diff --git a/src/components/ProjectsSection.module.css b/src/components/ProjectsSection.module.css
index 30e839a..dcdf92d 100644
--- a/src/components/ProjectsSection.module.css
+++ b/src/components/ProjectsSection.module.css
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@
   overscroll-behavior-inline: contain;
   touch-action: pan-y;
   user-select: none;
+  container-type: inline-size;
+  container-name: carousel;
 }
 
 .carouselViewport::-webkit-scrollbar {
@@ -89,23 +91,28 @@
 
 .dragging {
   cursor: grabbing;
+  scroll-snap-type: none !important;
+  scroll-behavior: auto !important;
+  user-select: none;
 }
 
 .carouselTrack {
   display: flex;
   align-items: stretch;
   width: max-content;
-  gap: 24px;
+  gap: 20px;
   padding: 4px 0 8px;
 }
 
 .card {
   display: flex;
-  flex: 0 0 var(--size-project-width);
+  flex: 0 0 clamp(300px, 24vw, 340px);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
   flex-direction: column;
-  width: var(--size-project-width);
-  min-height: 480px;
+  width: clamp(300px, 24vw, 340px);
+  min-height: 460px;
   overflow: hidden;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
   border: 1px solid var(--border-default);
   border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
   background: var(--bg-surface);
@@ -116,13 +123,14 @@
 .mediaContainer {
   position: relative;
   width: 100%;
-  height: var(--size-project-media-height);
+  aspect-ratio: 16 / 10;
   overflow: hidden;
   background: var(--color-blue-900);
 }
 
 .projectImage {
   object-fit: cover;
+  object-position: center;
   pointer-events: none;
   transition: transform 0.3s ease;
 }
@@ -131,7 +139,7 @@
   display: flex;
   flex: 1;
   flex-direction: column;
-  padding: 24px;
+  padding: 18px 16px;
 }
 
 .cardTitleRow {
@@ -143,9 +151,9 @@
 
 .cardTitle {
   color: var(--text-primary);
-  font-size: var(--font-size-h3);
+  font-size: 18px;
   font-weight: 700;
-  line-height: var(--line-height-h3);
+  line-height: 1.25;
 }
 
 .titleLinkIcon {
@@ -158,9 +166,9 @@
 }
 
 .cardDate {
-  margin-bottom: 14px;
+  margin-bottom: 10px;
   color: var(--text-muted);
-  font-size: var(--font-size-label-small);
+  font-size: 11px;
   font-weight: 700;
   line-height: var(--line-height-label-small);
   letter-spacing: var(--letter-spacing-eyebrow);
@@ -169,21 +177,24 @@
 
 .cardDesc {
   display: -webkit-box;
-  margin-bottom: 20px;
+  margin-bottom: 16px;
   overflow: hidden;
   color: var(--text-primary);
-  font-size: var(--font-size-body-small);
+  font-size: 13.5px;
   font-weight: 400;
-  line-height: var(--line-height-body-small);
+  line-height: 1.55;
   -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
-  -webkit-line-clamp: 4;
+  -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
+  white-space: normal;
+  word-break: normal;
+  overflow-wrap: break-word;
 }
 
 .tagList {
   display: flex;
   flex-wrap: wrap;
-  gap: 8px;
-  margin-bottom: 24px;
+  gap: 6px;
+  margin-bottom: 18px;
 }
 
 .tagBadge {
@@ -233,7 +244,9 @@
 }
 
 .scrollbar {
+  --thumb-width: 216px;
   width: 480px;
+  max-width: 100%;
   height: 20px;
   margin: 0;
   appearance: none;
@@ -248,7 +261,7 @@
 }
 
 .scrollbar::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-  width: 216px;
+  width: var(--thumb-width, 216px);
   height: 6px;
   margin-top: 0;
   appearance: none;
@@ -265,7 +278,7 @@
 }
 
 .scrollbar::-moz-range-thumb {
-  width: 216px;
+  width: var(--thumb-width, 216px);
   height: 6px;
   border: 0;
   border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
@@ -294,65 +307,192 @@
   background: var(--color-blue-300);
 }
 
-@media (max-width: 1024px) {
+/* ================================================================
+   LAPTOP  1101px – 1440px
+   Comfortable ~290px-330px cards (~3 to 4 visible)
+   ================================================================ */
+@media (max-width: 1440px) and (min-width: 1101px) {
+  .carouselTrack {
+    gap: 20px;
+  }
+
+  .card {
+    flex: 0 0 clamp(290px, 23vw, 330px);
+    width: clamp(290px, 23vw, 330px);
+  }
+
+  .scrollbar {
+    width: min(480px, 50vw);
+    --thumb-width: 120px;
+  }
+}
+
+/* ================================================================
+   TABLET  651px – 1100px
+   Comfortable ~310px-350px cards (~2 cards visible)
+   ================================================================ */
+@media (max-width: 1100px) and (min-width: 651px) {
   .projectsSection {
     padding-top: var(--space-8);
     padding-bottom: var(--space-9);
   }
 
-  .carouselTrack {
-    gap: var(--space-4);
-  }
-
-  .card {
-    flex-basis: min(340px, calc(100vw - (2 * var(--layout-page-gutter))));
-    width: min(340px, calc(100vw - (2 * var(--layout-page-gutter))));
-  }
-}
-
-@media (max-width: 640px) {
   .headerRow {
-    align-items: stretch;
-    flex-direction: column;
-    gap: var(--space-3);
-    margin-bottom: var(--space-6);
-  }
-
-  .arrowButtons {
-    align-self: flex-end;
-    gap: var(--space-2);
-  }
-
-  .navButton {
-    width: 40px;
-    height: 40px;
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    margin-bottom: 32px;
   }
 
   .carouselViewport {
-    margin-inline: calc(-1 * var(--layout-page-gutter));
-    width: calc(100% + (2 * var(--layout-page-gutter)));
-    padding-inline: var(--layout-page-gutter);
-    scroll-padding-inline: var(--layout-page-gutter);
     scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
+    scroll-padding-inline: 0;
+  }
+
+  .carouselTrack {
+    gap: 20px;
   }
 
   .card {
-    flex-basis: min(320px, calc(100vw - 40px));
-    width: min(320px, calc(100vw - 40px));
-    min-height: 460px;
+    flex: 0 0 clamp(310px, 42vw, 350px);
+    width: clamp(310px, 42vw, 350px);
+    min-height: 450px;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    scroll-snap-align: start;
   }
 
   .mediaContainer {
-    height: 200px;
+    aspect-ratio: 16 / 10;
   }
 
   .cardBody {
-    padding: var(--space-5);
+    padding: 18px 16px;
+  }
+
+  .cardTitle {
+    font-size: 18px;
+  }
+
+  .cardDesc {
+    font-size: 13.5px;
+    line-height: 1.55;
+    margin-bottom: 14px;
+    -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
+    white-space: normal;
+    word-break: normal;
+    overflow-wrap: break-word;
+  }
+
+  .tagList {
+    gap: 6px;
+    margin-bottom: 16px;
+  }
+
+  .tagBadge {
+    padding: 3px 9px;
+    font-size: 11px;
   }
 
   .scrollbarWrapper {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: center;
+    margin-top: 32px;
+  }
+
+  .scrollbar {
+    width: min(360px, 60vw);
+    --thumb-width: 90px;
+  }
+}
+
+/* ================================================================
+   MOBILE  ≤ 650px
+   Comfortable ~310px-330px card (~1 card visible with clean margins)
+   ================================================================ */
+@media (max-width: 650px) {
+  .projectsSection {
+    padding-top: 48px;
+    padding-bottom: 64px;
+  }
+
+  .headerRow {
+    margin-bottom: 24px;
+  }
+
+  .arrowButtons {
     display: none;
   }
+
+  .carouselViewport {
+    width: 100%;
+    margin-inline: 0;
+    padding-inline: 0;
+    scroll-padding-inline: 0;
+    scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
+    -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
+  }
+
+  .carouselTrack {
+    gap: 16px;
+    width: max-content;
+  }
+
+  .card {
+    flex: 0 0 calc(100vw - (2 * var(--layout-page-gutter)));
+    flex: 0 0 100cqw;
+    width: calc(100vw - (2 * var(--layout-page-gutter)));
+    width: 100cqw;
+    min-width: calc(100vw - (2 * var(--layout-page-gutter)));
+    min-width: 100cqw;
+    max-width: 100%;
+    min-height: 420px;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    scroll-snap-align: start;
+    scroll-snap-stop: always;
+  }
+
+  .mediaContainer {
+    aspect-ratio: 16 / 10;
+  }
+
+  .cardBody {
+    padding: 18px 16px;
+  }
+
+  .cardTitle {
+    font-size: 18px;
+  }
+
+  .cardDesc {
+    font-size: 13px;
+    line-height: 1.5;
+    margin-bottom: 14px;
+    white-space: normal;
+    word-break: normal;
+    overflow-wrap: break-word;
+    -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
+  }
+
+  .tagList {
+    gap: 6px;
+    margin-bottom: 16px;
+  }
+
+  .tagBadge {
+    padding: 3px 9px;
+    font-size: 11px;
+  }
+
+  .scrollbarWrapper {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: center;
+    margin-top: 24px;
+  }
+
+  .scrollbar {
+    width: min(200px, 60vw);
+    height: 16px;
+    --thumb-width: 60px;
+  }
 }
 
 @media (hover: hover) and (pointer: fine) {
diff --git a/src/components/ProjectsSection.tsx b/src/components/ProjectsSection.tsx
index aaf4e8a..107708d 100644
--- a/src/components/ProjectsSection.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ProjectsSection.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,13 @@ export const ProjectsSection: React.FC = () => {
     active: false,
     moved: false,
     startX: 0,
+    startY: 0,
     startScrollLeft: 0,
+    lastX: 0,
+    lastTime: 0,
+    velocity: 0,
+    pointerId: -1,
+    directionLocked: null as 'horizontal' | 'vertical' | null,
   });
   const [isDragging, setIsDragging] = useState(false);
   const [scrollProgress, setScrollProgress] = useState(0);
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ export const ProjectsSection: React.FC = () => {
   };
 
   const handlePointerDown = (event: React.PointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
-    if (event.button !== 0) return;
+    if (event.button !== 0 && event.pointerType === 'mouse') return;
 
     const viewport = viewportRef.current;
     if (!viewport) return;
@@ -60,30 +66,112 @@ export const ProjectsSection: React.FC = () => {
       active: true,
       moved: false,
       startX: event.clientX,
+      startY: event.clientY,
       startScrollLeft: viewport.scrollLeft,
+      lastX: event.clientX,
+      lastTime: performance.now(),
+      velocity: 0,
+      pointerId: event.pointerId,
+      directionLocked: null,
     };
-    viewport.setPointerCapture(event.pointerId);
-    setIsDragging(true);
   };
 
   const handlePointerMove = (event: React.PointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
     const viewport = viewportRef.current;
     if (!viewport || !dragState.current.active) return;
 
-    const distance = event.clientX - dragState.current.startX;
-    if (Math.abs(distance) > 3) dragState.current.moved = true;
-    viewport.scrollLeft = dragState.current.startScrollLeft - distance;
+    const deltaX = event.clientX - dragState.current.startX;
+    const deltaY = event.clientY - dragState.current.startY;
+
+    // Detect user intent: horizontal carousel swipe vs vertical page scroll
+    if (!dragState.current.directionLocked) {
+      if (Math.abs(deltaX) < 6 && Math.abs(deltaY) < 6) return;
+
+      if (Math.abs(deltaY) > Math.abs(deltaX)) {
+        // User intends to scroll page vertically, release touch
+        dragState.current.directionLocked = 'vertical';
+        dragState.current.active = false;
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // User intends horizontal carousel drag
+      dragState.current.directionLocked = 'horizontal';
+      try {
+        viewport.setPointerCapture(event.pointerId);
+      } catch {
+        // Ignore if pointer capture unavailable
+      }
+      setIsDragging(true);
+    }
+
+    if (dragState.current.directionLocked === 'horizontal') {
+      const now = performance.now();
+      const dt = Math.max(now - dragState.current.lastTime, 1);
+      const dx = event.clientX - dragState.current.lastX;
+      dragState.current.velocity = dx / dt;
+      dragState.current.lastX = event.clientX;
+      dragState.current.lastTime = now;
+
+      if (Math.abs(deltaX) > 4) dragState.current.moved = true;
+      viewport.scrollLeft = dragState.current.startScrollLeft - deltaX;
+    }
   };
 
   const stopDragging = (event: React.PointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
     const viewport = viewportRef.current;
-    if (!viewport || !dragState.current.active) return;
+    if (!viewport || !dragState.current.active) {
+      setIsDragging(false);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const wasHorizontal = dragState.current.directionLocked === 'horizontal';
+    const moved = dragState.current.moved;
+    const velocity = dragState.current.velocity;
+    const clientX = event.clientX ?? dragState.current.lastX;
+    const totalDeltaX = clientX - dragState.current.startX;
+    const pointerId = dragState.current.pointerId;
 
     dragState.current.active = false;
-    if (viewport.hasPointerCapture(event.pointerId)) {
-      viewport.releasePointerCapture(event.pointerId);
+    if (viewport.hasPointerCapture(pointerId)) {
+      try {
+        viewport.releasePointerCapture(pointerId);
+      } catch {
+        // Ignore
+      }
     }
     setIsDragging(false);
+
+    if (!wasHorizontal || !moved) return;
+
+    // Calculate snap target with velocity fling
+    const track = viewport.firstElementChild as HTMLElement | null;
+    const card = track?.firstElementChild as HTMLElement | null;
+    if (!track || !card) return;
+
+    const cardWidth = card.getBoundingClientRect().width;
+    const gap = Number.parseFloat(window.getComputedStyle(track).columnGap) || 0;
+    const step = cardWidth + gap;
+    if (step <= 0) return;
+
+    const currentScroll = viewport.scrollLeft;
+    let targetIndex: number;
+    if (Math.abs(velocity) > 0.2 || Math.abs(totalDeltaX) > cardWidth * 0.18) {
+      if (totalDeltaX < 0 || velocity < -0.2) {
+        targetIndex = Math.ceil(currentScroll / step);
+      } else {
+        targetIndex = Math.floor(currentScroll / step);
+      }
+    } else {
+      targetIndex = Math.round(currentScroll / step);
+    }
+
+    const maxIndex = projects.length - 1;
+    targetIndex = Math.max(0, Math.min(targetIndex, maxIndex));
+
+    viewport.scrollTo({
+      left: targetIndex * step,
+      behavior: 'smooth',
+    });
   };
 
   const handleClickCapture = (event: React.MouseEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
@@ -102,6 +190,16 @@ export const ProjectsSection: React.FC = () => {
     viewport.scrollLeft = (Number(event.target.value) / 100) * maxScroll;
   };
 
+  const handleKeyDown = (event: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    if (event.key === 'ArrowLeft') {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      scrollByCard(-1);
+    } else if (event.key === 'ArrowRight') {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      scrollByCard(1);
+    }
+  };
+
   return (
     <section
       id="projects"
@@ -152,6 +250,7 @@ export const ProjectsSection: React.FC = () => {
           onPointerUp={stopDragging}
           onPointerCancel={stopDragging}
           onClickCapture={handleClickCapture}
+          onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
           tabIndex={0}
           aria-label="Scrollable project cards"
         >
@@ -163,6 +262,8 @@ export const ProjectsSection: React.FC = () => {
                     src={project.image}
                     alt={project.title}
                     fill
+                    sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, (max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 360px"
+                    priority={project.id === 'qlockify'}
                     draggable={false}
                     className={styles.projectImage}
                   />