How 3 Editors Turned Their Homes Into an Intimate Cinema This Winter

Trips to the cinema to see the latest movie will never go out of style. I’m not sure whether it’s the immersion of surround sound, huge screens, and a well-stocked candy bar; or the fact that it is a nostalgic experience.

There’s no doubt that the big screen is the best way to see a movie, which is why three of our editors road tested Samsung’s compact projector, The Freestyle. We really put this device through its paces, to test whether it’s truly portable — taking it out into our gardens and making it work in even the most compact Sydney apartments.

The Backyard Cinema — Amanda Bardas, Publisher

I set The Freestyle Projector up on the back wall of our yard. We live in a terrace in Sydney’s inner west, so space in our living room is sparse. When we have friends over, there aren’t that many places to sit together inside to all watch a movie. This, however, is a total game-changer.

Setting it up was so easy. We just plugged it into the wall (we needed an extension cord to reach the spot we wanted to set it up), and then connected to WiFi, logged into my streaming platforms, and that was it!* The part that amazed me the most is that depending on the angle of your wall, The Freestyle Projector is smart enough to know, and is designed to re-calibrate the picture so the angle is straight**.

We’d use it to have movie nights with friends or to watch sports. The World Cup is fast approaching, and I can’t think of a better way to spend summer nights than outside watching the Socceroos.

The Bedroom Cinema — Sangeeta Kocharekar, Lifestyle Editor

Despite not having a TV in my one-bedroom apartment (I used my spare wall space for a big artwork and mirror instead), I’d never considered getting a projector. My main reason? It seemed too complicated to set up. Boy, was I missing out!

It took me less than a minute to figure out how to put The Freestyle Projector together and set it up. Two minutes later, using its remote that’s only the size of my palm, I’d logged into my Disney+ account, and was watching The Kardashians on my bedroom ceiling, as I lay cosy in bed*.

I couldn’t get over not only how easy it was to set up, but also how clear the projection was, coming from a slick device that’s only a little bigger than a water bottle. Every time I moved it to project onto a new surface, it would adapt to fit its new space.

When I had an Italian-themed dinner party a few days later, I set the projector up in my living-slash-dining room and played YouTube videos of Italian coastlines (shown in the photo above). The huge display of crashing waves and the classical Italian music accompanying the videos that played surround sound from the projector nearly made it feel like we weren’t in fact in freezing Sydney and were instead dining in Italy, post-swim. Nearly.

The Living Room Cinema — Ange Law, Commercial and Shopping Editor

I love going to the movies. Seeing a blockbuster film on the big screen and feeling so immersed in the drama of it all sparks joy and always has. But the combination of spending much of the last two years in my home and also adopting an adorable dog in that time has created the perfect storm for me . . . staying indoors a lot of the time.

Recently, my partner and I decided to take our dog to the drive-in movies and it was a great time — but there were definitely a few challenges. First, it was a rainy night, so our windscreen was obscured by water drops and fog for much of the film. Plus, it was also freezing and because we couldn’t have our tail lights on, we also couldn’t crank the heating for the duration of the film.

The next weekend, we decided to set up The Freestyle Projector by Samsung in our living room and make it a movie night at home. We have a pretty expansive white wall above our TV, so decided that was the best place to project the film. The setup was simple, and I easily downloaded the Samsung app, connected to the projector, made some popcorn (unrelated but important), and popped on a movie within minutes (we chose Turning Red).

All-in-all, it was a huge success and a great alternative to abandoning our dog at home to head to the movies regularly. Of course, we’ll never stop heading to the local cinema for the big, new releases, but a more elevated movie night at home, The Freestyle worked a treat. Plus, we especially loved the in-built speakers that meant we didn’t have to hook up the projector to anything at all.

If you’re ready to turn your house into a movie cinema (or an Italian coastline), check out the Samsung Freestyle.

* Internet connection required. Data usage and subscription fees may apply. Apps are subject to availability and can be removed at any time without notice.
** For best results, recommend projecting on a flat white or bright monotone wall in a dark room.