Key facts
- Frame TVs are designed to look like art when not in use.
- Samsung's Frame TV is recommended as the best overall option.
- Key design features include a matte screen, flush mount, and customizable bezels.
- Samsung's Art Store provides a large selection of digital artwork.
- Picture quality on frame TVs is generally considered mediocre compared to standard TVs.
The best frame TVs, designed to resemble artwork when not in use, are becoming increasingly popular as consumers seek to integrate technology more seamlessly into their home décor. Samsung's Frame TV, launched in 2017, pioneered this trend with its matte, anti-glare screen, slim profile, and customizable bezels. While Samsung remains a dominant player, competitors like Hisense, TCL, and Amazon are now offering their own versions of art-inspired televisions.
This review focuses on comparing the leading frame TVs from Samsung, Hisense, and TCL, evaluating both their performance as televisions and their effectiveness as decorative pieces. The Samsung Frame TV is identified as the best overall choice for most consumers. It excels in design, offering a matte canvas-like screen, optional magnetic bezels, a motion sensor to activate art mode only when people are present, and a clean aesthetic facilitated by the One Connect Box, which consolidates cables into a single, thin, transparent wire.
Samsung's Art Store is noted for its extensive catalog of high-quality digital art, though a subscription is required for full access. The TV's anti-glare matte display is well-suited for bright rooms, enhancing the art display and making daytime viewing comfortable. However, the article points out that picture quality is not the primary strength of frame TVs. The Samsung Frame TV has limitations in brightness (peaking around 500 nits), contrast, and suffers from uneven black levels due to its edge-lit backlighting, which can be distracting in dark viewing conditions. Despite these drawbacks, the Frame TV is positioned as a style-first product for consumers prioritizing aesthetics over peak performance, and it is available in a range of sizes.