Is the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air worth it for backyard movies?

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air is typically a mid-tier portable projector, so for backyard movies it makes sense if you want the convenience of built-in smart TV features and you’ll mostly watch in full darkness. For fair pricing, expect about $450–$650 new for the Mars 3 Air, $650–$900 new for the brighter Mars 3, and $500–$750 new for the XGIMI Halo+.

For used pricing, a reasonable target is roughly $300–$450 used for the Mars 3 Air, $450–$650 used for the Mars 3, and $350–$550 used for the Halo+. A good deal is usually toward the bottom of those ranges, and I’d walk away if the price is near new retail without a strong warranty or if the battery is significantly degraded.

For backyard use, the Mars 3 Air is worth it if you mainly do casual movie nights after sunset and want a light, easy setup. It’s not the best value if you need to start at dusk, fight ambient light, or run long unplugged sessions—those use cases favor the brighter Mars 3 more.

Prices move a lot with sales and stock, so check completed/sold listings before buying.

Quick verdict

• Mars 3 Air: best if you want portability and simple setup for dark yards.
• Mars 3: best if you need brightness for twilight or a larger image outdoors.
• Halo+: best if you care more about image quality and speakers, but can live with Netflix workarounds.