Samsung Freestyle+ arrives at $1,199 with doubled brightness — and a credibility question
Samsung has launched The Freestyle+, the latest version of its cylindrical portable projector, priced at $1,199 in the US. The headline upgrade is brightness: Samsung claims 430 ISO-lumens, roughly double the spec of the previous generation. That would make it meaningfully more usable in ambient light — if the number holds up in the real world.
Samsung The Freestyle+ — the 180° rotating stand allows projection onto walls, floors, or ceilings.
The brightness problem
The prior Freestyle Gen 2 was advertised at 550 LED lumens, but The Hook Up ANSI test measured it at around 240 ANSI lumens — less than half the marketed figure. ISO-lumens and ANSI-lumens use different measurement standards, and manufacturers routinely cite the more flattering number. Until independent testers get their hands on the Freestyle+, the 430 ISO-lumen claim deserves skepticism. A real-world figure closer to 200–250 ANSI lumens is plausible based on the Gen 2 pattern.
What's new
Beyond brightness, the Freestyle+ keeps the same roughly 1 kg cylindrical body with a 180° rotating stand for projecting onto walls, floors, or ceilings. Resolution stays at Full HD (1920×1080) with HDR10+ and PurColor, and the image can scale up to 100 inches diagonal. The LED lamp is rated for 30,000 hours.
The main software addition is AI OptiScreen — a suite of automatic image-correction tools. It includes 3D Auto Keystone (geometry correction), Real-time Focus (sharpness adjustment as you move the projector), Wall Calibration (compensates for wall color and texture), and Screen Fit (fits the image inside available boundaries). In practice, these features reduce the fiddling required to get a usable picture on an imperfect surface.
The AI OptiScreen system automatically corrects geometry and focus, even on uneven or textured surfaces.
Audio comes from a built-in 360° speaker system with two passive radiators, rated at 30dB noise from the unit itself, with Q-Symphony support for syncing to Samsung soundbars. The projector runs Tizen OS with Samsung TV Plus (750+ free channels), Gaming Hub for cloud gaming, and Bixby and Gemini voice assistants. AirPlay 2, Miracast, and Tap View cover wireless streaming. There's no built-in battery — external USB-C power banks work, though a pack large enough for outdoor use adds 490g or more.
The competition
At $1,199, the Freestyle+ sits well above the Gen 2 ($797.99, per Consumers Guide 2026), which most reviewers still rate as the better-value pick. The LG CineBeam Q lands at $997 with 4K resolution. XGIMI's Halo+ matches the portable form factor at a lower price. Samsung's AI auto-correction is a genuine differentiator, but buyers paying a $400 premium over the Gen 2 should wait for independent brightness tests before committing.
Source: Samsung