Quick Verdict
So, Samsung dropped ‘The Freestyle+’ – it’s basically their portable projector with some shiny new AI slapped on, supposedly making the whole ‘screen-anywhere’ thing even slicker. Is it good? Yeah, probably better than the last one, but honestly, the ‘AI’ feels a bit like adding truffle oil to a perfectly good burger; it’s there, but does it really change the game? I’d say skip it unless you absolutely live for projecting Netflix onto your ceiling while camping in a blizzard, and even then, wait for a review from someone who actually paid for it.
Alright, so we’re here again, aren’t we? January, pre-CES, and Samsung, bless their hearts, just couldn’t wait to hit us with their latest trinket. ‘The Freestyle+’, they’re calling it. Another portable screen – or rather, a portable *projector* that *creates* a screen – now with ‘smarter AI’. Yeah, you heard that right. ‘Smarter AI’. Because everything needs AI now, apparently, even your popcorn machine. Me? I’m just sitting here, nursing this lukewarm beer, wondering if anyone actually *needs* another device telling them what to watch, or auto-focusing a picture that was probably fine to begin with.
But hey, let’s not be too cynical too fast. The original Freestyle was… okay. A neat party trick, for sure. So, what’s this ‘+’ actually bringing to the table, besides more marketing buzzwords that sound like they were cooked up by a very enthusiastic intern? From the looks of it, it’s all about making that ‘screen anywhere’ fantasy a bit less of a janky reality. And that, I guess, is something to talk about.
The Deep Dive: So, What’s Smarter About This ‘AI’?
Alright, let’s peel back the layers on this ‘smarter AI’ business. Because everyone knows ‘smarter’ usually just means ‘we put a neural network model somewhere in the firmware’.
The Picture & Projection
The original Freestyle had decent auto-focus and auto-keystone correction. Now, with the ‘AI’, Samsung is pushing this idea that it’s going to be near-instantaneous and even more accurate. Think about it: you plonk this thing down on a wonky shelf, aim it at a textured wall, and supposedly, it’ll snap into a perfectly square, focused picture in milliseconds. And that’s pretty cool, I’ll give ’em that. Nobody wants to fiddle with menus for ten minutes when they just wanna watch a movie. The brightness, they’re probably bumping up too. I’m guessing we’re looking at something around 700-800 ANSI Lumens now, maybe even brushing 1000 in ‘vivid’ mode. That means you might actually see something clearly in a dimly lit room, not just a pitch-black cave. The old one was barely visible if a single candle was flickering. This new one, hopefully, won’t make you squint like you’re staring at the sun through a pinhole.
And then there’s the ‘AI upscaling’. Oh, boy. This is where I start getting suspicious. They’ll tell you it magically makes your old 720p cat videos look 4K. Maybe it cleans up the edges a bit, smooths out some pixelation. But let’s be real, you can’t invent pixels out of thin air. It’s a parlor trick, mostly, to make things look ‘better’ without actually being higher resolution. So, don’t expect miracles there, folks.
The Sound & Software
Portable projectors usually sound like a tin can tied to a dying squirrel. So, if this ‘AI’ has done anything to improve the built-in speaker, that’s a win. Maybe it analyzes the room acoustics and adjusts the sound profile. Or maybe it’s just a bigger, slightly less terrible speaker. I’m leaning towards the latter, with a dash of DSP magic. But hey, any improvement is a good improvement here.
Software-wise, it’s running Tizen, same as their TVs. So you get all the usual streaming apps – Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, whatever else you’re paying for this month. The ‘AI’ part probably means better content recommendations, trying to predict what obscure documentary you’re in the mood for after watching three true-crime series. And, honestly, that’s fine. It’s not revolutionary, but it saves a few clicks if it actually works.
Portability & Battery Life
This is where the rubber meets the road for a ‘portable’ screen. Nobody wants to haul around a brick. I’m hoping it’s similar in size and weight to the original, which was reasonably compact. But the big one is battery life. The old one was decent, maybe 2-3 hours. If the ‘Freestyle+’ can push 4-5 hours on a single charge, that changes things. That means you can actually get through a long movie or a few episodes of a show without having to hunt for an outlet. And that, my friend, is a feature that truly matters, way more than any fancy ‘AI’ focus correction.
The Money Angle: Is It Worth The Cash?
Alright, let’s talk turkey. The original Freestyle launched around a grand, give or take. With ‘smarter AI’ and whatever other subtle improvements they’ve baked in, I’m expecting this ‘Freestyle+’ to hit us somewhere in the $900 to $1200 range. That’s a lot of dough for something that’s still, at its heart, a projector.
You’ve got options out there, you know? There are plenty of really good portable projectors that might not have the ‘AI’ sticker, but they do the core job just as well, if not better, for less. Or for the same money, you get a serious home theater projector. So, here’s a quick hypothetical comparison:
| Feature | Samsung Freestyle+ (Estimated) | Anker Nebula Mars 3 | XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (USD) | $1100 | $900 | $600 |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Brightness (Lumens) | 800 ANSI | 1000 ANSI | 400 ANSI |
| Battery Life (Hrs) | 3-4 (Estimated) | 5 | 2.5 |
| Smart OS | Tizen w/ ‘AI’ | Android TV | Android TV |
So, you see? For a similar price, the Anker Mars 3 actually gives you brighter lumens and better battery life. The XGIMI is a lot cheaper if you’re willing to sacrifice some brightness. Samsung’s bet is clearly on that ‘AI’ magic, making it feel more integrated and seamless. But are those subtle ‘AI’ tweaks worth an extra couple hundred bucks over something like the Anker, which already does an amazing job? For me, probably not. I’d rather have the raw brightness and battery. I’m a simple man; I just want to see the movie, not have the projector ‘think’ for me.
The Hidden Detail: What’s This ‘Smarter AI’ *Really* Doing?
Alright, here’s the kicker, the thing nobody’s really talking about, because it’s always buried in some long, jargon-filled EULA. This ‘smarter AI’ that’s supposedly optimizing your picture, recommending content, and maybe even listening to your room to adjust the sound? What’s it doing with all that data?
Think about it. An AI that ‘analyzes’ the surface you project on. An AI that ‘learns’ your viewing habits. An AI that ‘optimizes’ based on its environment. And, but, this isn’t just about making your movie look good. This thing is potentially a data-collection powerhouse. It knows *where* you’re projecting – living room wall, bedroom ceiling, maybe even outdoors. It knows *what* you’re watching, *when* you’re watching it, and maybe even *who* is watching based on content choices over time. And that’s not just for Samsung to make better recommendations; that’s gold for advertisers. It’s a device that literally ‘sees’ your home environment and ‘understands’ your entertainment preferences. So, while everyone’s oohing and aahing over the auto-focus, I’m sitting here wondering what little snippets of our lives are being sent back to the mothership. Probably nothing nefarious, but it’s something to think about, isn’t it?
Final Thoughts: Buy Or Skip?
Look, the Samsung Freestyle+ is probably a solid piece of tech. Samsung generally makes good stuff, even if they sometimes overdo it on the marketing fluff. It’s likely brighter, a bit snappier, and its auto-correction features are probably genuinely better thanks to whatever ‘AI’ they’ve shoved in there. If you loved the original and wanted an upgrade, or if you absolutely need a premium portable projector that tries its best to disappear into the background with minimal fuss, then sure, this could be for you.
But for the rest of us, the average Joe who just wants a good movie night without taking out a second mortgage? I’d say wait. Wait for the reviews, wait for the price to drop, or just stick with a cheaper alternative. The ‘smarter AI’ sounds cool on paper, but in reality, it’s often just a minor convenience wrapped in a catchy buzzword. So, unless you’re absolutely swimming in cash and addicted to early adopter bragging rights, save your money. Get yourself a really good soundbar for your main TV instead. Or, you know, buy me another beer. That’d be a smarter investment.
Tags: Samsung Freestyle+, portable projector, CES 2026, AI screen, smart projector, tech review, portable tech, home cinema
