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We get calls all of the time for the Samsung Frame TV. Released in 2017, it has created its own corner of the market for years. It is an incredible option for people who want a TV in a room but don’t necessarily want that room dominated by a big black rectangle. It offers access to all kinds of art (for a cost) and comes in sizes ranging from 43 inches all the way up to 85 inches.
But is it for everyone? And what are the advantages or disadvantages?
Right off the bat, of course, you can do more with it than a regular TV in regards to making it fit into a room. The Frame TV offers access via a subscription to a large library of artwork to choose from. Once you make your Samsung account, the process is very straightforward. It does an incredible job of making the artwork look like a picture frame by presenting it with shadows around the edges and adding a touch of depth.
It also helps that the screen has a very matte finish, which greatly reduces the amount of reflections from ambient light or other nearby direct light sources. This feature really makes the artwork pop in a realistic way. You can even upload your own family photos and galleries to the TV via the Samsung SmartThings app on your phone or tablet.
The Samsung Frame TV also pairs with any frames you can find at Frame My TV or Deco TV Frames. They have everything from modern to traditional. So you can really customize the TV to blend into whatever interior design you have going on in your room. It hangs like a picture frame, looks like a picture frame, and even has a motion sensor to turn on art when it detects movement and go back offline when no one is around.
Deco TV Frame Examples
The Frame TV makes a fantastic centerpiece in formal living areas and is an excellent option if it can be done correctly. It is bright enough to overcome glare in a room with a lot of ambient light, and the different sizes they offer guarantee you can find the right one to fit your space.
One of the biggest cons with the Samsung Frame TV, is while it’s really good at displaying art, it is not the best TV for actually WATCHING shows on. It’s not horrible by any means, but The Frame TV is about equal to the Samsung Q60 in regards to processing power and quality. It has no local dimming capabilities since it has an edge lit panel, and compared to the Q80 which is just two steps higher it seriously lacks in contrast levels.
So if it is going to be your MAIN source of entertainment, we suggest going a few steps higher. Especially if you enjoy watching movies and sports. Samsung obviously focused on making the Frame TV good at what it was designed to do, display art. If you're just casually entertaining in a formal living area or great room, it should do fine though.
The biggest elephant in the room.. is the Samsung One Connect box…
The reason a Samsung Frame TV can sit so flush and nice against a wall without any wires showing or going behind it, is because of this One Connect box. It is the brains of the Frame TV and is located outside of the TV itself. There is one five meter long cable with very flat and fragile ends that connects the TV to the One Connect box that all of the power, picture, and data travels through. The cable itself is very thin, and is not something you really want to go yanking down through a wall.
So in the most perfect (or simple) scenario, you’d have a wall with a piece of furniture sitting on the floor. You mount the Frame TV and drop that cable down inside of the wall carefully, route it into the piece of furniture, ultimately hiding the One Connect box and all of your equipment inside. No wires showing, nice and clean, end of story.
But everyone wants these over.. you guessed it, the fireplace. Which is fine, if you have a newer home with a gas burning fireplace (not wood) then we can use one of these back boxes. We can cut in the back box for you, you have an electrician come out and reroute the power into it, the One Connect box goes inside and we hang the Frame TV over the opening. Thus, hiding all of your components in the wall.
Example of a Samsung One Connect Box Inside of a Back Box
If you have a real wood burning brick fireplace, unfortunately, 90% of the time it is impossible. Outside of hiring a mason to come in and take out bricks for a backbox, there’s no perfect option for older wood burning fireplaces. Mounting the TV isn't the issue, it's hiding the One Connect box and powering the TV so you don't see any cords. If you're ok with seeing the One Connect cord and you have power in the mantle (not behind the TV) then sure, it can be done. You just have to get creative with hiding the big black box on your mantle.
That is up to you to decide! Our experts here at Stereo and Video Center would be happy to help you make a decision. Consults in and around the Tyler Texas area are free, so we can come by and look at what you have going on. If you’re building a new home and want the Frame TV as an option, then we can help you plan ahead for it by wiring the home and installing the back boxes for you.
As always, feel free to give us a call or message us through the website!