Samsung The Frame (2023) review

The Frame is a Samsung 4K smart TV that can double as artwork when hung on the wall, thanks to a unique matte screen and clip-on picture frame bezels.

Despite this obvious novelty, The Frame doesn’t compromise when it comes to big-screen basics. This is a fully-fledged QLED with an excellent specification.

2023 updates to The Frame take some unpicking because they’re less than obvious.

The 32in Frame, the only 1080p HD iteration of the lifestyle screen, promises an improved Art Mode experience, thanks to the addition of a motion sensor, and increased memory capacity. There’s also a change to the physical backside layout.

For the 4K Frame fans, which start at 43in, the primary difference is one of power consumption. 2023 models are less power hungry – but does this mean picture quality has been affected?

Time to put the very latest version of The Frame on our test bench and see what kind of a picture it paints…

Design & Build

• Customisable bezel
• Matt screen
• 120Hz HDMI support

Straight from the box, The Frame looks much like any other Samsung flatscreens. It has a slim black, plastic bezel and comes with slot-in feet for those who want to stand it on AV furniture. It’s slim, but not overly so, as it has a full array LED backlight.

Design-wise, the set comes into its own when you augment it with an optional artwork-style frame (hence the name). There’s a wide variety available, including a new modernistic metal frame for this season. 

Steve May / Foundry

See also  LG Gram 17 (2023) review

There’s also the option of a tripod-style Studio Stand, if that’s more your style.

Connectivity comes via an external One Connect box. Everything plugs into this, rather than the back of the TV. A single connection runs from the One Connect box to the screen taking with it pictures, sound, and power.

There are four HDMIs (HDMI 3 is eARC compatible), plus a digital optical audio output, Ethernet to accompany dual-band Wi-Fi, two USB ports, and a CI card slot if required. There’s also the choice of terrestrial or satellite tuners.

Steve May / Foundry

The Frame comes with two remotes, a solar-powered Bluetooth controller and a standard zapper. Both have shortcut buttons for Prime Video, Netflix and Samsung TV Plus (UK model tested).

Specs & Features

• Tizen Smart TV platform
• Game Hub
• Art Store

Smart functionality is excellent. The Frame runs Samsung’s well-established Tizen OS, which offers a comprehensive selection of streaming services, including Samsung’s own linear IP delivered channel selection, as well as a dedicated Game Hub, and SmartThings dashboard.

Steve May / Foundry

There’s voice control via Bixby, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, as well as support for Apple AirPlay. Smartphone viewing modes include Multi-View and screen mirroring.

Navigating the Tizen OS is quite intuitive. You get a well-stocked app bar, followed by multiple rails of curated content, so you’re never too far from a show to watch.

The Ambient Mode features a JPEG gallery with a variety of still images and animations, but what you really need is a subscription to Samsung’s Art Store service ($5.99/£3.99 monthly), which offers a wide range of licensed art content. Want to display the best of The Tate, or something more seasonal? It’s there… 

Steve May / Foundry

There’s also a dedicated Game Menu with an overlay for relevant gaming info, such as VRR, HDR and input lag.

There are actually two Game mode settings: original and Game Motion Plus, which applies some extra processing for additional picture enhancement. Input lag was measured at 10.7ms (1080p/60fps) in Game mode, and 13.7ms (1080p/60fps) in Game Motion Plus.

Picture Quality

• Bright HDR
• Less power hungry
• HDR10+

If you’re looking for a significant uptick in picture quality on this 2023 The Frame edition, you’ll be disappointed. It’s very much comparable to The Frame 2022. The performance jump relates to an improvement in power consumption, rather than image processing.

While both versions are rated ‘G’ for energy consumption, the 2023 55-inch Frame I tested consumes 84kWh/1000h, compared to 103kWh/1000h on the 2022 model.

Steve May / Foundry

Not that this helpful saving has diminished the image in any way. In its default Standard preset, pictures remain characteristically bright and colour rich.

Picture quality wise, the set stands in comparison with the brand’s regular QLED models, albeit without that extra level of shine you tend to get with non-matt screens.

Part of The Frame’s visual appeal is the matt display. This absorbs reflections and creates a more painterly appearance with digital artworks.

Black level performance is fine, particularly if you view in a room with some low level of ambient lighting.

Steve May / Foundry

Watch in a fully dark room, though, and you’ll inevitably see the backlight at work. While watching Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (in UHD HDR on Sky Cinema) the letterbox bars on the widescreen presentation were slightly greyed out.

As we’ve come to expect from Samsung, there’s no support for Dolby Vision, although HDR, HLG and HDR10+ are all accepted.

Sound Quality

• 40W of power
• Object Tracking Sound
• Dolby Atmos

The set’s audio performance is enhanced by 40W of amplification, and a quartet of speakers in a 2.0.2 configuration. My expectations were admittedly low, but this flatscreen offers more than a perfunctory listening experience.

Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound system, which on this set features speaker drivers placed both low and toward the top of the screen, gives an impressive sense of movement.

Steve May / Foundry

Just as well, as adding a soundbar, even a neatly executed wall-mounted model, rather undermines the screen’s gallery style. For everyday listening, and even uncritical movie watching, it’s surprisingly good.

Price & Availability

In the US, The Frame is available in 32- 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch screen sizes QN32LS03CBFXZA, QN43LS03BAFXZA, QN50LS03BAFXZA, QN55LS03BAFXZA, QN65LS03BAFXZA, QN75LS03BAFXZA, QN85LS03BAFXZA), priced at $599, $999, $1,299, $1,499, $1,999, $2,999 and $4,299 respectively.

The UK, The Frame is available in the same screen sizes (QE32LS03, QE43LS03, QE50LS03, QE55LS03,QE60LS03, QE65LS03, QE75LS03 and QE85LS03), priced at £499, £999, £1,199, £1399, £1,799, £2,999 and £3,699 respectively.

We’re testing the 55in The Frame 2023, UK edition, here and you can buy The Frame 2023 from Samsung as well as the likes of Amazon, John Lewis and Currys with BestBuy and Walmart selling it in the US.

Check out our chart of the best TVs to see more options.

Steve May / Foundry

Should you buy the Samsung The Frame (2023)?

The Frame (2023) can be thought of as a polite update to what has been a top-selling line for Samsung for many years. It’s less power hungry, but manages to deliver virtually the same picture and sound performance.

The provision of a matt screen makes digital artwork look surprisingly convincing.

The set comes with a polished smart platform, in the shape of the latest Tizen OS. In addition to a wide variety of streaming services, there’s a handy dashboard for control of SmartThings devices.

The lack of Dolby Vision support would normally warrant an automatic demerit, but the gallery nature of The Frame means it’s less likely to appeal to home cinema fans, so we’ll give the set a pass. 

With its newfound energy efficiency, I remain a fan of The Frame. This lifestyle screen still comes highly recommended.

Specs

• QLED LCD display technology
• Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4k
• Dimensions: 1238(w) x 701(h) x 25(d)mm 
• Weight: 16.4kg
• HDMI: x4
• HDR support: HDR10+, HLG, HDR10
• Tizen smart platform
• Freeview tuner