Epson Home Cinema 980 vs Nebula X1S: Specs, Tests & Which to Buy

The Nebula X1S rates 4.6 among 4K projectors; the Epson Home Cinema 980 rates 3.8 among 1080p and under ones. The Epson Home Cinema 980 costs $1,999.01 less ($799.99 vs $2,799).

Epson Home Cinema 980 vs Nebula X1S

Nebula X1S

#5 in 4K4.6Full review

A very bright, easy to set up 4K laser projector with built-in Netflix for living rooms that cannot be fully darkened.

Amazon $2,799

$2,799

Epson Home Cinema 980

#9 in 1080p and under3.8Full review

A bright 1080p projector for living rooms and backyard movie nights where room light is hard to control. Add a streaming stick, since it has no apps of its own.

Amazon $799.99

$799.99

Prices were last checked October 29, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.

Scores side by side

These two sit in different type classes (4K and 1080p and under), and each is scored against the reference points for its own class, so a rating says how well each does among its own type peers. How we rank explains each factor.

Factor weight	Nebula X1S	Epson Home Cinema 980
Overall rating	4.6/5	3.8/5
Brightness 25%	100 6,000 ANSI lumens	100 4,000 ISO 21118 lumens
Value 15%	90 $0.47 per lumen	94 $0.20 per lumen
Resolution 10%	100 4K (pixel shift)	100 1920 x 1080 native
Streaming 15%	100 Google TV with licensed Netflix	0 no built-in apps; needs a streaming stick
Setup 10%	80 Autofocus, auto keystone, 1.7x zoom	50 Auto keystone, 1.2x zoom
Light life 10%	100 30,000 hour RGB laser	50 12,000 hour lamp
Gaming 10%	50 input lag not published (neutral score used)	50 input lag not published (neutral score used)
Warranty 5%	50 2-year warranty	50 2-year warranty

Independent measurements

Nebula X1S

Tested by	Brightness	Input lag	Contrast	Conditions
ProjectorReviews	5,886 lm	19 ms	5,000:1	Conference mode 5,886 lm; Standard 2,922; NebulaMaster 2,748. Lag about 19 ms at 4K/60 in Game mode. Native contrast about 5,000:1 with iris at minimum.