Samsung Galaxy Beam 2 is a larger projector phone

Samsung's second stab at the Beam line signals the return of the built-in projector, and adds a 4.6-inch screen and quad-core processor.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.

See full bio

Jessica Dolcourt

April 25, 2014 1:29 p.m. PT

The Galaxy Beam 2 is a larger device with a higher resolution. Samsung

Some device concepts are wacky enough to try once. With the Samsung Galaxy Beam 2, the hardware giant puts its faith into built-in projectors a second time.

The sequel to the original Samsung Galaxy Beam updates Android to version 4.2, and shrugs off the original's bright yellow color and sporty aesthetic for a smooth, brushed-metallic look borrowed from the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The Beam 2's projection window retains its place at the top of the phone, swelling this area slightly, and from the looks of it this model increases the original Beam's projection resolution from 640x360 pixels to a 800x480-pixel resolution (WVGA). This would improve image quality, especially for movies and presentations beamed onto a surface from further away.

Other changes under the hood take in the more capacious 1.2GHz quad-core processor and microSD card slot, which can now accept up to 64GB in external storage. The camera stays put at 5 megapixels.

Physically, the Beam 2 is a tad larger than the Galaxy Beam, bumping up the screen size to 4.66 inches versus 4 inches. It also gets a battery boost, from 2,000mAh to 2,600mAh. That's a little more juice, but not enough to play back-to-back movies around the campfire without a couple of spare bricks.

So far, China Mobile is the only carrier we know of that's attached its name to the Beam 2 -- expect a limited release for such a niche device.