If you’ve ever tried to get decent stereo sound out of a tiny, all-in-one projector, you know the choice: limp onboard speakers or lug around a separate Bluetooth speaker. Anker’s Soundcore arm thinks it has a third way. The new Nebula P1 ships as a compact 1080p projector with two snap-off 10W Bluetooth speakers you can place wherever you like — a clever bit of modularity that promises better soundstage without adding a lot of separate gear.

On paper, the P1 reads like a pragmatic portable home-theater: Full HD (1920×1080) DLP projection, a light engine rated at 650 ANSI lumens and a claimed maximum image size up to 180 inches. Anker has packed autofocus, automatic keystone correction and a gimbal with roughly 130° of movement so the projector can physically aim itself instead of forcing weird placements. The unit weighs about 5.3 pounds — light enough to toss into a bag — and lists for $799 (Anker’s store and Amazon were showing a limited-time discount of around $719 at launch).

All of that comes with the obvious caveat: 650 ANSI lumens and a 1080p LED engine make the P1 best for dark rooms. The “180-inch” claim is useful for marketing, but in practice, you’ll need a very dim environment to get a watchable image at that scale. If you’re planning bright-room viewing or daylight backyard cinema, you’ll notice the limits fast.

The P1’s standout move is its pair of detachable 10W speakers. They magnetically dock to the projector and — when removed — act as independent Bluetooth speakers that keep playing for up to 20 hours on a charge. Anker says they support Dolby Audio and will recharge when docked to the projector (but only while the projector is plugged into mains power). That means you get a flexible 2.0 setup without having to pair a separate speaker; you can press the speakers closer to the left and right edges of your screen for a wider stereo image.

A couple of practical notes: the detachable speakers are useful for bringing sound closer to the action, but they’re small — don’t expect party-room bass — and the projector itself has no internal battery. So while the speakers can run untethered, the projector needs mains power for the lamp and the docking/recharge function to work. If you were hoping for a completely cable-free backyard movie night, plan on an extension cord or a portable power station that can handle the projector’s draw.

The P1 feels deliberately pragmatic next to Anker’s over-the-top Nebula X1 Pro, a hulking party projector revealed at IFA that folds up into what’s effectively a wheeled party speaker with laser optics and power-hungry audio hardware. The X1 Pro is many times larger, far brighter and pitched toward living-room blowouts — and priced accordingly. The P1 is the “carry it upstairs and actually use it” option: much more portable, far cheaper, but also much less luminous and feature-heavy. If you want high lumens and a subwoofer-sized bass response, the X1 Pro is closer to that dream — at a multiple of the P1’s price and weight.

Anker’s Nebula P1 runs a Google TV-style experience (the Nebula/Anker pages and several first-look pieces note apps like Netflix are supported), and the projector includes the usual ports: HDMI, USB-C and USB-A, meaning it’s happy with streaming sticks, phones and a laptop. The gimbal + autofocus combo makes setup pleasantly painless for casual viewing: put it on a low table or a tripod, let it find the focus and correct keystone, and you’re done.

That said, the projector’s lack of an internal battery and modest brightness are the two practical limits to remember. The detachable speakers are a genuinely nice touch for better stereo placement, but the visual experience will still depend heavily on ambient light and screen size. If you use it indoors in a dim room, you’ll likely be very happy; in brighter conditions, you’ll be chasing contrast and punch you simply won’t get from 650 ANSI lumens.

Anker lists the P1 at $799 on its official store and puts an early-bird price of around $719 on launch; some bundles include a 100-inch portable screen as a limited-time add-on. That pricing puts the P1 up against other portable, 1080p projectors that either prioritize built-in battery runtime or brighter lamps — the P1’s unique hook is the detachable-speaker design rather than raw lumen count.

Buy this if you want a genuinely portable projector that improves the typical “tiny speaker on the back” compromise by letting you place two actual stereo modules where they belong. It’s a great option for compact living rooms, dedicated dark media rooms, rooftop or backyard screenings with mains power, and anyone who wants less fuss when building a two-channel setup.

Skip it if you need bright daylight viewing, fully wireless outdoor operation without a generator/extension cord, or deep, room-shaking bass — those use cases still live in heavier, higher-lumen territory (or in separate speaker + battery-powered projector combos). And if you want a theatrical, Dolby Atmos-capable party hub, Anker’s X1 Pro points in that direction — but it’s a different class entirely in weight and price.