Samsung The Frame TV (2021), the 2021 edition, is a line of stylish TVs from Samsung that can blend in with any space. It’s becoming more important that TVs are stylish and packed with smart features, as they grow in size.
The Frame TV for 2021 displays works of art in standby mode, and has a customizable frame that can be used for wall hanging. It is as fashionable to have around your house as it is to use.
This is why The Frame is our top choice in our best Samsung televisions guide. You can read our complete Samsung The Frame (2021 review here.
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Samsung The Frame TV (2021), price and availability
- Available in 43-inch (50-inch), 55-inch (55-inch), 65-inch, 65, and 75-inch sizes
- The design-friendly look is what you’re paying for
- Samsung The Frame (2021), at Amazon for US$2,597.99
Frame TV’s 2021 range is now available. All other options, except the 1080p 32 inch model, are available at 4K resolution. The 32-inch model starts at $599/PS499, but there are other options as well. Prices start at PS1,099/$999, and go up to PS2,599/$2,999 for the largest models.
Though the spec sheet here is worthy, it’s not quite flagship level, and so you’re paying the premium on the interior-design-friendly look of The Frame TV.
Samsung The Frame TV (2021). Specs
Sizes 43-inch to 50-inch, 55 inches, 55-inch to 65-inch, 65-inch to 75-inch
Resolution4K 3,840×2,160
Processor: Quantum Processor 4K
Frequency 100/120 (50/60, 43-50″) Hz
App platform:SmartTV Powered by TIZEN With Bixby Voice, Apps, and Full Web Browser
Voice assistants Built in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, Bixby
HDMI connections: 4.
HDR: HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG
Dolby audio :Dolby Digital – AC-3, Dolby Digital Plus – E-AC-3)
Special Features:OneConnect, Game Bar
The new 2022 Samsung The Frame TV version is a bit more expensive than the 2021 TV, but it’s still very comparable to the 2021 TV. The 43-inch version costs $899 / PS1,299 / AU$1,495. To learn more, take a look at our Samsung QLED 4K TV (2022) review.
The story is similar for the previous version. You can read more in our Samsung The Frame TV 2020 review. The 43-inch version was priced at $999 / PS1,199/ AU$1,559 at the time it was released.
It’s difficult to directly compare the Samsung The Frame Television (2021) with other brands in terms of their competition, as it’s more than a TV. There are many stylish TVs out there that don’t have art modes. LG’s Gallery Series OLED television is one example. The 55-inch LG OLED55GX was also released in 2021. Its RRP is $2,499 / PSV2,099 / AU$4139. Although it’s more expensive than The Frame TV (2021), it looks great and is a better TV overall. Read our LG Gallery Series LCD TV (OLED65GX), to learn more.
The Samsung The Frame TV 2021 is still quite expensive compared to its competitors, but the improvements in image quality make it an even better package.
Samsung The Frame TV (2021), design
- Looks stunning
- Art Mode app transforms it into a work
- Four HDMI ports
In our normal reviews, we separate the discussion about design from that of TV software interface. But The Frame is an exception, since both work together. You’ll find information here about the design and some of the software features that compliment it.
The Frame TV, unlike many TVs that are a black hole in your living space when they’re turned off, is designed to be decorative. The set’s basic black frame isn’t much to talk about, but Samsung has a variety of clip-on bezel pieces available that can be attached to the set to make it fit in a range decors. These include wood-like frames and bold colors.
(Image credit: Future)
These bezels are used to create the illusion that the wall-mounted device is a picture and not a TV.
The Art Mode app is available in conjunction with Samsung’s Art Mode app. A monthly subscription (US $5, UK PS3.99 per month) allows you to access thousands of works of artwork that can be displayed on your screen. These include collections from galleries such as the Van Gogh Museum and the Louvre, as well as artists from contemporary masters like Sutianto and classics like Monet. A few free designs are included for those who don’t want to subscribe, while the “My Collection” section allows you to upload up 16GB/1,200 images.
(Image credit: Future)
You can also set them on one of a variety of matte “mounts” to give the TV the feel of a painting and not a device. The screen’s anti-reflective coating, ambient and motion sensors, and ability to adjust brightness and contrast as you approach it, make it appear as if it’s painting on the wall.
This TV is also the easiest to set up we have ever seen. It can be wall-mounted, but it will sit flush against a wall due to its flat, thin design. Instead, it sits on two separate feet that can be adjusted at two heights to accommodate soundbars beneath the screen. They simply slide and click into the place on either side of the TV’s back. No screws are required. You can also purchase a Studio mount, which is sold separately.
The One Connect box from Samsung makes it even easier to set up. This box is a breakaway that connects to your screen using a single fiber optic cable. It also houses all the connections you need for external devices.
Four HDMI ports are available (one eArc compatible and another HDMI 2.1 compatible to play 120Hz and VRR gaming–though the 43 inch screen we tested was maxed out at 60Hz), along with a digital optical output and Ethernet connection. There are also two USB ports and a CI card slot.
Satellite and terrestrial tuners are supported. Dual-band Wi-Fi is also available. Bluetooth for wireless devices, including keyboards and mice, is also supported. TechRadar is a huge fan of the One Connect box, which allows you to neatly hide most cables from your TV. We also appreciate Samsung’s addition of it to its sets.
The package also includes a pair remotes. Each remote has shortcut buttons to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus (the company’s free TV streaming service).
The one remote has all the usual controls, including volume, playback and channel selection options. But the other remote is stripped-down with the most frequently used functions only having their own buttons. Although it is simple to use, its greatest feature is the solar panel on its back. This means that it will never have to replace its batteries.
Samsung The Frame TV (2021), smart TV (Tizen).
- Samsung’s Tizen operating system
- Ambient mode functions like a screensaver
The Art Mode and the rest are based on Samsung’s Tizen operating system. This is used in The Frame.
The basics: There are many streaming apps that you can download from The Frame TV. These include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. You can also use local providers like Sky’s Now TV and BBC iPlayer. The Samsung TV Plus app also offers a variety of streaming channels.
Scroll down to see a mix of algorithmically and curated content from your TV streaming apps on horizontal tracks. The “On Now” section displays live TV from your apps, while the trending content from Netflix and Disney Plus is below. The Frame’s interface is easy to use, has relevant content suggestions, and is quick to move about.
Samsung’s smart credentials for The Frame TV go beyond streaming. Samsung’s Ambient Mode, which has been featured on many sets in its range, can also be used as a screensaver. It offers headlines, weather reports, and simply slideshows.
You can use the screen as a SmartThings Hub – that’s the Samsung-branded smarthome controller. It allows you to access connected devices such as smart lights, security systems, and everything else.
Mirroring other devices onto the Frame is another great feature of The Frame. You can download the PC On TV app for your computer and your desktop will be displayed on the large screen. SmartThings for Android phones allows you to mirror your smartphone’s screen onto the TV. Apple’s AirPlay content beaming standards is also supported.
To have your Samsung Galaxy phone’s content shared or mirrored by The Frame, tap the device side-by-side. The screen also has a picture in-picture and side by side Multi-View options. These are great for checking your form while exercising or keeping an eye on your friend during a video chat during a heated sport match.
Access to voice control through a variety of smart assistants completes the smart credentials. Samsung’s long-serving voice assistant Bixby is now available, but it is best to ignore. You’ll be better served with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa supported by Samsung, which can be combined with a smart speaker to control your TV hands free with a variety of voice commands.
Samsung The Frame TV (2021), picture and sound quality
- Image quality improvements in 2020 version
- Rich colours
- HDR support includes HDR10+ and HLG
The design of Samsung’s Frame TV sets has always been impressive, but they have occasionally struggled in the picture department. The 2021 model is a perfect match for the mid-range Samsung models.
The Frame TV will deliver rich colors as we have come to expect from QLED technology. Samsung uses a Dual LED backlight system to bring together two different color temperatures, giving you the best possible image from its Quantum Dot filter array. OLED screens won’t be affected by it, but black levels will look deep and real. The backlight performs well, ensuring that no spot is washed out.
Quantum Processor 4K is also impressive. Motion is handled with ease, and 4K content can be viewed in pin-sharp. The best thing about the screen is its ability to handle lower resolution content. The screen handles standard definition content well, although it can look a bit sloppy. 1080p content scales extremely well on The Frame TV and looks sharp and detailed.
HDR support is available for HLG and HDR10+. However, as with all of Samsung’s products, there is no Dolby Vision. This HDR standard is rapidly becoming more popular and is even supported by the Xbox Series X. The HDR10+ test content shows impressive HDR performance, with noticeable pops to highlights.
Also, we were pleased to see Filmmaker Mode alongside Standard, Natural, Dynamic and Movie image preset options within the settings menu. It was created by Hollywood’s film editors and film colorists to provide a cinematic option that can be used straight out of the box. We recommend the Standard option for most content. Natural is brighter but can make skin tone look unnatural and garish.
Intelligent Mode is also available on the TV. This mode allows you to get the best quality image based on what content you are viewing and improves the audio quality by adjusting the volume based on ambient sounds in the room. However, we found it too inconsistent to trust.
It could, for example, present a great image for broadcast TV content but it could be too aggressive in motion smoothing for movies and seem to take different approaches for individual streaming apps.
However, it did improve audio quality by pushing dialogue forward in a way that significantly improved clarity. It couldn’t improve the overall sound quality, which is still weak. Although the 40W output is powerful in volume, there is a noticeable lack of bass to give proceedings any cinematic depth. This is a problem The Frame TV can tolerate, but it still annoys. If you want to feel completely immersed in the content you are viewing, you should consider purchasing an external soundbar/speaker system. Also, ensure that the speaker system is compatible with Dolby atmos as the screen can decode this immersive surround sound format.
Although we have been testing the 4K/60Hz 43 inch model, there is also a 1080p/60Hz baseline at 32 inches. Any size larger than the 43-inch model gets the full 4K/120Hz treatment via the HDMI 2.1 port. It’s a solid set that gamers will love, with minimal input lag when using an Xbox Series X or Nvidia Shield Android set top box.
Conclusion
With its Art Mode and colorful options for bezel framing, the Frame TV can be used as a statement piece in interior design. This TV is the perfect choice if you value style.
We think that The Frame TV, even though it is available in larger sizes of the same caliber, is still the best second-room TV. This is because of its great picture quality and ability blend in with its surroundings, where large TV screens might be distracting.
The Frame TV has a truly outstanding image quality. This is especially true when compared to previous models. The design is more important than the sound quality and image quality you might find elsewhere. This includes Samsung’s non-Frame models.
