TCRThe Comparison Report

Projectors / Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) vs LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) vs LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

Best Overall (Close Call)

LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

A 3lb RGB laser cube with superb colour — but LG has flagged it discontinued.

Wins overall by 0.2 points

Buy on Amazon

Quick Verdict

This is close. The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) edges ahead by 0.2 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) is a defensible pick on its own terms. The lightest here, with console-free cloud gaming — but a successor is coming.

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) and LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) are both closely matched projector models, and the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) is $200 cheaper than the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) ($799 vs $999). On Color, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box. On Built-in Sound, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) leads (5.5 vs 3.5/10) — onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio. On Picture Quality, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) leads (7.0 vs 5.5/10) — detail, contrast and overall image once properly set up. Overall, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) scores 6.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.2/10 for the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.

Side-by-Side Comparison

SpecSamsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
Price$799.00$999.00
Release Year20232024
Resolution1920x1080 native DLP — not 4KNative 1920x1080 panel with pixel shifting to place 3840x2160 on screen — not a native 4K panel (0.47-inch DMD with four-phase pixel shift)
Brightness230 ANSI lumens — the dimmest projector here500 ANSI lumens (independently measured at 517)
Light SourceLEDThree-channel RGB laser
Throw Ratio1.2:1 — standard throw1.2:1 fixed — standard throw, 50 to 120 inches
Contrast Ratio100,000:1 dynamic; Samsung publishes no native figure450,000:1 dynamic
HDR FormatsHDR10+; no Dolby Vision, which Samsung does not licenseHDR10 and HLG with dynamic tone mapping; no Dolby Vision and no HDR10+
Refresh Rate & Input LagSamsung publishes no refresh rate or input lag figure despite the Gaming Hub branding60Hz; input lag 20 to 30ms at 1080p60 in Game Optimizer, with ALLM
Smart PlatformTizen with Samsung Gaming Hub, Bixby and AlexaLG webOS with Google Assistant and Alexa
Built-in Speakers5W mono with a 360-degree sound design3W mono — the weakest audio here
Lens ShiftNoneNone
Auto SetupAuto keystone, autofocus and auto levellingAuto Screen Adjustment: auto keystone, autofocus and four-corner correction
Light Source Life (hrs)3000020000
Warranty12 months12 months
ColorsWhiteSilver

Category Scores

Picture QualityDetail, contrast and overall image once properly set up
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
5.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
7.0
BrightnessUsable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
3.0
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
4.5
ColorColour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
6.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
8.5
GamingRefresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
6.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
6.5
Smart PlatformBuilt-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
8.0
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
7.5
Built-in SoundOnboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
5.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
3.5
Setup & PlacementLens shift, zoom, auto keystone and how forgiving placement is
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
9.0
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
8.5
ValuePerformance and features relative to price
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)
5.5
LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)
5.5
Picture QualityBrightnessColorGamingSmart PlatformBuilt-in SoundSetup & PlacementValue
Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

Picture Quality

The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.5 — a 1.5-point margin on detail, contrast and overall image once properly set up. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Brightness

The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) leads clearly here, 4.5 against 3.0 — a 1.5-point margin on usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Color

The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Gaming

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) and LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. refresh rate, input lag, VRR and ALLM support is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.

Smart Platform

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on built-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Built-in Sound

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 3.5 — a 2.0-point margin on onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Setup & Placement

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on lens shift, zoom, auto keystone and how forgiving placement is. If that is what you are buying for, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Value

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) and LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) are level here, at 5.5/10 each. performance and features relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.

Best For

Choose the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) if…

  • Built-in Sound matters most to you — the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) scores 5.5/10 here (onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio).
  • Smart Platform matters most to you — the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) scores 8.0/10 here (built-in apps, licensed streaming services and how responsive the interface is).
  • You want to spend less — it's $200 cheaper.
  • Your main use case is gaming.

Choose the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) if…

  • Color matters most to you — the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) scores 8.5/10 here (colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box).
  • Picture Quality matters most to you — the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) scores 7.0/10 here (detail, contrast and overall image once properly set up).
  • Brightness matters most to you — the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) scores 4.5/10 here (usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates).
  • Your main use case is home-theater.

Pros & Cons

Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen)

Pros

  • +Only 1.8lb, and the swivel cradle makes ceiling projection genuinely easy
  • +Gaming Hub streams games with no console attached
  • +Tizen is a mature, fast smart platform
  • +Auto levelling on top of keystone and focus

Cons

  • 230 ANSI lumens is the dimmest here and needs a fully dark room
  • A successor, the Freestyle+, was announced at CES 2026 with roughly double the brightness — current discounting is inventory clearance
  • 5W mono audio is weak
  • 1080p only, and Samsung publishes no refresh or input-lag figure

LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)

Pros

  • +RGB laser gives far better colour than any LED projector at this size — up to 154% DCI-P3
  • +Genuinely beautiful 3lb aluminium design with a handle that works as a stand
  • +20,000-hour laser life
  • +webOS is a full smart TV platform, not a stripped-down launcher

Cons

  • LG's own US product page now flags this model as discontinued with a newer model available, and does not name the successor
  • 3W mono speaker is the weakest here — you will want external audio
  • 500 lumens is thin for HDR content
  • No battery, unlike the cheaper portables
  • No Dolby Vision or HDR10+

Shop by Need

FAQs

Is the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) or LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) better overall?+

Based on our 8-category scoring, the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.

Which is better for Color, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) scores higher on Color (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — colour gamut coverage and accuracy out of the box.

Which is better for Built-in Sound, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) scores higher on Built-in Sound (5.5/10 vs 3.5/10) — onboard speaker power and whether you can live without external audio.

Which is better for Picture Quality, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) scores higher on Picture Quality (7.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — detail, contrast and overall image once properly set up.

Which is better for Brightness, the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) or the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) scores higher on Brightness (4.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — usable light output, and how much ambient light it tolerates.

Is the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) worth the price difference over the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $799 versus $999. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Color.

Which is better suited to my use case?+

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about gaming. The LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) is the better fit for home-theater.

What's the warranty on the Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) vs the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB)?+

The Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.

Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+

If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.

Cheaper Option

Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air — $599.99

Premium Option

Hisense M2 Pro — $1299.00

Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.

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