Samsung’s The Freestyle Makes a Global Splash Following January Launch
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By Samsung Newsroom
The Freestyle 2nd Gen is the latest release in Samsung’s lifestyle screen lineup, merging groundbreaking innovation with user-centric design. Following its launch in early September, it’s clear that this projector is a standout in its class, not just for its ultra-portable form factor but also for the immersive, next-level entertainment experience it delivers.
▲ The Freestyle 2nd Gen, launched in September, offers a next-level entertainment experience
Positioned as the next big thing in portable projectors, Samsung’s Freestyle 2nd Gen promises unparalleled innovation in a compact design. Let’s see what the experts are saying about The Freestyle 2nd Gen.
▼ List of Featured Articles (In alphabetical order)
HomeTheaterReview
Newsweek
Techaeris
Techlicious
The Ultimate Portable Entertainment Experience
▲ The Freestyle 2nd Gen enables users to have flexible viewing experiences
The Freestyle 2nd Gen embodies Samsung’s commitment to innovative design and technology. Its unique ability to stream cloud games without a console, along with an option to pair two projectors for a widescreen view, places it leagues ahead of its competitors.
Upon seeing the device, the first thing that catches the eye is its compact size. Despite its compact form factor, The Freestyle 2nd Gen can project a screen size of up to 100 inches, impressing many reviewers who have seen the product in action. Techlicious awarded the product an “Editor’s Choice” distinction for its big-screen picture quality, saying, “The Samsung Freestyle 2’s 100-inch picture was a pleasure to watch.”
No matter the size users choose to project their image, The Freestyle 2nd Gen maintains great picture as well as sound quality, with accurate colors and 360 sounds. Its 1080 x 1920 resolution enables larger, crisper and clearer images so that users can enjoy a big screen experience anytime, anywhere. Techlicious praised the device for being “a better option for movies or games where a big, bright picture with sound to match is paramount,” in addition to awarding it with four out of five stars.
Another innovative feature that will up-level the cinematic viewing experience is Samsung’s Smart Edge Blending, which allows two devices to merge and project a wide, cinematic screen, setting itself apart from the competition. Smart Edge Blending provides an expansive 160-inch panoramic and 120-inch vertical viewing experience that ensures no matter where you are, be it a backyard movie night or a gaming marathon in the living room, the visual experience is always top-notch. Outlets such as Techaeris awarded The Freestyle 2nd Gen with a “Top Pick 2023” distinction and commended its ability to have a bigger display by connecting two devices.
Enhanced Performance With Game Changing Features
The new Freestyle 2nd Gen truly shines in its gaming features and performance. The built-in Samsung Gaming Hub has been recognized as a unique feature for gamers who want a portable projector that caters to their lifestyle. Now players can connect their favorite game controller to the Gaming Hub on The Freestyle 2nd Gen and access more than 3,000 games via cloud-based gaming streaming partners like Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, Utomik, Antstream Arcade and Blacknut Cloud Gaming without the need for a separate gaming console. It is a literal game-changer, serving as a one-stop hub for players’ gaming needs.
HomeTheaterReview awarded the device with a “2023 Editor’s Choice” distinction and praised the new addition of the Gaming Hub, stating: “The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen with Gaming Hub is a unique portable projector that aims to take your entertainment experience to the next level by doing it all.”
To ensure smooth gaming experiences, The Freestyle 2nd Gen is equipped with an expanded DDR memory of 2.0GB and optimized software, which provides a snappier performance. Newsweek elaborated on the device’s performance, highlighting the significant leap from its predecessor: “The Freestyle Gen 2 is an overall better value thanks to the speedier interface and the ability to stream games.
Beyond Gaming: A Multimedia Powerhouse
It doesn’t stop at gaming. The Freestyle 2nd Gen allows users to access all their favorite television and movie content with ease, making binge-watching sessions an effortless affair.
In fact, the Freestyle 2nd Gen is ready to go straight out of the box. Without the need for endless wires and additional devices, users can easily stream and enjoy content with just a Wi-Fi connection. Through Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) and video-on-demand service (AVOD), Samsung TV Plus, users can access over 300 live TV channels, thousands of on-demand shows and movies in the U.S. and over 2,200 channels globally across 24 countries. Users also have access to all the same major OTT services they would on any Samsung smart TV, so all their favorite content is available on the go.
Outlets like Newsweek recognized the device as an “Editor’s Choice” and stressed that it appeals to those who prioritize a hassle-free entertainment experience: “Shoppers looking for a feature-packed, simple-to-set-up projector that allows you to stream and game without connecting anything other than power and WiFi will enjoy The Freestyle 2nd Gen with Gaming Hub.”
▲ The Freestyle 2nd Gen offers premium viewing experiences at any angle
The Perfect Choice for Everyone
The latest innovations found on The Freestyle 2nd Gen makes it the perfect choice for users seeking seamless and enjoyable experience. HomeTheaterReview noted: “Given how the many features have been successfully implemented and the smooth automated setup, this device easily earns an Editors’ Choice as a portable projector.”
Samsung’s relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence in design is evident in the Freestyle 2nd Gen, as Techaeris noted, “Overall, the performance of The Freestyle Gen 2 is fantastic for its size and price.”
Samsung is committed to enhancing conventional viewing experiences by leveraging advanced screen technologies to offer larger, immersive displays without sacrificing convenience, as can be seen in The Freestyle 2nd Gen. The immersive nature of this device and the innovative features packed into the compact form make it the future of portable entertainment.
To learn more about The Freestyle 2nd Gen, visit https://www.samsung.com.
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics unveiled a brand film starring BTS “SUGA” on its social media channels. As Samsung’s ambassador, SUGA shows how he uses The Freestyle 2nd Gen, Samsung’s latest portable projector, in his own unique way. The Freestyle.
Watch the full video below and find out why SUGA defines freedom as “living the life you want.”
▲ The Freestyle x SUGA: Freedom to be you
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics today announced that it will unveil a brand film starring BTS “SUGA” on October 5. As Samsung’s ambassador, SUGA will show how he uses The Freestyle 2nd Gen, Samsung’s latest versatile portable projector, in his own unique way. The film is to be unveiled on Samsung’s social media accounts including its Youtube channel.
▲ BTS SUGA shown using The Freestyle 2nd Gen instead of a monitor
In the film, SUGA emphasizes that “You’ve got the freedom to use The Freestyle anytime, anywhere. No others, only SAMSUNG!” as he demonstrates how he enjoys the portable projector.
▲ A scene from the brand film starring SUGA
Previously at IFA 2023 held in Berlin, Germany, SUGA surprised visitors as he greeted them from a display screen, inviting them to experience The Freestyle 2nd Gen.
▲ SUGA greeted visitors at Samsung Electronics’ booth at IFA 2023
The Freestyle is Samsung’s light, portable projector which recently debuted its 2nd generation model. The Freestyle 2nd Gen aims to redefine portable screens with its newly added “Smart Edge Blending” feature and “Gaming Hub” compatibility.
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By Samsung Newsroom
Small enough to be held in one hand while boasting a sensational design, The Freestyle has gained attention in the portable projector market since its launch in 2022. Samsung recently released The Freestyle 2nd Gen, an upgraded portable projector that is making imagination a reality.
Samsung Newsroom sat down with Wonki Kim from Lifestyle Team, Seongwon Seo from Picture Quality Solution Lab and TJ Kim from Future Planning Group of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics to hear about the characteristics and development of The Freestyle 2nd Gen.
▲ Smart Edge Blending demonstration video
No Compromise for ‘Smart Edge Blending’
Smart Edge Blending is one of the biggest upgrades in The Freestyle 2nd Gen. The feature seamlessly merges projections from two The Freestyle devices to create a large screen for pictures and videos. By connecting the two devices to the SmartThings app and synchronizing the video output with a photo of the projected screens, users can enjoy a full-screen experience from anywhere.
“Edge-blending is a sophisticated technology that usually requires dedicated hardware and software to manually control each pixel,” said Seongwon Seo. “In line with the easy-to-use concept of The Freestyle, we engineered Smart Edge Blending to help first-time users easily blend screens wirelessly, without a dedicated device or help from an expert.”
▲ Smart Edge Blending can be used through the SmartThings app.
When Smart Edge Blending is activated, the connected smartphone will engage with The Freestyle portable projectors in real time. Content sync and adjustment processes take place automatically via communication between the devices. “Screen alignment can easily be done using the SmartThings guide when a user captures a picture of the projected screen. The analytic algorithm will analyze the span and overlap of the patterns at eight main points on the setup screen and then adjust the projection on each device,” he explained.
▲ The Freestyle 2nd Gen with Smart Edge Blending on display at IFA 2023
Smart Edge Blending was born out of user pattern analysis. “We found that consumers tend to use The Freestyle as a highly portable personal screen in whatever space they are in — whereas the living room TV would be for fixed, communal use. In fact, there were many cases where single households would purchase several projectors,” said TJ Kim. “When you have more than one device, why not combine them?”
By connecting The Freestyle devices, users can enlarge their screen by up to 160 inches and enjoy a 21:9 screen ratio with no further manual adjusting. Speaker capacity is doubled and intensified with the choice of dedicating the left and right stereo sound output to each device to create a more immersive audio experience.
▲ (From left) TJ Kim from Future Planning Group and Seongwon Seo from Picture Quality Solution Lab
“What’s charming about Smart Edge Blending is that it can be expanded not just horizontally but vertically as well,” said Seo. “This feature is even more useful with the rise of vertical content such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Most consumers are used to viewing ultra-large horizontal content at movie theaters but are not quite familiar with ultra-large vertical content. But it’s actually quite nice once you try it.”
Nonetheless, there were challenges during development. The original plan was to only support still images, since video requires extensive computing power and real-time alignment. In early stages, the setup also required a high-resolution picture of the projection as well.
▲ Seongwon Seo from Picture Quality Solution Lab explains how the complex Smart Edge Blending technology was built for anyone.
“It is an extremely difficult task to get two wireless devices to continuously be in sync. While The Freestyle development first started with still images, we couldn’t give up on videos because that’s what more consumers prefer watching with our device. Using a wire to hook up the devices was unthinkable given the highly mobile concept of The Freestyle. We supported the engineers until, one day, they managed to achieve the unthinkable,” said TJ Kim.
“Writing an algorithm that can analyze low-resolution images is a very demanding task — but we felt a sense of relief when we finally succeeded,” he added. “At first, it seemed impossible to minimize the margin of error between the two projections. The strict internal standard doesn’t even allow a single-pixel margin of error. Our breakthrough ultimately resulted from an assumption model that could accurately determine the state of projected setup patterns from low-resolution pictures.”
Staying True to Concept While Adding Fun
Through Samsung Gaming Hub, The Freestyle 2nd Gen supports gaming — a content form that was once unimaginable to enjoy on a portable projector. The addition of Samsung’s cloud gaming platform frees users from the limitations of consoles, wires and fixed screens such as smart TVs and monitors. “Gaming is one of the entertainment types that really highlights the portability of The Freestyle,” shared TJ Kim. “Users can now enjoy games through Samsung Gaming Hub anytime and anywhere, without a console.”
▲ Visitors at Samsung’s IFA 2023 booth test cloud games available on Samsung Gaming Hub with The Freestyle 2nd Gen.
Updates were made for added sustainability. “The light source life has been extended from 20,000 to 30,000 hours,” said Wonki Kim. “With 30,000 hours, The Freestyle can support a demanding eight hours of use per day for 10 years.” The Freestyle’s remote control was also upgraded to a SolarCell Remote that can be charged with sunlight or indoor lighting, eliminating the need for disposable batteries.
Processing speed was revamped too. Compared to the first model, The Freestyle 2nd Gen’s memory has been expanded to speed up signal processing and remote control response. By testing usage scenarios during development, the device’s UI and UX were improved immensely to make the projector accessible to anyone.
▲ Wonki Kim from Lifestyle Team underscores compactness, portability and usability as the reasons behind the popularity of The Freestyle among young people.
Screens Everywhere as a Strategy
With the vision of “Screens Everywhere, Screens for All,” The Freestyle 2nd Gen prioritizes portability and mobility to enable users to experience the benefits of a movable screen.
“Although it’s clearly a hassle to set up, the tripod has become such a natural part projectors — so much that no one thought twice about it,” said TJ Kim. “We envision a projector without a tripod or other accessories. That’s how The Freestyle 2nd Gen came to life.”
▲ The Freestyle 2nd Gen on display in a caravan at IFA 2023
The creators behind The Freestyle continue to dream. “As we work to achieve ‘Screens Everywhere, Screens for All,’ we’re constantly planning innovations around Samsung’s projector lineup — The Freestyle and The Premiere. Our goal is to move beyond simply targeting the existing market and present a new screen experience for everyone,” shared Wonki Kim.
“We plan to continue addressing the limitations of space and strengthen connections among various Samsung devices to generate meaningful synergy,” added TJ Kim.
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics announced that The Freestyle is included in 2022’s Oprah’s Favorite Things holiday gift list featured on OprahDaily.com and in the Winter issue of O Quarterly, on newsstands November 1. The Oprah’s Favorite Things annual list is a must have holiday shopping guide with the most decadent desserts, ingenious gadgets and finest finds in home, fashion and beauty. This marks the fifth time a Samsung TV has been selected, with The Freestyle joining The Serif, The Frame, Q7FN QLED TV and most recently, The Terrace in previous years.
This year’s list features a variety of wonderful items for you and your loved ones, most of which have been selected from small businesses. To shop the full list of items, please visit: https://www.oprahdaily.com/oprah-favorite-things-2022. The Freestyle is available for purchase at www.samsung.com and in the Oprah’s Favorite Things gift guide exclusively in Amazon’s store at amazon.com/oprah, as well as via the Amazon shopping app for customers to conveniently shop anytime, anywhere. As Oprah says on OprahDaily.com, “Point onto any wall to turn it into a big screen. You can use your favorite streaming apps from it, and it’s got powerful speakers, just like a movie theater.”
The Freestyle offers first-of-its-kind technology and flexibility that lets users watch TV, enjoy movies and even have a lightshow wherever they go. The Freestyle is a portable display, smart speaker and ambient light all rolled into one lightweight, portable device. Its versatile cradle allows rotation of up to 180 degrees, enabling users to show high-quality video anywhere — tables, floors, walls or even ceilings — no separate screen required. With the optional battery base and case (sold separately), The Freestyle provides entertainment everywhere, with no limitations.
“The Freestyle is a one-of-a-kind portable entertainment device that provides the ultimate versatility by letting users take it in anywhere,” said Stephen Coppola, Senior Director, Lifestyle TV Product Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “The Freestyle is a fun and adaptable portable display that can be used in many creative ways. On the ceiling before bed? Outside on the fence while roasting treats? The sky is the limit!”
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