Is the Samsung Frame TV Worth It? (2026)
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 23, 2026.
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Samsung’s The Frame created the art TV category in 2017, and it’s still the model most people picture when they imagine a TV that looks like a painting. It’s also pricier than a conventional TV with similar picture quality, and it comes with an optional art subscription. So is it worth it?
This guide answers that question using Wirecutter’s June 2026 art TV testing and WIRED’s review of the 2026 Frame Pro. We haven’t tested these TVs ourselves, and every measurement is credited. Prices are as listed by reviewers and retailers and change frequently.
The short answer: The Frame is worth it if design matters as much as picture quality, especially in a living room where a black rectangle would spoil the look. It’s not worth it if you mainly watch movies in a dark room or want the best picture for the money. For that, Wirecutter points to conventional LCD and OLED TVs.
Our picks at a glance
| The Frame (2026) | The Frame Pro (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Wirecutter rating | Top art TV pick | Upgrade pick |
| 55-in price (listings) | $998 | $1,098–1,200 |
| HDR brightness (Wirecutter) | Over 500 nits | 924 nits peak |
| Black level (Wirecutter) | About 0.1 nits | Sometimes over 1 nit at brightest |
| Input lag (Wirecutter) | 12.5 ms | 36 ms via Wireless One Connect |
| Sizes | 32–98 in | 55–85 in |
| Art store | $4.99/month or ~$50/year; ~30 free works monthly | Same |
What you’re paying for
The art illusion
Wirecutter’s top reason for recommending The Frame is that it does the most convincing job of transforming into a work of art on your wall. Its edge-lit design keeps it slim, the included slim-fit mount holds it flush, and its magnetic bezels make it look framed. Most importantly, Wirecutter found both Frame models get much dimmer in art mode than any competitor. Real paintings don’t glow, so that matters.
The best art library
Wirecutter says Samsung’s art store is vastly better than the competition’s. It has almost 2,300 artists and over 3,500 works, including nearly 100 Van Goghs and over 100 Winslow Homers, from partners such as the Met, MFA Boston and the Art Institute of Chicago, with an active curator. Wirecutter quotes the subscription at $50 a year and thinks it’s justified. WIRED cites $4.99 a month. Without paying, you still get about 30 free, rotating works each month, and you can upload your own photos.
Color and gaming
Wirecutter measured 100% SDR gamut coverage and about 94% of DCI-P3, which is better color than any non-Samsung art TV it tested. The Frame is Pantone validated for art. It has a 144 Hz refresh rate, four HDMI 2.1 ports and 12.5 ms of input lag, which Wirecutter calls decent for gaming.
Where it falls short
Picture quality is good, not great. Wirecutter found the edge lighting and lack of local dimming produce high black levels, so shadows glow a little on movie night. Its 300 nits in SDR and over 500 in HDR are dimmer than Wirecutter’s budget 4K TV pick, which reaches 1,000 nits and costs much less. There’s no Dolby Vision. Most 2026 sizes have their connections on the TV itself, so for a clean wall you’ll need to run cables in-wall. Wirecutter also calls Samsung’s AI art generation basically still in beta.
Is the Frame Pro worth the upgrade?
For bright rooms, likely yes. Wirecutter calls it the brightest art TV on the market, at 924 nits peak, and the only one with local dimming. Its Wireless One Connect box transmits up to 30 feet, leaving just a power cord at the TV. WIRED praises its new anti-glare coating, contrast and color, calling it “pricey but worth it,” and notes a $2,000 price for the model it reviewed. Downsides: 36 ms of input lag through the wireless box (Wirecutter), sizes start at 55 inches, and WIRED encountered some software bugs.
Alternatives
1. Samsung The Frame (2026): the classic
Best for: design-first living rooms.
Wirecutter’s top art TV, with the most sizes, the best art mode and store, and a simple flush mount.
Weak blacks and no Dolby Vision.
Pros
- Convincing art mode
- Most sizes
Cons
- Mediocre blacks
2. Samsung The Frame Pro (2026): for bright rooms
Best for: bright rooms and cable-free installs.
The brightest art TV, with local dimming and a wireless connection box.
Input lag, and a higher price.
Pros
- Very bright
- Clean install
Cons
- Input lag
3. Amazon Ember Artline: the budget art TV
Best for: budget buyers who don’t want a subscription.
Wirecutter’s budget pick has a free art store and a free bezel, Dolby Vision, and better black levels (about 0.02 nits) than The Frame. WIRED notes a 65-inch for about $1,100.
It’s dimmer, has a 60 Hz panel, and Wirecutter found its art mode doesn’t dim enough for dark rooms.
Pros
- Free art
- Better blacks
Cons
- Dimmer
- Less convincing art mode
4. LG Gallery TV: the new rival
Best for: Google TV households.
LG’s first dedicated art TV uses Mini LED backlighting and comes in 55 and 65 inches. Wirecutter hadn’t tested it at publication. See our Frame vs LG Gallery comparison.
Independent test results are pending.
Pros
- Mini LED
- Two sizes
Cons
- Untested by Wirecutter
5. A conventional TV: for movie lovers
Best for: dark-room viewing.
If picture quality matters most, Wirecutter’s favorite LCD TV is the Sony Bravia 7 II, and its OLED value pick is the Samsung S90H.
No art-mode illusion.
Pros
- Better picture for the money
Cons
- Looks like a TV
How to decide
- Buy The Frame if the TV hangs in a main living space and design matters.
- Buy the Frame Pro for bright rooms or if running cables in-wall isn’t possible.
- Skip it for a dedicated home theater; buy an OLED instead.
- Consider the Ember Artline if you’d rather not pay for art.
Tips if you buy
Wirecutter recommends Filmmaker Mode for watching SDR and HDR video, and leaving art mode on its default settings so it adapts to the room’s light. Turn off viewing-information tracking under Settings, then Privacy Choices. Plan the wall: center it at gallery height, budget for in-wall cable runs, and choose a bezel to match your décor. Samsung sells bezels separately, which Wirecutter prices at $150 apiece. WIRED says standard bezels cost $199 and the Deco Burlwood frames $699.
Who The Frame is perfect for
The Frame makes the most sense in a home where the TV hangs in a main living space, such as over a fireplace, in an open-plan great room or in a formal living room, and where you’d otherwise hide the TV or skip it entirely. It’s also a smart choice for design-led apartments where every wall counts, and for anyone who loves art but doesn’t want to commit to a single physical piece. Rotating seasonal art, family photos or museum works keeps a room feeling fresh.
It’s less compelling for a dedicated media room, for avid gamers who want the lowest input lag on the Pro, and for anyone who’d never use art mode. Those buyers get more picture for their money from a conventional TV.
Energy and art mode
Art mode keeps the screen on at low power so the artwork stays visible. The Frame uses its sensors to adjust brightness to the room, and SmartThings routines can turn the display off overnight or when no one’s around. If energy use concerns you, schedule art mode for waking hours only.
Getting the look right
The Frame’s illusion depends on details. Hang it at the height you’d hang a painting, not a TV. Use a matte, warm-toned piece of art in daytime and a darker work at night. Choose a bezel that echoes wood or metal elsewhere in the room. Hide cables in the wall, or choose the Frame Pro’s wireless box. With those touches, guests often won’t realize it’s a TV.
How we researched this guide
We don’t run a test lab, so we built this guide from independent testing by Wirecutter, whose reviewer has tested and calibrated more than 300 displays, and WIRED. Where they measured something, we report their numbers and credit them by name. Where sources disagreed, or a claim came only from a manufacturer, we say so. We also weighed long-term ownership factors that matter to luxury buyers: warranty terms, build quality, ease of care and how a product fits into a well-designed home. Prices quoted are as listed by reviewers or retailers at the time of their writing and will change, so check current listings before you buy.
Common mistakes
- Mounting it too high, like a conventional TV.
- Leaving visible cables running down the wall.
- Using bright, glossy art that looks like a screen.
- Buying the Pro for a dark room, where its brightness advantage matters less.
Buying tips
Samsung discounts The Frame often, especially around major holidays, and Wirecutter’s listings show the 55-inch Frame at $998 and the 55-inch Frame Pro from $1,098. Check whether the size you want is a current-year model, since Wirecutter notes the 32-, 43- and 50-inch versions are carryovers it hasn’t tested. Budget for a bezel and, for the standard Frame, in-wall cable work.
FAQ
Is The Frame good for watching movies?
It’s fine in a lit room, but Wirecutter says its blacks aren’t great for dark-room movie nights.
Do you have to pay for art on The Frame?
No. You get about 30 free works a month and can upload photos; the full store is a subscription.
Is The Frame Pro better?
It’s brighter and has local dimming and a wireless box, but it adds input lag.
What sizes does The Frame come in?
From 32 to 98 inches, though smaller sizes are earlier-year models, per Wirecutter.
Does The Frame support Dolby Vision?
No; Samsung TVs don’t support Dolby Vision.
The bottom line
The Samsung Frame is worth it when you value a TV that disappears into your decor. Its art mode and art store remain the best, according to Wirecutter. If picture quality comes first, a conventional TV gives you more for less. Our art TV guide covers all the options.
