Samsung's popular Freestyle projector is getting several useful upgrades - and I'm tempted to buy it
The Freestyle+ will have twice the brightness of the previous generation, but that's not all.
Samsung
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- The Freestyle+ offers twice the brightness of its predecessor.
- It also has 180 degrees of rotation and 360-degree sound.
- The device is expected to be available in the first half of this year.
Samsung has unveiled the latest version of its Freestyle portable projector, and if it follows the same path as earlier versions, it might be one of the best projectors of the year.
Called the Freestyle+, the projector takes what worked about the Freestyle (ZDNET's Kerry Wan called it "one of the most complete portable projectors that I've seen") and Freestyle 2 ("the best tech gadget I've tested in the past year" according to ZDNET's Allison Murray) and upgrades it.
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Like its predecessors, it boasts a 180-degree rotating design, allowing you to project at almost any angle on almost any surface, including walls, floors, and ceilings. It also features a built-in 360-degree speaker, eliminating the need for external speakers.
What's new with the Freestyle+?
One of the biggest upgrades, Samsung says, is in brightness. With 430 ISO lumens, the Freestyle+ offers twice the brightness of its predecessor.
The Freestyle+ also brings features like 3D Auto Keystone, which automatically corrects distortion when projecting onto uneven surfaces like corners, curtains or angled walls; real-time focus, which continuously adjusts focus as the projector moves or rotates; screen fit, which automatically adjusts the image to match the screen area (when you're using it with a compatible projector screen accessory); and wall calibration, which analyzes the color or pattern of the projection surface and minimizes visual distractions.
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In addition, like nearly every tech product these days, there's an injection of AI. The projector supports Vision AI Companion, the conversational AI assistant that debuted on Samsung TVs last year. This feature lets you ask a question about what's on screen, like "What else has this actor been in?" or "What's the all-time record between these two teams?"
Samsung didn't reveal pricing information or specifications, but said that the Freestyle+ will be available globally in the first half of the year. You can expect the price to be on the premium end, though, because the original Freestyle was $899 when it debuted, and the Freestyle 2 was $799.