Anker Nebula Mars II Review: Another good display device Android

More than a year ago, I reviewed the first Android, The Nebula Mars system. She mobilized a bright display and JBL speaker in a small package, and reflected the price of $ 599.99. The modified structure of Android 4.4 did well, but the application of the application was limited, because most applications have stopped supporting Kitkat.Anker and then released a six50 -dollar capsule, which is a smaller show (and Dimmer) that doubled as Bluetooth hearing. It was more expensive than competing devices, but it was too a lot Better than each of them. Excellent construction quality, decent projection, and newer software (based on Android 7.1) made great products. Now we have a successor to the original Mars – the properly permissible nebula. It is a mixture of first Mars and capsule, with both the best features. The experience of the program is still not without problems, but it is generally strong.

Specifications

Goodness

Not very good

Design and devices

The second Mars nebula looks almost identical to the original show. It is a small black box, 7 inches long (17.8 cm) from back to front and 4.8 inches (12.2 cm). On the front is the lens of the display, with a cover that slides up and down. The maximum slide below turns into the second Mars, and is close to it.

From left to right: The first Mars nebula, the capsule of Al -Sadim, the second Mars Nebula

There is a neck -out nebula logo near the bottom, where the JBL brand was on the original Mars. One of the 2017 main sales points was JBL integrated speakers, but Mars II uses Akero’s Stereo speakers. The sound quality is still great, and the second Mars can get very High.

At the top of the unit there are some controls, so you can still implement most procedures without reaching a remote control. There is a directional pillow to use with the improved TV applications, buttons up and down, back butter, and switch to Bluetooth mode (which I will explain later).

The back contains air venting and some useful ports. There is a DC connector for power (unfortunately, no type-C), HDMI insertion, USB 3.0 port, and audio socket. Just as with other ANKER views, you can connect the external broadcast stick, game control unit or another HDMI to complete the functions of the display. The USB connector is primarily to store the media stored on a flash drive, but it can also occupy Chromecast or any other stroke stick.

far

The enshrined distance control device is very simple. It contains a directional pillow, back/menu buttons, and sound control items. There is also the mouse button, which ANKER brought from the bastard capsule. When you press the mouse button, the indicator appears on the screen in which you can navigate using the trend panel. This means that you can use (most) Android apps for touch screens, albeit in a slow and exciting way.

The remote control device is used for two batteries ECR2032, which is included in the box. Most people do not store them like AA and AAA batteries, but they are somewhat cheap. If the control device dies unexpectedly, all the controls of the upper part of the display can be found, minus the mouse button.

My main complaint is that there is no touch plate to use applications without a TV interface. Moving the indicator around the screen using stock buttons is fair at best, and incredibly frustrated in the worst case. The presence of the touch plate on the physical dimension control device, such products, will cause a world of difference in the ability to use.

As a final note, I am happy that ANOR went with the regular plastic of Mars II, instead of the soft touch that was a distance control device in the spoiler capsule. The latter’s remote control device was already showing the wearing signs after a few weeks.

Duchess and battery

Mars II has a drop -off lamp with brightness of 300 ANSI candles. This is a noticeable step to the top of the spiral capsule (100 ANSI candles), but it is dim from the original Mars (500 ANSI candles). Instel told us that this had been given to give Mars the second point a lower price point.

Leave: Capture capsule. right: The second Mars nebula

Certainly the projection quality is still better than the vast majority of portable latitudes, most of which are only about 100 ANSI appetites. In the real world tests, it is significantly brighter than the spoiler capsule, but you still need to be in a dark room for movies (and dark scenes in particular) to be clearly visible. The projection decision is 1280 x 720, which appears frankly fine when sitting a few meters away.

Like other Aker’s display devices, Mars II supports Keystone Polytheques, but it also contains something that is not found in any other nebula product: automatic focus. On the first Mars and capsule, you should manually adjust the concentration every time you transfer the display device. On the second Mars, you do not have to do anything.

Overall, the second Mars is very good as a display device. It is not bright like the original model, but I think this is a completely acceptable comparison, given that this is less than $ 170 (at the time of this report) from the first Mars at all. Automatic focus is a nice bonus, too.

As the battery life goes, ANKER estimates that Mars II will last about 4 hours. In my test, the display usually died 4 hours ago. This is longer than one hour than the original Mars can continue on one charge – probably thanks to the Dimmer lamp.

programming

If you read our review of the spiral capsule, I will look like a broken record in this section. The program on Mars II is almost identical to the capsule. First of all, it works with the same highly recognized construction from Android Nougat. Not Android TV, just Android Nougat.

Application launcher and file manager

Anker has done a great job in building her big screen interface, but it is not an ideal alternative to Android TV. You cannot use the nebula as a chromecast goal, for example – AirPlay and Miracast are supported only. I could not reliably get Miracast using my Windows 10 computer, so the number of miles may vary.

APTOIDE television store

As with other ANKER shows, there is no Google Play store, so everything should be downloaded from the Aptoide TV store. Hulu, YouTube, Spotify, Plex, Amazon Prime Video, Kodi and others are available. A few of them are designed for Android TV, but the majority are just smartphones applications. Mouse mode in remote control and NEBULA Connect (which I will reach in the next section) helps to use, but at the end of the day, the applications designed on the touch screen will not work well with a remote control device.

Amazon Prime Video and YouTube on the second Mars

For example, the Amazon and Netflix applications included in Mars II are phone versions, which do not work with a trend pillow at all. YouTube app is the old Android TV version, but you cannot log in to your Google account, because operating services are absent. I have no idea why ANKER did not collect a simple web of YouTube.com/tv, because this does not require operating services at all. I ended up with the late YouTube Smart TV, which works perfectly.

As with previous slices, you can copy APKS to and install a File Manager. If the app you want is not available on Aptoide, you can try to download it from APKMIRROR. This is definitely a beautiful option, if only for unconventional use cases; I installed VYSOR so that I can seize screenshots for this review.

In short, while Mars II can operate most Android applications technically, many of them represent a challenge to use it with remote control. The ChromeCast or Roku Stick connectivity can provide a better media experience, but at this point, it is better to buy the cheapest MARS Lite (which does not have the built -in operating system).

Senior calling

The best way to use non -TV Android applications on Mars is the optional Nebula Connect app, which is available for both iOS and Android. It turns your phone into a wireless tracking panel and keyboard for Mars II, and provides control and energy controls.

Once you are connected, the indicator appears on the display, as it appears in the screen shot below.

Nebula Connect works exactly as it is announced, and only needs a Bluetooth connection, so that you can use it anywhere you take the display. You will definitely need to install it if you buy Mars II.

Bluetooth mode

Another feature that is implemented from the spoiler capsule is the Bluetooth mode. By pressing the Bluetooth button at the top of the show, Mars II turns into a standard Bluetooth speaker. Anker estimates 30 hours of battery life in this situation, so you can maintain music throughout the day (and night, the next day).

This is a great way to expand the functions of the second Mars, and it appears that the 10W dual loudspeakers seem great. My only real complaint is that the Bluetooth storage unit is not synchronized with the sound level, so if you want the heart of Mars II along the way, you will have to use the headphones.

Should you buy it?

It depends. The spoiler capsule is a good laptop and great Bluetooth speaker. You can watch movies from a flash drive, film flow and TV shows from most major services, and play music for successive hours.

The choice of using Android is a feature and disadvantages. This means that Mars has a huge library of applications, but around all of it is not designed to use with remote control. You will have to use the spoiler control in most situations. However, Android also allows Mars II to be incredibly multi -use; You can install the simulations to play Retro games with a Bluetooth or USB control unit, or offer presentations at work using an application like WPS Office.

If you really want an Android viewing device, and you need something more than a spoiler capsule, Mars II is definitely the best option in the market. If you only want a nice view to connect it with it, Mars Lite has identical and cheaper specifications (but lacks Android).

Purchase it if:

You have $ 430 to spend on a laptop, and you really want something that runs Android.

Do not buy it if:

Do not like the idea of ​​dealing with improved applications, or using a smartphone as a major control unit.

He buys: Amazon