Samsung The Frame Pro LS03HW 85"

The Samsung The Frame Pro LS03HW is an 85-inch 4K QD-Mini-LED art TV that finally delivers flagship picture quality without sacrificing the gallery aesthetic. It's expensive, lacks Dolby Vision, and the art mode subscription is annoying, but the 144Hz panel, wireless One Connect, and best-in-class connectivity make it a legitimate premium TV. Buy it for the design, not the value.

The 85-inch QD-Mini-LED panel here is no slouch. Our database puts its display quality in the 97th percentile for this category, which translates to one of the best screens you can buy right now. The Quantum Matrix Technology gives you tight local dimming control, so blacks stay deep and highlights pop without the blooming you'd see on cheaper edge-lit sets. The NQ4 AI Gen3 processor handles upscaling well, so even older 1080p content looks respectable on a screen this big.

Gaming performance lands in the 93rd percentile, which is a standout result. The 144Hz native refresh rate paired with FreeSync Premium Pro means fast-paced games stay smooth, and ALLM automatically switches to low-latency mode when you fire up a console or PC. The 2.0.2 channel 40W speaker setup with Dolby Atmos is also well above average, though at this price you'd probably pair it with a soundbar anyway. Connectivity is best-in-class, with 5 HDMI ports, 3 USB ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. That's the absolute best we've seen in this category.

The Sony BRAVIA 9 K85XR90 is the most direct competitor here. Sony's processing is arguably better for movie purists, and it supports Dolby Vision, which the Frame Pro lacks. But the Sony doesn't have the art mode or the frame aesthetic, and it's typically priced in the same ballpark. If you care about HDR format support, the Sony wins. If you want a TV that disappears into your decor, the Samsung takes it.

The TCL QM8K Series and Hisense U8 Series are the value alternatives. Both deliver excellent Mini-LED picture quality at significantly lower prices. The TCL QM8K in particular has been a favorite in our database for raw brightness and gaming performance. You lose the frame design and the wireless One Connect, but you keep most of the picture quality. The LG OLED G3 is a different beast entirely, with perfect blacks and infinite contrast that Mini-LED still can't match, but it's also not designed to look like a piece of art on your wall.

Here's where things get tricky. The Frame Pro LS03HW is not a value play. Our affordability percentile sits at 11th, which means it's one of the most expensive TVs in its class. The price spread across vendors is significant, ranging from USD 2,670 to USD 3,998. Newegg currently has listings at the lower end of that range, so if you're set on this TV, that's where we'd start looking. But you're paying a hefty premium for the frame design and wireless One Connect box. A comparable non-frame Mini-LED TV like the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8 will deliver similar picture quality for hundreds less. You're buying the aesthetic, not just the panel.

The Samsung The Frame Pro LS03HW is the company's most ambitious attempt yet to make a TV that doesn't look like a TV. This 85-inch 4K QD-Mini-LED panel sits in the premium art TV category, and it's priced like it. You'll find it ranging from USD 2,670 to USD 3,998 depending on the vendor, which puts it firmly in flagship territory. The pitch is simple: a gallery-worthy display when it's off, a serious home theater and gaming screen when it's on.

People searching for "best art TV" or "The Frame Pro vs regular QLED" are usually wondering if they're sacrificing picture quality for aesthetics. The short answer is no, not anymore. Samsung stuffed this thing with Quantum Matrix Technology, a 144Hz refresh rate, and their NQ4 AI Gen3 processor. The matte screen and slim bezel do the art mode thing, but the underlying panel is a legitimate Mini-LED performer.

Is the Samsung The Frame Pro good for gaming? With FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and four HDMI 2.1 ports, it's genuinely capable. But the real question is whether the art frame design justifies the premium over a comparable non-frame Mini-LED TV. We'll dig into that below.

Skip the Frame Pro LS03HW if you don't care about the art mode or frame aesthetic. You're paying a significant premium for the design, and a TCL QM8K or Hisense U8 will deliver comparable Mini-LED picture quality for much less. Movie purists who want Dolby Vision should look at the Sony BRAVIA 9 or an LG OLED instead. And if you're on a budget, this TV's 11th percentile affordability ranking means it's simply not for you. The art subscription fee on top of the already high price is another reason to pass if you just want a great TV, not a wall decoration.

Should you buy the Samsung The Frame Pro LS03HW? If you want a TV that genuinely looks like a framed piece of art when it's off, and you're willing to pay for that privilege, this is the best version of that concept Samsung has ever made. The picture quality is finally good enough that you're not sacrificing much for the aesthetic. The 144Hz panel, strong gaming features, and best-in-class connectivity make it a legitimate flagship TV, not just a pretty face.

But if you don't care about the art mode or the frame design, you're overpaying. The same money gets you a Sony BRAVIA 9 with Dolby Vision or a TCL QM8K with money left over for a soundbar and a year of streaming services. The Frame Pro is for a specific buyer: someone who wants their TV to disappear into their living space and still perform when it's game time. For that person, it's excellent. For everyone else, there are smarter ways to spend this kind of money.