This is the case when the purchase was made almost impulsively.
Before that, like most people, I watched dozens of reviews on YouTube. And it was those that misled me. Almost all the videos were positive, and there were practically no critical reviews. The most I found was "well, it's not very bright." But no one showed any serious downsides.
проектор Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 та батарея
It was after this purchase that I started to think about the so-called "complementary internet." Today I even wrote a separate post about it. Reviews are increasingly resembling advertising integrations rather than honest user experiences.
Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 is not a cheap toy. At the time of purchase, it cost almost 30,000 UAH. The most interesting thing is that even now the price has hardly changed.
Of course, the ability to buy it in installments made the decision much easier. If I had to pay the full amount upfront, I would probably have spent a few more weeks reading forums and Reddit.
темна кімната. документалка про українських миротворців на суспільному
But what's done is done.
During this time, I have used it enough to form my own opinion.
How I used it
After the purchase, I printed a mount on a 3D printer and secured the projector above the bed.
на шафі
At first, it projected simply onto a gray wardrobe. To be honest - it looked quite good. After a while, I bought a regular roll-up screen, and the picture became much nicer.
It seemed like the perfect home theater.
But that's when all the problems started to emerge.
Problem #1. Software
The biggest downside of this projector is the Tizen operating system.
This is exactly the point that I completely overlooked before the purchase.
You can only install apps from the Samsung store. And there are very few of them.
Netflix, YouTube, Megogo, Sweet.TV - are available.
But if you want to watch something else, launch some third-party service, or simply install an APK - forget it.
The browser is also only there "for show." Pages open, but using it normally is almost impossible. Although this is a problem for most Smart TVs.
Okay, I think. I bought a subscription - let's watch officially.
And that's when other surprises begin.
Apps can freeze.
After turning off, the projector sometimes doesn't turn on at all with the remote.
You have to simply unplug it and turn it on again.
When you buy a projector for almost thirty thousand and then regularly "restart it by pulling the plug," it somewhat ruins the magic.
By the way, YouTube is more optimized for Tizen. I had the most problems with MEGOGO and Sweet TV.
Problem #2. Brightness
тут в кімнаті темно
This was my first projector.
Before the purchase, I watched a bunch of videos where people showed huge beautiful images.
But almost no one explained how critical brightness is.
When I had blackout curtains - everything was great.
I closed the windows, closed the doors - and I could watch movies or anime even during the day.
But after moving, where there were no blackout curtains, the projector practically ceased to exist during the day.
Yes, something is visible.
But it's no longer watching a movie, it's a struggle with sunlight.
That's when I understood why people talk so much about ANSI Lumens.
This is not marketing.
This is one of the most important characteristics of a projector.
Problem #3 "Portability"
This is where Samsung's marketing disappointed me the most.
The projector is positioned as portable.
In practice - not quite.
Wanted to show friends a home video from a flash drive?
Not going to happen.
There is no USB for video playback here.
So to launch your own file, you will need:
a laptop;
an HDMI → Micro-HDMI cable;
and if you have a MacBook Air — also a Type-C → HDMI adapter.
If you're interested (+ almost one and a half thousand):
Ugreen HD127 micro HDMI to HDMI v2.0 UltraHD 4K-3D 1 m Black cable
Baseus Gleam 7-in-1 HDMI 4K 60 Hz + 3 x USB 3.0 + 1x PD + SD/TF Gray hub
It creates quite a strange picture.
We take the "portable" projector...
...and along with it, we carry a laptop, cables, adapters, and a charger.
I also bought a Micro-HDMI cable that was too short.
Since the projector is mounted above the center of the bed, the laptop simply doesn't reach.
Holding it in your hands is not an option. Buying a new cable - too annoying. So I placed it next to the bed on an IKEA table (along with the laptop). If you have pets or children - this solution won't last long.
Then I thought:
"What if I connect a USB hub and a flash drive via Type-C?"
Doesn't work.
It seems that Type-C is only used for power here.
On Reddit, I found a mention that someone managed to do this on the first generation Freestyle, but without any proof. And even then, it has nothing to do with the second version.
In the end, all the "portability" looks something like this:
projector;
laptop;
cable;
adapter;
charger;
power bank or charging station (if the laptop doesn't last long).
and also a screen if there is no good wall;
екран + проектор + ноутбук + кабель + перехідник
It doesn't sound as romantic as in the ads.
Yes. I tried the SmartThing app to stream video. I don't remember the details anymore. But it's not all that rosy. At best - show the screen of your phone with a delay.And also... there were options that you need to be on the same local network. I can imagine carrying a router and a battery with me to show a video from my phone.Part of the functionality is only available on flagship Samsung devices.
Let the old man insert a flash drive...
;)
Problem #4 Wi-Fi is not all-powerful either
There is another point that almost no one talks about.
If you imagined watching a movie somewhere in the yard of a private house via home Wi-Fi - don't rush.
The antenna here is far from the most powerful.
If the router is in the house and you took the projector outside, it is quite possible that the video will start buffering.
тут мав би ловити WiFI, але довелось нести ноутбук
And again, you'll have to bring along some other device or download everything in advance.
How I use it now
A few months ago, Samsung released a firmware update.
I felt that after it, the system became a bit more stable.
But by that time, I had long stopped using the built-in apps.
A small shelf appeared above the bed.
On it stands an old Mac mini 2012, which cost less than the new Xiaomi TV Box.
(in the photo, you can see a napkin - this is to raise the image angle. I couldn't find a 3D model for this projector to adjust this height. So there's also that nuance)
It is connected to the projector.
I also bought a wireless keyboard and mouse (which, by the way, turned out to be more expensive than the computer itself).
Now the usage scenario is as simple as possible:
turned on the projector;
switched to HDMI;
using a regular computer.
No Tizen lags.
No app store limitations.
No browser freezes.
If I need to go somewhere - then I have to take the whole set with the laptop, cables, and adapters again.
Do I regret the purchase?
In the first weeks - yes (very much). Now I've somehow gotten used to the nuances. I wouldn't recommend this projector.
I'm looking at projectors differently now. And I don't even turn on some bloggers on YouTube.
If I had seen at least one honest review with such nuances before the purchase - I would most likely have chosen a different projector.
Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 is not a bad device.
It is compact, quiet, has a cool design, quick automatic image alignment, and generally makes a very good first impression.It works stably on HDMI. The picture in the dark is decent. The sound is quite good.
The problem lies elsewhere.
Marketing creates the impression that this is a universal portable projector "for all occasions."
In reality, it is well-suited only for a rather narrow usage scenario.
If you have a darkened room, you watch Netflix or YouTube, don't plan to launch your own files, and are ready to tolerate Tizen - you will probably like it. But not for this money, in my opinion.
But if you want more freedom, usage without a laptop, or daytime viewing - these compromises should be known before the purchase.
It was precisely these details that I found lacking in most reviews. Out of curiosity, I opened the promo video
And this really amused me. Like, light from garlands and a nice picture. But no. Perhaps this is of course possible in cinematic screen mode which is created by two projectors.
