Samsung Launches New Freestyle Gen 2 Projector With Cloud Gaming Hub

Samsung Launches New Freestyle Gen 2 Projector

The Freestyle Gen 2 is a portable projector that transforms virtually any surface into a screen up to 100 inches. And It has auto leveling, focus and keystone technologies to make it easy to set up.

It features Samsung Gaming Hub, which gives users access to top Xbox games without a console. It also has smart TV functionality, powered by Tizen OS and preloaded with many of the most popular streaming apps.

Features

The Freestyle Gen 2 is the second version of Samsung’s portable projector that debuted last year. The new version looks similar to its predecessor, but has a key feature added: cloud gaming.

The free-to-use Gaming Hub allows you to play a variety of cloud gaming suites from partners like Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Utomik, Antstream Arcade and Blacknut without needing a console or PC. It’s a nice addition that puts the Freestyle Gen 2 ahead of its predecessor.

Other features include Tizen OS, a 100,000:1 contrast ratio and HDR10+ support. Samsung says the Freestyle Gen 2 automatically adjusts content output, so there’s no need for manual alignment or keystone correction. It also has a solar-powered remote with Samsung’s SolarCell technology, so you can recharge it using the sun if needed for outdoor use.

Price

Samsung’s Freestyle Gen 2 is a portable projector that can transform any surface, like a wall or the ceiling, into a screen up to 100 inches wide. It includes Samsung’s Gaming Hub, so you can play a variety of cloud games without needing a console or PC.

The two-pound device is powered by Tizen, the same operating system that’s found in Samsung smart TVs. It has support for a wide range of streaming apps and services, including the free ad-supported Samsung TV Plus service.

Samsung’s own Bixby and Alexa voice assistants are also on board. A 5-watt speaker pumps out 360-degree sound, and there’s a Micro HDMI port to connect wired devices. The Freestyle has auto keystone, auto focus and Samsung’s PurColor technology for optimized colors.

Design

Samsung says it’s designed to create immersive experiences in sizes from 30 inches up to 100. It supports Amazon Alexa and Bixby voice control, and can mirror what’s playing on a connected Samsung TV or another compatible device.

It features an LED light source with a claimed 30,000-hour lifespan and 230 ANSI lumen peak brightness, with support for HDR. It’s a bit smaller and lighter than the previous model, and Samsung has added a built-in speaker capable of 360-degree sound.

It also carries over support for gaming from Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which lets users connect a Bluetooth controller and play games on a big screen. Other new features include a wireless audio transmitter and the company’s SolarCell remote, which recharges using solar energy. The projector is available for preorder on Samsung’s website.

Performance

The Freestyle Gen 2 delivers good-looking HD picture quality and gaming capabilities in a portable package that’s a lot less expensive than competitors. It’s essentially the same projector as the original, except it now supports Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and the Xbox Game Pass via Samsung Gaming Hub.

It also has Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, which gives it access to a ton of streaming content and the company’s free ad-supported TV service. It also has built-in 360-degree sound, smartphone mirroring, and auto-calibration (with compatible phones).

In Movie mode the colors are incredibly accurate, better than many full-sized projectors at twice the price. It even has a translucent lens cap that can transform the Freestyle into a changing ambient light display for mood-enhancing effects.

Streaming

Samsung focuses on delivering a power cord-free ‘move and play’ experience for The Freestyle, and its portable form factor certainly helps. That said, the projector isn’t entirely tether-free, as it has a micro-HDMI input that supports a wide range of devices.

The Freestyle Gen 2 offers a number of streaming capabilities, including access to Tizen apps like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and more. Samsung’s own Bixby and Alexa voice assistants are also on tap for content searches and control.

Of particular note, the device features Xbox cloud gaming via its Gaming Hub integration, enabling users to boot up console games without needing to have an Xbox on hand. Its other gaming apps include Utomik, NVIDIA GeForce Now, Blacknut and more. It also boasts auto leveling, auto focus and auto keystone technologies.