So, you’re looking at your living room and thinking that big black rectangle on the wall is kinda killing the vibe. I get it. Most of us want a high-end TV, but we don't necessarily want our homes to look like a sports bar when the game is off. This is exactly why the Samsung The Frame 2024 exists.
But honestly? There’s a lot of noise out there about what this TV actually is—and what it isn't.
Some people think it’s just last year’s model with a new sticker. Others expect it to compete with $3,000 OLEDs in a dark room. Neither of those is quite right. If you're dropping a couple of grand on a "lifestyle" TV, you should probably know what you're actually paying for.
The Big 2024 Update: It’s About the Art, Not Just the Pixels
The most significant change this year isn't the resolution or the brightness. It’s the Pantone Validated ArtfulColor certification.
Basically, Samsung went to the world’s leading color experts and said, "Prove to people that our digital art looks like real art." The 2024 model is the first in the world to get this specific validation. It means when you’re looking at a digital reproduction of a Van Gogh or a modern piece from the Art Store, the skin tones and the specific paint hues are scientifically accurate to the original physical swatches.
Is it a game-changer? For your eyes, maybe. For your energy bill? Definitely.
Samsung added a dynamic refresh rate to the Samsung The Frame 2024 (for the 55-inch models and up). When you’re watching The Bear, it runs at a smooth 120Hz. But the second you switch to Art Mode, it downclocks to 60Hz. It’s a smart way to shave about 10% off the energy consumption of a TV that's designed to stay on all day.
Does it actually look like a painting?
The matte display is still the MVP here.
If you haven't seen one in person, it’s hard to describe how much of a difference the anti-reflective coating makes. Most TVs have a glossy screen that reflects your floor lamps and your windows. The Frame scatters that light. It creates this chalky, canvas-like texture that makes the "is that a TV or a painting?" trick actually work.
I’ve seen plenty of "Frame-style" TVs, but most of them still have that tell-tale glass sheen. Samsung’s matte finish is still the gold standard for killing reflections.
Let’s talk about the "Pro" elephant in the room
Here is where things get a little confusing for 2024 and 2025 buyers.
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Samsung recently introduced a "Pro" version of The Frame. While the standard Samsung The Frame 2024 (the LS03D model) uses an edge-lit QLED panel, the Pro version moves toward Neo QLED tech.
Why does this matter? Contrast.
The standard Frame is an edge-lit TV. That means in a pitch-black room, the blacks are more of a dark gray. If you’re a hardcore cinephile who watches movies in a basement cave, you might find it a bit underwhelming compared to an OLED. However, most people putting this in a bright, sun-drenched living room won't care. The matte screen does more for the viewing experience in a bright room than deep blacks do in the dark.
Hardware and Setup: The One Connect Box is a Blessing (and a Curse)
You can't talk about the Samsung The Frame 2024 without mentioning the One Connect Box.
It’s a separate box where all your HDMI ports and power live. Only one tiny, near-invisible "Invisible Connection" cable runs from the box to the TV.
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- The Good: You can hide your Xbox, cable box, and messy wires in a cabinet 15 feet away.
- The Bad: You have to find a place for that box. It’s not small—roughly the size of a large laptop.
- The Reality: If you’re wall-mounting (which you should), you’ll likely need to cut a hole in the wall or have a recessed media box behind the TV to hide the One Connect Box if you don't have furniture underneath it.
The Art Store: The $5.99 Monthly Question
The TV comes with a few dozen free pieces of art, including a rotating "Samsung Art Store – Streams" collection that updates monthly. It’s nice. It’s fine.
But if you want the "good" stuff—the Met, the Louvre, the Keith Harings—you’re looking at a subscription.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer to pay for a subscription on top of a premium TV price, but the library is massive (over 2,500 pieces). You can also just upload your own photos via the SmartThings app for free. Just a pro tip: if you upload your own photos, use a photo editor to desaturate them a bit and add a slight "paper" texture. It makes them look much more realistic on the matte screen.
Gaming Performance: Surprisingly Decent
You wouldn't expect an "art TV" to be a gaming beast, but the 55-inch and larger models of the Samsung The Frame 2024 actually hold their own.
- 4K at 120Hz: It supports high-frame-rate gaming on HDMI port 4.
- VRR and ALLM: It has Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode, which basically means no screen tearing and very little lag.
- Samsung Gaming Hub: You can stream Xbox or NVIDIA GeForce Now games directly on the TV without a console, provided you have a Bluetooth controller and decent Wi-Fi.
It’s not going to beat a dedicated gaming monitor or a high-end OLED for response times, but for 95% of people, it’s more than enough.
Why you might want to wait (or buy the old one)
Tech reviewers often say the best time to buy a TV is right when the new one comes out so you can buy the previous year's model for cheap.
With the Samsung The Frame 2024, the upgrades are incremental. If you find a 2023 model (LS03B) on a massive clearance sale, you’re getting about 90% of the same experience. You'll miss out on the Pantone ArtfulColor validation and the slight energy savings of the variable refresh rate, but the core "art on the wall" effect remains the same.
That said, if color accuracy is your thing—if you're an artist or a designer—the 2024 model's validation is worth the premium. It looks noticeably less "digital" in certain lighting conditions.
Actionable Insights for Potential Buyers
If you’ve decided the Samsung The Frame 2024 is the one, here is how you actually make it look good:
- Budget for the Bezel: The TV comes with a basic black frame that looks like... well, a TV. To make it look like art, you have to buy the magnetic bezels separately. They snap on in seconds. The "Teak" and "White" are classics, but third-party companies like Deco TV Frames make ornate gold or silver frames that really sell the illusion.
- Sensor Calibration is Key: The Motion Sensor is supposed to turn the TV off when you leave the room. It’s often set to "high" sensitivity by default. If your cat walking by triggers the TV, go into the settings and dial it down.
- Check Your Wall Type: The "Slim-Fit Wall Mount" is included in the box. It’s great, but it requires a very flat surface to sit flush. If your wall is even slightly bowed, you might have a tiny gap.
- Lighting Matters: The "Art Mode" looks best when it’s not competing with a direct spotlight. The brightness sensor is good, but if you have a lamp reflecting directly into the center of the screen, the matte finish will create a "haze" rather than a sharp reflection.
The Samsung The Frame 2024 isn't the best TV for everyone. If you want the brightest possible HDR for movies, go buy a Samsung S95D OLED. If you want a TV that disappears into your decor and looks stunning in a sunlit room, this is still the undisputed king of the category. Just make sure you know that you're paying for the aesthetic and the specialized matte coating as much as you are for the 4K panel inside.
To get started, decide where you'll house the One Connect Box before you drill any holes. If you're planning to use your own photos, spend some time curating a high-resolution folder now—the Art Mode is only as good as the images you feed it.