The Best Frame TVs and Art TVs (2026)
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 23, 2026.
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A big black rectangle is the hardest thing to design a living room around. Art TVs exist to solve that: when they’re off, they display paintings or photographs on a matte screen inside a picture-frame bezel, and they hang flush to the wall like art. When they work, guests don’t realize there’s a TV in the room. When they don’t, you’ve paid extra for a TV that’s a bit worse at being a TV.
So this guide answers a specific question: which art TV looks most convincingly like art on your wall, and what do you give up for it? We compared testing and reviews from Wirecutter, WIRED, The Verge and Yahoo Tech, along with manufacturer specifications, for the current models from Samsung, Hisense, TCL and LG. We haven’t installed these in our own home; we’ve researched and compared them, and we note where reviewers disagree.
The short answer: the standard Samsung The Frame is still the best balance of price, art experience and picture. The Frame Pro is the one to buy if you also watch a lot of movies. The Hisense CanvasTV is the best value and doesn’t require an art subscription.
Our picks at a glance
| Art TV | Frame included | Art library | Subscription for full art | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung The Frame (2026, LS03HE) | Bezels sold separately | Samsung Art Store, large catalog | Yes | Best overall art experience |
| Samsung The Frame Pro (2026) | Bezels sold separately (about $200) | 5,000+ works with subscription | Yes | Best picture, fewer visible cables |
| Hisense CanvasTV (S7 series) | Yes, magnetic frame | 1,000+ works included | No | Best value |
| TCL NXTFRAME | Yes (two frames) | 350+ works plus AI art | No | Lowest price |
| LG Gallery TV | Check model | LG Gallery+ service, personal photos | Check LG | LG and webOS fans |
What makes an art TV convincing
A matte, anti-glare screen
Glossy screens reflect windows and lamps, which instantly gives the game away. A matte finish diffuses reflections so a painting looks like it’s printed on canvas or paper. All the main art TVs now use a matte screen, but how well they do it varies.
Brightness that adapts to the room
A painting doesn’t glow. The best art TVs use light sensors to dim or brighten the artwork to match the room, so a still life looks natural at noon and at dusk. Reviewers flagged weaker automation on the TCL as one of its main shortcomings.
Slim, flush mounting and cable management
Art hangs flat against the wall. Samsung’s slim wall mount and its One Connect box, which moves the ports away from the TV, are big reasons The Frame has dominated the category. On the 2026 Frame Pro the connection box is wireless. Plan where the cables or box will go before you drill; a recessed outlet behind the TV makes a big difference.
The art itself
You’ll look at the art far more than you’ll watch the TV. A large, well-curated library matters, and so does the option to upload your own photos. Decide whether you’re willing to pay a monthly subscription: Samsung’s Art Store has the biggest and best-curated library, but full access costs extra.
The best Frame and art TVs
1. Samsung The Frame (2026): best overall
Best for: most people who want a TV that disappears into the room, with the best art library.
Wirecutter’s top pick is the 2026 Samsung The Frame (LS03HE), because it does the most convincing job of transforming into a work of art and has the best selection of artwork and the most curated store. Its edge-mounted LED lighting gives it a slimmer profile than rivals, so it hangs more like a painting. Wirecutter measured it decently bright with HDR video, over 500 nits, with quantum-dot color for better saturation than most competitors. They saw the 55-inch size at $998 at Walmart when they last updated.
The weaknesses are typical of art TVs: black levels aren’t great for movie nights, frame bezels cost extra, and the Art Store requires a subscription for the full catalog. The Verge’s verdict was that for most people, the standard Frame is the one to buy over the Pro.
Pros
- Most convincing art mode, best art store
- Very slim and flush on the wall
- Wide range of sizes and bezel styles
Cons
- Mediocre black levels for movies
- Art Store subscription for full access
- Bezels sold separately
2. Samsung The Frame Pro (2026): best picture quality
Best for: buyers who want an art TV that’s also good for movies, and who want fewer visible cables.
The Frame Pro adds a mini-LED backlight with local dimming, which improves brightness and contrast for both art and video. WIRED named it the best art TV because paintings looked the most realistic, and Yahoo Tech’s reviewer called the screen gorgeous for both TV and art. Its One Connect box is now wireless, so the box with your HDMI ports can be tucked away, and Samsung’s art catalog runs to more than 5,000 works with a subscription.
There are real trade-offs. Yahoo noted it’s expensive, a bezel isn’t included (about $200 extra), and wall mounting was difficult enough that you may want a professional. The Verge felt the wireless box was a lateral move that adds latency and still requires a thick power cable. Gamers should take the latency point seriously.
Pros
- Best picture quality of any art TV
- Wireless connection box hides ports
- Huge art library
Cons
- Expensive, and the bezel costs extra
- Wireless box adds latency
- Tricky installation
3. Hisense CanvasTV: best value
Best for: buyers who want the art TV look without the Samsung price or a subscription.
Hisense’s CanvasTV comes with a magnetic wood-look frame in the box and a subscription-free art collection that a firmware update expanded to more than 1,000 works. Yahoo Tech’s reviewer called it extremely good overall and far more affordable than Samsung’s, with a bright matte screen, the best remote of the group and a high refresh rate for gaming. It runs Google TV and works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. Hisense’s 2026 S7 series adds Wi-Fi 6, more game features, a backlit remote and a new 50-inch size.
Reviewers flagged awkward wall-mount instructions, hard-to-reach rear ports once mounted, slightly muted colors, weak speakers and no art store. Wirecutter also noted weaker black levels than Samsung’s best.
Pros
- Frame included and no art subscription
- Bright matte screen, good for gaming
- Much lower price than Samsung
Cons
- Smaller art library, no store
- Ports hard to reach when mounted
- Weak built-in speakers
4. TCL NXTFRAME: lowest price, with compromises
Best for: budget buyers who mainly want the frame look and don’t mind weaker picture quality.
TCL’s NXTFRAME includes two frames in the box, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, and 350-plus artworks plus AI-generated art, running on Google TV. On paper it’s a strong package for the money.
In practice reviewers were disappointed. Yahoo Tech found a below-average screen and missing sensors, and The Verge concluded it falls behind its competitors both as an art TV and as a regular TV. Wirecutter flagged poor brightness and weak art-mode automation. Buy it only if price is the deciding factor.
Pros
- Lowest price of the major art TVs
- Two frames included
- Dolby Vision and Atmos
Cons
- Below-average picture and brightness
- Weaker art-mode automation
- Fewer sensors
5. LG Gallery TV: the new contender
Best for: LG fans and buyers who want a mini-LED art TV alternative to Samsung.
LG’s Gallery TV is a newer entry, offered in 55- and 65-inch sizes with a mini-LED backlight, a matte screen, LG’s Gallery+ art service and support for your own photos. Wirecutter flagged it as an emerging value alternative but hadn’t fully tested it when we researched this guide.
Because independent testing is limited so far, we’d treat it as one to watch and check for full reviews before buying. LG’s OLED Gallery models are a different product: superb for movies, but OLED isn’t ideal for displaying static art for hours.
Pros
- Mini-LED and matte screen
- Personal photo support
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Limited independent testing so far
- Only two sizes
Installation: the part nobody tells you about
Art TVs look best mounted flush, at the height you’d hang a painting, rather than high above a fireplace. Several reviewers found the mounting instructions frustrating, and the Frame Pro in particular may warrant a professional installer. Before you buy, check:
- Stud locations and wall type. Plaster and brick need different anchors.
- Power and cable routes. An in-wall power kit or recessed outlet hides the cord.
- Glare. Even matte screens can catch direct sun. Look at the wall at different times of day.
- Lighting. A picture light above the TV completes the illusion. Smart lighting helps too; see our guide to smart chandeliers.
Do you need an art subscription?
Samsung’s Art Store offers a large curated catalog for a monthly fee, and that library is a big reason The Frame wins. But you can also upload your own photos or buy individual works. Many owners subscribe for a few months, pick favorites, then cancel. Hisense and TCL include their art for free. Check current subscription pricing before you buy, since it’s an ongoing cost.
FAQ
Is an art TV worth it?
If the TV hangs in a living room you use for more than watching TV, yes. If it’s in a media room or you care most about movie picture quality, a conventional TV will give you better image quality for the money.
Which is better, Samsung The Frame or Hisense CanvasTV?
The Frame has the better art experience, the bigger library and the slimmer mount. The CanvasTV is cheaper, includes a frame and doesn’t need a subscription. The Verge’s view was that these are the two to choose between.
Does The Frame use a lot of power in art mode?
Art mode uses electricity, and motion sensors can turn the screen off when no one’s in the room. Check the energy figures for the size you choose.
Can I show my own photos?
Yes on Samsung, Hisense and LG. Yahoo noted the Frame Pro lacks a collage mode for personal photos.
When are art TVs cheapest?
TV prices usually drop around Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November 27 and 30, 2026), and models typically get cheaper as they age.
The bottom line
Buy the standard Samsung The Frame if you want the most convincing art on your wall. Choose the Frame Pro if movie picture quality matters as much as the art, and accept the extra cost and trickier install. Choose the Hisense CanvasTV if you want 80% of the experience for much less money and no subscription.
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Related guides: Samsung Frame vs LG Gallery TV: Which Art TV to Buy, Is the Samsung Frame TV Worth It?.
