Summary
- Consider how each TV curates art, and what it will cost.
- Frame designs vary, and some have alternative set-up options.
- Keep in mind operating system preference, image quality, and gaming features.
The most popular and enduring lifestyle TV is Samsung’s The Frame. The artistic smart TV put renewed focus on how TVs looked at home, placing an emphasis on design and aesthetic. With a slim build, matte display, and detachable frame, Samsung’s innovation was popular for those who wanted their TV to look good when it wasn’t really on.
The smart TV industry is filled with companies copying other companies, so naturally copycats were made. Namely, TCL’s NXTFRAME and Hisense’s CanvasTV. These are the main replicants, while other smart TVs took smaller cues from The Frame, incorporating an Art Gallery or Ambient Mode, ultra-thin design for wall-mounting, and anti-glare screen. However, while all these art TVs are relatively similar in price, the differences between them are worth knowing if you want to choose the best one for your entertainment experience. Here’s what you should know about these three popular smart TVs.
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1 Art mode and gallery options
Inspect curated collections before purchase
Perhaps the biggest and most important difference among these art TVs is how exactly they go about granting access to works of art. Investing in The Frame means needing to purchase a subscription to its Art Gallery, which offers access to over 2,000 works of art. These are iconic paintings from across centuries that Samsung has paid a licensing fee to access and distribute. These will be the works of art you want to enjoy and show off.
Users can load a USB drive with curated files to plug into their smart TV and show off the paintings, photos, and videos they want to show off on their art TV.
Conversely, TCL’s NXTFrame TV does not include a subscription fee, but that’s because most of it’s art is AI-generated, and it involves using the term ‘art’ very generously. TCL and others seem to stress that AI-generated content is a boon and some kind of bonus to have, which raises a lot of questions around what people think art and creativity are, as well as what they want displayed on their wall. If the idea of The Frame TV is to look like a painting, then it stands to reason you’d want an actual painting within the Frame. With TCL, you’ll get what is approximated to be a painting, I suppose.
Hisense sort of splits the difference. Its art TV comes loaded with about 100 images; you don’t have to pay extra, but you don’t get as much content that’s ready to go.
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2 Frame design and style options
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The appeal of these art TVs is in the name. Samsung, TCL, and Hisense offer various frames that can be attached and replaced as desired, altering the look and feel of your TV. The options will vary depending on the TV. Users of Samsung’s model will find more options, in part because there are third-party sellers with their own products, but also because the TV has been around longer. Style, color, and price will vary, so it’s worth considering what options, if any, you want for the present and future of your art TV. Keep in mind the work that might go into installing the frame as well.
Mounting a TV can be a complicated and delicate task. Hire a professional to set up your TV correctly, or enlist a friend and take time to measure and mount.
While these TVs are made to be mounted on the wall, TCL’s model provides alternatives. It offers a compatible easel as well as more traditional feet to be used on a TV stand. These options may appeal to those who don’t have the means or opportunity to wall-mount, setting it apart from others.
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3 Consider your operating system
Navigation and integration is important
A lifestyle TV’s operating system doesn’t really influence the aesthetic of the unit, but when you’re actually watching TV and not just art, you’ll want an OS that you can nagivate easily. Like all Samsung smart TVs, The Frame (and The Frame Pro) use Tizen OS, a popular and easy-to-use system that is mostly free of clutter and unnecessary bloat. It may not have all the customization like other options, but it’s simple and effective.
For the TCL NXTFRAME and Hisense CanvasTV, Google TV is the operating system in place. This popular option allows for a lot of customization and integration into Google products and services. It’s fast and highly personalized, although some, like myself, can find it a bit cluttered and skewed towards YouTube content.
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4 Image quality should be considered
Contrast is an issue with LED TVs
One of the biggest drawbacks to The Frame and its ilk, relative to the top-tier smart TVs currently available, is that they aren’t specifically designed to achieve the best image quality possible. These are LED TVs that use a backlight, which means they can struggle can achieve the true black and deep contrast that OLED models can. While all these TVs struggle with contrast, some have greater difficulty than others, and it’s important ot keep that in mind when choosing between the options.
Samsung’s The Frame is the best of the three for contrast as well as brightness and color accuracy. It will hold up better in a bright room, and generally look better across a variety of media, from reality TV to blockbusters to older TV shows. The Frame holds up better in a bright room, while NXTFRAME and CanvasTV require dim lighting for an optimal viewing experience. Note that all these TVs, but especially the Hisense and TCL options, struggle at wide-viewing angles.
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5 Gaming features and experience vary
Serious players should exercise caution
Another difference among these varieties of smart TVs deals with gaming. It’s not a focus of art TVs, but Samsung’s model tends to offer better features and a more immersive overall gaming experience than others. With superior image quality, Samsung’s The Frame is also backed by HDMI 2.1, Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and a native 120Hz refresh rate. These are essential specs for dedicated gamers, especially those with the latest consoles.
While Hisense and TCL both offer low lag and fast response time as well as VRR, with Hisense boasting a 144Hz native refresh rate. Still, they lose out to Samsung due to color accuracy, brightness, and contrast when gaming. Those playing the latest titles on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X require the best image quality possible to immerse themselves in the game. Samsung also offers a more comprehensive gaming hub that allows you to better control specific settings.
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With a large game catalog and plenty of perks, PS Plus is a savvy investment.
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