Samsung Freestyle vs. BenQ GV30 for Ceiling Projection and More

BenQ
2022/06/15
Benq GV30 vs. Samsung Freestyle

While the idea of a huge screen is very appealing, not all of us have room for that at home, and certainly it may not be viable if we prefer portability. That’s why highly mobile, compact, durable, and smart portable projectors are so appealing. They have the big screen wow factor of fixed location projectors, but are far more flexible in terms of screen sizes and placement. From small room to the big wide open spaces of a campsite, portable projectors give you a big screen format wherever you are, and offer an excellent alternative.

 

We wanted to go over some pointers and highlights now that Samsung released the Freestyle portable projector, and namely how the BenQ GV30 stacks up as Samsung Freestyle alternative . We’ll be evaluating the major aspects that make a good portable projectors, primarily projection angle, brightness, battery life, built-in speaker quality, and compatibility with streaming apps. 

Different Designs for Different Situations: Comparing Projection on Ceilings

Quite an easy one for the BenQ GV30 with its free angle rotation, which allows for very flexible and free-feeling adjustment . The GV30 rotates easily to project on a wall or ceiling without requiring any accessories, stacks of magazine, props, or anything else. It has a wobble-free sturdy base that allows you to confidently change the projection angle.

 

While the Samsung Freestyle has a creative design, it’s not as well suited to flexible projection angles. To change projection direction from onto a wall or your ceiling to a top down fashion, you will need to purchase a separate accessory for the Freestyle, which is adds up to overall cost and isn’t very convenient.  Overall, for family use and larger groups, the GV30 is a clear winner, but if you enjoy the look of the Freestyle and don’t mind having a fixed projection angle, then it may be for you. The Freestyle also has smart features that tie into Samsung accounts, and if you have one of those then it could be a good choice. 

 

BenQ GV30 vs Samsung Freestyle

Brightness

For starters, the Samsung Freestyle does have an advantage in sheer resolution, as it’s 1080p, while the GV30 is 720p.  Also, the two portable projectors use similar technology, but the GV30 has the advantage in light output power. BenQ has extensively tested and verified the GV30, and uses the standard ANSI lumen measurement. The GV30 outputs 300 ANSI lumens. By comparison, Samsung reports the rather unclear LED lumen figure, according to which the Freestyle produces 550 lumens. Depending on which source you trust, this translates to roughly 200-250 ANSI lumens. So, the GV30 has the advantage. You can look at this article for an explanation of brightness units.

 

Both projectors employ digital light processing or DLP technology, with an LED light source. The difference in lumen output is usually the result of LED power and lens quality. 

Battery Life

Here we have a clear win for the BenQ GV30, simply because the Samsung Freestyle doesn’t have a battery. But you can buy one from Samsung if you really want to. The GV30 includes a 4800mAh battery that’s good for almost three hours of viewing. The Freestyle out of the box uses a power adapter, and thus relies on a power outlet. By our definition, that’s not real portability. To be truly portable, a projector (or any device) needs to be self-powered and free from the need to connect to an external power source. The GV30 also includes a classy carry case, which Samsung do not provide with the Freestyle. Again, it appears as though Samsung designed the Freestyle as more of a compact home projector than a true portable projector, which the GV30 definitely is.

Built-In Speaker and Audio

Good thing we said speaker in the singular, because the Samsung Freestyle indeed only has one. Samsung describe it as a 360-degree speaker when the Freestyle is in a hanging placement, as opposed to standing on a surface.  This speaker provides acceptable audio considering the device size. By comparison, the BenQ GV30, which isn’t much bigger, has true 2.1-channel audio. That’s two 4W speakers and a powerful 8W subwoofer. The design of the GV30 allows for a 270-degree sound arc that creates a more immersive, three dimensional audio effect.  

Operating System and Smart Features

The BenQ GV30 uses Android TV as its OS, so any app that works on your Android phone or tablet works on the GV30, including streaming apps obviously. The GV30 was made for easy interconnectivity with Android devices. You can easily share or project content from your Android smart devices. 

 

Samsung’s Freestyle unsurprisingly uses the Tizen OS found on Samsung TVs. That’s because we assume Samsung intends for the Freestyle to be part of its ecosystem for easy pairing with Samsung home devices, mostly TVs, but also Samsung phones and tablets. Again, that’s fine if you’re already invested in the Samsung sphere. Otherwise, the GV30 offers more universal compatibility and wider access to apps thanks to the use of Android as its foundation. 

 

All told, we must conclude the Freestyle, while a very attractive device in terms of design, is entirely meant for home use alongside other Samsung products. By comparison, the BenQ GV30 was explicitly designed for “view anywhere” versatility regardless of brand loyalty or other devices.  . If you’re looking for a reliable and capable portable projector, we believe the conclusion makes itself here. The GV30 is therefore a very capable Samsung Freestyle alternative.

 

Take a look at a quick comparison table for additional clarity:

 

Important Projector Features

BenQ GV30

 Samsung Freestyle

Important Projector Features

Price

BenQ GV30

MSRP

 Samsung Freestyle

$599

TitleText

$899

Important Projector Features

Projection angle

BenQ GV30

Ceiling Projection

 Samsung Freestyle

Free-angle degree projection

TitleText

180-degree projection

Important Projector Features

Viewing Experience

BenQ GV30

Brightness

 Samsung Freestyle

300 ANSI Lumens

TitleText

550 Lumens

Important Projector Features

Resolution

BenQ GV30

1280x720

 Samsung Freestyle

1920x1080

Important Projector Features

Throw Ratio

BenQ GV30

1.2

 Samsung Freestyle

1.2

Important Projector Features

Picture Quality

BenQ GV30

Cinematic Color

 Samsung Freestyle

PurColor, HDR10, HLG 

Important Projector Features

Speaker

BenQ GV30

2.1 Channel (4W+4W+8W)

 Samsung Freestyle

5W(Mono)

Important Projector Features

Ease of Use

BenQ GV30

Auto Focus

 Samsung Freestyle

70cm~3m

TitleText

≤ 2m 

Important Projector Features

Keystone

BenQ GV30

1D

 Samsung Freestyle

2D(Auto)

Important Projector Features

Battery Life

BenQ GV30

2.5hrs 

3 Battery Modes

 Samsung Freestyle

No battery. (Optional)

Important Projector Features

Power Supply

BenQ GV30

DC & PD (45W/15V)

 Samsung Freestyle

PD (50W/20V)

Important Projector Features

HDMI

BenQ GV30

1.4b (w/o CEC & ARC)

 Samsung Freestyle

1.4(w/ CEC & eARC)

Important Projector Features

Display Port

BenQ GV30

1.2(1080p@60)

 Samsung Freestyle

No

Important Projector Features

USB reader

BenQ GV30

Picture/Video/Music

 Samsung Freestyle

No

Important Projector Features

Smart Features

BenQ GV30

OS

 Samsung Freestyle

Android TV 10

TitleText

Not Android TV

Important Projector Features

Voice Control

BenQ GV30

Google Assistant

 Samsung Freestyle

Bixby Voice(control)

Important Projector Features

Store

BenQ GV30

Play Store

 Samsung Freestyle

Samsung Store

Important Projector Features

IoT

BenQ GV30

No

 Samsung Freestyle

SmartThings

Important Projector Features

APP control

BenQ GV30

Smart Control

 Samsung Freestyle

SmartThings

Important Projector Features

Airplay

BenQ GV30

Yes

 Samsung Freestyle

Yes

Important Projector Features

Chromecast

BenQ GV30

Yes

 Samsung Freestyle

No (via SmartThings)

Important Projector Features

TV Mirror

BenQ GV30

No

 Samsung Freestyle

Yes (only compatibility with Samsung’s TV)

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