2022 Samsung The Frame TV review: small improvements but do they truly make a big difference?

It’s only existed for a handful of years, but Samsung’s Frame TV has captivated millions. The 2022 Samsung Frame TV is just the third version of this popular chameleon of a television, and it boasts some improvements and new features. I reviewed the 2021 Samsung The Frame and the original Frame TV and you can read or watch those if you’re comparing. I recently purchased the 65-inch 2022 Samsung Frame TV for my home and in this review I’ll tell you what it’s like to own, how it works, what it can do, and how this new version compares to the previous one, and if I can recommend it for you.

What’s new on the 2022 Samsung Frame TV?

The 2022 version of the Samsung Frame TV isn’t a revolutionary redesign and it doesn’t innovate a lot over the 2021 version, but the changes Samsung has made do go a long way towards improving it. The major innovation is the addition of even more glare resistant glass, as well as an optional rotating wall mount.

I have to admit, I felt a bit extravagant upgrading from my 2021 The Frame, when on the surface it seems that the only major difference is a piece of coated glass, but I can attest that this new anti-glare, low-reflection panel technology featuring an embossed Matte Display makes a shocking amount of difference in how the TV blends in as art in the home.

What is Samsung The Frame TV?

To take a step back and explain what the Frame TV is and why you might be looking at it, it’s a high quality 4K TV that displays realistic gallery-level artwork (Art Mode) on the screen when the TV isn’t active. Far from looking like a screensaver or placeholder, the combination of high resolution art, with the no-glare glass and a light sensor which helps the TV adapt to your room and the time of day means it is better than a CIA agent at hiding in plain sight.

While there is a good amount of free artwork you can display on The Frame, and you can add your own, it’s almost essential to sign up for the Samsung Art Store to open up a wealth of art options for your space.

How much does Art Sore cost?

Art Store costs about $70CAD/year. You can choose to display one piece of art at a time, or have it rotate through a gallery’s worth of your personal favourites.

The 2021 Samsung The Frame also had a feature called Ambient Mode where you could access moving imagery, weather info and some more interactive elements for your screen. The feature does still exist on the 2022 Frame TV, but it’s now integrated as part of Art Mode, instead of being a separate feature. More on that coming up.

Is Samsung Frame TV really better at glare? How much of a difference for new anti-glare coating make?

In my previous testing with both the original Frame, launched in 2017, and in the 2021 version, the screen is definitely a soft matte design, but this new version takes the small amount of glare those older versions did allow and makes it vanish completely. I’d say that the earlier versions blocked about 80-90% of any glare, then this new 2022 Samsung The Frame minimizes 95% of it.

Glare off to the right of the 2021 Frame TV.

Samsung says the coated glass also avoids fingerprints and smudges better than before, and I think that’s also accurate.

What’s in the box? Is wall mount included?

The 2022 Samsung Frame TV operates a bit differently. In the box, aside from the TV you get a remote control, wall mount, and the Samsung One Connect box and cable.

The One Connect Box links to the TV with a tiny 3-4mm cable and it’s long, meaning you can run it into cabinet (it doesn’t need line of sight) or around the corner from the TV. I opted to run conduit in the wall and hid the cable out of sight.

The One Connect box is the place where you’ll plug in your cable box, streaming or gaming devices and a sound bar. The box is meant to hide out of sight so you don’t end up with dangling dongles cluttering up your decor.

One last item… I added a Sonos Bean 2nd gen sound bar to my set up for improved audio, since the built-in speaker, while it’s okay, it’s amazing. You can check out my review of the Sonos Beam 2nd Gen here.

Set up & installation

Getting this TV set up is easy, but installing it properly will take some time. If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out my  2021 Samsung Frame TV review and how-to video, since the wall mount and steps are identical to the 2022 version. The wall mount is included in the box and it is absolutely worth it to install some conduit to hide the One Connect cable inside your wall, since the cable, as thin and clear as it is, is the only dead giveaway that your art is actually a television. I’m not clear if the cable on its own is rated for being enclosed in a wall, but I do know Samsung also offers a special wall-rated One Connect cable. I’m okay with how we’ve done out installation but I’m by no means an authority.

Once the TV is installed you connect it to Wi-Fi, and then you’re essentially ready to go. You also need to download the Samsung Smart Things app to access some features and settings (like uploading your own photos or art), and this also allows your phone to be the remote control.

Samsung Smart Things App

While your TV will work just great with the included remote control, you’ll definitely want to download and connect the Samsung Smart Things app.

After a particularly buggy year trying to use the previous app version on my Apple iPhone, I’m glad to see Samsung seems to have resolved most of the issues I had talked about in my review of the 2021 frame TV, where the app would simply crash repeatedly when any iPhone user tried to use it.

Using the app you’ll be able to get a virtual remote control, and quick access to sources and apps. There’s also an entire section for art mode that gives you a little quicker option for surfing available artworks. Using the app is also how you would upload your own photos if you’d like to see those on The Frame also.

Add-on frames/bezels

One of the cool add-ons for this product is a magnetic bezel that will change the edge colour of the TV. I opted for a white version called Modern White to help it blend into my wall, but there’s an array of wood and other options too. I highly recommend upgrading to one of these additional frames, as it goes along way to hiding the factory black edge frame that may be a giveaway your art isn’t what it seems to be.

The snap-on frames cost about $200 each nad come in four pieces which are perfectly sized to wrap around your TV, and click on or off in seconds. The concept is actually pretty genius, and I love the style of my white frame Frame.

Using 2022 Samsung Frame TV: Art Mode

Art Mode is what distinguishes this TV from all other televisions—even those marketing a ‘Gallery Mode’. When The Frame is not displaying video, you can enjoy it in Art Mode where you get super high quality, high resolution art prints or photography.

The light in this TV is designed so that when it displays that art, it doesn’t glare or brighten; it’s just… there and it blends into your space seamlessly, so it’s really possible to actually believe this panel is just a painting hanging on your wall. Plus that new anti-glare coating works wonders.

A built-in light sensor adjusts the screen’s output constantly so that the art is always visible in its best light. Even with brighter sunlight beaming in and filling the room, your art will appear realistic. When evening sets in, the set adapts to display a dimmed version that still looks like it fits into the rest of the room, with zero bright glare.

Much like real art, you can customize it; add a matte and even switch the colour of the matte easily on the TV or the app.

Can I add my own photos to The Frame?

Unlike some other competitor TVs to The Frame, you can also add your own art and photos or download UHD/4K videos or art from 3rd party websites. You upload your own photos using the smart things app, and in a major improvement over the previous version, this is easy to do and works bug-free. I added some nature-inspired vacation snaps that I took and was proud enough to show off.

What happened to Ambient Mode on Samsung Frame TV 2022?

Initially I though Samsung had nixed Ambient Mode on the new version, but after much digging through settings and poking around Art Mode I can confirm it’s back. Ambient Mode by the way is just a different type of art screen, with moving images, and more info options too.

How to access Ambient Mode?

To access it, you navigate to Art Mode and then look through the menu options for something called Special Edition. In here is the new location of different types of moving imagery.

Using 2022 Samsung Frame TV: Watching TV

Frame TV viewing quality

If you’re considering a Frame TV, the truth is you’re probably doing so because you want it to look like you don’t have a TV. The great thing about this product is that as soon as you fire it up, you’ve got a great 4K Ultra High Resolution TV with built in streaming, and it’s preloaded with apps including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Apple TV.

The TV is high quality, sharp and colourful and while I’ve heard some folks say it’s inferior to some of the new OLED TVs out there, I can tell you I don’t have a single complaint about watching anything on it. From movies, to Netflix, sports and nature shows, the TV is glorious.

Remote control powered by ambient light, lasts a year

The new remote control that comes with the TV hearkens back to the original Frame remote; it’s very slim and handles the core functions like power, volume and navigation around the screen.

On the back of the remote is a small solar panel which, if you leave it bottom-up in your room, will use ambient light to charge the remote without you needing to do a thing. A full charge is supposed to last about a year. If it does die a USB-C charger in the end is your backup.

Use Samsung app as remote too

Your smartphone can also be the remote control for your television. Download the Samsung SmartThings app and pair up to your Frame for handy control. In the app , you can also view various art works and set them to your Frame too.

Motion Sensor & Sleep After settings

There’s another cool feature that will shut the screen off if no motion is detected in the room.

I was convinced this wasn’t working since every time I came in the room it was on… turns out the Frame is just so fast at flicking to life at the slightest movement, I just had a hard time catching it in the act.

MultiView: improvements made

The previous version Samsung frame TV also had multiview, but this version makes some definite improvement as to how you interact with this feature, making it a lot easier to navigate. Even so it’s a bit clunky until you figure it out.

Multi-View/

Multi View lets you watch what’s on The Frame and your mobile on the same screen at the same time, or show two different HDMi sources or even toss YouTube into the mix. The screen sizes and configurations are fully adjustable too.

This feature worked amazingly well, though it is a bit weird to get set up and adjust.

You can watch my  video, how to set up and use Multi View on my YouTube channel.

How to use MultiView on 2022 Samsung Frame TV

To use MultiView you must be in the TV feature, not in art mode. Then click the MultiView Button, which looks like a series of squares.

You’ll be presented with a row of menu options to choose from; you’ll be able to access any streaming devices, your cable box, YouTube or the internet, plus your smartphone too.

Choose at least one source, then it will divvy up the screen for you. From there you can choose your particular sources or inputs.

You’ll connect first need to connect the phone using Bluetooth to the TV, and there will probably be a permission option to agree to first. Then hit the MultiView button.

If you’re using an iPhone, yes it will work. There are two options; AirPlay or Screen Mirroring. AirPlay will let you share videos to the screen, while screen mirroring will share whatever is on the screen of your phone.

To AirPlay a video, load the video up on your iPhone then hit the Share button and scroll down to choose the Airplay option. When Prompted, select The Frame.

If you want to mirror your screen, open your quick controls menu on your iPhone by pulling down from the top right corner. Then choose the Screen Mirroring option. If prompted, choose The Frame.

More improvements! Now listen to music in Art Mode

One of my big complaints about the 2021 Frame was that if I wanted to listen to music, there was no way to do it in art mode. You just got an album cover screen. Now, with the 2022 Frame, you’ve got more options for cool ambient music effects.

Now listen to music in Art Mode.

For one, you can now use Art Mode and stream music from your phone. Just connect your phone via Bluetooth to The Frame, and then once it connects you’ll see an option for listening with Art Mode.

There’s also an option called Music Wall that will show moving graphics. These graphics seem to change at will with no way to customize them, at least none I’ve found so far. If you know how to manage this better, please let me know in comments.

Overall review: 2022 Samsung The Frame TV

Overall, I continue to love this TV with every fibre of my being. Art Mode is a constant presence in our home and we have fun switching up the artworks each week. Every single guest has been fooled into thinking the wall art was legit, until we turned on the great quality 4K TV.

I’m super happy with the video quality for movie nights, baseball games and TV bingeing.

I like the improvements to Screen mirroring, multiview and the new setting that lets you play music in ambient mode.

I think the new anti-glare panel makes a major and noticeable difference if you currently have a 2021 or older The Frame. I also advocate for getting a special magnetic bezel to really help it blend in.

Overall, I have zero complaints about the 2022 The Frame and I can definitely recommend it if you’re looking at your first Frame TV or as an upgrade from an older model; it’s definitely worth it.

The 65-inch 2022 The Frame that I bought sells for about $2,000USD or $2,600CAD and you can get it, as I got mine, from Amazon.

You can also shop Samsung’s Frame TV at Walmart.

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the click, which helps me keep the blog running. If you choose to use this link I thank you greatly for supporting the blog. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.