Samsung released an upgraded version of its popular Frame TV, and we put it to the test. Here's what sets it apart.

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Samsung's Frame TVs are a popular choice for people who want a design-focused display in their home. They're made to look like a piece of art hanging on your wall with a flush mount and matte screen that resembles canvas. But while Frame TVs do an excellent job of masquerading as a painting, their overall image quality has always been a bit lacking. That's why Samsung launched a brand-new model called the Frame Pro. This set still has all of the core Frame TV design touches, but it aims to improve picture performance with some contrast and brightness upgrades. It also has a new wireless connection box that could make placement easier in certain rooms.

I have extensive experience with previous-generation Frame models, and I even bought a regular Frame TV for my home. Despite its image quality limitations, I went with a Frame because I wanted a matte display that could reduce reflections. My LG OLED's glossy screen looked great at night, but glare made it unusable for large parts of the day. The Frame's anti-glare panel fixed this problem, and its Art Mode is undeniably cool. Still, the experience of actually watching TV on the standard Frame has always been a bit lacking.

Well, after a few weeks with the new Frame Pro, I'm happy to report that it does indeed offer better picture quality. I used it in the same spot as my standard Frame TV, and it unequivocally performs better, especially if you have a lot of light in your space. However, it still can't match the image capabilities of the very best TVs in a dark room.

If you're considering the Frame Pro, here are the most important things you should know about its performance, design, and upgraded features.

The Frame Pro has a noticeably brighter, higher contrast screen

When it comes to general design and resolution, the Frame Pro is a lot like the standard Frame. Like the regular model, it has a 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160) screen, 120Hz refresh rate (up to 144Hz with a PC), slim wall mount, and motion-activated Art Mode that displays various paintings and images. But there's more advanced technology at work behind the panel, which leads to a brighter and higher-contrast picture when watching movies and TV shows.

In short, the Frame Pro looks better than the regular Frame TV. I watched several movies on both models, and the Frame Pro's brighter image and superior contrast were noticeable. This upgrade is made possible by some changes to the Frame Pro's backlight, which is what illuminates the screen so you can see its images.

Unlike standard Frame TVs, the Frame Pro uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming. This allows the panel to get darker and brighter in specific areas of the screen, which enables better black levels and light control. On TVs without local dimming, like standard Frame models, dark scenes look more washed out and are prone to frequent patches of uneven brightness. Mini LEDs also enable the Frame Pro's screen to get much brighter than past models.

On a 10% brightness test pattern, the Frame Pro hit a peak of nearly 1,000 nits in its Filmmaker HDR picture mode. That's close to what Samsung's upper-midrange QN80F QLED can hit, and about double the brightness of a standard Frame TV. This gives HDR images a bit more pop and helps overcome ambient light.

Thanks to this upgraded tech, the Frame Pro is even easier to see than my standard model when watching TV in a bright room with windows that let in natural sunlight. I've tried other art-style TVs, but the Frame Pro is the best for daytime use. This is the model I'd buy for a sunny room.

Black levels still can't match those of Samsung's high-end TVs

But while the Frame Pro's backlight is a lot better than the standard Frame TV's, it still has some issues when viewed in a dark room. Unlike Samsung's home theater-focused QN80F and QN90F QLED models, which use direct-lit local dimming, the Frame Pro uses a type of edge-lit dimming.

This method isn't as effective. Though some dark sequences are displayed with much deeper black levels than I've seen on the regular Frame, some still suffer from noticeable patches of light that give dark scenes an uneven look. So, depending on the image being displayed, you can still see some lighting blotches when you watch TV at night.

Again, the Frame Pro is definitely better than the standard Frame, but its contrast and black level performance are still a far cry from what you'd get on a direct-lit Mini LED or OLED TV. My LG OLED, for instance, has much better performance in a dark room.

The Wireless One Connect box is one step forward, one step back

Regular Frame TVs use a One Connect Box that's tethered to the display through a thin, semi-transparent cable. This box houses all of the TV's ports, which helps keep the screen slim and allows you to keep your wall free from other wires used to connect external devices, like a cable box or gaming console.

The Frame Pro utilizes a similar design, except that the box now connects to the TV wirelessly. This means more flexibility in where you house your streaming device, video game system, Blu-ray player, and other components. It should be a major win for people placing their TV above a fireplace mantle.

However, there are some drawbacks. Most notably, you now need two power outlets instead of just one. There needs to be power for the TV and one for the Wireless One Connect Box. Previously, the box and TV were powered by the same wire.

Thankfully, the wireless transmission itself works well, and I didn't encounter any picture or audio lag during my testing. That said, there was at least one time when the TV said it couldn't connect to the box despite being a foot away.

Making the Frame Pro truly look like art costs extra money

Samsung's Art Store isn't free. If you want the easiest way to browse and select art pieces to display on your Frame Pro, you'll still need to pony up a $5 monthly fee. There are a couple of free alternative services, but they're more akin to screensavers than simulating the look of a painting on your wall. You can also upload your own photos, but you'll probably need to spend some time editing their aspect ratio to make them fit seamlessly.

Similarly, you'll have to pay extra for different-style art frame bezels. The Frame Pro comes with a standard black border around the TV, but Samsung sells other types that can magnetically attach, including Modern Brown, Modern White, and Sand Gold styles. But be aware that the Frame Pro uses different Samsung bezels than the regular Frame TV, so you can't interchange them.

If you want fancy, elaborate options, brands like Deco TV Frames also sell bezels that fit the Frame Pro. However, I found out the hard way that these bigger bezels won't fit all the way around when using the TV on its stand.

I ran into some minor software bugs

I tested the Frame Pro over a couple of weeks, and I experienced some flakiness with the TV's software. The Frame Pro was occasionally slow to wake up and change inputs, and sometimes, it lagged within its own menu system. I was able to get around this by unplugging the TV to power cycle it each time the issues occurred.

As far as I can tell from reading online forums, others have seen these same issues, too. However, this doesn't seem to be a universal problem, so it's hard to tell how widespread it is. My other Frame TVs haven't experienced this issue. This could be ironed out through firmware updates, but there's no guarantee. As it stands, I don't consider the sluggishness to be a dealbreaker, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.

There are new AI features, but they're mostly a bust

Like most of Samsung's 2025 TVs, the Frame Pro has some new AI-powered features, like a live translation function that can generate subtitles in different languages. While that might seem like a cool addition, in practice, this AI stuff doesn't really pan out in a meaningful way. For example, live translation only works with broadcast TV transmissions over an antenna, so people using streaming apps or cable boxes can't use it.

You can generate AI art, but the interface is too limited to create anything you'd want to look at for long. To keep things simple enough to use with a remote control, there are only a few prompts to select from before an image is created. An "AI-generated content" watermark is also displayed in the bottom corner. Be aware that you can only make up to 10 AI images per day if you enjoy the feature.

There are also AI-enhanced picture and sound modes, but their adjustments are subtle and not immediately noticeable in day-to-day use. The sound tweaks are also relegated to the TV's built-in speakers, so if you use a soundbar, you won't get any benefit.

In all of these cases, I found that I needed to seek the TV's AI features out in order to use them, which isn't a bad thing. There are plenty of pop-up notifications throughout the interface, but in general, I liked that the TV never nagged me to use AI.

Should you buy the Samsung Frame Pro TV?

Like the standard Frame, the Samsung Frame Pro is priced at a premium compared to typical TVs with similar specifications. Though the Frame Pro has notably better image performance than the regular model, you're still mostly paying for design perks rather than picture quality. In most respects, there's nothing wrong with that. After all, this is still a Frame TV geared toward design-focused buyers.

However, the Frame Pro feels like a slightly missed opportunity. Yes, it looks better than the standard Frame, but there are still notable compromises here that prevent the Pro from truly succeeding as an Art TV that can double as a home theater display. It's a step in the right direction, but it's just not there yet.

Ultimately, the Frame Pro's biggest selling point might be its Wireless One Connect box, which is a cool perk for certain room layouts. Its brighter picture when watching TV also makes it a better fit for rooms that let in a lot of light.

But the Frame Pro isn't any more convincing at simulating the look of a painting than the standard Frame TV, which costs less. It's also important to note that the Frame Pro is only available in 65-, 75-, and 85-inch screen sizes, while the regular Frame is also sold in 43, 50, and 55 inches. So, unless you really need the Pro's wireless box and brighter picture, most people are better off saving money and going with the less expensive Frame TV.

For more recommendations across budgets, check out our guide to all of the best Samsung TVs.