REVIEW: Samsung Freestyle Generation 2, cinema in your hand

During the 2023 BGS (Brazil Game Show), Samsung showed its newest release: the Freestyle 2nd generation, a new version of the portable projector that comes packed with new features and enviable autonomy. Check out the review for more details!

Design

Maintaining the same standard as its predecessor, the Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 It has a cylindrical shape and an adjustable support that provides the equipment with the ability to tilt from 90 to 180 degrees, which makes it possible to project both on the wall and on the ceiling, depending on the result sought.

Its front panel, where the projection lens is located, has some basic controls on a touch screen, buttons such as power on ( ), increase and decrease volume and also responsible for transmission from other devices.

On the side, we have a switch to turn the projector's built-in microphone on and off, a Micro-HDMI port for physical connections to any device and a USB-C port for power supply.

Fabric

O Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 has the same projection power as its predecessor, which translates into projecting a 100-inch screen 2,70 meters away, with maximum Full HD resolution (1920×1080) through the already known LED technology — a characteristic which, according to international analysts, is somewhat negative, given its predecessor.

That said, the simplicity of adjusting this projector is enviable, you just point the screen at the surface and the equipment makes the angle and distortion corrections on its own. If you want to do the manual process, you can adjust a little more using the controls, but automatic correction is often enough.

An attractive new feature of the Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 is the function Edge blending. With it, you can synchronize two projectors Freestyle Generation 2 to project together and get an incredible 160-inch screen, great for those group movie nights.

Although it does not serve as a replacement for a TV, especially when considering the most recent ones, with above-standard quality, the colors presented in the projector's images are satisfactory and interesting — which is no surprise, given that it reproduces HDR10 and HDR10+. The only weakness is in the blacks, which are not as dark as they could be.

Audio

Despite the projector's small size, the Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 It has a powerful integrated sound system. The holes on the back of the equipment are intended for the device's sound output which, surprisingly, is excellent, with 5W of power and a speaker with 360º of range.

Even though it only has one speaker, the projector can reproduce very loud sounds; I don't know if it was due to the environment where I tested the device, but it seemed to reach volumes as high as the TV Samsung CU7700, a device whose review is also included here on the portal.

As it has the same operating system present in the brand's televisions, the projector is equipped with the adaptive sound function, which automatically adjusts to the type of content played. The sound can travel in all directions, which is quite an improvement compared to the previous product, especially since it does not lose quality.

Personal assistant

Here's where the latest releases from Samsung have surprised me. Like other equipment, the Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 comes with two personal assistant options, the Alexa and Bixby, which can be configured right when the device is introduced.

Another function that also facilitates the use of the device is the application SmartThings, available to Android e iOS, which makes it possible to control most devices Samsung connected to it, functioning as a kind of hub.

Operational system

Just like the company's recent launches, the Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 has the operating system Tizen, with the already known Smart Hub which gives access to all applications installed on the device.

A new feature in this generation is the gaming hub, an area of ​​the operating system that allows you to run games without the need for a console, either through Xbox Gaming Pass, GeForce Now or any other platform streaming of games available on the device. Even though it doesn't support 4K and similar technologies, the platform does its job well and can guarantee great immersion for those who venture into it.

Conectividade

No Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 we have several wireless connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and support for Apple AirPlay 2. In addition, we can also mirror the smartphone's screen on the device; for line users Galaxy da Samsung, we can use the TapView for fast wireless access.

In addition to the power being supplied via a socket, the Freestyle It is also compatible with 20.000 mAh portable chargers, bringing even more portability and dynamism to the equipment.

Conclusion

Considering that the proposal of the Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 is that it is a portable projector that is easy to configure, I can say that it delivers on what it promises, with excellent build quality and great connectivity options. The equipment is very solid, both physically and operationally.

Despite the 1080p resolution, which I personally felt was enough considering the size of the device, the Freestyle supports HDR and can project bright, clear images: even in an environment with lights on, it had no difficulties with projection.

The intelligent platform offers a wide catalog of applications streaming, smart assistants and now the gaming hub, which makes it possible to run games directly from the cloud. All this transforms the Samsung Freestyle Generation 2 into a fun and practical outfit for countless occasions.

At launch, from 11/10/2023 to 29/10/2023, Samsung is running a promotion: when purchasing a Freestyle Generation 2 you get one sound tower to further improve your immersion. The projector is being sold for R$ 3.799,05 in cash at Samsung store.

Technical specifications

See too

Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen, Neo G9 and The Freestyle 2nd gen are released at BGS

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (14 / 10 / 23)