Samsung LS03D Samsung LS03D 50" Class The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV Review

Buy it for the frame, not for the picture. This is a stylish piece of wall art that streams Netflix, not a home theater powerhouse.

The Samsung The Frame is a TV that's more about the art than the action. Its whole pitch is that it looks like a picture frame when it's off, and honestly, it nails that. The matte display and flush wall mount make it genuinely disappear into your decor. But here's the one thing to know: you're buying a beautiful piece of wall art that happens to play TV shows, not a top-tier home theater display. The smart features are excellent, but the picture quality is just... fine.

Looking at our data, the performance is a real mixed bag. The smart features and connectivity are top-tier, landing in the 98th and 94th percentiles. That means it's a champ for streaming and smart home stuff. But the picture quality score is a letdown at the 43rd percentile. The QLED panel is decent, but it's not the vibrant, contrast-rich experience you might expect from a premium Samsung TV. And gamers should look elsewhere—that 60Hz refresh rate puts it in the 26th percentile for gaming. It's fast enough for menus, but not for fast-paced content.

At around $850, the value proposition is simple: you're paying for the frame, not the picture. If you want a TV that blends into your living room and looks like a million bucks when it's off, this is worth the premium. If you want the best picture for your dollar, it's not.

Compared to other TVs in this price range, the trade-offs are clear. The Hisense U6 Mini-LED offers much better contrast and brightness for the same money, but it looks like a plain black rectangle. The Roku Pro Series is another strong contender with better gaming features and a more user-friendly interface, but again, it's just a TV. The Frame's only real competitor is another Frame, or maybe an LG G-series OLED if you want both great art mode and stunning picture quality—but that's a much more expensive conversation.

Skip this if you're a gamer or a cinephile. The 60Hz panel and middling picture scores make it a poor choice for immersive entertainment. Go get a Hisense U6 Mini-LED or a TCL Q-series instead—you'll get a much better picture for your money, even if it looks like a regular TV.

We recommend the Samsung The Frame, but only for a very specific person. If your top priority is aesthetics and you want a TV that doesn't look like a TV, this is your best and really only option. For everyone else—gamers, movie buffs, or anyone who prioritizes picture quality over interior design—there are better-performing TVs for the same money or less.