- Samsung unveils The Freestyle+ portable projector
- It’s still 1080p with 180-degree angle flexibility
- Upgrades include almost double the brightness of the previous model, and auto Wall Calibration
Samsung has revealed a third-gen version of its super-popular portable projector, the Freestyle. The new model is called The Freestyle+, and having used the previous-generation The Freestyle 2 as well as recent budget competitors such as the Xgimi MoGo 4, I think it’s bringing the right kind of upgrades – though a couple of improvements that I’d like to see don’t appear to .
Samsung’s main pitch with The Freestyle+ projector is that it’ll look better – always a plus, no pun intended – through a mix of smart image adjustments and just being brighter.
Samsung says the new model delivers 430 ISO Lumens, which is almost double the 230 ISO Lumens of the previous model, and this is great to hear, because the middling brightness is one of its predecessor’s issues (though it still ranks high among our best portable projectors).
That will mean that the images will have bolder colors and will be overall more visible in rooms where the lights aren’t super-dim, making it generally more useful and flexible.
But Samsung is also adding some other useful automatic features for a better picture. On top of automatic keystone correction and auto focus, there’s now an automated Wall Calibration feature, which means the projector “analyzes the color or pattern of the projection surface and minimizes visual distractions for clear viewing”, according to Samsung.
This again should help with the clarity of the images, and accuracy of the color if your wall is off-white or lightly colored (I’m not sure it’ll help if you wall is a deep navy, of course).
There’s also a Screen Fit feature, which sounds useful if you do use a projector screen: Samsung says this “automatically adjusts the image to match the screen area when used with a compatible projector screen accessory”.
Is this enough of an upgrade?
Outside of the above changes, upgrades seem to be light in The Freestyle+. It includes a new version of Samsung’s smart TV software, which is still full of streaming app options, and now includes the AI-powered Bixby voice assistant in order to “enable more natural, conversational interaction with on-screen content”.
Samsung hasn’t highlighted other elements that have been changed, though obviously it’s possible there’s more going on than has been revealed so far – I’ll see the projector at CES 2026, so I can find out all the secrets (if there are any).
In particular, I was hoping to see improvements to the built-in sound. Samsung has only mentioned that the Freestyle+ includes “360 degree sound”, the same as the previous model, but the Xgimi MoGo 4 recently really blew me away with the depth and power of its sound, so I’m hoping for an upgrade in this department.
We’re also seeing more portable projectors – again, including the MoGo 4 – with built-in batteries. Samsung has always offered a battery add-on option for The Freestyle range, but competitors are undercutting its price with built-in batteries, not demanding that you pay more for true portability.
Speaking of price, there’s no word on that so far, though the previous model launched at $799 / £649. There’s no release date either, though new Samsung AV products tend to roll out between February and April. We may hear more on both fronts at CES.
TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
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