Most modern TVs look pretty stunning when turned on, but switch them off and you’ve got a problem – they go from showcasing some of the most visually amazing content ever created to boring black rectangles imposing themselves on your lounge. What’s a viewer to do?
Samsung’s The Frame gets around this problem with an ingenious solution – when not being watched, the TV can display classic works of art. It essentially becomes a blank canvas for whatever you choose to decorate your lounge with, be it the Mona Lisa, a Cézanne, a Picasso, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, or something else entirely. In fact, you could forget it’s a TV at all.
A work of art
The Art Mode is the most eye-catching thing about Samsung’s The Frame. It’s simply unlike anything else on the market – the TV is nice and slim and sits near flush to the wall, just like a picture would. You can easily switch up the colour and style of the TV too with customisable bezels (sold separately), designed to look just like the edges of a picture frame. Mount it on your wall, fire up Art Mode, and your guests will struggle to distinguish it from a regular piece of art hanging on the wall.
The bezels are interchangeable, and snap on using magnets. So if you change your home decor, you can change up your TV bezel to match.
But because you can change what it displays, it’s much more versatile than a regular wall-hung picture. Tiring of the Mona Lisa? Go for something more modern. The Art Store has over 2,000 pieces to choose from (Art Store subscription required to access full selection), so you can curate your own personal collection.
And it’s smart. A built-in motion sensor detects when someone walks into the room and automatically activates Art Mode. Leave the room and it’ll power off to standby, saving energy. The brightness sensor adjusts the display to the lighting conditions, so you can always see your artwork as clearly as possible. And you can even display your own photos and arrange whatever’s on show using different mounting options, making it the most versatile wall-hung display around.
Fits into your life
Of course The Frame is a TV, first and foremost. And what a TV. Because of its unique design, it fits seamlessly into your lifestyle without dominating the room like some TVs. The 5m One Near-Invisible Cable handles all your connections, for example, meaning a single cable runs to the TV. Plug your set-top boxes and games consoles into the One Connect Box in a multimedia unit and you’ll keep all the other cables out of sight.
Don’t want to wall-mount it? Use the height adjustable stand to get the perfect viewing angle or to make room for a soundbar. There’s also a freestanding Studio Stand (sold separately) to make it really look like a canvas in an art gallery. And an Auto Rotating Wall Mount or Auto Rotating Stand (both sold separately) means you can situate it vertically for displaying portraits.
Picture perfect
But it’s in TV mode where The Frame really shines. QLED 4K technology, powered by Quantum Dot, brings everything you watch come to life with greater detail and realism, for a picture that will look as impressive on day one as it does a decade down the line. Samsung is so confident it’ll stand the test of time that it offers a 10-year screen burn warranty (as long as you register within 90 days of purchase) – how’s that for peace of mind?
At the heart of The Frame beats Samsung’s Quantum Processor 4K. This processor uses AI to automatically adjust the brightness and upscale the picture resolution to 4K Ultra HD, while the smart audio adapts to what’s on screen and even compensates for background noise within your room.
EyeComfort Mode adjusts the brightness depending on ambient lighting conditions so the picture is always easy on the eye. So whether you’re watching in bright sunlight or cinema-style pitch black, you’ll get the best viewing experience possible.
Gaming smarts
The Frame runs Samsung’s Tizen user interface, which brings a world of smart entertainment to your fingertips, with all major streaming services available right out of the box. It has some other neat tricks up its sleeve too, like the ability to mirror content from your mobile onto your TV (internet connection and compatible smartphone required) and to watch in split screen using MultiView.
It’s great for gamers, too. Gaming Hub lets you play the latest Xbox games without a console – all you need is an Xbox Game Pass subscription, a compatible controller and internet connection. The latest games will look their best thanks to Motion Xcelerator Turbo Plus, which delivers 120Hz refresh rates and low input lag (Motion Xcelerator Turbo Plus & VRR available from 55 inches and above). And AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VRR make for buttery smooth HDR gaming with no stuttering (FreeSync Premium Pro available from 55" and above).
Sounds delightful
Some TVs leave the audio as an afterthought, but Samsung knows that sound makes up half the experience. The Frame features Surround Sound powered by Dolby Atmos, which adds height audio channels for extra immersion. Object Tracking Sound means the 3D audio moves with the action on screen, so a frantic action sequence will sound very different to a calm beach scene (OTS Lite available with 50" and 43” The Frame).
Samsung Q-Symphony lets the TV speakers work in conjunction with a compatible soundbar to play audio from both devices simultaneously, meaning extra speakers at work and an improved audio experience for the viewer.
There are some fantastic offers for The Frame right now. If you recycle your old TV you can get £200 off The Frame. And there’s a free bezel worth up to £129 with every purchase of The Frame. See Samsung.com for more details.
