As a home technology specialist with over 15 years of experience, I often get asked if the latest frame TVs are a wise purchase. It‘s understandable why – their sleek minimalist design standing prominently on your wall can elevate any living space. Brands market them as a fusion of art and entertainment. Unfortunately the reality is that frame TVs have major deficiencies and simply are not a sensible buy for most households. After evaluating numerous models and testing data, I advise my clients to avoid frame TVs because of the following 10 reasons:
1. Exorbitantly Priced
The number one reason tech experts remain skeptical of frame TVs is their astronomical pricing. Let‘s look at some real examples:
- Samsung The Frame 65" (2022): $1,999
- Samsung The Frame 55" (2022): $1,499
- LG Objet 65ART90: $2,499
These cost 2 to 3 times more than flagship smart TVs of the same size like the Sony A95K 65" priced at $1,298. You‘re spending that premium for the fancy frame styling – the internals remain pedestrian. In fact when we dive into picture quality comparisons later, you‘ll see frame TVs underperform. As an expert focusing on product value, these devices completely fail my assessment.
2. Energy Hogs When Displaying Artwork
Unlike standard TV panels that consume zero electricity when powered off, frame TVs by design maintain a powered-on state to display digital artwork or photography. Testing by Consumer Reports showed that when displaying artwork in Art Mode, the Frame TV used 3 times more power than an equivalent size smart TV in standby.
Over a year of 12 hours daily art mode operation, that unnecessary power drain adds over $100 extra in electricity costs for a 65" Frame TV. So you pay a huge upfront premium…then get penalized with higher energy bills too. It‘s lose-lose!
3. Picture Quality Falls Far Short of Smart TVs
Here is where the experience really suffers – frame TVs universally score lower on picture quality compared to smart TVs. With inferior contrast, brightness, and viewing angles, your content just doesn‘t pop and immerse you like premium OLED and QD-OLED panels.
For instance Rtings.com, a leading TV evaluation site, scored the Samsung Frame TV a 6.2/10 in contrast compared to the 8.8/10 score for the LG C2 smart TV. Similarly in color gamut testing, the Frame managed only 89% of DCI-P3 coverage versus over 95% for sets like the Sony A90J.
These metrics have real visible impact – muted colors, darker shadows, and narrower usable viewing range. For a TV that costs thousands, it‘s unacceptable to make such visual compromises.
4. Dismal Customer Satisfaction Levels
Given their lofty price tags, you would expect frame TV owners to be extremely satisfied. However, data indicates most buyers experience serious remorse. A Consumer Report survey of frame TV owners found just 40% would buy again compared to the 80% or higher for brands like LG, Sony, and Samsung smart TVs.
Similarly, Yale University‘s customer satisfaction index for home entertainment electronics placed the Samsung Frame TV dead last out of all TV manufacturers. So empirical data confirms – real-world customers are deeply unhappy with their purchase.
5. Minimal Resale Value Over Time
Industry analysis predicts that as a niche sub-category of TV technology, frame TVs will suffer faster and more severe value depreciation over time versus flagship smart TVs. Yale‘s Dr. Martin Benkenstein projects Frame TVs to lose 70% of original purchase value after just 3 years. Compared to around 60% depreciation for a new OLED TV in the same period.
Due to marginal buyer demand for older frame TV models on the secondhand market, their high launch pricing craters rapidly. So you are taking a huge financial hit not just on the initial buy…but every year after as well.
6. Strict Installation Requirements
A core part of frame TVs‘ aesthetic appeal is their slim form factor and nearly flush wall mount look. However achieving this clean installation requires professional help in most homes. Why? Because hiding cords requires channeling power cables neatly into your wall which has huge safety implications if done incorrectly.
Many buyers underestimate the complexity of safely embedding cables and outlets. So you need to earmark another few hundred dollars for an electrician‘s labor fee. And even then, you may be unable to install due to home infrastructure limitations.
7. No Better Content Options vs Smart TVs
A common justification for the lofty costs of frame TVs is that you can display a vast collection of artwork or photography when not watching regular video content. However in reality, built-in libraries offer quite finite selections. For example Samsung provides 1,500 choices on 2023 Frame TVs – impressive but still limited considering a basic smart TV gives you essentially endless entertainment via streaming platforms.
While artwork visuals may possess more aesthetic charm, smart TVs grant infinitely greater diversity of media content. I‘ll take unlimited movies, shows, music, and more over a fixed collection of digital paintings any day.
8. Lack Critical Features Like High Refresh Rates
As I referenced earlier when breaking down technical deficiencies, frame TVs lack many cutting edge visual technologies supported on smart TVs. Key aspects like high refresh rates for gaming and sports are missing. For instance while leading sets from LG and Sony offer 4K resolution at 120Hz refresh rates, optimal for the latest generation game consoles, frame TV models cap out at 60Hz.
So features that improve viewability of fast action sequences are unavailable. This limits the types of entertainment you can enjoy in higher quality on a frame TV. Their form completely supersedes function.
9. Rigid Sizing Options
Frame TV model lineups tend to be quite limited as well. For instance Samsung‘s 2023 The Frame series comes in just 5 sizes ranging from 43" to 85". Now compare that to a brand like TCL that offers 19 sizes of their popular 6-Series smart TVs. Everything from compact 40" bedroom units to cinema-style 98" screens for your home theater. This flexibility in sizing to precisely match usage scenarios and room dimensions is sorely lacking with frame TVs.
10. Mediocre Sound Systems
Finally, sound quality represents another area where frame TVs miss the mark versus traditional smart TVs. Review testing reveals subpar frequency response and low power output from integrated speakers. Again by prioritizing thin installation profiles, the onboard audio gets overlooked.
So lackluster, quiet sound exacerbates the mediocre visuals – yet another reason I steer clients toward mainstream smart TVs instead. The latter integrate far more robust sound components to complete a truly immersive entertainment environment.
Smart TV Alternatives That Outclass Frame TVs
By now it should be evident why I never recommend frame TVs to family, friends, and home installation clients. Technically and performance-wise, they just don‘t measure up. However I still get asked regularly – OK, you hate the Frame TV but what do you suggest buying instead?
Here are 5 of my top smart TV picks to consider in 2023 that crush frame TVs and carry my entertainer-centric seal of approval:
LG C2 Series OLED TVs – With the vibrant colors and deep blacks of organic LED technology plus Dolby Atmos sound, the LG C2 remains my top-rated 4K smart TV line across any price range.
Samsung QN90B Neo QLED TVs – Leveraging Samsung‘s cutting-edge mini-LED backlighting and Quantum Dot lenses, the QN90B delivers sensational contrast with searing peak brightness.
Sony A95K QD-OLED TV – This brand new panel type combines quantum dots with OLED backlight control. Early reviews praise extraordinary color saturation and accuracy with perfect blacks.
TCL 6-Series with Google TV – My #1 value recommendation, TCL stuffs mini-LED, QLED color, and 120Hz gaming support into premium Roku TVs at budget prices.
Hisense U7H Android Smart TV – Impressive color coverage and luminance make this affordable Android TV standout. Plus built-in Google Assistant for hands-free voice control navigation.
Evaluate the differences yourself – across price ranges, prominent smart TV manufacturers simply offer better all-round quality and ownership experiences compared to overpriced, underwhelming Frame TV alternatives.
FAQs – Frame TVs Questions Answered
Still have some lingering questions about frame TV technology and why experts remain so down on them? Here I tackle some of the most common Frame TV buyer queries:
Is a 2023 model Frame TV much better than the 2022 version?
In a word, no. Improvements are marginal at best. You now have more bezel finish options but core functionality remains identical. The 2023 model does not fix fundamental flaws like poor picture quality relative to price.
Do frame TVs use less power when displaying artwork?
Unfortunately no – as highlighted earlier, testing confirms Frame TVs consume significantly more electricity when in art display mode versus a standard TV on standby using zero power.
Can frame TVs connect wirelessly to avoid messy cables?
While Samsung‘s 2023 Frame TV lineup now incorporates support for wireless DeX streaming from your mobile device, a physical HDMI cable is still required from external peripherals like gaming consoles, antenna feeds, and soundbars. So cable clutter remains an issue.
Who are frame TVs ideal for?
The only scenario where I‘d endorse a frame TV is if design aesthetics inside your living space are the absolute priority over performance, pricing, or environmental efficiency. Visual focused designers, artists, architects may fall into this bucket. But even then, fully transparent smart glass displays represent a better fit and value in my estimation.
The Final Verdict: Still Avoid Frame TVs!
In closing, I stand firmly behind my original thesis – for tech experts and savvy shoppers alike, frame TVs remain an imprudent choice when analyzed objectively. From exorbitant pricing to subpar quality across critical parameters like video fidelity and sound, they fail to justify their stratospheric costs for average households.
Unless you have money to burn and care little about performance or value, I urge you to bypass the marketing glitz around frame TVs. Instead apply those dollars toward a cutting edge smart TV equipped with better display innovation, energy efficiency, sizing flexibility, and ownership satisfaction ratings.
I‘m happy to address any other questions or concerns about the frame TV category and reasons behind my avoid recommendation. Feel free to reach out! Stay tuned for more home entertainment technology buying guidance.
