Upon first glance at the specifications, it's easy to underestimate The Freestyle. You wouldn't do this if you wanted to get maximum quality (namely the highest possible resolution and brightness) out of any projector, but sometimes portability, convenience, and ease of use matter as much or more as ultimate picture quality, and those are the moments this projector is perfect for. Whatever you aim at, the projector adapts the picture by focusing and automatically applying keystone correction. Why would you project down, you might ask? Samsung suggests The Freestyle could be used as a 'virtual sketchbook,' basically turning blank sheets of paper into a coloring book. And with an optional adapter, you can even screw it into a light socket and use that as the power source while projecting down. It's not merely that it resembles a lamp it's able to act as a lamp thanks to an included diffuser cap. This portable projector is different from any other that I'm familiar with because it is so adaptable to various novel uses. Of course, you can plug it into a wall outlet the USB-C AC adapter it ships with is small and easily fits in a pocket. Moreover, it is USB-C powered, and it'll run for several hours off a suitably powerful power bank (50W PD power). While it does not have a built-in battery, an add-on rechargeable battery attaches to the bottom of the unit. Anything goes with The Freestyle, which can use any of four different power sources. The product video is full of teenagers running around, projecting images on buildings and each other, or a ceiling, or the floor. Samsung's marketing for The Freestyle makes it abundantly clear this is not a device designed for any permanent installation. The front of the unit, where the lens is located, has touch-sensitive controls for power and volume as well as a spot to tap for easily connecting smartphones.

The exterior of the projector is covered with a soft and flexible rubber-like material that should offer resistance against minor bumps and scrapes. Tucked inside a cylindrical chassis that looks a lot like a tabletop spotlight are a projector, a speaker system, a far-field mic array, and Samsung's smart TV platform, including picture processing capabilities and even auto-calibration (with compatible phones).

Oh, and in addition to acting as a projector, it's a full-fledged smart speaker, as well as a colorful and programmable ambient light source. Priced at $899, it looks like a toy, but it's a serious piece of hardware that leverages Samsung's smart TV platform and even its calibration tools to create something that feels new. Samsung's recent reentry into projection has borne new fruit in the form of The Freestyle, a truly portable projector that offers a fresh take on what a display device should be able to do. Samsung's new projector, The Freestyle, squeezes sophisticated picture processing, a long-life LED light source, and extensive smart TV capabilities into a compact body that's purpose-designed for flexibility and portability.

Samsung projector app