Since unveiling their first-ever television in 1970, Samsung has led incredible innovation in TV technology spanning over 50 years. The Frame TV stands today as their most unique offering that blends decor and entertainment seamlessly. With their 2023 updates, is now the time to bring home this one-of-a-kind display? Our comprehensive guide examines everything you should know first.
Tracing Samsung‘s TV Evolution Leading to the Frame
Long before QLED displays and designs that double as art canvases, Samsung tested different display technologies in their early television sets:
1970s – 1980s
- Black and white CRT TV manufacturing
- Introduced first color TVs and VCRs
1990s
- Diversified production for global distribution
- Transitioned from CRT to LCD and plasma displays
2000s
- Released LED edge-lit LCD TVs for thinner profiles
- Smart TV platform developed
2010s
- Quantum Dot LED backlighting transformed picture quality
- Bezel-free TV designs with 360-degree thinness
Based on decades of design and engineering, Samsung had both the manufacturing capabilities and innovative drive to try something never done before. While competitors continued iterating on smarter and thinner conventional TVs, Samsung took a bold new direction.
The Frame TV sought to solve a dilemma faced by savvy homeowners. How could a television integrate visually into a living space without detracting from carefully crafted designs? Samsung had a vision to make this dream a reality.
Frame TV Sizes For Any Room Alongside Key Specifications
With sizes spanning 32 to 85 inches diagonally, Samsung tailored the Frame TV for any room size. Models measuring 43 inches and up match traditional 16:9 widescreen dimensions. Interestingly, the 32-inch opts for a taller 9:16 aspect ratio instead.
Frame TV Size Options
| Size | Resolution | Aspect Ratio | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32" | 1080p | 9:16 | $599 |
| 43" | 4K | 16:9 | $999 |
| 50" | 4K | 16:9 | $1,299 |
| 55" | 4K | 16:9 | $1,499 |
| 65" | 4K | 16:9 | $1,999 |
| 75" | 4K | 16:9 | $2,999 |
| 85" | 4K | 16:9 | $3,499 |
Matching their premium price tags, all Frame TVs shine thanks to QLED display technology. This uses a cutting-edge panel backlighting system called Quantum Dots. The minuscule semiconductor particles supercharge the brightness and color capabilities. All models support High Dynamic Range (HDR) for exceptional contrast too.
Technical Frame TV Specifications
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Screen Type | Matte Anti-Reflective QLED |
| Resolution | 4K (3,840 x 2,1660 or 1080p |
| HDR Format | HDR10+ |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz Native |
| Response Time | 8ms |
| Contrast Ratio | Measured 5800:1 |
| Display Depth | 24.9mm Thin |
But software and smart capabilities make these Frame TVs just as advanced as the displays themselves…
Smart TV Features Powered by Tizen OS
As a leader in smart TV platforms, Samsung created their own Tizen operating system to power the Frame TV. This delivers access to all popular streaming apps along with advanced controls.
Key Tizen OS Features
- Voice Assistants Compatibility – Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Bixby
- Mobile Connectivity – Cast from iOS/Android devices
- Slim Remote – Solar-powered design
- Universal Guide – Aggregates content from apps
- Gaming Dashboard – Optimizes Xbox/PlayStation playback
- Tap View – Mirror mobile screens by tapping the TV
- Multi-View – Watch two media sources simultaneously
Tizen OS brings streaming, casting and smart home control together within Samsung‘s stellar Frame TV hardware.
Ambient Art Mode Completes the Picture
Of course, visual specifications, sizes and embedded software matter little without the Frame TV‘s premier capability – Art Mode. Thistoggleable setting instantly converts the television into a digital canvas showcasing artwork and photography. Both individual artists and renowned institutions offer images to populate your living gallery.
In 2022, Samsung established the Wall Art Collection partnership with Dallas Contemporary. This brings over 30 exclusive contemporary pieces only viewable by Frame TV owners. Continually updated each year, Samsung makes adding art simple through the SmartThings app. Just connect a USB drive to transfer personal images too.
Art Mode Features
- 1,400+ Artwork Images Pre-Installed
- New Collections Added Annually
- Wall Art Collection Exclusives
- USB Uploads for Personal Photos
- Automatic Art Display (Sensor-Enabled)
Alongside Ambient Art Mode, the Frame TV matches any room‘s sophistication.
Physical Design Marries Technology with Decor
Beyond showcasing digital artwork, the technology powering the Frame TV disappears thanks to an ingeniously minimalist design. Measuring a slender 0.99 inches deep, the display hangs nearly flush against any wall. This keeps focal attention on the visuals you choose rather than a bulky panel.
Samsung also engineered the Frame TV for easy customization. Bezels attach magnetically surrounding the screen to match paint colors and material textures found throughout the space. For example, a navy blue accent wall fits nicely with a navy bezel. Owners can swap bezels seasonally if desired.
Physical Design Elements
- Near Borderless Effect
- Edge-To-Edge Picture
- 0.99 Inch Ultra Slim Depth
- No Gap Wall Mount Included
- Customizable Bezels Sold Separately
- One Connect Box Hides Inputs/Cables
With sizing options topping out at massive 85-inch class models, the Frame TV transforms blank expanses into stunning galleries.
Picture Quality Analysis Through Contrast, Color and Clarity
The Frame TV promises a visually arresting canvas for digital art whenever Art Mode activates. But this picture frame needs excellent TV specs too for displaying media content. Powered by Samsung‘s QLED Quantum Dot display layering, does the technology match expectations?
Contrast – Pure Whites & Jet Blacks
With edge-mounted LED backlights, QLED televisions like the Frame offer bold peak brightness levels. Measuring HDR content, flagskip models reach up to 2000 nits – far beyond OLED TV competitors. This brilliance makes daylight viewing comfortable with punchy highlights. AUTO HDR tones mapping optimizes contrast automatically across genres for jaw-dropping dynamic range.
Inky blacks come courtesy of the VA panel type featuring vertically-aligned liquid crystals. By blocking light leakage seen on IPS monitors, VA is known for excellence contrast, though off-angle viewing suffers slightly. Ratings consistently score the Frame TV above 5000:1 thanks to these technologies collaborating.
Color – Vibrance & Accuracy
Quantum Dot filtration in the latest Frame TVs produces over a billion displayable color variations. This dwarfs traditional LED-backlit designs. Wider DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color gamut coverage also enables more realistic, naturalistic tones. HDR content leverages 10-bit panels while firmware calibration keeps white balance and Delta-E accuracy to professional standards out of the box.
Clarity – Ultra HD 4K Resolution
Matching flagship television releases in 2022/2023, the Frame TV has a native 4K Ultra High Definition resolution. With four times more pixels than 1080p Full HD, the bump to 3,840 x 2,160 pixels per inch introduces outstanding detailing. Small text legibility improves alongside object edge definition for realistic PC desktop usage and video playback.
Reviewers praise this crispness and texts "pop" with sharpness whether browsing artwork in Ambient Mode or streaming an intense 4K Blu-Ray movie. While pricing stands at a premium, the stellar display technologies inside justify costs for buyers valuing visual refinement.
Audio Performance Enhances The Entertainment
Beyond purely visual aesthetics, Samsung brings audio innovations to the Frame TV line to complete the entertainment experience. High-end 40 watt stereo speakers project sound clearly even at low volumes – ideal for everyday TV watching. Support for Dolby Atmos 3D sound takes movie audio immersion to the next level.
Built-In Audio Technologies
- 2 Channel Speaker System (2.0.2 Channel)
- 40 Watt Combined Power Output
- Dolby Atmos® 3D Sound Support
- Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) Tech
- Q-Symphony Surround Expansion
For low-impact living spaces, Samsung hides subwoofers behind the scenes. Advanced audio signal processing creates the phantom sensation of bass effects missing from tiny speakers. Owners aiming for audio excellence can always pair the television with a premium Samsung sound bar.
Gaming Performance Optimizations
With ultra sharp reflexes thanks to 120Hz refresh rates, the Frame TV also keeps gamers immersed through optimizations like automatic genre detection. This instantly triggers a low lag Game Mode whenever a PlayStation or Xbox console powers on. With under 10ms input lag reported, controls feel instantaneously reactive. Support for AMD Freesync Premium hdr irons out screen tearing hiccups for buttery smoothness only matched by dedicated gaming monitors.
Gaming Features
- Auto Low Latency Mode
- 120Hz Native Refresh Rate
- Under 10ms Input Lag
- FreeSync Premium HDR Support
- UltraWide GameView aspect ratios
Casual mobile gamers benefit from screen mirroring and streaming too. Samsung‘s Steam Link integration makes playing PC games in the living room a breeze. Few televisions cater to interactive gaming with such dedication.
Frame TV Accessories Extend Functionality
Every Frame TV ships with core mounting hardware and cable connections neatly packaged. However, optional first-party accessories sold separately help fine-tune the installation for seamless aesthetics. Consider the following upgrades tailoring the television capabilities to your needs:
One Connect Mini
This smaller breakout input box affords more flexible placement in the room rather than sticking directly behind the display. The thin 5-meter cable connects everything invisibly.
My Shelf
Add a classy floating shelf perfectly sized for the Frame TV base. This offers decorative space for vases, candles or real canvas artworks.
Fitting Service
On-site installation assistance takes the guess work out of achieving that art gallery look. Leave cable hiding and picture frame alignment to Samsung‘s hand-picked experts.
Bezel Sticks
Color-matched bezel sticks affix along the wall seamlessly taking the frame effect down the entire side of the display. Note that tab tension bezels often include sticks rather than magnets.
With these first-party accessories, the Frame TV installs precisely according to your creative vision.
Owner Impressions – Style to Match Marvelous Pictures
Scouring through impressions from verified Frame TV buyers reveals overwhelmingly positive responses. In particular, owners praise the ambient Art Mode for its transformative effect converting blank spaces into enticing art galleries showcasing personal photos. Likewise, the modern thin-bezel designs draw rave reviews as forward-thinking refinement.
Actual Owner Quotes
"This Frame TV looks like a work of art on our wall with the bezels. More of a display piece plus a TV than anything we‘ve owned."
"Having my Instagram travel pictures rotating makes this Samsung feel as custom as anything we own. Game changer!"
"I don‘t know how this got so affordable. People walking in actually approach the screen to see the ‘picture‘ not knowing it is a television at all! Amazing illusion."
Among the few criticisms, some early adopters reported needing a second television for brighter viewing environments. However, 2022 QLED models ramped up peak brightness to over 2000 nits overcoming these concerns. Similarly, others called out bass lacking compared to surround sound setups – hardly a fault given the streamlined built-in speaker design.
Comparing the Competition – Contrast Ratios
As a uniquely designed television merging decor with entertainment, the Frame TV faces little competition matching the entire experience. Looking purely at display quality and pricing, these alternative 4K 120Hz-enabled models standout:
Contrast Ratio Comparison
| Model | Display Type | Contrast Ratio | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung QN90B Neo QLED TV | QLED | 16,384:1 | $1,599+ |
| LG G2 Series C2 OLED Evo TV | WRGB OLED | Infinite | $1,996+ |
| Sony Bravia XR A95K QD-OLED TV | QD-OLED | 1,500,000:1 | $2,999 |
Given the wider contrast and peak brightness afforded by quantum dot filtration, the Samsung Frame TV competes well with any LED/QLED rivals. OLED panels reach darker blacks but suffer illuminating smaller highlight details. Considering the Frame TV‘s dual entertainment/decor role, contrast drawbacks seem a fair compromise.
What Frame TV Updates Arrived In Early 2023?
At January‘s 2023 CES showcase, Samsung‘s Frame TV announcements centered solely on an upgraded 32-inch model. This smaller form factor caters to condo dwellers and dorm rooms by supporting 1080p HD resolution rather than taxing 4K abilities.
Buyers still gain access to the full Art Mode catalog. However, smart software sees limitations given the lower processing capabilities. Considering the $599 price point hundreds below the 4K lineup, this HD entry model targets budget-focused shoppers.
Industry analysts actually expected far wider Frame TV spec bumps this year given typical appliance upgrade cycles. Yet with no changes beyond this novelty 32-inch size, significant revisions look further down the road. Economic conditions likely slowed Samsung‘s ambitions to rush next generation visuals.
Final Verdict – A Brilliant Blend of Art & Entertainment
The Samsung Frame TV delivers an ingenious dual solution for design-conscious homeowners. With its rotatable Art Mode opening galleries of classics to modern photographs, this "picture frame" transforms blank walls into cultural centerpieces showcasing personal taste. Matte anti-reflective QLED displays keep the illusion convincing.
Yet flick away from the digital canvases, and the Frame TV‘s cutting-edge 4K QLED technologies immerse you in theater-rivaling entertainment. Bold colors, crisp details and buttery smooth motion place the Frame among the best televisions that technology can deliver in 2023. If you have the budget, no other display melds form and function quite like this trailblazing innovator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Frame TV come with warranty?
Yes, Samsung covers the Frame TV against defects for 1 year. Extra protection plans extend coverage further through 3 years.
Can you control Frame TV via Voice?
Absolutely, just enable Bixby, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant from Settings. Use voice commands for playback, apps, volume and more.
Do you need Artwork Subscription?
Samsung provides 100 free images to try the Art Mode gallery. To unlock the full catalog (1,400+ pieces) a paid subscription runs around $4.99 monthly.
What picture settings work best?
Enable Adaptive Picture mode for自动 HDR adjustments. Additionally, set Local Dimming to High for bolstered contrast on SDR and HDR content.
