Introduction
TVs have come a long way from the bulky boxes of yesteryear. Today‘s ultra-thin displays can blend seamlessly into living room décor, yet many still have an incongruous black screen when not in use. Enter a new category of televisions designed specifically to resemble hanging artwork.
With their thin profiles and customizable frames, these "art TVs" aim to complement room aesthetics even when powered off. Beyond appealing design, they need to perform well as actual televisions too. In this guide, we’ll explore the top models that balance form and function to bring a gallery-worthy look home.
Key Factors When Buying an Art TV
Here are some key considerations when shopping for TVs that double as décor:
- Thinness: Super slim depth approaching 1 inch or under will hang nearly flush on walls like canvas.
- Image Quality: Aim for 4K resolution, high contrast ratios and brightness, wide color gamut, and advanced processors for stellar picture performance.
- Customizable Frame: Many art TVs allow you to change frame colors and finishes to match room style.
- Special Display Modes: Unique modes like Samsung‘s “Art Mode” and LG’s “Gallery Mode” enable displaying personal or curated artwork images when powered off.
Balancing style and substance, here are our top five picks for TVs that resemble high-tech canvases.
1. Samsung The Frame TV – Best Overall
Samsung dominates this niche by far with The Frame, its lineup dedicated entirely to art-mimicking televisions. With sizes ranging from 32 to 85 inches and starting under $600, it brings the concept into reach for more buyers.
The 2023 Frame models shine with QLED 4K quantum dot technology for over a billion colors. Matte anti-glare screening helps artwork details pop while reducing ambient light reflections. Activating Art Mode fills the display with personal photos, curated images from an online catalog, or ambient themes like crackling fireplaces when powered off.
A slim depth under an inch and customizable frame – now in white, teak and brick red options – complete the museum-style look. While image quality lags OLED contrast, The Frame excels at blending into interior décor as a faux framed piece.
Pros:
- Highly customizable and sizes for every space
- QLED 4K quantum dot display
- Anti-glare matte screening
- Art Mode for displaying 1,400+ artworks or personal photos
Cons:
- No Dolby Vision HDR
- Bright room contrast trails OLED
2. Samsung The Serif QLED – Best With TV Stand
While The Frame hangs like wall art, The Serif makes a statement on its built-in legs evoking an easel. Collaborating with renowned designers Bouroullec Brothers, this QLED 4K TV (43 to 65 inches) has an iconic silhouette from every angle. The latest 2023 Serif steps up with Quantum HDR powered by a Quantum Processor 4K chip.
Ambient Mode offers the same curated artwork images or personal photos as The Frame for showing when powered off. One stand leg even hides cords. With NFC touch-to-pair, you can also tap a phone to the Serif’s top to stream music anywhere in the room. For those wanting an art TV that’s not just flush to the wall, The Serif brings a striking focal point to any space.
Pros:
- Iconic design stands on its own
- QLED 4K quantum display
- Ambient Mode for displaying artwork or photos
- NFC streaming audio by tapping phone to the TV
Cons:
- Only available in 3 sizes up to 65 inches
- Pricier than The Frame
3. LG GX Gallery OLED TV – Best Wall Art Design
LG answers Samsung’s framed TV challenge with its ultra-thin Gallery Series GX OLEDs. At under 0.8 inches deep, these gorgeous displays hug walls like they were painted on. LG’s self-lit OLED technology delivers perfect black levels and infinite contrast that makes images pop from the screen.
The 55, 65 and 77-inch 4K HDR smart TVs feature LG’s latest a9 Gen 4 AI Processor to optimize picture and sound quality. For console and PC gamers, these have ultra-fast response times and ALLM automatic low latency mode. Like the Samsung models above, Gallery Mode displays artistic images when idle.
Just note with an OLED you‘ll want to enable screen shift and avoid static images for long periods to prevent burn-in over time. But for the overall richest visuals as a centerpiece display, it doesn’t get better than the GX OLED gallery.
Pros:
- Stunningly slim 0.8 inch depth
- Next-gen a9 Gen 4 processor
- OLED perfect black levels and contrast
- Gallery Mode displays artworks or personal photos when idle
- Gaming-friendly features like 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM
Cons:
- Risk of OLED burn-in over time with static images
- Only available in 3 premium-priced sizes up to 77 inches
4. Samsung QN90B Neo QLED 4K – Best Mini LED Art TV
In 2023, Samsung added a new Neo QLED 4K TV tier between premium 8K models and more affordable QLEDs. Leveraging precision Mini LED backlighting with quantum dots, the resulting QN90B series (43 to 85 inches) delivers some of Samsung’s best 4K images ever with searing highlights and inky black levels. A Neo Quantum Processor 4K powered by AI upscales content closer to true 4K quality.
For gaming, all HDMI ports are 2.1-ready for 4K/120 fps gameplay. The anti-glare layer reduces reflections while sustaining rich colors and high brightness suitable for well-lit rooms. Contrast falls slightly behind self-emitting OLED TVs. But with greater luminance control, minimal blooming around bright objects, and more affordable pricing, the QN90B also shines as Samsung’s best bang-for-buck Mini LED television in 2023 for mixed usage from cinema to gaming.
Pros:
- Mini LED backlighting with quantum dot films
- High brightness great for well-lit rooms
- AI 4K upscaling
- Gaming-friendly HDMI 2.1 features
Cons:
- No Dolby Vision support
- Occasional blooming around bright objects
5. Hisense M10 Mini LED TV – Most Affordable
Budget-friendly Hisense is entering the premium art TV arena in 2023 with its incoming M10 series featuring Quantum Dot Mini LED panels. Promising a striking slim bezel design, thin chassis, and easy custom framing to fit any décor, this Hisense line will sell in a range of wallet-friendly sizes from 43 to 98 inches.
With up to 240 local dimming zones and 2,700 nits peak brightness, picture quality is also said to punch well above its price. Variable refresh rates up to 144 Hz with Freesync Premium Pro cater to gamers needing ultra-smooth motion for fast gameplay. Hisense’s latest VIDAA smart TV interface promises intuitive access to top streaming apps as well.
Pros:
- Slim design with customizable frames
- Mini LED picture quality, up to 240 dimming zones
- Extensive screen size range from 43 to 98 inches
- 144 Hz VRR and Freesync Premium Pro for gaming
Cons:
- Image quality untested until launch
How to Pick the Best Art TV
How do you select the perfect canvas-like display for your viewing space and needs? Follow these key tips when shopping for a display to double as wall art:
- Match display technology specs to room lighting. OLED for dark home theaters. QLED or Mini LED for brighter spaces.
- Calculate optimal screen size based on room dimensions and recommended viewing distances.
- Consider special display modes like Art Mode along with customizable frame options for matching room decor when not operating as a TV.
- Weigh overall performance features too like gaming connectivity and processing lag, operating system preference, audio quality.
- Factor long-term burn-in risks with OLEDs.
Taking the time to balance form and function will ensure your eventual art TV choice not only impresses when on, but seamlessly fits room decor even when powered off.
Art TV Trends and News
More display brands beyond just Samsung and LG now offer decorated bezel options, from walnut to terra cotta to sunset bronze. This allows better blending these canvas-like displays into surrounding furniture hues.
Smart frame TVs are also expanding online artwork galleries and personal photo integration for curating Display Mode rotations. LG‘s new webOS 23 interface launching this year even allows drag-and-drop playlists mixing both personal images with iconic licensed artworks.
As 4K resolution matures across screen sizes, manufacturers are racing to adopt new high dynamic range formats like Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive for improved picture optimization in changing room lighting conditions – a benefit for art modes.
Even 8K displays are entering the fray like Samsung’s ultra-premium QN900Bs with 33 million self-illuminating LEDs teaming with quantum dots, local dimming zones, and processing powered by neural networks for jaw-dropping realism.
But the major bright spot is manufacturers expanding these sleek designed art TV categories down to smaller screen sizes and cheaper price brackets. This puts the tech closer to mainstream reach so more viewers can harmonize home entertainment with personal aesthetics.
Conclusion
TVs like Samsung’s The Frame, LG’s Gallery Series OLED, and other models are proving entertainment screens can still look like art when powered off. Their slim silhouette and customizable frames allow melding displays into living spaces rather than dominating décor. As the tech becomes more affordable and sizes span smaller niches, finding an art TV matching both aesthetic tastes and viewing needs grows easier than ever. Just remember to balance form and function to achieve display nirvana.
