THE BEST DEALS OF THE DAY
With ever-larger televisions, it is increasingly important that our televisions blend in with their surroundings. Samsung has been leading the charge with its The Frame TVs for several years, but its 2021 edition finally sees the line in front of the best that Samsung has to offer.
Featuring artwork on standby and with a customizable frame that makes it ideal for wall hanging, The Frame TV for 2021 is functionally as fun to watch as it is fashionable to have around the house.
Starting at 32 inches (in a 1080p setting) and going all the way up to 75 inches, we tested the 4-inch QLED 43K model for this review.
Prices and availability
- Samsung Samsung The Frame (2021) at Amazon for € 1,197.99
The Frame TV range for 2021 is now available. Aside from the 1080-inch 32p model, all other options are in 4K resolution. Starting at € 599 / € 499 for the 32-inch model, there are also 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch options, with prices starting at € 1,099 / € 999 and up. until the end. € 2,599 / € 2,999 for larger models.
While the spec sheet here is worthy, it's not a flagship level, so you're paying a heavy price for the user-friendly appearance of The Frame TV's interior design. It's still a bit pricey, but as we'll see, the improvements in image quality make it a much better package this time around.
Integrated
We typically separate our discussions of TV software design and interface in our reviews, but The Frame is a slightly different beast, as the two work hand-in-hand. So here you will find information not only about industrial design, but also about some of the software features that complement this exterior.
Where many televisions exist like a black hole in your living room when turned off, The Frame TV is more designed to be decorative. While the out-of-the-box set is far from fancy with its simple black bezel, Samsung does have a range of separately sold snap-on bezel pieces that can be used to help the set fit into a range. bright color finishes for wood frames.
When placed on the wall, these frames help make it look like you have a photo hanging on the wall instead of a TV. Works in conjunction with Samsung's Art Mode app - a monthly subscription (€5 per month in the US, €3.99 per month in the UK) gives you access to thousands of works of art that can be displayed on screen when it's dormant, with collections drawn from galleries like the Louvre and the Van Gogh Museum, and from contemporary artists like Sutianto to classical masters like Monet. (There are also some free designs included for those who don't like the subscription, while the "My Collection" section allows you to upload up to 16GB / 1200 images of your choice.)
These can then be placed on a selection of matte 'supports', adding to the impression that this is a painting, not a gimmick, hanging on the wall. And with the screen's effective anti-reflective coating and motion and mood sensors that automatically adjust brightness and contrast, as well as turning the TV into its artistic mode when you get close to it, it's truly wonderful to look as if there were a painting and picture paper on your wall.
It is also one of the easiest TVs to install that we have tested. When not glued to the wall (it will align with a wall thanks to its relatively thin and flat design), it sits on two separate legs, which can be adjusted to two different heights to accommodate a soundbar under the display. These simply snap and fit each end of the TV to the back of the screen, no screws required. A tripod-type studio stand can also be purchased and sold separately.
The inclusion of Samsung's fantastic One Connect box makes setup even easier. This detachable case connects to the display with a single clear fiber optic cable and houses all the connections you'll need for external devices. There are four HDMI ports (one compatible with eArc, another HDMI 2.1 compatible for 120Hz gaming and VRR, although the 43-inch screen we tested doesn't go above 60Hz), as well as a digital optical out, an Ethernet connection, an IC slot. for card and two USB ports in the box. Terrestrial and satellite tuners are supported, as well as dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless devices, including headsets, keyboards, and mice. We're huge fans of TheComparison's One Connect Box, which allows you to neatly hide most cables away from your TV for easy access, and we always appreciate Samsung adding it to their packages.
To complete the packaging, a pair of remote controls. Each has shortcut buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus (the company's free streaming TV service). But while one has a full range of channel selection, playback, and volume options (among other controls), the other is a streamlined remote with only the most commonly used functions with dedicated buttons. It's easy to use, but its best feature is hidden on the back - a solar panel, which means you never need to replace your batteries.
Smart TV (Tizen)
This art mode and the rest of The Frame's interface are based on Samsung's Tizen operating system, which is being used to good effect overall.
First, the basics: There's a healthy selection of streaming apps available to download and use directly from The Frame TV, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney Plus, and local providers, such as BBC iPlayer and Sky's Now TV. . There is also a selection of free streaming channels gathered in the Samsung TV Plus app.
Scroll down and you'll get a mix of algorithmically arranged and recommended content from your TV streaming apps installed on horizontal rails. Live TV from your apps is shown in the "What's On" section, while trending content from Netflix and Disney Plus is shown below. Frame's interface is easy to navigate, well-stocked with relevant content suggestions, and quick to navigate.
Samsung's The Frame TV smart credentials go far beyond its streaming capabilities. Along with Art Mode, there is Samsung's long-standing Ambient Mode, found in other devices in the Samsung range, which can be used as a kind of screen protector when the TV is not working. It is not actively used, offering headlines, weather reports, or just photo gallery slideshows. . The display can also be used as a SmartThings hub - it's the Samsung-branded smart home controller, giving you access to connected devices on your network, ranging from smart lights to security systems and everything in between.
The Frame also works well when it comes to mirroring your other devices to your screen. Download the PC On TV application on your computer and you can see your desktop on the big screen, with keyboard and mouse support. The SmartThings app for Android phones allows you to mirror your smartphone screen to the TV, while Apple's AirPlay streaming standard is also supported. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can tap the device on the side of the screen to have The Frame share and mirror your content. Finally, the display also offers a side-by-side and picture-in-picture multiple view option, ideal for checking your fitness via your phone's camera while exercising, or keeping an eye on a friend on a video call at a match. sports.
The bottom line of smart credentials is access to voice commands through a selection of smart assistants. Samsung's long-suffering voice assistant Bixby will launch again, but it's best ignored. Instead, you'll be better served by the compatible Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which, combined with a suitable smart speaker, can be used to control your TV hands-free with a selection of voice commands.
Picture and sound quality
Frame TVs from Samsung have always impressed from a design point of view, but have occasionally struggled when it comes to the imaging department. Fortunately, the 2021 model has no such problems: this QLED package is at least what Samsung offers in the upper part of its mid-range.
As you would expect from QLED technology, you can expect wonderfully rich colors from The Frame TV, as Samsung uses a dual LED backlight system, combining two color temperatures to achieve the best possible sound image. While OLED displays don't care, the black levels are deep and believable, with good backlight performance ensuring that no dots on the screen are washed away by a light leak. The Quantum 4K processor also impresses: movement is handled with poise and 4K content is crisp. Best of all is the way the screen handles low-resolution content. Standard definition content may seem a bit thick, but still viewable, and 1080p content scales incredibly well and looks detailed and punchy on The Frame TV.
HDR support includes HLG and HDR10 +, but like the rest of the Samsung lineup, points are being lost for the lack of Dolby Vision, which is increasingly becoming the HDR standard, and is now even Xbox compatible. X Series. Still, the HDR performance is impressive, with remarkably vibrant pop highlights in our HDR10 + test content.
We were also excited to see Filmmaker mode configured with Dynamic Picture Preset, Standard, Natural, and Movie options in the settings menu. Designed as an established framework for Hollywood colorists and film editors, it offers a cinematic option right out of the box, requiring minimal adjustments, great for sitting down to watch a movie. For most of the rest of the content, we'll stick with the Standard option: natural might be brighter, but it can make skin tones look garish and ironically...