Why Samsung's Frame TV is much better than Amazon's copycat

Samsung defined the art TV category back in 2017 when it launched the first The Frame TV. The television was designed to look like a gallery or photo frame rather than a traditional TV. When it is not playing regular content, it can display popular artworks, paintings, or even your own photos.

The Frame TV has since become quite popular, especially among consumers who want their television to double as a statement piece in their home. Over the past two or three years, several TV brands have attempted to replicate the same idea. TCL introduced the NXTVISION TV, while Hisense launched the CanvasTV. Now, Amazon has entered the segment as well. The company recently unveiled the Ember Artline TV at CES 2026.

However, Amazon appears to have done the weakest job of executing the art TV concept. If you are considering buying an art TV, you would be much better off choosing Samsung’s The Frame.

A sophisticated design is the entire point of an art TV, and this is where Samsung’s experience clearly shows. The Ember Artline TV has a black module below the screen, which appears to house a presence sensor. While it serves a functional purpose, it disrupts the illusion of a framed artwork.

Samsung’s The Frame also includes a presence sensor, but it is hidden from view. This allows the TV to maintain a cleaner and more convincing gallery-style appearance.

Samsung’s One Connect box is one of The Frame’s most practical advantages. The TV connects to the box using a single thin, transparent cable. With four HDMI ports and an Ethernet port on the One Connect box, users can keep streaming devices, gaming consoles, and their associated cables away from the TV itself.

The Ember Artline does not offer a similar external box. This makes cable management more difficult and can result in a messier-looking setup.

Samsung’s The Frame TV offers a 120Hz refresh rate on 55-inch and larger sizes, while Amazon’s Ember Artline is limited to 60Hz. A higher refresh rate is a significant advantage for gaming on consoles such as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X (or a PC if you've connected one to your TV). Even general UI navigation feels noticeably smoother on a 120Hz panel.

This makes The Frame a more capable TV overall.

The Frame features a 2.0.2-channel speaker system with 40W output, while the Ember Artline uses a 2.0-channel setup rated at 20W.

Even if many buyers plan to use a soundbar, better built-in speakers still matter for those who want a clean setup without additional audio equipment. Samsung clearly has the advantage in this area.

Samsung’s TVs and soundbars support a feature called Q-Symphony. It allows the speakers on the TV and a compatible Samsung soundbar to work together wirelessly.

This results in better sound with fewer cables. Amazon’s art TV does not offer an equivalent feature, which works against its goal of maintaining a clean and minimal look.

Like most Samsung TVs, The Frame includes a built-in Matter and SmartThings hub. This allows it to control Matter-certified and SmartThings-certified smart home devices, such as lights and switches, without requiring a separate smart speaker or hub.

The Ember Artline lacks a built-in Matter hub. As a result, users may need additional hardware, such as an Amazon Echo speaker, to achieve similar smart home integration.

The Frame supports AirPlay, allowing iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to wirelessly stream audio and video directly to the TV. This feature is missing on the Ember Artline, making The Frame a more flexible option for users who own Apple devices.

The Frame TV includes four HDMI 2.1 ports that support up to 4K resolution at refresh rates of up to 144Hz. This makes it far more suitable for households with multiple gaming consoles or PCs.

The Ember Artline offers only three HDMI 2.0 ports, which are limited to 4K 60Hz video input.

Samsung offers The Frame in 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch sizes. The 2026 lineup will expand further with the addition of 75-inch and 85-inch models.

In comparison, the Ember Artline TV will be available only in 55-inch and 65-inch variants. This limits its appeal for buyers with smaller rooms or those looking for very large TVs.

Samsung offers over 3,000 digital artworks for The Frame through the Art Store. This collection includes premium artwork created in partnership with well-known artists, galleries, and museums from around the world.

While the Ember Artline offers around 2,000 artworks for free, its premium art catalog appears far more limited. For buyers who care deeply about the art experience, Samsung’s platform is more mature and more diverse, even if access to premium content requires a subscription.

Samsung’s The Frame TV is the result of years of refinement. It looks cleaner, offers meaningful advantages for gamers, integrates more seamlessly with other devices, and provides a stronger art ecosystem overall. The company's early start in the art TV category continues to give it a clear advantage over Amazon’s new entrant.