Samsung’s latest portable projector is finally available in the United States. The Freestyle+ keeps the compact, rotating design that made earlier Freestyle models easy to move around the house, but adds a brighter picture, more automatic image adjustments, and a considerably higher price.

The Samsung Freestyle+ is available through Samsung and select retailers for $1,199.99. That puts it well above the $799.99 launch price of the Freestyle 2nd Gen and into territory where buyers may reasonably start asking why they are still getting Full HD rather than 4K resolution.

We reviewed Samsung’s Freestyle 2nd Gen back in 2023 and gave it our Editor’s Choice award for its versatility and ease of use. The new model follows the same basic idea, but Samsung has focused on addressing two areas that matter greatly with portable projectors: brightness and setup.

The headline upgrade is brightness. The Samsung Freestyle+ offers up to 430 ISO lumens, which means it is nearly twice as bright as the previous generation. That should make the projected image easier to see in rooms with some ambient light, although you will still get the best results after dark or with the curtains closed.

The Freestyle+ remains a 1080p projector capable of producing an image up to 100 inches. It supports HDR10+ and Samsung’s PurColor processing, although HDR on a projector with this brightness level should not be confused with the kind of high-impact HDR you would get from a modern OLED or Mini LED TV.

For movies in a dark bedroom, casual gaming, or turning a blank wall into a temporary screen, Full HD may be perfectly adequate. At $1,199.99, however, the lack of 4K resolution is likely to be one of the first things shoppers notice.

Portable projectors are supposed to be easy to use, but positioning one at an angle can leave you adjusting focus, keystone correction, and image size before you watch anything. Samsung’s answer is a collection of automated features designed to do most of that work for you.

The Freestyle+ includes:

• 3D Auto Keystone, which corrects the image when the projector is aimed at an angled or uneven surface
• Wall Calibration, which adjusts color and brightness for colored or patterned walls
• Screen Fit, which resizes the picture to match a compatible projection screen
• Obstacle Avoidance, which moves the image around objects in the projection area
• Real-time Focus, which uses an ultrasonic motor to refocus as the projector’s position changes

Wall Calibration and Obstacle Avoidance must be activated by the user, and their effectiveness will naturally depend on the wall, room lighting, and placement. Still, these tools could make the Freestyle+ less frustrating when you are moving it between rooms rather than installing it permanently.

The projector’s cylindrical body sits in a 180-degree rotating cradle, allowing it to aim at a wall, ceiling, or other suitable surface without a separate tripod or mount. The design looks very similar to the previous two generations, so Samsung is refining the Freestyle rather than completely reinventing it.

The Freestyle+ works much like one of Samsung’s smart TVs. Its Smart Hub provides access to streaming services, while Samsung TV Plus offers more than 750 free, ad-supported channels in supported regions.

Samsung Gaming Hub is also included, allowing you to stream games from compatible cloud services without connecting a console. You will still need a fast internet connection, a compatible controller, and any subscriptions required by the gaming service.

Vision AI Companion adds voice-based features using Bixby and Google Gemini. Samsung says users can ask questions about what they are watching, search for content, and receive recommendations. Some AI functions require a Samsung account and may share queries with third-party providers, so users may want to review the privacy settings before enabling everything.

Phones and tablets can connect through Samsung Smart View and Tap View on compatible Galaxy devices, while Apple users get AirPlay 2 support.

Sound comes from a built-in 360-degree speaker with dual passive woofers. The Freestyle+ also supports Q-Symphony, allowing its speaker to play alongside compatible Samsung soundbars or Wi-Fi speakers rather than switching itself off.

One important limitation remains: there is no built-in battery. You can connect Samsung’s separately sold Freestyle Battery Base or a compatible USB-C power bank, but you will otherwise need access to a power outlet.

That makes the “portable” label more about how easily the projector can be carried and repositioned than about completely cable-free operation.

The Freestyle+ looks like a practical update to Samsung’s portable projector formula, especially for people who value simple setup and flexible placement. The brighter output and improved automatic adjustments address real weaknesses of earlier models.

The harder question is value. At $1,199.99, buyers are paying a premium for the compact design, Samsung’s smart platform, and the convenience of its automated features. Whether those benefits outweigh the Full HD resolution and lack of an integrated battery will depend on how often you plan to move it—and how much you dislike adjusting a projector manually.