Head-to-head · Best Outdoor Projectors

BenQ GV31 vs Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen comes out ahead by a narrow margin (3.9 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Apartment dwellers, frequent travelers and casual backyard viewers who prize portability, a full smart-TV OS with native Netflix, and creative projection angles over raw brightness. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Outdoor Projectors

BenQ GV31

3.9

$599as of May 23

BenQ's GV31 is the most interesting form factor here: a rotating ball-in-a-cradle that aims anywhere from a low coffee table up to a 135-degree ceiling angle. The 300 ANSI LED engine is dim and the price is closer to $599 than budget, but the 5-hour audio/3-hour video battery, 2.1-channel speaker and clean Android TV stack with native Netflix make it the best 'fun shape' option in the roundup.

Strengths

— Rotating lens tilts up to 135 degrees, projecting onto walls, ceilings or angled garage doors
— 5800 mAh battery delivers 3 hours of video playback (5 hours music) per BenQ spec
— 2.1-channel speaker system with 8W woofer and dual 4W tweeters punches above projector norms

Watch-outs

— 300 ANSI lumens is the second-dimmest in this guide; outdoor use requires full nightfall
— Limited HDR support and no Dolby Vision
— Cylindrical body in cradle is not very stable on uneven yard surfaces without a tripod

$599 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Outdoor Projectors

Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen

4.0

$498as of May 23

The Freestyle 2nd Gen is the most fun projector in this roundup, the lightest, and the dimmest. Samsung's 1.8-lb cylinder rotates 180 degrees, throws onto walls, ceilings and even angled fences, and runs Tizen with native Netflix, Disney+ and the full Samsung Gaming Hub. Brightness is the catch. With 230 ANSI lumens it's a full-night-only projector, but for the buyer who values portability and the smart-software stack, nothing else in this guide competes.

Strengths

— 1.8 lb chassis with a 180-degree rotating handle-stand makes ceiling and floor projection effortless
— Samsung Gaming Hub streams Xbox Cloud, GeForce Now and Utomik with no console needed
— Auto-focus, auto-leveling and auto-keystone get a square image in under 10 seconds anywhere

Watch-outs

— 230 ANSI lumens is the dimmest in this roundup; outdoor use only works after full nightfall
— Battery is sold separately at $189, pushing the real outdoor-ready price near $1,000
— Single micro-HDMI input is the only wired connection, so adapters are mandatory

$498 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

BenQ GV31

Dimmer than the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air at 300 vs 399 ANSI lumens but with a more interesting form factor and a stronger 2.1-channel audio system. Substantially dimmer than the Mars 3 or XGIMI Halo+ and not in the same outdoor-cinema league. Brighter than the Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen at 300 vs 230 lumens and with native Netflix and a battery built in, no $189 accessory required.

Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen

The lightest projector in this roundup by a wide margin at 1.8 lb, less than half the XGIMI Halo+ and a fifth of the Anker Nebula Mars 3. Also the dimmest at 230 ANSI lumens, far below the Mars 3's measured 959 lumens or even the Mars 3 Air's 399. Smart-software stack is the strongest of any pick here thanks to Tizen, Netflix, Disney+ and the Samsung Gaming Hub built in.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	BenQ GV31	Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen
Native Resolution	1920 x 1080 (1080p)	1920 x 1080 (1080p)
Brightness	300 ANSI lumens	230 ANSI lumens
Light Source	LED	LED, 30,000-hour rated life
Throw Ratio	1.30:1	1.20:1
Screen Size	30 to 120 inches	30 to 100 inches (160 inches with two units)
Speakers	2.1-channel (8W woofer + 2x 4W)	5W 360-degree omnidirectional
Battery	5800 mAh, up to 3 hours video / 5 hours music	—
Inputs	HDMI, USB-C with PD	—
Smart OS	Android TV with native Netflix	Tizen with Samsung Gaming Hub
Special Feature	135-degree rotating lens	—
Battery Life	—	Up to 3 hours with optional battery base
Weight	—	1.8 lb
Contrast Ratio	—	100,000:1 dynamic

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