The debate between purchasing a traditional smart TV and opting for a portable projector has shifted significantly in recent years, and Samsung is looking to tip the scales even further with its latest innovation. If you have been hesitant to trade your living room television for a projection system, the newly unveiled Samsung Freestyle Plus (styled as Freestyle+) might finally change your mind. Announced ahead of CES 2026 in Las Vegas, this device addresses the two biggest pain points associated with portable projection: insufficient brightness and complicated image setup. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and significantly upgraded hardware, Samsung has created a device that acts less like a finicky gadget and more like a reliable, go-anywhere entertainment hub.
A Brightness Boost for Everyday Viewing
One of the most critical updates to the Freestyle Plus is its luminous intensity. Previous iterations of portable LED projectors often struggled in environments that were not pitch black, limiting their utility to nighttime movie sessions. The Freestyle Plus shatters this limitation by supporting 430 ISO Lumens. According to Samsung, this represents a twofold increase in brightness compared to the previous generation. This enhancement is not merely a numbers game; it fundamentally changes how the device can be used. With this level of output, the projector becomes a viable option for “everyday living environments” where ambient light is present, allowing users to enjoy casual viewing, gaming, or ambient video art without needing to install blackout curtains.
AI OptiScreen: Eliminating the Setup Struggle
While brightness is essential, the user experience is defined by ease of use. Historically, setting up a projector involved a tedious dance of manual focus rings and keystone corrections. Samsung’s announcement places a heavy emphasis on the Freestyle Plus’s new AI capabilities, specifically a suite of technologies branded as AI OptiScreen. This feature set is designed to remove user interaction from the calibration process entirely. The goal is to allow users to place the cylindrical device anywhere—on a coffee table, a stack of books, or the floor—and have it instantly produce a perfect rectangle.
The AI OptiScreen technology includes several distinct tools that work in tandem. First, the Real-time Focus feature ensures that the image remains crisp even if the projector is bumped, moved, or rotated during use, automatically eliminating blur and visual noise. Secondly, the 3D Auto Keystone capability adapts the image to challenging environments. Whether you are projecting onto a slanted attic ceiling or a makeshift screen that isn’t perfectly flat, the software adjusts the geometry of the projection to compensate. Perhaps most impressively, the Wall Calibration feature analyzes the color and pattern of the projection surface. If you are projecting onto a beige wall or a textured surface, the AI adjusts the color output to neutralize the background, ensuring accurate skin tones and vibrant colors without visual distractions.
Next-Generation Smart Features and Audio
Beyond the picture quality, the Freestyle Plus integrates deeply into the modern smart home ecosystem. Samsung has incorporated its Vision AI Companion platform, which introduces conversational AI tools to the viewing experience. Users can access the Bixby voice assistant for natural, context-aware interactions with on-screen content, moving beyond simple voice commands into more complex queries and controls. This transforms the projector from a passive display into an interactive smart assistant that can travel with you from room to room.
Audio performance has also received a significant upgrade. The device maintains its signature cylindrical design, which houses a 360-degree speaker capable of delivering immersive, room-filling sound. For those seeking a cinematic audio experience that matches the improved visuals, the Freestyle Plus supports Q-Symphony. This proprietary feature allows the projector to synchronize its internal speakers with compatible Samsung soundbars, creating a richer, multi-channel soundstage that far exceeds what a portable device can produce on its own. While Samsung has yet to confirm the release date or pricing, the Freestyle Plus is poised to be a formidable competitor against rivals like the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 and the Xgimi MoGo 3, setting a new standard for what portable home cinema can achieve.
