Best Samsung Projector 2026: The Premiere & Freestyle Ranked

Quick Answer: The best Samsung projector overall in 2026 is the 2nd-generation Premiere 9 (LPU9D) — an ultra-short-throw triple-laser (RGB) laser TV rated at 3,450 ISO lumens that throws up to a 130-inch 4K image from inches off the wall, priced at $5,999 MSRP. The best value Samsung UST is the Premiere 7 (LPU7D) at roughly $2,999–$3,499 street, and the best portable is the newly launched Freestyle+ ($1,199.99, 430 ISO lumens) — Samsung doubled the brightness over the outgoing Freestyle 2nd Gen, which is now selling at a discount. Note that Samsung discontinued the older LSP9T and LSP7T laser TVs in February 2025; any listing for those is clearance stock, not current inventory.

Samsung makes some of the most distinctive projectors on the market — but its lineup splits sharply into two camps. The premium Premiere series are ultra-short-throw (UST) “laser TVs” that sit on a console and replace a big-screen TV, while the Freestyle line is a tiny, cylindrical portable that spins to throw an image on a wall or ceiling. All of them run Samsung’s full Tizen smart-TV software, so you get the same apps and remote as a Samsung TV. We ranked every current Samsung model by picture, brightness, and value — and flagged the older models Samsung has since discontinued. If you want the full UST field beyond Samsung, see our best ultra short throw projector guide; for portables, our best portable projector picks.

By the numbers: Per Samsung and ProjectorCentral, the flagship Premiere 9 (LPU9D) uses a triple-laser (RGB) engine rated at 3,450 ISO lumens — up from roughly 2,600 lumens on the first-generation model — and lists at $5,999 MSRP. The value Premiere 7 (LPU7D) steps up to 2,500 ISO lumens (from 2,200 on the previous LPU7D generation) at an MSRP around $3,799 with street pricing near $2,999–$3,499. Both use laser light sources rated for roughly 20,000 hours — about 20 years at three hours a day — with no lamp to replace. On the portable side, the new Freestyle+, launched at CES 2026 and priced at $1,199.99, is rated at 430 ISO lumens — nearly double the 230 ISO lumens of the outgoing Freestyle 2nd Gen (~$800). And per Projector Reviews, Samsung discontinued the previous-generation LSP9T and LSP7T laser TVs in February 2025, so any current listing for either is old stock, not a model you can buy new from Samsung today.

Our top Samsung projector picks at a glance

1. Samsung Premiere 9 (LPU9D) — Best Overall

The Premiere 9 is Samsung’s 2nd-generation flagship laser TV and the Samsung projector we recommend to buyers who want the ultimate living-room big screen. Its triple-laser (RGB) engine produces a wide, saturated color gamut and pushes 3,450 ISO lumens — a real jump over the first-generation model — while the ultra-short-throw design means it sits on a normal media console and throws a 90-to-130-inch image with the cabinet just inches from the wall. Add AI picture upscaling, the complete Tizen app ecosystem, a built-in 40W Dolby Atmos speaker system, and a ~20,000-hour laser life, and it behaves like a giant TV rather than a traditional projector. It’s expensive at $5,999 MSRP, but for a permanent, furniture-style install it’s the best Samsung makes. Compare it against rival laser TVs in our best ultra short throw projector guide.

2. Samsung Premiere 7 (LPU7D) — Best Value UST

The Premiere 7 is the value sweet spot of the Samsung UST range. It uses a single-laser (rather than triple-laser) engine, which gives up some of the ultra-wide color of the flagship, but it still delivers a sharp 4K UHD image, 2,500 ISO lumens — up from 2,200 on the previous generation — and HDR10+, all for roughly $1,000-plus less than the Premiere 9. You get the identical Tizen smart platform and Gaming Hub, so day to day it feels the same as the pricier unit. For most buyers who want the laser-TV form factor without the flagship cost, this is the Samsung projector to buy. See how sub-$4,000 UST and long-throw models compare in our best projector under $2000 guide.

3. Samsung Freestyle+ — Best Portable

The Freestyle+ is Samsung’s newly launched portable, unveiled at CES 2026 and now shipping at $1,199.99. The headline change over its predecessor is brightness: at 430 ISO lumens it is nearly twice as bright as the Freestyle 2nd Gen, which makes it usable in more rooms with a little ambient light rather than strictly after dark. It keeps the cylindrical, swiveling cradle design, full Tizen smart platform, and adds AI-driven keystone correction, auto screen-fit, and real-time focus so it sets up in seconds wherever you place it. If you want the brightest, most current Samsung portable, this is now the one to buy. For brighter alternatives at a similar price from other brands, compare our best portable projector picks.

4. Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen — Best Portable Value

With the Freestyle+ now Samsung’s flagship portable, the Freestyle 2nd Gen has become the budget pick — and a genuine bargain now that retailers are discounting it to clear stock. At 230 ISO lumens it’s still a night-time and dim-room projector rather than a daylight machine, but it runs the full Tizen smart platform, auto-focuses and auto-keystones every time you move it, and can even run off a compatible USB-PD power bank for backyard use. Buy the Freestyle+ if brightness matters; buy the 2nd Gen if the price gap does. If you want a brighter portable for similar money from another brand, compare the picks in our best portable projector and best mini projector guides.

How to choose a Samsung projector

• UST laser TV or portable? The Premiere 9 and Premiere 7 are ultra-short-throw laser TVs that replace a big-screen TV on a console. The Freestyle+ and Freestyle 2nd Gen are small portables for casual viewing.
• Triple-laser vs. single-laser. The Premiere 9 uses triple-laser (RGB) for the widest, most saturated color; the Premiere 7 is single-laser — still 4K and sharp, but at a lower price.
• Match brightness to the room. 3,450 ISO lumens (Premiere 9) handles ambient light best; 2,500 ISO lumens (Premiere 7) still wants some light control; 430 ISO lumens (Freestyle+) and 230 ISO lumens (Freestyle 2nd Gen) are for dim rooms and after dark.
• Budget an ALR screen. For either Premiere model in a lit room, an ambient-light-rejecting screen makes a bigger difference than a brighter projector — see our best projector screen guide.
• Don’t buy the LSP9T or LSP7T new. Both were discontinued in February 2025. A cheap listing is clearance stock, not a current model with full support — confirm the seller and condition before paying for one.

The bottom line

For most buyers, the Premiere 9 (LPU9D) is the best Samsung projector of 2026 — a triple-laser ultra-short-throw laser TV rated at 3,450 ISO lumens that turns any wall into a 130-inch smart TV. Save money without giving up the 4K laser-TV form factor with the Premiere 7 (LPU7D) at roughly $2,999–$3,499 street, or go portable with the newly launched Freestyle+ ($1,199.99, 430 ISO lumens) — whose built-in AirPlay 2 also makes the Freestyle line our pick for the best projector for iPhone — or save further with the now-discounted Freestyle 2nd Gen. Skip the discontinued LSP9T and LSP7T unless you find one from a trustworthy seller at clearance pricing. Cross-shopping other brands? See our best ultra short throw projector guide for laser-TV rivals from Hisense, Formovie and AWOL, our best XGIMI projector roundup for the leading smart-portable alternative to the Freestyle, our best LG projector guide for the closest rival laser-TV line and webOS ecosystem, and our best home theater projector pillar for the complete picture across every projector type and budget.

Prices and lineup verified July 2026 — Samsung discontinued the LSP9T/LSP7T in February 2025 and replaced them with the 2nd-gen Premiere 9/Premiere 7, and launched the Freestyle+ at CES 2026. Check current listings before buying.