Samsung The Frame TV review
We bought the Samsung Frame TV for one main reason. We were fed up with a big black rectangle dominating the living room when it was switched off. On that front it absolutely delivers. When mounted properly and set up with Art Mode, it genuinely blends into the room and guests regularly assume it is a framed print rather than a TV.
What we like
The design is the obvious win. The slim profile and flush wall mount make it look far cleaner than most TVs, especially in modern or minimalist rooms. Art Mode is very well done and once dialled in with brightness and motion detection it feels natural rather than gimmicky. The option to swap bezels is also a nice touch and makes it easier to match different rooms or decor changes.
Picture quality is solid. It is not class leading for cinema purists, but for everyday viewing, streaming, and live TV it looks sharp and punchy. Colours are vibrant without looking artificial, and in bright rooms it performs better than many OLEDs thanks to higher brightness.
Samsung’s smart TV platform is quick and stable. Apps load fast, menus are responsive, and everything you would expect like Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video and BBC iPlayer is there. The One Connect box is another big plus. Having a single thin cable running to the TV keeps the wall clean and makes cable management far easier.
What we dislike
The price is higher than it really needs to be. You are paying a premium for the design and Art Mode rather than raw picture performance. If you compare it purely on image quality per pound, other TVs offer better value.
Black levels are good but not amazing. In darker rooms or for movie nights, you can notice that it does not have the same depth or contrast as an OLED. If you are big on films and watch a lot in low light, this is worth considering.
Sound is average. It is fine for casual viewing, but for a TV at this price, you will almost certainly want a soundbar or external speakers. The Art Mode artwork subscription is another slight annoyance. There is free content, but the better selection sits behind a paid subscription, which feels unnecessary given the cost of the TV.
What the community says
Most owners love it for exactly the same reasons we do. The design, the way it disappears into the room, and the clean wall mounting are constantly praised. Many people say it is the only TV their partner actually wanted in the living room, which probably sums it up best.
Common complaints tend to focus on value for money and black levels. Enthusiasts often point out that you can get better picture quality for less if you do not care about aesthetics. Some users also mention that Art Mode takes a bit of tweaking to look convincing, especially in rooms with changing light.
Price and comparisons
The Samsung Frame TV usually sits in the mid to high price bracket depending on size. Smaller models often land around the mid hundreds, while larger sizes can climb into the low thousands.
Compared to a standard Samsung QLED, you will get similar performance for less money if design does not matter. Compared to an OLED from LG or Sony in a similar price range, the OLED will usually win on contrast and cinema performance, but it will not blend into the room in the same way. The Frame really sits in its own niche rather than being a direct competitor.
Recommendation
If you want the best possible picture quality for the money, this is probably not the TV you should buy. But if you care about how your room looks, want a TV that does not dominate the space, and still delivers a good all round viewing experience, the Samsung Frame TV is hard to beat. It is one of the few TVs that genuinely solves the problem of what a TV looks like when it is turned off.
You are paying for design and atmosphere rather than pure specs, but for the right home and the right buyer, that trade off makes complete sense.
