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With the popularity of streaming movies, buyers are on the hunt for affordable ways to bring a complete cinematic experience to homes. Projectors are an obvious method to replicate the immersive feeling that only the largest screens can provide. Also, gaming becomes much more impactful with a 100-inch image than what’s possible with gaming monitors or most TVs. Unfortunately, projectors have a reputation for being difficult to set up and in reality, not considerably easier to move from room to room than a TV. That’s where a portable projector like the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 shines, making it elementary to not only turn any space into a theater room, but also to bring the fun on the road.
The original Samsung Freestyle 1080p projector debuted not long ago and impressed audiences with its ease of use and compact form factor. The Freestyle 2nd Gen is brighter with faster software that introduces a Gaming Hub, making cloud gaming services easier to access. Recently, GameRant had a chance to test out the practicality of projecting games, movies, and TV shows onto any blank wall.
Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen Projector
The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen Projector is the ultimate no-hassle portable projector for gaming and watching streaming content. Viewers can set up the FreeStyle 2nd Gen in a matter of minutes with auto focus, auto leveling, and auto keystone for a perfectly sized image from 30 to 100 inches.
Improving on Samsung’s popular portable Freestyle projector, the 2nd gen version adds support for cloud gaming services, a SolarCell remote control, and a speedier Tizen OS. With Smart Edge Blending, buyers can also now combine the power of two Freestyle projectors for an even larger image.
- Brand
- Samsung
- Native Resolution
- 1080p
- ANSI Lumens
- 230
- Projection Technology
- LED
- Throw Ratio
- 1.2
- HDR
- Yes
- Audio
- 360 degrees
- OS
- Tizen
- Lamp Life
- 30000 hours
- Image Size
- 30-100″
- Weight
- 1.8 lbs
- Wireless connectivity
- WiFi, Bluetooth
- Easy setup and automatic image adjustments
- Extremely compact and portable
- Includes many cloud gaming and streaming apps
- Ability to use 2 projectors together for larger images
- Limited to 1080p resolution
- Black objects look muddy in darker scenes
Contents of Package
The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen ships in a compact, unassuming cardboard box that immediately gives buyers an idea of how small this projector is.
Inside the packaging, Samsung manages to include the projector itself with lens cap, SolarCell remote control, USB adapter with power cord, and quick start guide.
With this review sample, Samsung was also nice enough to bundle the Freestyle Battery Base, which attaches to the bottom of the projector for up to 3 hours of portable usage.
Design
Without the lens cap, the cylindrical Freestyle 2nd Gen measures about 5.5″ tall and takes up under 4″ of space from side to side. The stand attached at the bottom of the projector rotates 180 degrees to accommodate a wide range of setups and also doubles as a carrying handle.
The Freestyle 2nd Gen has an exterior that feels somewhat soft to the touch, with a rubber coating that’s most evident at the top and bottom edges of the unit. This material undoubtedly makes the projector more resistant to outdoor elements, as well as protecting it from the hazards of traveling. Weighing only 1.8 lbs, with its extremely compact profile, the Freestyle 2nd Gen is clearly designed for portability.
Ports and buttons on the side of the projector are few and consist of a switch to toggle its internal microphone on or off, a micro HDMI port for connecting external sources, and a USB-C port meant to connect the power adapter or battery.
On the rear of the projector, is a substantial grill in front of the Samsung 360-degree speaker system. There is also a fan which helps to keep the projector cool since it can become quite hot after extended use in warmer environments.
The front of the Freestyle 2nd Gen has the critical lens aperture, a distance sensor to aid in automated setup modes, and some touch buttons for power, volume, and to connect the projector to Samsung’s SmartThings app.
A SolarCell remote control is new for the Freestyle 2nd Gen and recharges via light and a large solar cell on its backside or with a USB-C port on its bottom. Anyone who owns a smart TV or media player will find the remote buttons familiar, consisting of shortcuts for Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services. The remote also houses a built-in mic with a voice assistant button to execute Bixby or Alexa voice commands. Unfortunately, the device is not backlit which would have benefits in a dark room, but the lack of illumination is understandable, considering its goal of power saving.
Installation
Buyers have a few different options when setting up the Freestyle 2nd Gen for the first time. One method involves using the Samsung SmartThings mobile app to pair with the projector and assist in the installation process. The other choice is to utilize the projector’s menus and its ability to automatically focus, level, and adjust the dimensions of a distorted image. In either case, with the lack of an Ethernet port, connecting the Freestyle 2nd Gen to a Wi-Fi network is essential to download the latest software. Thankfully, 5 GHz routers and bands are compatible to provide higher bandwidth streaming and faster downloads.
The Freestyle 2nd Gen offers some flexibility in its placement, but to achieve the roughly 80-inch image shown above, the projector must be around 7 feet from a wall or surface. Users will have to move the projector forward or backward depending on the desired screen size, which can fall between a range of 30 and 100 inches. Setting the Freestyle 2nd Gen to use a custom picture size, the zoom function is mainly for shrinking an image rather than enlarging it.
The auto keystone feature proved to be mostly helpful, but unless the Freestyle 2nd Gen is positioned to aim at the center of a screen without tilting it, users will notice an uneven halo of light bordering an image. However, this is not much of a distraction, and the projector is not meant to be kept in the same location indefinitely. More fussy users can manually adjust the position of an image in the projector’s menus.
Once a user is satisfied with the results, the home screen of the Freestyle 2nd Gen will appear which provides access to Samsung’s Gaming Hub as well as many available smart apps. Of course, as with smart TVs, logging into all these apps can take substantially longer than the time required to adjust the focus and dimensions of the image.
Gaming Performance
When evaluating the Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen, it’s important to remember that it’s not meant to compete with 4K projectors that are kept in a fixed position in media or living rooms. Going by the vital specs alone, the 230 ANSI lumens and maximum 1080p resolution of the Freestyle fall short of the brightness and image clarity of more expensive alternatives. Also, like with most projectors, dark or dim environments are a requirement for optimal performance. Even so, when portability is the focus, the Freestyle 2nd Gen can provide hours of entertainment when a larger screen benefits friends and family gathering together inside or outside a home.
Samsung’s Gaming Hub is a huge selling point for the revamped 2nd Gen Freestyle projector. The available services include Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and NVIDIA GeForce Now. Sadly, a Steam Link app was not available in the North American region, but GeForce Now enables gamers to connect a Steam account to it as well as other game stores. Another notable exclusion is PS Remote Play, but this is perhaps not surprising with Sony rumored to be developing their own cloud gaming projector.
Subscribing to Xbox Game Pass is definitely a great way to test out the cloud gaming performance of the Freestyle 2nd Gen. The list of streamable titles continues to grow and the Samsung Tizen-based Xbox Gaming app works fairly smoothly. For practical purposes, gamers will need to connect a wireless controller to the projector, which is compatible with almost any controller with Bluetooth capabilities. In this instance, the standard Xbox Series X/S controller is easily paired with the Freestyle 2nd Gen with the help of some onscreen guidance.
Forza Motorsport is one of the latest racing titles to hit Xbox Game Pass and makes a visual impact with this larger image. Despite not having extraordinary brightness or the most wide-ranging color palette, the vibrant liveries of the cars popped when projected onto a plain white wall.
With all the concerns over poor performance in Starfield, framerates are surprisingly fluid when played through Xbox Cloud Gaming on the Freestyle 2nd Gen projector.
Finally, Mortal Kombat 11 may look the most impressive of any games tested, with the detailed skins of each fighter displaying in their full glory.
Response time to controller inputs was negligible, with only some occasional audio and frame rate skipping, an inherent trait of cloud gaming. Even so, any device that relies so much on cloud gaming services will have other limitations like waiting in queues for games to load. Fortunately, gamers have the option to connect a gaming console to the Freestyle Gen 2 with the use of an HDMI to micro HDMI cable or adapter. The projector does support features like HDMI-CEC and eArc for easier integration into home theater setups.
Movies and Streaming Content
Although gaming is a highlight of the Freestyle Gen 2 projector, it’s also an excellent streaming device for services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video. There isn’t a native app for watching live cable or OTA TV, but the free Samsung TV Plus service gives viewers access to 250+ live channels, plus tons of on-demand movies and shows. The Freestyle Gen 2 does an admirable job of down-scaling 4K content, but it’s an even better match for live TV and many movies that are still in 1080p or lower quality.
Movies are always a popular type of content for any projector in order to emulate a cinema experience. The Freestyle Gen 2 supports HDR to enhance the color palettes of animated features resulting in some spectacular images. Fast-motion scenes are also handled effortlessly with no visible stuttering.
As is the case with many affordable TVs, projectors, and gaming monitors, the limits of the Freestyle Gen 2’s picture quality begin to show in darker scenes. Regardless of contrast settings, black objects tend to blend together with their details difficult to differentiate from each other. A silver projector screen would help the situation, but most buyers will simply use a blank wall as their canvas for a portable projector.
With the compact size of the Freestyle 2nd Gen, buyers may have low expectations for what type of sound quality they can expect. Samsung’s 360-degree sound is able to simulate the effects of multiple speakers spread out around a room. Listeners won’t confuse the audio emanating from the projector with an AV receiver and 7.1 channel speaker setup, but it’s more than powerful enough for a decently sized space. If desired, users also have the option to connect Bluetooth speakers and soundbars to the projector.
Other Features
Playing games and streaming content is where users of the Freestyle 2nd Gen will spend most of their time. Regardless, there are some other features of the projector that deserve attention. Chief among them is Smart Edge Blending, which combines the image from 2 of these projectors to form a 16:9 display of up to 160 inches. To accomplish this feat, the SmartThings app will take a photo of both images and then keep them constantly in sync. Additionally, the speakers on both projectors work in tandem to split their audio between left and right channels. While GameRant did not test out Smart Edge Blending, it’s a promising technology that can amplify the power of small portable projectors.
For a projector that can easily be taken on the road, having an external power source is almost essential. Although it’s an optional accessory, the Freestyle Battery Base attaches to the underside of the Freestyle 2nd Gen and provides up to 3 hours of power on a single charge. This battery is designed to affix to the bottom of the projector without any screws or tools, using only a short USB-C cable for a near-seamless look. The battery life spec proved fairly accurate, though the 3 hours is barely enough for two 90-minute movies or an extended gaming session, rather than a substitute for the included USB-C power adapter. This accessory can also double as a portable power bank to charge mobile phones and other accessories.
Any fan of smart lighting might also have some interest in the Ambient Mode of the Freestyle 2nd Gen. Users can project some mood-setting scenery on walls or use their own images instead. While that’s mildly exciting, because of the projector’s clear lens cap, the device can also function as a dedicated smart light diffusing illumination from its front side.
Conclusion
Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen Projector
The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen Projector is the ultimate no-hassle portable projector for gaming and watching streaming content. Viewers can set up the FreeStyle 2nd Gen in a matter of minutes with auto focus, auto leveling, and auto keystone for a perfectly sized image from 30 to 100 inches.
Improving on Samsung’s popular portable Freestyle projector, the 2nd gen version adds support for cloud gaming services, a SolarCell remote control, and a speedier Tizen OS. With Smart Edge Blending, buyers can also now combine the power of two Freestyle projectors for an even larger image.
- Brand
- Samsung
- Native Resolution
- 1080p
- ANSI Lumens
- 230
- Projection Technology
- LED
- Throw Ratio
- 1.2
- HDR
- Yes
- Audio
- 360 degrees
- OS
- Tizen
- Lamp Life
- 30000 hours
- Image Size
- 30-100″
- Weight
- 1.8 lbs
- Wireless connectivity
- WiFi, Bluetooth
- Easy setup and automatic image adjustments
- Extremely compact and portable
- Includes many cloud gaming and streaming apps
- Ability to use 2 projectors together for larger images
- Limited to 1080p resolution
- Black objects look muddy in darker scenes
The Freestyle 2nd Gen projector offers buyers without large flat panel TVs a realistic way to watch up to a 100-inch display. With features like auto-keystone and auto-focus, Samsung’s projector can be set up in a matter of minutes, unlike traditional home theater projectors which usually require a screen and a dedicated room to maximize their image quality. The specs of the Freestyle 2nd Gen won’t satisfy the most sophisticated viewers, and the projector struggles to show the details in objects when displaying darker scenes. Still, it effectively down-scales higher-resolution images, while content in its native 1080p looks stellar.
Cloud gaming on the Freestyle 2nd Gen mostly lives up to its promise, only hampered somewhat by the growing pains of the technology. Benefiting from a faster Tizen OS, gamers can project games or watch streaming content on blank walls without the need for standalone consoles, PCs, or media players. With Samsung’s 360 Degree Sound, audiophiles won’t find many portable speakers that better replicate a multichannel surround sound system.
Even considering the relative affordability of giant TV screens, the portability of the Freestyle 2nd Gen will attract audiences looking for a more versatile cinema experience.
As a testament to the rising popularity of portable projectors, the Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen has plenty of compact competition to fend off. One of the most obvious alternatives to the Freestyle is the Nebula Capsule 3 projector, which includes an internal battery. Running on laser technology rather than LED, the Nebula Capsule boasts a higher overall brightness at 300 ANSI lumens. Also, it runs on the Android TV 11.0 OS, which opens up access to a larger number of apps than Samsung’s Titan OS. However, some apps work better than others on the Nebula Capsule 3, and there is no dedicated gaming hub specific to the projector.
Another rival for the Freestyle 2nd Gen is the XGIMI – Halo+, which is better for brighter rooms since its brightness checks in at 700 lumens. Unfortunately, this projector’s Android TV interface lacks support for Netflix, and it weighs nearly twice as much as the Freestyle while lacking a carrying handle.
If a gamer has the space for a conventional home theater projector, then there are some 4K options out there for around the Freestyle 2nd Gen’s price. Optoma has long been known for producing some of the best-performing budget-friendly projectors, and the UHD35x is no exception. This projector lacks ease of portability and any lens shift, which makes positioning it trickier. Still, along with a maximum 4k resolution, the UHD35 includes a 1080p gaming mode at 240 hz for smooth high-resolution action.
FAQ
Q: Can the Samsung Freestyle projector replace a TV?
Since the Samsung Freestyle projector includes many of the same apps found on smart TVs, viewers have much of the same content at their disposal. The only significant difference between this projector and most TVs is the Freestyle lacks an integrated tuner for cable and OTA viewing.
Q: How does the Samsung Freestyle make using a projector easier?
Home theater projectors often require a specific setup for the best performance and a correctly proportioned image. The Freestyle includes automatic focus and image resizing, so viewers can enjoy watching movies or gaming on up to 100-inch screens anywhere without hassles.
