benefit is the ability to get the best size, focus and keystone on your screen or wall with just one touch. We are at a point now where AI is baked into these types of devices and in the past with more analog projectors it was real pain trying to get the perfectly rectangular shaped image and sharpness...not anymore! The spatial adaptation on the X1 is amazing. I ordered a stand for the X1 and have it slightly off center and it automatically adjusts to fit my 120" screen.The image quality is fantastic, very very good. I was not expecting it to be as great as it is probably because of the 'outdoor' tag. But the X1 is very versatile as it can be used both indoors and outdoors. While not being a true 4K projector in the traditional sense the image it produces is incredibly sharp and cinema like. The colors are very well represented owing mainly to the triple laser system. The contrast is exceptional and blows my Aura 2 out of the water. Blacks are more defined and while watching night scenes in a movie, I can see whats actually going on. The contrast and brightness looks even better than my 75" Samsung TV. The brightness is another welcome surprise, it's a whopping 3500 ANSI lumens, not ISO lumens so true lumen brightness. For the first time ever I can actually watch content during the day without pulling down the blinds. Obviously, a dark environment will always get you a better image but the X1 does a fine job in a brighter environment.There are 40W speakers built into the X1 and they sound just as incredible as the image looks! At high volume the level of clarity is wonderful and there is clear distinction when watching a movie, even a loud action movie. 40W is very powerful given the size and the fact that it's not a standalone speaker. There are wireless satellite speakers available for the X1 and sadly I did not get them included in my review device, but I am definitely considering buying them. The accessory pack includes a carry case, two speakers plus two wireless microphones. There is a special offer available on amazon and you can get the accessory pack for $299! That said the quality of sound just on the X1 itself is more than good enough for me and my den setup. I should add that bass is not an issue on this, unlike other similar projectors.There are many other features onboard such as the first of it's kind liquid cooling system which makes for a fan free experience and further elevates the enjoyment of this machine, the built motorized micro gimbal and also the short to long throw motorized optical zoom. If you are in the market for a new or your first projector, you really cannot go wrong with the Nebula X1. It is by far the most impressive 4K projector in the $3k price range and has many outstanding features for that price.
