Samsung LS03D 65" Class The Frame 64.5" 2024 Review

The Samsung LS03D 65" The Frame is a 4K QLED TV designed to look like framed art on your wall. It has great smart features and good enough picture quality for most, but you pay a premium for the aesthetic. It's best for design-focused spaces, not home theater purists.

If you're looking for a 65-inch 4K TV that disappears into your wall when you're not watching it, the Samsung LS03D The Frame is probably on your list. This isn't just a TV; it's a lifestyle piece designed to look like a framed piece of art. It runs Google TV, supports 120Hz for gaming, and includes a slim wall mount to hang it flush. For around $1,000 to $1,050, you're paying for that design-first approach as much as the QLED picture.

The performance here is a bit of a mixed bag, which our data backs up. The Quantum Processor 4K handles upscaling and smart features well, landing the TV in the 98th percentile for smart capabilities. That means the interface is snappy and loaded with apps. For gaming, the 120Hz refresh rate puts it in the 74th percentile, which is solid for casual console gaming. The audio, at a 95th percentile ranking, is surprisingly good for a slim TV, with 40W and Dolby Atmos support creating a decent soundstage. However, the picture quality score is lower, sitting in the 43rd percentile. This means while the 4K QLED panel is bright and colorful, it doesn't have the deep contrast or local dimming prowess of higher-end models, especially in a dark room.

At $1,000 to $1,050, the value proposition is clear: you're buying the art gallery aesthetic. For pure picture quality per dollar, you can find better performers. But if you want a TV that actively enhances your room's decor 24/7 instead of being a black rectangle, that's what you're paying for. It's a premium for a specific look.

Compared directly to other TVs, the trade-offs are obvious. The LG OLED evo G5 will destroy it in contrast and black levels for a similar price, but it won't look like art on your wall. The Samsung Neo QLED QN90F offers much better HDR and brightness for a more cinematic experience. Even the Hisense U6 Series Mini-LED gives you better local dimming at a lower cost. The Frame's closest competitor is really the Sony BRAVIA 5, which also emphasizes design, but Sony typically charges more for the brand. The Frame wins on its specific, integrated art concept.

Skip this TV if you're building a dedicated home theater where lights are always off. The picture quality, while good, isn't best-in-class, and you can get better black levels from an OLED or a high-end Mini-LED for similar money. Also, if you just want the biggest screen for your budget and don't care about Art Mode, your money goes further with a standard model from Samsung, Hisense, or TCL.

You should buy the Samsung The Frame if your top priority is a TV that looks beautiful in your living room all the time, not just when it's on. The Art Mode is a legitimately cool feature, and the matte screen works well. But if you're a cinephile or a hardcore gamer who wants the absolute best HDR and contrast for the money, you'll be disappointed. This is a TV for people who value design as highly as function.