Description. The Anker Nebula 4K Streaming Dongle is a small, black set-top box that uses the Android TV operating system. The unit only supports video output via mini-HDMI but a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable is provided. There is also a USB-A input on the power cable. The player comes with a relatively simple remote that operates via Bluetooth and has a built-in microphone for voice search and accessing Google Assistant.
Setup. This player is generally easy to set up. It has an onscreen guide that automatically scans for available WiFi networks. A google account is required. You can quickly set up the player using an Android device which will provide your Google account and Wi-Fi information.
Ease of use. The Anker Nebula 4K Streaming Dongle is easy to use:
Interface. The main home screen has rows of tiles that feature recommended content by app. The layout of the apps on the home screen is customizable for easier access to your favorites. It has a search function that will search several of the available video streaming services for content. Search results are unbiased toward any one service provider, and are instead listed in price order. We found this player's response to be fast, allowing it to navigate menus and content quickly.
Remote control.The provided remote uses Bluetooth communication so it does not require a direct line of sight with the device for control. It also has a built-in microphone and a dedicated button for voice search. Additionally, an app is available that lets you use a phone or tablet to control the player and use the device's keyboard to enter text. The app also allows you to use your phone or tablet's microphone for voice commands.
Picture quality. This player supports resolutions up to 4K UHD. It also supports the HDR 10 format. One significant drawback to this device is that the HDR feature cannot be disabled when connected to a TV that supports HDR. This means that all content will be presented in HDR including content that is not intended for that format. We were able to evaluate SDR by choosing a TV that we could force out of HDR mode, however many TVs do not have that option. Picture quality was excellent for SDR content when we tested it in our lab, but TV's typically have a different set of picture settings for viewing HDR, so color and contrast may be off.
Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio via its HDMI port.
Connections. Given its design, this player has a limited number of connections. It has one HDMI output. It supports the Wi-Fi standards up to 802.11ac, which supports dual-band 5GHz networks. Chromecast is also supported so you can mirror and display content from compatible devices.
Miscellaneous. The Anker Nebula 4K Streaming Dongle can be paired with a game controller for playing compatible games. With built-in Google Assistant support, you can use the remote's microphone for voice commands to search for content, check the weather and control compatible Smart Home devices.
