1. Subscription Fees Can Add Up
One of the most common complaints about The Frame TV is the extra fees associated with Samsung‘s Art Store. While you can display your own photos for free, most customers are interested in The Frame for its artwork capabilities. This requires either purchasing individual pieces from the Art Store, starting a subscription, or both.
Unfortunately, details on the Art Store pricing are not readily available on Samsung‘s website. Based on customer reports, the monthly Art Store subscription now costs upwards of $7-10 per month. Annual subscription options land in the $80-120 range.
While these fees may seem reasonable at first glance, they can add up quickly. Over three years, you could easily spend $300-400 just for artwork access. This is money that could go toward other home entertainment expenses like streaming services or speakers.
There‘s also the issue of art variety in the store. Due to licensing limitations, some famous artists are noticeably absent. You won‘t find iconic works from Picasso, Warhol, Pollock and more. The selection may not align with every customer‘s tastes.
2. Precise Mounting is a Challenge
Mounting a conventional TV is relatively straightforward – buy a mount, install it at sitting eye level, and you‘re all set. The Frame TV presents more mounting challenges if you want it to look like a convincing work of art.
First, The Frame should be installed higher – around standing eye height rather than sitting. This placement above furniture helps sell the illusion. Second, it needs to mount nearly flush to the wall like a painting would. The Frame comes with a special no-gap wall mount for this purpose.
While these guidelines make sense in theory, they introduce issues in practice:
- The Frame mount does not allow pivoting or tilting for adjustments
- Wall imperfections become very apparent
- Cords hanging down below the flush TV are highly visible
Getting the precise look of a framed painting takes some finesse during the installation process. For many customers, it ends up being more difficult than expected.
3. The One Connect Box Has Limitations
One of The Frame TV‘s signature features is the One Connect box. This external control box houses ports for HDMI cables, power cords, and other device connections. It allows a single translucent cord to run to The Frame for a clean, art-like look.
However, there are some downsides associated with The One Connect box setup:
First, it requires running the display cable through your wall directly to the TV‘s mounting location. While intended to be discreet, this cable is still visible in most homes. Hiding it fully within walls may require professional help.
Second, the included cable length spans just 16 feet. For mounted TVs with longer cable runs to entertainment consoles below, an extension solution or custom cabling is needed. Paying extra installation costs defeats part of The Frame value proposition.
4. More Expensive Than Other Premium TVs
Pricewise, The Frame carries a premium. For example, the 65-inch model costs approximately $1,999 MSRP. By comparison, the Samsung QN90B 65-inch QLED TV is $1,447. The LG C2 65-inch OLED TV goes for around $1,500.
Given its dual art and entertainment capabilities, The Frame‘s higher price point makes logical sense. However, it‘s still a source of sticker shock for customers cross-shopping premium TV models. They expect to pay less for core specs like display size, resolution, refresh rate and Smart TV processor.
Of course, neither the QN90B or LG C2 can showcase digital artwork. But for customers focused more on picture quality than presentation, The Frame costs several hundreds dollars more than necessary. This price gap is challenging to reconcile.
5. Visible Screen Glow, Even As "Art"
One giveaway that The Frame is ultimately still an illuminated display panel is a faint screen glow when showing artwork. Since paintings and prints do not emit their own light, some ambient glow undermines the visual presentation.
To be clear – the screen is NOT bright when in Art Mode. Samsung uses matte anti-reflective coating and low-brightness backlights to make on-screen art barelydistinguishable from actual wall art. But in a dark room, that subtle glow emerges.
This minor screen lighting may not interfere with the intended aesthetic for most settings. But customers expecting a 100% authentic art look will notice the difference side-by-side with real framed pieces. Technology limitations keep The Frame from fully replicating this aspect.
6. Picture Quality Falls Short of Other Premium TVs
According to display experts, The Frame uses Vertical Alignment (VA) panel technology instead of higher-end OLED or QNED options. As such, the maximum brightness, viewing angles and uniformity simply do not match Samsung‘s own 8K and 4K QLED options.
Reviewers also highlight black level elevation issues causing washed out contrast in dark scenes. The Frame‘s dedicated Art Mode picture preset accentuates these display problems through color tinting. Fact is, picture optimization was not the priority for this model – it was built for art.
As an artistic accent piece, these minor display flaws won‘t detract from The Frame‘s charm in most living spaces. But home theater enthusiasts expecting a best-in-class viewing experience will need to invest in other screen technologies for that purpose.
Alternatives to Consider Instead of The Frame
Given its premium price point and artistic focus over pure performance, The Frame TV is not ideal for all customers and room aesthetics. For those turned off by the biggest complaints around subscription fees, mounting challenges, wiring issues or picture quality – don‘t despair!
There are other unique Samsung TV models with pedestal mounts, art-like design accents, and best-in-class display capabilities. We‘ll outline a few excellent alternatives to consider instead of The Frame.
Samsung The Serif TV
Like The Frame TV, Samsung‘s The Serif TV features an Ambient Mode for displaying digital artwork, photos and information when not streaming shows or movies. This mode helps the inactive TV blend in with surrounding room decor.
What sets The Serif apart is its sculpted I-shaped pedestal mount. This stand houses cable management conduits while propping up the display. So The Serif achieves an artistic look without demanding difficult wall mounting procedures.
The Serif series also utilizes QLED panel technology for significantly better picture quality than The Frame. While available in smaller 43-65 inch sizes only, The Serif delivers stunning colors, contrast and HDR support. If want art capabilities without the same frustrations as The Frame, the Serif splits the difference nicely.
Samsung The Premiere Projector
Going for more cinematic scale? Consider Samsung‘s The Premiere Ultra-Short Throw 4K HDR projector instead of The Frame TV. Launching at a steep $3,500 starting price, The Premiere shoots massive picture right onto walls or projector screens up to 130 inches corner-to-corner.
Thanks to Triple Laser technology and 2,800 ANSI lumen brightness, Samsung promises The Premiere rivals traditional TV performance but envelops your sightlines for a truly cinematic effect. It also showcases Ambient Mode artwork across its projected picture for interior design appeal. For the ultimate theater-style experience at home, The Premiere brings The Frame concept into bolder focus.
Consider Other Brands Like LG OLED TVs
Stepping outside the Samsung TV family opens up even more possibilities. LG‘s critically acclaimed OLED TV lineup frequently tops best-of lists for stunning picture quality. Their self-illuminating pixel technology and Alpha 9 AI processing deliver pixel-perfect lighting control for infinite contrast – even in dark rooms.
While LG OLED models may lack the catchy lifestyle branding and art display modes of The Frame TV, their near-flawless viewing capabilities satisfy discerning home theater fans. Excellent image accuracy and high visual impact from every angle make LG OLEDs like the C2 a worthy investment for dedicated TV enthusiasts.
Between their picture prowess and lower prices than premium Samsung sets, LG OLED televisions earn their reputation as display masterpieces year after year. They epitomize function over flash – but offer beauty in their brilliant performance.
In Conclusion
The Frame TV from Samsung presents an alluring value proposition as both entertainment screen and interior design element. Its ability to blend into living spaces by showcasing artwork sets it apart from standard flatscreen TVs. However, practical issues around subscription fees, mounting complexity, special wiring needs and middling display quality have sparked consumer complaints.
Before purchasing The Frame, carefully weigh its artistic focus against performance tradeoffs in the picture department. You can likely find better pure TV viewing quality for less money through Samsung‘s QLED and Serif models, LG‘s OLED lineup, or large-format projectors like Samsung‘s The Premiere. Determining the right balance of form and function for your needs makes navigating display options far less frustrating!
