Samsung's Freestyle Gen 2 projector adds gaming, but still lacks 4K

News
By Michael L Hicks
published

Samsung's 30- to 100-inch portable projector adds new software and faster performance, but the overall experience is unchanged.

Samsung The Freestyle Gen 2 press photo
(Image credit: Samsung)

What you need to know

  • Samsung announced The Freestyle Gen 2 with Gaming Hub on Thursday, a portable projector with up to 100 inches of viewing space.
  • It ships with built-in Samsung Gaming Hub and works with Bluetooth controllers for Xbox Cloud Gaming or Amazon Luna.
  • It has a 1080p resolution with HDR, 100,000:1 contrast, 60Hz refresh rate, 360º 5W speaker, and 230 ANSI Lumen. 
  • It's available for pre-order now for $800 and ships on September 7.

Samsung is making a second foray into the portable projector game with the Freestyle Gen 2 with Gaming Hub. The Generation 2 aspect of the name is particularly apt, as this new projector makes a few key upgrades but is largely similar to the 2022 Freestyle that preceded it.

First, we can discuss what's new and intriguing: the addition of Samsung Gaming Hub and "increased memory" (though we don't know how much RAM it offers). The Freestyle Gen 2 will let you play cloud games indoors or outdoors on a 30- to 100-inch space, meaning you can stream Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games in your backyard or any TV-less room in your house using a Bluetooth controller.

You'll also be able to stream your favorite apps or free Samsung TV channels or use SmartThings to mirror content from your phone. 

The other new addition is a new SolarCell remote that recharges the battery via natural sunlight, saving you from having to dig out some AAA batteries every few months.

Otherwise, most of the Freestyle's specs appear largely unchanged. You still have a 5W, 360-degree speaker, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, and a separate battery pack you'll have to buy if you don't want it plugged in at all times. 

The Freestyle Gen 2 brightness, 230 ANSI Lumen, converts to 550 LED lumens — 50 lumens more than the Gen 1 projector. While more brightness is obviously welcome, other portable projectors we've tested offer 4K resolution, thousands of lumens, and much stronger speakers. Of course, these models also cost in the $2,000 range.

Samsung's projector specs are more on the budget side, though the $800 price tag is still higher than many comparable projectors like the XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro. You're paying just as much for Samsung's software expertise and partnerships with gaming brands as anything else. 

If you're ready for your next viewing or gaming party, you can pre-order The Freestyle Gen 2 for $800. It will arrive on September 7.

Image

The Freestyle Gen 2 with Gaming Hub: $799 at Samsung

With Samsung's Gaming Hub built-in, you can stream and play games on Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, Utomik, Antstream Arcade, or Blacknut indoors and out. It has 1080p resolution across up to 100 inches of space

Michael L Hicks
Michael L Hicks
Senior Editor, VR/AR and fitness

Michael is Android Central's resident expert on fitness tech and wearables, with an enthusiast's love of VR tech on the side. After years freelancing for Techradar, Wareable, Windows Central, Digital Trends, and other sites on a variety of tech topics, AC has given him the chance to really dive into the topics he's passionate about. He's also a semi-reformed Apple-to-Android user who loves D&D, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings.

For wearables, Michael has tested dozens of smartwatches from Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, COROS, Polar, Amazfit, and other brands, and will always focus on recommending the best product over the best brand. He's also completed marathons like NYC, SF, Marine Corps, Big Sur, and California International — though he's still trying to break that 4-hour barrier.