- Samsung unveils the portable Freestyle+ projector
- It’s still 1080p with 180-degree angle flexibility
- Upgrades include nearly double the brightness of the previous model and automatic wall calibration
Samsung has unveiled a third-generation version of its super-popular portable projector, the Freestyle. The new model is called The Freestyle+, and having used the previous generation The Freestyle 2 as well as newer budget competitors such as the Xgimi MoGo 4, I think it brings the right kind of upgrades – although a few improvements I’d like to see don’t seem to .
Samsung’s main pitch with The Freestyle+ projector is that it will look better – always a plus, no pun intended – through a mix of clever image adjustments and simply being brighter.
Samsung says the new model delivers 430 ISO Lumens, which is almost double the 230 ISO Lumens of the previous model, and that’s great to hear because mid-range brightness is one of its predecessor’s problems (although it still ranks highly in our best portable projectors).
This will mean that the images will have stronger colors and will generally be more visible in rooms where the light is not super dim, which makes it generally more usable and flexible.
But Samsung also adds some other useful automatic functions for a better picture. In addition to automatic keystone correction and autofocus, there’s now an automatic wall calibration function, which means the projector “analyzes the color or pattern on the projection surface and minimizes visual disturbances for clear viewing,” according to Samsung.
This should in turn help with the clarity of the images and the accuracy of the color if your wall is off-white or lightly colored (I’m not sure it helps if your wall is a deep navy blue, of course).
There’s also a Screen Fit feature, which sounds useful if you’re using a projector screen: Samsung says this “automatically adjusts the image to fit the screen area when used with a compatible projector screen accessory”.
Is this enough of an upgrade?
In addition to the above changes, upgrades seem to be easy in The Freestyle+. It includes a new version of Samsung’s smart TV software, which is still full of streaming app capabilities, and now includes the AI-powered Bixby voice assistant to “enable more natural conversational interaction with on-screen content”.
Samsung hasn’t highlighted any other elements that have been changed, although it’s obviously possible that there’s more going on than has been revealed so far – I’ll be seeing the projector at CES 2026 so I can find out all the secrets (if there are any).
In particular, I was hoping to see improvements to the built-in audio. Samsung has only mentioned that the Freestyle+ includes “360 degree sound”, the same as the previous model, but the Xgimi MoGo 4 recently really blew me away with the depth and power of its sound, so I’m hoping for an upgrade in that department.
We’re also seeing more portable projectors – again, including the MoGo 4 – with built-in batteries. Samsung has always offered an extra battery option for the Freestyle series, but competitors are undercutting the price with built-in batteries that don’t require you to pay more for true portability.
Speaking of price, there’s no word on that so far, although the previous model launched at $799 / £649. There’s also no release date, although new Samsung AV products tend to launch between February and April. We may hear more on both fronts at CES.
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