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To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.11
Review updated Oct 06, 2023 at 02:24 pm
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED Picture
7.9
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Samsung S90C OLED
7.6
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: LG C3 OLED
7.7
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Samsung S90C OLED
8.4
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: LG B2 OLED
7.7
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: LG C3 OLED
8.4
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Samsung S90C OLED
8.5
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Samsung S90C OLED

The Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED is a unique TV released in 2022 as part of Samsung's Lifestyle TV lineup. It has a unique design that's meant to look like a piece of art mounted on the wall, and it displays pieces of art when you're not watching TV. It comes with a Slim-Fit Wall Mount and normal feet if you don't want to wall-mount it, and there are multiple compatible stands sold separately, including an easel-style floor stand. It has black bezels by default, but you can also purchase bezel covers separately if you want to put a different color or finish. As far as the TV aspect of it, it's a lower mid-range panel with Quantum Dot technology to produce a wider range of colors than traditional LED-backlit TVs, but it doesn't have local dimming or Mini LED backlighting like Samsung's other high-end TVs.

Our Verdict

7.9 Mixed Usage

The Samsung The Frame is a good TV overall. It's good for watching TV shows and sports in bright rooms thanks to its high peak brightness and impressive reflection handling, and it upscales lower-resolution content well. It's also good for gaming because it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, variable refresh rate (VRR) support, and low input lag for a responsive feel. It performs well in dark rooms thanks to its high native contrast ratio, but it lacks a local dimming feature to further improve the contrast and make highlights pop in HDR.

Pros
  • Fantastic native contrast ratio.
  • High SDR peak brightness fights glare.
  • Matte screen finish has impressive reflection handling.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Some noticeable uniformity issues.
7.6 TV Shows

The Samsung The Frame is good for watching TV shows in well-lit rooms. It has great peak brightness, and the matte screen finish has impressive reflection handling, so glare isn't an issue even in a bright room. The built-in Tizen smart platform makes it easy to stream your favorite shows, and it upscales and sharpens low-resolution shows decently. Unfortunately, it's not a good choice for a wide seating arrangement or if you like to move around with the TV on, as the image degrades rapidly when viewed from the side.

Pros
  • Decent upscaling.
  • High SDR peak brightness fights glare.
  • Matte screen finish has impressive reflection handling.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Some noticeable uniformity issues.
7.7 Sports

The Samsung The Frame is good for watching sports in a bright room. Glare isn't an issue thanks to its great SDR peak brightness and impressive reflection handling. Fast-moving content like players look great, thanks to the excellent response time, so there's minimal motion blur. Sadly, it has a narrow viewing angle, so it's not a good choice for watching the big game with a large group of friends, as only those sitting directly in front of the TV will see a clear image.

Pros
  • Decent upscaling.
  • High SDR peak brightness fights glare.
  • Matte screen finish has impressive reflection handling.
  • Quick response time for smooth motion.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Some noticeable uniformity issues.
8.4 Video Games

The Samsung The Frame is very good for gaming. It has a bunch of gaming features like VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on one port, which is great for playing high-frame-rate games, but there's only one, so if you have both the PS5 and an Xbox Series X, you can't take full advantage of both. It also has low input lag for a responsive feel, and motion looks smooth thanks to the quick response time. It's good for dark room gaming as it has a high native contrast ratio, but it lacks a local dimming feature to further deepen any blacks.

Pros
  • Fantastic native contrast ratio.
  • Quick response time for smooth motion.
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on one port.
  • Supports FreeSync, G-SYNC, and HDMI Forum VRR.
Cons
  • No local dimming feature.
7.7 HDR Movies

The Samsung The Frame delivers a good movie-watching experience in a dark room. It has a high native contrast ratio, so blacks are deep and uniform in shadow details and darker scenes. It lacks a local dimming feature, so when bright lights are on the screen, shadows are raised and look washed out. It has decent peak brightness, though, so bright scenes stand out and look impressive, and it has a wide color gamut, so HDR looks vivid and lifelike.

Pros
  • Fantastic native contrast ratio.
  • Automatically removes 24p judder.
  • Wide color gamut.
Cons
  • No local dimming feature.
  • Some cloudiness in dark scenes.
  • Doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop.
8.4 HDR Gaming

The Samsung The Frame is very good for HDR gaming. It delivers a very good gaming experience in general, thanks to its quick response time and low input lag. It has a good selection of gaming features, including HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on one port, so you can take full advantage of the PS5 or an Xbox Series S|X, and it supports VRR to reduce tearing. HDR looks good overall, as bright scenes look good, but since it lacks a local dimming feature, bright highlights in dimmer scenes don't stand out. It has wide color gamut, so HDR games look vivid and incredibly lifelike.

Pros
  • Quick response time for smooth motion.
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on one port.
  • Supports FreeSync, G-SYNC, and HDMI Forum VRR.
  • Wide color gamut.
Cons
  • No local dimming feature.
  • Some cloudiness in dark scenes.
  • Doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop.
8.5 PC Monitor

The Samsung The Frame is an excellent TV to use as a PC monitor. Your on-screen actions feel smooth and responsive thanks to the quick response time and low input lag, with little delay between your mouse movements and the action on-screen. Chroma 4:4:4 and RGB are displayed properly with 4k signals, which is essential for clear text in PC Mode. It also looks good in a bright room thanks to its high peak brightness and matte anti-reflective coating. Sadly, it has a narrow viewing angle, so the edges of the screen are washed out if you sit too close.

Pros
  • High SDR peak brightness fights glare.
  • Matte screen finish has impressive reflection handling.
  • Quick response time for smooth motion.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Some noticeable uniformity issues.
  • 7.9 Mixed Usage
  • 7.6 TV Shows
  • 7.7 Sports
  • 8.4 Video Games
  • 7.7 HDR Movies
  • 8.4 HDR Gaming
  • 8.5 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Oct 06, 2023: We refreshed the text throughout to correct for our latest methodology changes and for consistency with our most recent TV reviews.
  5. Updated Sep 01, 2023: Confirmed that 1440p works on the PS5.
  6. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  7. Updated Jul 24, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.11. With this update, we've added a new Upscaling: Sharpness Processing test and revamped our Blooming test so the scores and picture better match the real world experience. With this change, it was necessary to remove the Black Crush test. Finally, we've updated our usage scores to better align our scores with user expectations.
  8. Updated Jun 22, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.10. With this update we've revamped our Gradient testing, added a new test for Low Quality Content Smoothing, and expanded our Audio Passthrough testing.
  9. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  10. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  11. Updated Feb 15, 2023: Updated to Test Bench 1.9, modifying our Contrast testing and splitting our local dimming testing into multiple sections covering Blooming, Black Crush, and Lighting Zone Transitions. You can see our full changelog here.
  12. Updated Feb 06, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  13. Updated Dec 21, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.8, adding a new box for PQ EOTF tracking and updating our Color Volume and Color Gamut tests to better reflect real world usage. You can see our full changelog here.
  14. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  15. Updated Sep 23, 2022: Clarified that the 32-inch model has a 1080p resolution.
  16. Updated Jul 22, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.
  17. Updated Jun 14, 2022: Clarified that it supports ATSC 1.0.
  18. Updated May 25, 2022: Fixed a mistake that said it only comes with one default painting, but it comes with over 60 paintings that you don't need to pay extra for.
  19. Updated May 18, 2022: Fixed a mistake that described the gamma as being too dark, but it's too bright.
  20. Updated May 16, 2022: Review published.
  21. Updated May 11, 2022: Early access published.
  22. Updated May 03, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  23. Updated May 02, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  24. Updated Apr 21, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We bought and tested the 65-inch Samsung The Frame 2022, and the results are valid for the 55-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch models. The 43-inch and 50-inch models deliver similar picture quality, but they have a 60Hz refresh rate and don't support VRR, so they're worse for gaming. The 32-inch model has a lower 1080p resolution, and it's completely different from the other sizes. The last four letters of the model code (in this case, FXZA) vary between regions and even between retailers, but these variants offer the same performance.

The Samsung The Frame comes with black bezels by default, but you can buy different colored bezels that you put on top of the regular ones. Not all sizes are available in the same colors, which you can see below.

Size US Model Short Model Code Resolution Refresh Rate Variable Refresh Rate Frame Colors
32" QN32LS03BBFXZA  QN32LS03BB 1080p 60Hz No Lemon 
43" QN43LS03BAFXZA QN43LS03BA 4k 60Hz No  Brown, Teak, White
50" QN50LS03BAFXZA QN50LS03BA 4k  60Hz No  Brown, Teak, White
55" QN55LS03BAFXZA QN55LS03BA 4k 120Hz Yes  Brown, Teak, White, Red
65" QN65LS03BAFXZA QN65LS03BA 4k 120Hz Yes Brown, Teak, White, Red 
75" QN75LS03BAFXZA QN75LS03BA 4k 120Hz Yes  Brown, Teak, White
85" QN85LS03BAFXZA  QN85LS03BA 4k 120Hz Yes  Brown, White, Beige

Our unit was manufactured in March 2022; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The Samsung The Frame is a good overall TV that's unique because it's designed to sit as part of your décor by displaying artwork. The matte finish gives it a different look than the Samsung The Frame 2021, and you won't get distracting mirror-like reflections. In terms of its overall picture quality, there are better TVs that you can get for cheaper, but if you're set on getting this TV to double as a piece of art, it's better than past Frame Series models.

See our recommendations for the best 4k TVs, the best smart TVs, and the best Samsung TVs.

Samsung The Frame 2021
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED is a newer version of the Samsung The Frame 2021. Both TVs are very similar overall, and the main difference is that the 2022 model has a different screen coating. The 2022 version has a matte finish, while the 2021 version has a semi-glossy finish. The matte finish reduces the intensity of mirror-like reflections and makes the screen look more like a realistic piece of art. The 2022 TV also has better out-of-the-box accuracy, but other than that, both TVs are very similar.

Samsung The Frame 2020
32" 43" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The Samsung The Frame 2020 and the Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED are similar TVs. The main difference is that the 2022 model has a matte screen finish that makes the TV look more like a piece of art, and it has much better reflection handling. It also has better out-of-the-box accuracy, and it has improved gradient handling.

Samsung QN90A QLED
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85" 98"

The Samsung QN90A QLED and the Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED are different types of TVs from different lineups. The QN90A is the flagship QLED TV, and while they both use QLED technology, the QN90A uses Mini LED backlighting and has a local dimming feature to provide great black levels and make small highlights pop. The QN90A also gets much brighter in SDR, so it combats glare, but The Frame has a different screen finish with fewer mirror-like reflections. They both have the same gaming features, but the QN90A has four HDMI 2.1 inputs, while The Frame is limited to one.

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The Samsung The Frame TV is designed to look more like a framed piece of art than a TV. It has thin black bezels, but you can buy covers separately to put on top for a different color and finish. It also comes with the One Connect box to connect all your devices and have one cable going to the TV to keep your setup clean.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures

After four months on the longevity test, our unit started to develop severe backlight issues along the bottom edge. It's getting worse over time, and the overall peak brightness of the TV has decreased noticeably.

Design
Stand

The wide-set feet do a good job at holding the screen, but it doesn't prevent all wobble. You can raise the feet to a higher position, but placing a thick soundbar in front may block the screen. If you don't want to use the stand, it also comes with Samsung's Slim-Fit Wall Mount to sit flush against a wall.

Footprint of the 65-inch TV: 42.5" x 10.3".

  • Height in lower position: 1.45" (to the bezel) and 1.77" (to the screen)
  • Height in raised position: 2.44" (to the bezel) and 2.83" (to the screen)

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 400x300

The back of the TV is plain, and there are slots for the Slim-Fit Wall Mount. This TV comes with the One Connect Box, which houses the inputs and is separate from the TV. It helps keep your setup clean because all your devices connect to the box instead of the TV, then connect the cable directly to the TV. There are tracks along the back to help you route the wire for cable management.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.43" (1.1 cm)

The Samsung The Frame comes with this black border, and if you order the different colored bezels, you put them on top of this.

Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.00" (2.6 cm)

The Samsung The Frame is very thin and will sit flush against the wall with the included Slim-Fit Wall Mount.

8.5
Design
Build Quality

The Samsung The Frame TV has excellent build quality. It's all plastic that feels solid, and there aren't any obvious flaws in how it's made. There's only a bit of wobble from front to back, and the back panel flexes slightly, but it's not too noticeable. The biggest issue is that the cable that goes from the One Connect Box to the TV is difficult to plug in and seems flimsy, but this is only a problem if you often need to disconnect the box.

Picture Quality
6.9
Picture Quality
Contrast
Contrast
7,900 : 1
Native Contrast
7,900 : 1

The Samsung The Frame TV has an excellent native contrast ratio. Blacks are deep and uniform in darker scenes. It lacks a local dimming feature, though, so bright highlights increase the brightness of the entire screen, including dark areas, so blacks look more washed out.

10
Picture Quality
Blooming

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature, so there's no blooming around bright objects or subtitles in dark scenes.

10
Picture Quality
Lighting Zone Transitions
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge
Dimming Zones Count Of Tested TV
N/A

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature, so it can't adjust the backlight of individual zones to brighten up highlights without impacting the rest of the image. But this means that there's no distracting flicker or brightness changes as bright highlights move between zones.

7.5
Picture Quality
Contrast And Dark Details In Game Mode

Switching to Game Mode makes no noticeable difference in dark scene performance, as shadows still look washed out.

7.0
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
433 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
369 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
164 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
500 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
504 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
500 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
500 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
500 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
499 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
502 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
499 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
499 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
498 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The Samsung The Frame has decent peak brightness in HDR. It's bright enough to make some highlights stand out, but without a local dimming feature, small highlights don't pop against the rest of the image.

These measurements are after calibrating the HDR white point with the following settings:

  • HDR Picture Mode: Movie
  • Brightness: Max
  • Contrast: Max
  • Color Tone: Warm2

6.9
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
432 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
372 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
146 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
502 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
503 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
503 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
504 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
504 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
502 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
503 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
503 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
503 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
503 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The Samsung The Frame has okay HDR brightness in Game Mode. It's very similar to outside of Game Mode, and even if it gets slightly brighter, it's hard to tell any difference.

These measurements are after calibrating the HDR white point with the following settings:

  • HDR Picture Mode: Game
  • Brightness: Max
  • Contrast: Max
  • Color Tone: Warm2
  • HDR Tone Mapping: HDR10+: Basic

6.6
Picture Quality
PQ EOTF Tracking
600 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0407
1000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0408
4000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0112

The PQ EOTF tracking on this TV isn't very good, and most scenes in HDR are brighter than the content creator intended. Shadow details are raised a bit by the lack of a local dimming feature, and midtones are raised considerably, especially in content mastered at 600 or 1,000 cd/m². Content mastered at 4,000 cd/m² is significantly more accurate but still slightly over-brightened.

8.2
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
455 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
488 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
488 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
488 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
488 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
488 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
487 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
487 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
487 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
486 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
487 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The Samsung The Frame has great SDR peak brightness. It gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room, and the brightness is very consistent across different scenes.

These measurements are after calibration with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Movie
  • Brightness: Max
  • Color Tone: Warm2

7.9
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
87.49%
DCI P3 uv
93.69%
Rec 2020 xy
64.14%
Rec 2020 uv
71.85%

The Samsung The Frame has a very good color gamut. It has excellent coverage of the commonly used DCI-P3 color space, and the tone mapping is good. However, it has limited coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space, and some greens and blues are off.

7.2
Picture Quality
Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
60.3%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
27.2%
White Luminance
451 cd/m²
Red Luminance
81 cd/m²
Green Luminance
335 cd/m²
Blue Luminance
27 cd/m²
Cyan Luminance
275 cd/m²
Magenta Luminance
122 cd/m²
Yellow Luminance
278 cd/m²

The Samsung The Frame TV has a decent color volume. It displays bright and dark colors well, but it's limited by the incomplete color gamut.

8.4
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
2.52
Color dE
1.88
Gamma
1.94
Color Temperature
6,523 K
Picture Mode
Movie
Color Temp Setting
Warm 2
Gamma Setting
2.2

The Samsung The Frame TV has impressive accuracy in SDR before calibration. The white balance and most colors are accurate, but blues and magentas are slightly off. The color temperature is also nearly spot-on with the 6500K target. However, gamma doesn't follow the 2.2 target at all, and most scenes are too bright.

9.5
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.28
Color dE
1.27
Gamma
2.19
Color Temperature
6,513 K
White Balance Calibration
20 point
Color Calibration
Yes

The Samsung The Frame has fantastic accuracy after calibration. It's tricky to calibrate, though, and requires aggressive calibration settings to dial it in.

You can see the full settings used for our calibration here.

7.3
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.508%
50% DSE
0.209%
5% Std. Dev.
0.460%
5% DSE
0.106%

The Samsung The Frame TV has some uniformity issues visible towards the bottom right side of the screen. It's noticeable with large areas of light colors, like if you want to display a painting with large areas of white.

7.9
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Std. Dev.
N/A
Native Std. Dev.
0.904%

The Samsung The Frame has good black uniformity. There's a bit of backlight bleed and cloudiness towards the center, but it's not noticeable with most real content.

5.7
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
29°
Color Shift
32°
Brightness Loss
33°
Black Level Raise
21°
Gamma Shift
21°

The Samsung The Frame TV has a narrow viewing angle. It means that the image fades and appears washed out as you move off to the sides, so if you have it displaying a painting and you walk around, you won't see the same image as if you were right in front.

8.3
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
3.3%
Indirect Reflections
2.9%
Calculated Direct Reflections
0.4%

The Samsung The Frame has impressive reflection handling. The main difference with this TV versus past Frame TVs or even most standard TVs is that it has a matte finish. It helps it absorb more light and reduce the amount of mirror-like reflections. The matte finish also gives the screen a more canvas-like effect, so the artwork on the screen looks more realistic. The main downside to this screen finish compared to glossy TVs is that it introduces some haziness to images, but you have to be sitting close to notice any difference.

9.3
Picture Quality
HDR Native Gradient
100% Black to 50% Gray
8.0
50% Gray to 100% White
10
100% Black to 50% Red
10
50% Red to 100% Red
10
100% Black to 50% Green
10
50% Green to 100% Green
8.0
100% Black to 50% Blue
10
50% Blue to 100% Blue
8.0

The gradient handling on this TV is fantastic. There's no noticeable banding in most similar colors, so any gradients in movies look fantastic.

6.8
Picture Quality
Low-Quality Content Smoothing
Smoothing
6.0
Detail Preservation
8.5

This TV has okay low-quality content smoothing. The image processing smooths out some macro-blocking and pixelization, but it's limited. On the other hand, it does so without losing fine details.

7.0
Picture Quality
Upscaling: Sharpness Processing

This TV has decent upscaling and sharpness processing. Fine details in upscaled content are preserved well, and fine lines are straight and detailed without oversharpening. These results are with Sharpness set to '5', and Picture Clarity disabled.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
BGR
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA

This TV uses a BGR subpixel layout. It has no noticeable impact on picture quality, but it can cause blurry text in some applications when using the TV as a PC monitor. You can read more about it here. Although the matte finish introduces some haziness, it's hard to tell unless you're sitting really close, and text looks good.

Motion
8.6
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
4.0 ms
100% Response Time
8.5 ms

The Samsung The Frame TV has an excellent overall response time. There's minimal motion blur behind fast-moving objects, but because it has a slow response time with dark transitions, there's black smearing with dark objects.

9.9
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
960 Hz

The Samsung The Frame uses pulse width modulation to dim its backlight at all brightness levels. It flickers at 960Hz in the 'Movie' Picture Mode, which is high enough that you won't notice it. However, it drops to 120Hz in other modes, including Game Mode, which can cause image duplications or headaches if you're sensitive to flicker.

Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker For 60 fps
60 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
Yes
120Hz For 120 fps
Yes
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
60 Hz

The Samsung The Frame TV has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion. It flickers at either 60Hz or 120Hz, but there's bad crosstalk that results in image duplications. Keep in mind that the BFI score is based on the frequency at which it flickers and not the performance.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes

The Samsung The Frame has a motion interpolation feature to bring lower-frame-rate content up to 120 fps. Like most TVs, it looks fine where there's slow-moving content and characters talking, but there are a ton of artifacts with fast-moving content.

6.4
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
33.2 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
8.2 ms

Due to the quick response time, low-frame-rate content appears to stutter because each frame is held on longer. If this bothers you, try enabling the motion interpolation feature.

10
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

The Samsung The Frame TV automatically removes 24p judder from any source, which helps with the appearance of motion in movies.

9.4
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
120 Hz (except 32", 43", 50")
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes (except 32", 43", 50")
HDMI Forum VRR
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC Compatible
Yes
4k VRR Maximum
120 Hz
4k VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1080p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1080p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1440p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1440p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR + Local Dimming No Local Dimming

The larger sizes of this TV have a 120Hz panel with variable refresh rate support to reduce screen tearing. It supports all of the common VRR formats, but for G-SYNC to work, the TV needs to be in PC mode. It supports Low Framerate Compensation to ensure a tear-free gaming experience when the frame rate drops below 40 fps. The 32, 43, and 50-inch models are limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and don't support VRR.

Inputs
9.7
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
10.6 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
86.0 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
6.0 ms
1080p @ 144Hz
N/A
1440p @ 60Hz
10.7 ms
1440p @ 120Hz
6.0 ms
1440p @ 144Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
10.6 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
10.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
10.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
81.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
24.0 ms
4k @ 120Hz
5.9 ms
4k @ 144Hz
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A

The Samsung The Frame TV has low input lag in Game Mode for a responsive gaming experience. You can also enable the motion interpolation feature in Game Mode, and while it increases the input lag, it's still low enough for casual gamers. It has an input lag of 31.7 ms when interpolating 30 fps content up to 60 fps.

9.6
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
480p @ 59.94Hz (Widescreen)
Yes
720p @ 59.94Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 144Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 144Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 144Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

The Samsung The Frame TV supports all common resolutions up to 4k @ 120Hz. It also displays clear text with proper chroma 4:4:4 with all its supported resolutions except for 1440p @ 120Hz, as text looks blurry with that signal. The 43 and 50-inch models are limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, and the 32-inch model has a 1080p resolution, so not all signals are supported on these models.

Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

This TV can take full advantage of the PS5, but only on the HDMI 4 input. On the other inputs, it's limited to 4k @ 60Hz.

Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

This TV can nearly take full advantage of the Xbox Series S|X, but only on HDMI port 4. On the other ports, you're limited to 4k @ 60Hz. Regardless of which port you use, this TV doesn't support Dolby Vision gaming.

Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
HLG
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 4)
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
ATSC Tuner
1.0
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out No
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

Even if some websites advertise that all four HDMI inputs support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, the only port to support HDMI 2.1 on the larger sizes is HDMI 4, while the other ports support HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. HDMI 4 supports 40 Gbps of bandwidth, which is enough to display 4k @ 120Hz signals with chroma 4:4:4 in 10-bit HDR. The 32, 43, and 50-inch models don't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. Like other Samsung TVs, this TV supports HDR10+ but not Dolby Vision, a common HDR format for streaming services, meaning you'll be limited to HDR10 instead. Lastly, the TV supports ATSC 1.0 and not 3.0, meaning you can't stream over-the-air 4k channels.

Inputs
Input Photos

You need to connect all inputs to the One Connect box, and there's a slot in the back of the TV to plug in the box. There's also a USB-C port on the back, which you can use to connect a compatible webcam, but you can't use it for media playback.

Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 0
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 0
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC/eARC Port
eARC
eARC: Dolby Atmos Over Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
eARC: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Yes
eARC: LPCM 7.1 Over Dolby MAT
Yes
eARC: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Yes
eARC: DTS:X Over DTS-HD MA
No
eARC: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
No
eARC: LPCM Channels (Bitstream)
7.1
ARC: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
ARC: DTS 5.1
No
Optical: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
Optical: DTS 5.1
No

All variants of the Samsung The Frame TV support eARC on HDMI 3, which allows you to pass high-quality audio to a compatible receiver. It supports Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos signals. Because it doesn't support DTS or DTS:X signals, you'll need to connect your device to your receiver instead of the TV if the content you're watching uses this audio format.

Sound Quality
6.8
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
100.79 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
2.71 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.22 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
6.17 dB
Max
91.8 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
5.02 dB

The Samsung The Frame has an alright frequency response. It gets loud, and dialogue sounds clear at moderate listening levels, but there are more artifacts at the max volume. Also, it doesn't produce much bass, so get a soundbar or dedicated speakers for the best sound possible.

6.3
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.480
Weighted THD @ Max
1.237
IMD @ 80
5.61%
IMD @ Max
13.34%

The Samsung The Frame TV has mediocre distortion handling. There isn't too much at lower listening levels, but it increases at the max volume.

Smart Features
8.5
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Tizen
Version 2022
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Very Smooth
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
5 s
Advanced Options
Many

The Samsung The Frame TV comes with the same Tizen interface as other Samsung TVs, which is user-friendly and has a full page to display all the apps. Navigating through the menus is smooth, but it takes up to a minute for the TV to open.

You have access to Samsung's Art Store to download artwork, and it comes with over 60 paintings by default, but you need to pay a subscription to download other paintings. You can also upload photos and save them directly to the TV, which has about 7 GB of free storage space.

0
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
Yes
Opt-out
No
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

Unfortunately, there are ads throughout the interface, and there's no way to disable them.

8.5
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

The Samsung app store has a ton of apps you can download. As mentioned, there's an Art Store to download paintings, but you need to buy a subscription. This TV also supports Google Duo to make video calls with a compatible webcam.

8.5
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Small
Voice Control
Many Features
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
Yes
Remote App Samsung SmartThings

The Samsung The Frame TV comes with the typical Samsung remote, but it's white instead of black. It has shortcut buttons to popular streaming services, and the built-in mic gives you access to Google Assistant, Bixby, and Alexa so you can open apps and change inputs. The remote doesn't need disposable batteries; instead, you can charge it via USB-C or the solar panel on the back.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button on the bottom right side. It lets you turn the TV on/off, change the channels and inputs, or adjust the volume.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Remote control
  • Power cable
  • One Connect cable
  • Equipment for Slim-Fit wall mount
  • Cable management hooks
  • User guides and manuals
Not shown:
  • One Connect Box

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 65 W
Power Consumption (Max) 173 W
Firmware 1098

The power consumption in Art Mode is 84W.