What's the deal? 

TheSamsung Freestyle 2 is currently$200 off when you buy it at Amazon, making it cost just under$600. 

Also: The best early Presidents' Day deals you can shop right now

Key takeaways

• The Samsung Freestyle 2 is a solid projector available for$800. 
• Sharp image quality, an internal battery, and the ability to play games without a console make this projector ultraportable. 
• The second-generation feature upgrades are geared toward gaming, which may not be relevant for all users.
  

There's a saying that goes something like, "Don't fix what isn't broken." I firmly believe in that -- especially when it comes to tech products and their sometimes-pointless updates.

That said, after experiencing the recently upgraded generation of theSamsung Freestyle 2 , this portable projector may have taken the cake for the best tech gadget I've tested in the past year.

Review: Samsung The Freestyle: A well-rounded projector, inside and out

There aren't many significant differences between the original model and the second-generation projector, but here are a few worth noting. Smart Edge Blending lets you use two Freestyle projectors to make one massive image with support for widescreen content at an aspect ratio of up to 29.3:9, there's a solar remote instead of a battery-operated one, and you get more memory for faster performance. The most notable difference, however, is the Samsung Gaming Hub.

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Samsung Freestyle 2

The Samsung Freestyle 2 projector features upgrades like Smart Edge Blending and Samsung Gaming Hub integration that make it a worthy upgrade over the previous generation.

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While I'm no gamer, my husband is a casual one, so I put him to the test to try this feature out. What's cool about the Samsung Gaming Hub is you don't need a physical console to play a game, but just the Freestyle 2, internet access, and a game controller.

Also: The best outdoor projectors for epic movie nights

You can subscribe to cloud streaming like Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, Luna, and others, but there are also free games you can play right off the bat.

My husband was able to playRocket Leaguewith a free membership to GeForce Now, and other free games likeFortnitewere also available. The overall gaming experience will depend on your Wi-Fi connection, but the graphics were crystal clear, and the Freestyle 2 loaded the games fast with virtually no glitches.

It was a unique experience to be able to play games outside or cast them to our ceiling while lying down without being tied to one specific room or a particular gaming console.

Gaming aside, the Samsung Freestyle 2 is a quality projector. It is super easy to set up and get going -- all you need is a Wi-Fi connection. You also don't need to lug an extension cord around since its portable battery easily connects to the device, letting you use it virtually anywhere (which was perfect for our backyard).

It comes preloaded with many streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and more, so you can sign in to your accounts quickly and start streaming.

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The sound impressed me the most: It comes from the built-in, 5W 360-degree speaker, and for such a small speaker, it packs a punch. During a very windy outdoor nighttime movie streaming, we could hear the sound clear and loud, almost as if we were indoors and the sound was surrounding us.

The Samsung Freestyle 2 impressed me with both image quality, the ability to autofocus -- whether it was projecting onto a slanted ceiling or a projector screen -- and the overall experience of setup and streaming. To me, technology should make things quicker and more accessible, and this device does just that -- especially with its portability aspect.

's buying advice

If you're a gamer and want to play a variety of titles without a console, theSamsung Freestyle 2 is a great option that lets you play games while camping, outdoors, or literally wherever. 

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If, however, you're buying a Samsung Freestyle for the movie experience, thefirst-generation's specs are similar enough to thisnew model  and allows you to save a few hundred bucks while still getting a top projector. Whatever model you choose, if you're looking for a portable or outdoor projector, this is, in my opinion, the best one on the market.

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