The Frame Pro is an upgraded version of Samsung's popular Frame TV. We put it to the test to see what sets it apart.

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Samsung's Frame TVs are a go-to for anyone who wants a screen that can double as stylish home decor. They're designed to look like artwork when not in use, with a flush wall mount and a matte panel that resembles canvas. The effect is great, but the trade-off has always been clear: while the Frame nails its "painting on a wall" look, its overall image quality has lagged behind the best TVs you can buy.

That's why I was excited to learn about Samsung's Frame Pro model. It keeps all the signature Frame design touches but promises better picture performance, thanks to upgrades to contrast and brightness. There's also a new wireless connection box that makes placement a lot easier in certain rooms.

I've spent a lot of time with previous-generation Frame models, and I bought a standard Frame for my own home. I chose it despite its image quality limitations because I really wanted a matte display that could reduce reflections. My LG OLED's glossy screen looked fantastic at night, but glare made it basically unusable for big chunks of the day. The Frame's anti-glare panel solved that problem, and its Art Mode is undeniably cool. But actually watching TV on the regular Frame has always felt a bit underwhelming.

After testing the Frame Pro for a few weeks in the exact same spot as my standard Frame, I can confidently say it delivers better picture quality, especially in rooms that receive a lot of light. But while the display's improved brightness is a cool perk, the Frame Pro still has contrast issues when watching TV in a dark room.

If you're thinking about upgrading to the Frame Pro, here are the most important things to know about its performance, design, and new 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 features a 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160) screen, a 120Hz refresh rate (up to 144Hz with a PC), a slim wall mount, and support for interchangeable bezels. It also features the same motion-activated Art Mode, which displays various paintings and images.

However, behind the Frame Pro's panel lie bigger differences in technology, which result in a brighter and higher-contrast picture. In short, the Frame Pro simply looks better than the regular Frame TV.

I watched several movies and TV shows on both models, and the Frame Pro's brighter image and superior contrast were noticeable. This upgrade is made possible by 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 darken and brighten specific areas of the screen, which enables better black levels and light control. On TVs without local dimming, such as standard Frame models, dark scenes appear more washed out and are prone to frequent patches of uneven brightness.

The Frame Pro's Mini LED backlight also enables its 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 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 also tried other art-style TVs from Hisense and TCL, but the Frame Pro is by far 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 blotchy lighting when watching TV at night.

Again, the Frame Pro is definitely better than the standard Frame, but its contrast and black level performance still fall short of what you'd get from a direct-lit Mini LED or OLED TV. For instance, my LG OLED performs significantly better 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's 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 both the TV and 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

Although Samsung offers a rotating selection of free artwork, the full library costs $5 a month. 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 likely need to spend some time editing their aspect ratio to ensure they 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 also sells other types that can be magnetically attached, including Modern Brown, Modern White, and Sand Gold styles. However, be aware that the Frame Pro utilizes different Samsung bezels than the regular Frame TV, so they cannot be interchanged.

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 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 resolve this issue by unplugging the TV to power cycle it each time the problem occurred.

From what I can tell from reading online forums, others have also encountered these same issues. 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 features several new AI-powered enhancements, including a live translation function that can generate subtitles in multiple 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 take advantage of 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. And remember, you can only create up to 10 AI images per day if you choose to use this 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.

Should you buy the Samsung Frame Pro TV?

Like the standard Frame, the 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 design-focused TV built for people who favor aesthetics.

But I can't help but feel like the Frame Pro is a slightly missed opportunity. Yes, it looks better than the standard Frame, but there are still notable compromises here that prevent the Frame Pro from serving 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 is also a plus for people who watch TV in rooms that let in a lot of light.

However, the Frame Pro is no more convincing at simulating the look of a painting than the standard Frame TV, which costs less. It's also only available in 65-, 75-, and 85-inch screen sizes, whereas the regular Frame is also sold in 43, 50, and 55-inch sizes. So, unless you really need the Pro's wireless box and brighter picture, most people are still better off saving money and going with the less expensive Frame TV.