I have watched Star Wars so many times I’ve lost count. Yet, I’m also a bit of an art snob. For years, the Andrew Wyeth painting Christina’s World took a prominent place in my living room. Art televisions—the category of TV pioneered by Samsung's Frame and now rapidly expanding with models from many of the major TV producers—combine my passion for movies and shows with an even greater interest in art and photography.
When it comes to their performance as televisions, even the best art TVs don't have quite the same punchy colors and speedy refresh rates found on similarly priced standard televisions. However, when the movie is finished, art TVs look a lot better in a room, displaying art and photos on a matte screen with a pristine clarity in a space otherwise wasted by a black box.
Art televisions are typically just a little more expensive than a normal 4K TV. The main players in this market are Samsung, Amazon, Hisense, and TCL, with prices ranging from £1,100 to £2,000. An art television uses a matte finish and includes a few hundred (or even thousands) of art images and photographs. Some, like the new Amazon Ember Artline, include “moving artwork”—essentially, a painting that comes alive with subtle video elements.
The Best Art TV
Intuitive new OS.Excellent contrast and picture quality.Massive number of art images.Anti-glare coating actually works.High refresh rate for gaming.Tired
Monthly subscription required to access most artwork.I still remember the moment I realized Samsung’s The Frame Pro 2026 is the best art television around. I loaded The Starry Night by Van Gogh with its various shades of blue. The masterpiece came alive with texture and realism thanks to the contrast ratio and clear picture quality. I marched friends and family members down to my office to gaze in wonder.
Installing The Frame Pro is a bit of a process, though. I ended up watching a YouTube video for help. About an inch thin, this model sits mostly flush to the wall. Rather than connecting your streaming boxes directly to the TV, Samsung’s Wireless One Connect breakout box acts as a bridge. I connected my Xbox Series X and PC to the HDMI ports (there are four total) on the breakout box, which then connects to The Frame Pro using Wi-Fi 7 from across the room. Navigating The Frame Pro was also easy, thanks to the intuitive UI and the lightweight, long-lasting remote.
