Expert review of the Samsung The Frame 2022

The first thing I notice about the Samsung The Frame from 2022, is the matte screen. I rarely see this on televisions, but it works very well to prevent reflections. The Samsung The Frame is mounted next to last year's version at the location where I'm testing it. I can see the difference between the 2 screens right away. The bright daylight causes annoying reflections on the screen of the Samsung The Frame from 2021. On the latest The Frame model, I hardly notice this.

While the unique design is one of the most important properties of the Samsung The Frame, I also tested the image quality. When I put on a nature documentary on Netflix, I notice the advantages of the 10-bit QLED screen right away. I see lots of different shades of blue in a bright ocean without the blue becoming less vibrant or bright. I especially notice the wide color gamut and large color volume of QLED with HDR images.

Because the Samsung The Frame had edge-lit local dimming, I don't expect the TV to have a powerful contrast. Still, I'm positively surprised with some images. When I watch the sun set between mountains, I can see that the shadows are pretty dark compared to the bright sky. This makes these images look more realistic. Images of a night sky do show the shortcomings of edge-lit local dimming. I can see a white-gray glow around a bright moon against a dark sky, but you won't notice this easily with most images.

When I stand next to the television, I can see the colors and contrast getting slightly worse. While I can still see the image, the quality isn't as good as when I'm right in front of the TV. If you watch TV with a large group of people, those on the ends of the couch will see slightly less vibrant images. The matte screen is great to prevent reflections. It absorbs reflections rather than reflecting them, so they bother you less.

The most important property of this TV is its unique design. With the included mount, you can mount the TV very tightly to the wall. There's hardly any space between the wall and the edge of the TV. If you order a Samsung bezel in a color of your choice, you complete the look. It'll look like you have a real painting hanging on the wall. The One Connect Box makes this setup even more organized. You can connect all your peripherals to this device, which allows you to run 1 single transparent cable to the TV itself. As a result, you can enjoy the sleek design of the Samsung The Frame.

A wooden bezel around a black screen looks strange, which is why you have access to the Art Mode via the Samsung The Frame. This allows me to display all kinds of art pieces in different styles. The brightness adjusts thanks to the brightness sensor, so it's like I'm looking at a real painting. In addition, the matte screen prevents reflections. If you want a bigger art assortment, get a paid subscription to the Samsung Art Store.

The Samsung The Frame has 2 speakers and no subwoofer. The sound is good enough for a talk show or reality TV, but it lacks a powerful bass during a thrilling movie. The soundbar you see on the photo isn't included with the Samsung The Frame, but it was designed for this television. This Ultra Slim soundbar matches the sleek design of the Samsung The Frame nicely. Do you like watching movies and series? I recommend using a separate soundbar with the Samsung The Frame.

The smart platform of Samsung TVs has gotten a new look in 2022. Instead of a row of tiles at the bottom of the screen, I now see a full-screen menu with a clear row of apps and recommended movies and series. I can easily switch to the Ambient Mode, Art Mode, and game menu as well. The menu looks sleek and it's very user-friendly. The menu responds very quickly, so I can select a movie via apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ fast.

The remote is the same as the one from last year, the Solar One Remote. This compact and comfortable remote has a limited number of buttons, which makes it look sleek and clear. Via the app shortcuts, I can open Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+ at the touch of a button. There's a small solar panel on the back of the One Remote, which charges the remote with both sunlight and artificial light. So you never have to replace the batteries of the remote again.