Samsung's The Freestyle portable projector has been on my mind ever since the company unveiled it at CES 2022. I'm still considering buying one, and although I probably won't (for reasons I'll explain later), I'm still fighting the urge to order this small but versatile portable projector from Samsung.
It's a portable TV that fits in a small bag
One reason why I'm considering buying The Freestyle is that I'm not a TV owner. I don't fit the definition of a ‘digital nomad,' but I don't own that many sizable objects, either. If it doesn't fit in a sedan, it's probably not going to fall into my possession. So, although there's a decently-sized TV in my apartment, I don't own it, and it will stay here once I eventually change location.
The Freestyle from Samsung would allow me to own a TV that could essentially fit in a small bag or backpack. It could be the perfect match for my only gaming device, i.e., the Nintendo Switch. The latter is a portable console with a built-in screen, but can connect to a TV.
Indoors, The Freestyle looks like it can be a lot of fun, thanks to its versatile design. You can project images on the wall, a table, the floor, or the ceiling. Whatever flat surface you can find. Moreover, The Freestyle can be used outdoors, and with summertime coming, I can think of a few use cases.
Springtime and summertime outdoor night cinema
The weather is warming up — at least in the Northern hemisphere. Spring is here, and Summer will be too. You know where this is going: The Freestyle, outdoors, projecting on a garage door/wall or a portable projector screen somewhere outside the urban landscape.
Samsung's portable projector truly is portable. You can hook it up to a light bulb socket or an external battery bank, so it is versatile in more than one way. As long as your car has gas in its tank (or battery charge), you can keep your Freestyle going. You can technically have it play movies or music visualizers on a portable projector screen, at night, in the middle of nowhere, or at an outdoor party.
And I say “at night” because The Freestyle probably can't be used in a meaningful way in sunlight. I haven't tested it yet, but I'm guessing it won't offer an optimal experience in very bright environments.
Back to reality. Why I probably won't buy The Freestyle:
I've made peace with the idea that The Freestyle might not be a good choice for outdoor use in sunlight, so there are other things keeping me away from ordering it.
First of all, it's the price, and secondly, it's the questionable quality assurance, at least based on some of the reviews on Samsung's online shop. Both of these issues go hand in hand.
The Freestyle would set me back roughly €870, which is nothing to sneeze at, as far as I'm concerned. And maybe I would've looked past the price had it not been for the complaints about build quality and quality assurance.
To cut this short, I'd love to own The Freestyle because of its portable nature, but I probably won't buy one soon. The price is a bit too high for me to take the risk, and I know I'd get frustrated if it didn't live up to expectations.
So, I'll either wait for the price to drop or for The Freestyle 2 to hit the market. Who knows?! The ongoing model might win me over before the Summer.
I know that not everyone fits my description, which means some people won't find any real value in The Freestyle's portable nature. But I do. And let's face it, The Freestyle wasn't meant to win over TV users worldwide. It's more of a niche product rather than a mainstream device. It just so happens that I fit that niche, at least to a degree.
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