In a Soundcore Nebula P1i review, WIRED’s Chris Haslam found a compact 1080p projector with an unusually handy speaker design, fast setup and the same old budget-projector compromises: weak daylight performance, modest black levels and no built-in battery.
Haslam rated the Nebula P1i 6 out of 10 after spending a couple of months with it. The projector is listed at $369, with buying links in the review showing $289 at Amazon and $299 at Soundcore. That puts it in the busy cheap-to-mid portable projector aisle, where the spec sheet alone rarely tells the whole story.
The P1i’s headline trick is its pair of flip-out speakers. According to WIRED, each speaker can turn 90 degrees side to side and 200 degrees vertically, so users can aim sound toward the seating position instead of accepting the usual muffled audio from a plastic box on a table. Haslam said the speakers have more force than expected and improve dialogue projection when unfolded, though bass is limited and the sound becomes harsh when pushed much past moderate volume.
Is the Soundcore Nebula P1i good for daytime viewing?
WIRED’s answer is no. The Nebula P1i is rated at 380 ANSI lumens, which Haslam said works for a 60- to 80-inch picture in low light and can stretch to 100 inches in a dark room, but ambient light washes out the image quickly. That makes the projector better suited to night viewing, curtained rooms and casual movie sessions than bright living rooms or city-rooftop marketing fantasies.
The projector outputs at 1080p. WIRED described the picture as enjoyable for informal viewing, with enough resolution for the price, while noting that images can look soft and dark scenes expose the limitations of a budget projector. Users can adjust contrast, saturation, black levels and sharpness, and choose modes including Vivid and Movie. Haslam found the mode changes visible, though not dramatic.
Setup is one of the cleaner parts of the package. The Nebula P1i runs Google TV with Netflix built in, and WIRED said QR-code setup through a phone got streaming running within minutes. The projector supports major services named in the review, including YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV and Prime Video. Physical inputs include USB-A and HDMI 2.0 with ARC.
Autofocus and keystone correction were described as quick and accurate, though WIRED warned that aggressive keystone correction degrades image quality. Soundcore includes a small flip-out 15-degree stand, and the base has a tripod thread. Haslam still had to prop the unit up during testing and said a tripod would be worth budgeting for.
WIRED compared the P1i with nearby rivals including XGIMI’s $250 Vibe One, the $399 MoGo 4 and Soundcore’s $370 Nebula Capsule 3. Haslam judged the P1i stronger than the Vibe One for cinematic presence, while noting that the MoGo 4 adds a 2.5-hour battery and higher 450 ISO-lumen brightness.
The verdict is narrow rather than glowing. WIRED said the Nebula P1i lands well on price, usable brightness and loud directional audio, with Google TV and the Nebula app making it easy to live with. Its missing battery, so-so daylight performance and non-premium image quality keep it from being either a full portable rig or a serious home-theater replacement.
This story draws on original reporting from WIRED.
