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Samsung The Frame 2020  TV Review

Reviewed Jun 02, 2020 at 09:29am
Tested using methodology v1.6 
Samsung The Frame 2020
7.5
Mixed Usage 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.1
Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.7
TV Shows 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.6
Sports 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.9
Video Games 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.1
HDR Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.8
HDR Gaming 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.0
PC Monitor 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

 0
 TV Settings
Notice: This TVs was replaced by Samsung The Frame 2021

Samsung The Frame 2020 is an overall good TV that's designed to blend into your decor and showcase beautiful works of art when the TV is idle. Like its predecessor, Samsung The Frame 2019, its borders are customizable and it can be wall-mounted to look like real artwork thanks to the included no-gap wall mount and the One Connect Box. It uses Samsung's QLED technology to deliver good picture quality and gamers can breathe a sigh of relief, as it still has extremely low input lag and FreeSync support. Contrast ratio and peak brightness are significantly improved in this 2020 model, making it a good choice for watching HDR content, but sadly, its viewing angles are just as poor and there's no local dimming. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a TV that stands out by blending in, this could be the one.

Our Verdict

7.5
Mixed Usage 

The Frame 2020 is a good TV for most uses. It delivers good picture quality for most content, and it provides an excellent gaming experience thanks to its low input lag and VRR support. Its high contrast ratio makes it a good choice for dark room viewing, and it gets bright enough to fight glare. Unfortunately, it has rather poor viewing angles, so it's not the most ideal if your seating arrangement requires you to view from the side.

Pros
  • Exceptional contrast ratio.
  • FreeSync support.
  • Great motion handling.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Poor viewing angles.
7.1
Movies 

The Frame 2020 is a decent TV for watching movies. Its VA panel has a high native contrast ratio, which is great for watching in dark rooms. It can display 1080p content almost as well as native 4k, and it can remove judder from any source. Unfortunately, it doesn't have local dimming, and its poor viewing angles make it less suitable for wide seating arrangements.

7.7
TV Shows 

The Frame 2020 is a good TV for watching TV shows. It has a great peak brightness and decent reflection handling that's well-suited for bright rooms. Lower resolution content on cable TV is upscaled well, and there's no risk of permanent burn-in if you leave it on the news all day. Its VA panel has poor viewing angles, though, which makes it less ideal if you like doing chores or walking around while watching.

7.6
Sports 

The Frame 2020 is a good TV for watching sports. Motion handling is great, so there are only short blur trails in fast-moving scenes, and there's very little dirty screen effect, which is great. Reflection handling is decent and the TV can get bright enough to overcome glare in any type of room setting. However, it's not the best choice for watching with a large of people, as its VA panel has poor viewing angles.

7.9
Video Games 

The Frame 2020 is an impressive TV for gaming. It has a low input lag that makes every button press feel incredibly responsive, and it supports variable refresh rate technologies like FreeSync and HDMI Forum's VRR. Its 120Hz refresh rate and fast response time make motion look silky smooth, and its high contrast ratio is great for gaming in the dark.

7.1
HDR Movies 

The Frame 2020 is a decent TV for watching HDR movies. Its VA panel has an exceptional contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity to produce deep blacks, but unfortunately, it doesn't have local dimming to further improve it. It can display a wide color gamut to produce vibrant and vivid colors, and it gets decently bright to bring out highlights when watching in a dark room. However, its peak brightness isn't enough to make HDR content look significantly better than SDR in well-lit environments.

7.8
HDR Gaming 

The Frame 2020 is a good TV for gaming in HDR. It has an extremely low input lag, and it remains low even when playing in 4k with 10-bit HDR. Response time is great, so fast motion looks crisp, and there's even an optional black frame insertion feature to further improve motion clarity. Its exceptional contrast ratio makes it a fantastic choice for gaming in the dark, and the TV can deliver a good HDR experience thanks to its great color gamut and decent HDR peak brightness.

8.0
PC Monitor 

The Frame 2020 is a good TV for use as a PC monitor. Thanks to its chroma 4:4:4 support and 4k resolution, text looks incredibly sharp. Input lag is low and response time is fast, which results in a responsive desktop experience. Its viewing angles are poor, so the image can look washed out at the sides if you sit too close, but on the bright side, its VA panel is immune to permanent burn-in.

  • 7.5
    Mixed Usage
  • 7.1
    Movies
  • 7.7
    TV Shows
  • 7.6
    Sports
  • 7.9
    Video Games
  • 7.1
    HDR Movies
  • 7.8
    HDR Gaming
  • 8.0
    PC Monitor
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jul 27, 2021: Added the real content local dimming videos and retested the 4k @ 120Hz with chroma 4:4:4 support.
    2.  Updated Mar 01, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.6.
    3.  Updated Nov 27, 2020: We've retested the VRR, input lag, and supported resolutions with an HDMI 2.1 source and the latest firmware version 1403.
    4.  Updated Oct 06, 2020: We've changed the status of the Auto-Calibration function from 'Untested' to 'Undetermined'.

    Check Price

    32"QN32LS03TBFXZA
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    43"QN43LS03TAFXZA
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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    We tested the 55" (QN55LS03TA) variant of The Frame 2020, and for the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 43" (QN43LS03TA), the 50" variant (QN50LS03TA), the 65" variant (QN65LS03TA), and the 75" variant (QN75LS03TA). The 32" model has a 1080p resolution and we haven't tested it, so our review is less applicable.

    If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung Frame 2020 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

    Size US Canada UK Italy Germany Refresh rate Notes
    32"  QN32LS03TBFXZA QN32LS03TBFXZC  QE32LS03TBKXXU QE32LS03TBKXZT GQ32LS03TBKXZG 60Hz  1080p, no VRR
    43" QN43LS03TAFXZA QN43LS03TAFXZC QN43LS03TAUXXU QE43LS03TAUXZT  GQ43LS03TAUXZG 60Hz  FreeSync
    50" QN50LS03TAFXZA  QN50LS03TAFXZC QN50LS03TAUXXU QE50LS03TAUXZT  GQ50LS03TAUXZG 60Hz  FreeSync
    55" QN55LS03TAFXZA  QN55LS03TAFXZC QN55LS03TAUXXU QE55LS03TAUXZT  GQ55LS03TAUXZG 120Hz FreeSync, HDMI Forum
    65" QN65LS03TAFXZA  QN65LS03TAFXZC QN65LS03TAUXXU QE65LS03TAUXZT  GQ65LS03TAUXZG 120Hz FreeSync, HDMI Forum
    75" QN75LS03TAFXZA QN75LS03TAFXZC  QN75LS03TAUXXU QE75LS03TAUXZT  GQ75LS03TAUXZG 120Hz FreeSync, HDMI Forum

    Our unit of The Frame 2020 was manufactured in March 2020, you can see the label here.

    Popular TV Comparisons

    Comparison picture

    Top left: Samsung The Frame 2019 (QN55LS03R). Bottom left: Sony A9G (XBR55A9G). Middle: Samsung The Frame 2020 (QN55LS030TA). Top right: Samsung Q70T (QN55Q70T). Bottom right: LG SM9000 (55SM9000PUA).

    The Samsung The Frame 2020 is an overall good TV. However, unless you specifically want its Art Mode feature or its One Connect Box for gapless wall-mounting, there are better TVs that are significantly cheaper. Compared to other Samsung QLED TVs, The Frame 2020 sits between the Samsung Q70T QLED and the Samsung Q80T QLED. For other options, you can also check out our recommendations for the best TVs, the best 4k HDR TVs, and the best 4k gaming TVs.

    Samsung The Frame 2021
    43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

    The Samsung The Frame 2021 is the successor to the Samsung The Frame 2020. They perform similarly for the most part; however, the 2020 model has a much higher contrast ratio and a better color gamut. The 2021 model has slightly better response times, and its backlight flickers at a much higher frequency, resulting in less image duplication in fast-moving content.

    Samsung The Frame 2019
    43" 49" 55" 65"

    The Samsung The Frame 2020 is a very decent upgrade from the Samsung The Frame 2019. Aside from some minor differences in their outer design, the 2020 has a much higher contrast ratio and peak brightness. Input lag is also lower on the 2020; however, it's not as color accurate. There's some improvement in terms of black and gray uniformity, but this could be due to panel variance.

    Samsung The Frame 2022
    32" 43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

    The Samsung The Frame 2020 and the Samsung The Frame 2022 are similar TVs. The main difference is that the 2022 model has a matte screen finish that makes the TV look more like a piece of art, and it has much better reflection handling. It also has better out-of-the-box accuracy, and it has improved gradient handling.

    LG CX OLED
    48" 55" 65" 77"

    The LG CX OLED is a significantly better TV than the Samsung The Frame 2020. Being an OLED TV, the LG can produce perfect blacks, which the Frame 2020 can't do. The LG has a faster response time, wider viewing angles, and its reflection handling is much better too. It has better color accuracy as well; however, the Frame has a lower input lag and it gets brighter in SDR.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    CurvedNo

    The Frame 2020 has an outstanding design. It's very similar to its predecessor, Samsung The Frame 2019, with only a few changes to the stand and the back. It still has the One Connect box, so there's only a single cable leading up to the TV, which is great for a clean setup. The bezels are thin on all sides and there's no Samsung branding anywhere on the front. It supports Samsung's no-gap wall mount, which comes included in the box.

    Stand

    The stand is thinner and has a more industrial design than the sleek, cylinder-shaped stand on the Frame 2019. It provides decent support, but the TV still wobbles when nudged.

    Footprint of the 55" stand: 39.8" x 8.4".

    Back
    Wall MountVESA 200x200

    The back of the TV is fairly plain and has a fine horizontal texture etched into it. There's only a single cable leading up to the TV since all the inputs are located on the One Connect Box. There's a small groove that serves as cable management, guiding the One Connect cable towards the bottom of the TV. It supports Samsung's no-gap wall mount and one is included in the box. Unfortunately, there aren't any panels to hide the mounting holes when the TV is on the stand.

    Borders
    Borders0.47" (1.2 cm)

    One of the highlight features of The Frame 2020 is its customizable frame. The base model comes with a black frame, but other colors are sold separately. Most sizes have four choices: Black, White, Beige, or Brown. The 32" model has a few more choices.

    Thickness
    Max Thickness1.69" (4.3 cm)

    The Frame 2020 has a boxy side profile that's intended to look like the frame of real artwork. When using the included no-gap wall mount, it sits flush to the wall and doesn't stick out much.

    We noticed that our unit leans slightly backward when it's mounted on the stand; we're not sure if this is a manufacturing defect or if it was damaged during shipping. Your experience may vary.

    9.0
    Build Quality

    Outstanding build quality. Although it's mostly plastic, the TV feels very well-built and there are no obvious issues. The TV wobbles a bit and our unit leans backward when it's mounted on the stand; however, this TV is meant to be wall-mounted, as the mounting accessories are even included in the box.

    Picture Quality
    9.4
    Contrast
    Native Contrast
    8,131 : 1
    Contrast with local dimming
    N/A

    The Frame 2020 has an exceptional contrast ratio. Blacks look deep and inky, which is great for dark room viewing. Unfortunately, there's no local dimming to improve it further.

    8.2
    SDR Brightness
    Real Scene Peak Brightness
    501 cd/m²
    Peak 2% Window
    278 cd/m²
    Peak 10% Window
    536 cd/m²
    Peak 25% Window
    534 cd/m²
    Peak 50% Window
    533 cd/m²
    Peak 100% Window
    532 cd/m²
    Sustained 2% Window
    276 cd/m²
    Sustained 10% Window
    534 cd/m²
    Sustained 25% Window
    533 cd/m²
    Sustained 50% Window
    532 cd/m²
    Sustained 100% Window
    532 cd/m²
    Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
    0.042

    Impressive SDR peak brightness. It's remarkably consistent across different content, except for the 2% window being much dimmer due to the TV's CE dimming (frame dimming). It's enough to overcome glare even in very bright rooms.

    We measured the peak brightness after calibration, using the 'Movie' mode and with Brightness set to maximum.

    0.0
    Local Dimming
    Local Dimming
    No
    Backlight
    Edge

    Update 07/27/2021: Added the real content local dimming videos.

    The Samsung Frame 2020 doesn't have a local dimming feature. The videos are for reference only, so you can see how backlight on this display performs and compare it to a similar product with local dimming.

    0.0
    Local Dimming In Game Mode
    Local Dimming
    No
    Backlight
    Edge

    Update 07/27/2021: Added the real content local dimming videos.

    Once again, it doesn't have a local dimming feature. The videos are for reference only, so you can see how backlight on this display performs and compare it to a similar product with local dimming.

    6.9
    HDR Brightness
    Real Scene Highlight
    543 cd/m²
    Peak 2% Window
    301 cd/m²
    Peak 10% Window
    587 cd/m²
    Peak 25% Window
    585 cd/m²
    Peak 50% Window
    584 cd/m²
    Peak 100% Window
    583 cd/m²
    Sustained 2% Window
    294 cd/m²
    Sustained 10% Window
    584 cd/m²
    Sustained 25% Window
    582 cd/m²
    Sustained 50% Window
    582 cd/m²
    Sustained 100% Window
    581 cd/m²
    Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
    0.043

    Decent HDR peak brightness. It doesn't get much brighter than SDR and the 2% window is also dimmer, but it's also very consistent. It can deliver a good HDR experience in dark rooms; however, it won't look much different from SDR in bright environments.

    We measured the HDR peak brightness before calibration, using the 'Movie HDR' mode and the 'Warm 2' Color Temperature. Brightness and Contrast were set to maximum.

    7.1
    HDR Brightness In Game Mode
    Real Scene Highlight
    565 cd/m²
    Peak 2% Window
    597 cd/m²
    Peak 10% Window
    594 cd/m²
    Peak 25% Window
    592 cd/m²
    Peak 50% Window
    591 cd/m²
    Peak 100% Window
    590 cd/m²
    Sustained 2% Window
    593 cd/m²
    Sustained 10% Window
    590 cd/m²
    Sustained 25% Window
    589 cd/m²
    Sustained 50% Window
    587 cd/m²
    Sustained 100% Window
    586 cd/m²
    Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
    0.001
    7.9
    Gray Uniformity
    50% Std. Dev.
    3.327%
    50% DSE
    0.155%
    5% Std. Dev.
    0.645%
    5% DSE
    0.087%

    Good gray uniformity. The sides of the screen are darker, but thankfully, there's very little dirty screen effect and uniformity is significantly better in dark scenes.

    8.5
    Black Uniformity
    Native Std. Dev.
    0.753%
    Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
    N/A

    Excellent black uniformity. There's only some minor backlight bleed at the top corners of the screen and some blooming around the test cross. Otherwise, the rest is very uniform.

    5.0
    Viewing Angle
    Color Washout
    25°
    Color Shift
    26°
    Brightness Loss
    33°
    Black Level Raise
    Gamma Shift
    26°

    Like most VA panel TVs, the Frame 2020 has poor viewing angles. As a result, images look washed out when viewed from the side, making it less ideal for wide seating areas.

    7.4
    Reflections
    Screen Finish
    Semi-gloss
    Total Reflections
    5.2%
    Indirect Reflections
    1.2%
    Calculated Direct Reflections
    4.0%

    Decent reflection handling. Visibility shouldn't be an issue in most rooms, but best to avoid having light shining directly on the screen, as the reflection can be distracting. The newer Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED has a matte finish meant to reduce the amount of direct reflections and make the artwork look more realistic, if that's what you prefer.

    7.0
    Pre Calibration
    White Balance dE
    3.84
    Color dE
    3.05
    Gamma
    2.18
    Color Temperature
    6,099 K
    Picture Mode
    Movie
    Color Temp Setting
    Warm 2
    Gamma Setting
    2.2

    The Frame 2020 has decent color accuracy out of the box. There are inaccuracies with several colors and white balance is off. The 'Warm 2' Color Temperature is warmer than our 6500K target, which results in a slight reddish tint. Gamma doesn't follow the target at all; most scenes are too bright and dark scenes are darker than they should be.

    9.3
    Post Calibration
    White Balance dE
    0.32
    Color dE
    1.71
    Gamma
    2.21
    Color Temperature
    6,569 K
    White Balance Calibration
    20 point
    Color Calibration
    Yes

    Update 10/06/2020: We've changed the status of the Auto-Calibration function from 'Untested' to 'Undetermined', as the Samsung The Frame 2020 isn't yet listed as being compatible with CalMAN.

    After calibration, color accuracy is exceptional. White balance and gamma are nearly perfect, and the color temperature is much closer to our target. There are still some inaccuracies with reds and blues, but the rest shouldn't be noticeable for most people.

    You can see our recommended settings here.

    8.0
    480p Input

    480p content like DVDs looks good and there are no upscaling artifacts.

    8.0
    720p Input

    720p content such as cable TV is upscaled well.

    9.0
    1080p Input

    1080p content looks almost as good as native 4k and there are no obvious issues.

    10
    4k Input

    Update 08/21/2020: We previously reported that there's sub-pixel dimming and dithering, as well as some crosshatching. This is incorrect. The picture that we used has some crosshatching by default, and there are no signs of dimming or dithering. The score has been adjusted accordingly.

    Native 4k content is displayed perfectly.

    The 32" model has a 1080p resolution and can't display a 4k image.

    0.0
    8k Input

    The Frame 2020 can't display an 8k image.

    Pixels
    TypeLED
    Sub-Type
    VA

    Update 08/21/2020: We previously reported that there's sub-pixel dimming and dithering, as well as some crosshatching. This is incorrect. The picture that we used has some crosshatching by default, and there are no signs of dimming or dithering.

    This TV uses a BGR sub-pixel layout. It doesn't affect picture quality but can affect text clarity when using the TV as a PC monitor. You can read more about it here.

    8.0
    Color Gamut
    Wide Color Gamut
    Yes
    DCI P3 xy
    89.36%
    DCI P3 uv
    94.21%
    Rec 2020 xy
    66.20%
    Rec 2020 uv
    72.77%

    The Frame 2020 has a great color gamut. Coverage of the widely used DCI P3 is excellent, and coverage of the wider Rec 2020 color space is decent. The 'Movie' EOTF follows the target quite well until the roll-off, and it's similar in 'Game' mode, although a bit brighter, as you can see in this EOTF.

    If you find HDR content too dim, you can make it brighter by setting Contrast Enhancer to 'High', which results in this EOTF.

    7.3
    Color Volume
    Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    82.6%
    10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    32.6%
    Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    61.7%
    10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    24.4%

    Decent color volume. It can't display bright colors well, which is mostly due to its peak brightness.

    8.0
    Gradient
    Color Depth
    10 Bit
    Red (Std. Dev.)
    0.113
    Green (Std. Dev.)
    0.129
    Blue (Std. Dev.)
    0.100
    Gray (Std. Dev.)
    0.087

    The Frame 2020 has great gradient handling. There's only some minor banding in reds and greens. If banding bothers you, enabling Digital Clean View can remove most of it, but can also cause the loss of fine details in some scenes.

    10
    Temporary Image Retention
    IR after 0 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 2 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 4 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 6 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 8 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 10 min recovery
    0.00%

    The Frame 2020 doesn't exhibit any signs of temporary image retention, which is expected of most VA panels.

    10
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    No

    We don't expect VA panels to experience permanent image retention, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears immune.

    Motion
    8.0
    Response Time
    80% Response Time
    3.8 ms
    100% Response Time
    13.9 ms

    The Frame 2020 has a great response time; however, there's significant overshoot in the 0-20% transition, causing some artifacts in very dark scenes.

    6.0
    Flicker-Free
    Flicker-Free
    No
    PWM Dimming Frequency
    240 Hz

    The Frame 2020 uses PWM to dim its backlight. It normally flickers at 240Hz, but the frequency drops to 120Hz when Picture Clarity is enabled, even if you don't adjust the Blur and Judder reduction sliders. Enabling LED Clear Motion lowers the flickering frequency further to 60Hz.

    Note that every picture mode except 'Movie' mode has Picture Clarity enabled by default.

    If the flickering bothers you, check out the Samsung The Frame 2021. It has a much higher flicker frequency, which should be less noticeable.

    10
    Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
    Optional BFI
    Yes
    Min Flicker For 60 fps
    60 Hz
    60Hz For 60 fps
    Yes
    120Hz For 120 fps
    Yes
    Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
    60 Hz

    The Frame 2020 has an optional black frame insertion feature that can help reduce motion blur, called LED Clear Motion. It causes a bit of duplication, but still an improvement from the Frame 2019. To use it in 60fps content, simply enable LED Clear Motion. For 120fps content, only enable Picture Clarity without adjusting any sliders.

    If you want to use this feature when gaming, it's the same step but within the Game Motion Plus settings menu. For games that normally run at 60fps, enable LED Clear Motion, and for games that run natively at 120fps, enable Picture Clarity in any picture mode with 'Game' mode on.

    Motion Interpolation
    Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
    Yes
    Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
    Yes

    The Frame 2020 can interpolate lower frame rate content up to 120Hz, otherwise known as the 'Soap Opera Effect'. It looks good generally, but there are visible artifacts in intense scenes. To use it, first enable Picture Clarity, then set the Judder Reduction slider to '10' for 30fps content, or set the Blur Reduction slider to '10' for 60fps content.

    This feature can also be used when gaming. Simply enable Picture Clarity within the Game Motion Plus settings menu, then set the Judder Reduction slider to '10' for games that normally run at 30fps, or the Blur Reduction slider for games that run at 120fps natively.

    There seems to be a bug that's causing the Blur Reduction slider to not affect 30fps content. It may get fixed in a future firmware update, and we'll provide an update once we've tested it.

    7.5
    Stutter
    Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
    27.8 ms
    Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
    2.8 ms

    Although the Frame 2020 has a fast response time, it doesn't cause too much stutter in low frame content. It can still happen in some scenes and if it bothers you, enabling Picture Clarity can help.

    10
    24p Judder
    Judder-Free 24p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60i
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
    Yes

    This TV can remove judder from all sources. To do so, set Picture Clarity to 'Custom' but leave the Judder and Blur reduction sliders at '0'.

    9.4
    Variable Refresh Rate
    Native Refresh Rate
    120 Hz (except 32", 43", 50")
    Variable Refresh Rate
    Yes
    HDMI Forum VRR
    Unknown
    FreeSync
    Yes
    G-SYNC Compatible
    No
    4k VRR Maximum
    120 Hz
    4k VRR Minimum
    < 20 Hz
    1080p VRR Maximum
    120 Hz
    1080p VRR Minimum
    < 20 Hz
    1440p VRR Maximum
    120 Hz
    1440p VRR Minimum
    < 20 Hz
    VRR Supported Connectors
    HDMI

    Update 07/27/2021: We updated the firmware to version 2016, and it doesn't have any issues displaying 4k @ 120Hz content with chroma 4:4:4, including in Game Mode.

    Update 11/27/2020: We've retested the VRR with an HDMI 2.1 source and the latest firmware (version 1403).

    Update 08/19/2020: We changed HDMI Forum VRR to 'Unknown' because we currently don't have an accurate way to test for HDMI Forum VRR compatibility. Once we do, we'll test for it and update the review.

    Update 07/07/2020: We had neglected to indicate the native refresh rate of the TV for comparison purposes. It is now fixed.

    The Frame 2020 supports FreeSync to reduce screen tearing when gaming. However, the 32 inch model doesn't have any VRR support. Additionally, the 32", 43", and 50" sizes have a 60Hz panel, instead of the 120Hz on the larger variants.

    Do note that FreeSync only works on the HDMI 4 port. Although the TV states that FreeSync is enabled and working when using another HDMI port, there was still a significant amount of tearing in-game. Furthermore, even on HDMI 4, it was inconsistent but usable. Turning the TV off and back on or restarting the computer can sometimes resolve the issue.

    Inputs
    9.7
    Input Lag
    1080p @ 60Hz
    10.5 ms
    1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
    88.6 ms
    1440p @ 60Hz
    10.5 ms
    4k @ 60Hz
    10.3 ms
    4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
    15.0 ms
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    10.3 ms
    4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
    64.5 ms
    4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
    22.5 ms
    8k @ 60Hz
    N/A
    1080p @ 120Hz
    5.9 ms
    1440p @ 120Hz
    5.8 ms
    4k @ 120Hz
    5.4 ms
    1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
    6.1 ms
    1440p with VRR
    6.6 ms
    4k with VRR
    6.4 ms
    8k with VRR
    N/A

    Update 11/27/2020: We've retested the input lag with an HDMI 2.1 source and the latest firmware (version 1403).

    The Frame 2020's input lag is outstanding. It's extremely low as long as you're in 'Game' mode, and PC users only need to be in 'PC' mode to get the lowest latency. The input lag does increase when playing with 10-bit HDR, VRR, or Game Motion Plus, but the difference is so small that most people shouldn't notice it.

    9.6
    Supported Resolutions
    Resolution4k
    1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    1080p @ 120Hz
    Yes (native support)
    1440p @ 60Hz
    Yes (native support)
    1440p @ 120Hz
    Yes (native support)
    4k @ 60Hz
    Yes
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    4k @ 120Hz
    Yes (native support)
    8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
    No
    8k @ 60Hz
    No

    Update 07/27/2021: We updated the firmware to version 2016, and it doesn't have any issues displaying 4k @ 120Hz content with chroma 4:4:4, as it was skipping frames before the update.

    Update 11/27/2020: We've retested the supported resolutions with an HDMI 2.1 source and the latest firmware (version 1403).

    The Frame 2020 supports most common resolutions and can display proper chroma 4:4:4 at all resolutions, except 1440p@120Hz. To display chroma 4:4:4, the input in use must be labelled 'PC', and for high bandwidth signals, Input Signal Plus must be enabled.

    The 32" model has a 1080p resolution.

    Advanced Console Compatibility
    Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
    Yes
    PS5, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
    Yes
    PS5, 4k @ 120Hz
    Yes
    PS5, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
    Yes
    PS5, 1440p @ 120Hz
    PS5 can't do 1440p
    PS5, 1080p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    PS5, Variable Refresh Rate
    PS5 can't do VRR yet
    Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
    Yes
    Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz
    Yes
    Xbox Series X, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
    Yes
    Xbox Series X, 1440p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    Xbox Series X, 1080p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    Xbox Series X, Variable Refresh Rate
    Yes

    Update 07/27/2021: We updated the firmware to version 2016, and it doesn't have any issues displaying 4k @ 120Hz content in HDR from the PS5; it couldn't do it before the update.

    Inputs Specifications
    HDR10
    Yes
    HDR10+
    Yes
    Dolby Vision
    No
    HLG
    Yes
    HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
    Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
    HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
    Yes (HDMI 4)
    CECN/A
    HDCP 2.2Yes
    USB 3.0
    No
    Variable Analog Audio OutNo
    Wi-Fi SupportYes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
    Input Photos
    Total Inputs
    HDMI4
    USB2
    Digital Optical Audio Out1
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mm0
    Analog Audio Out RCA0
    Component In0
    Composite In0
    Tuner (Cable/Ant)1
    Ethernet1
    DisplayPort0
    IR In0
    SD/SDHC0
    Audio Passthrough
    ARC
    Yes (HDMI 3)
    eARC support
    Yes
    Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
    Yes
    DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
    No
    5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
    Yes
    5.1 DTS via ARC
    No
    5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
    Yes
    5.1 DTS via Optical
    No

    The Frame 2020 supports eARC, allowing you to send high-quality object-based audio like Dolby Atmos via TrueHD over an HDMI connection. To use, eARC must be set to 'Passthrough'.

    Sound Quality
    6.2
    Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    Low-Frequency Extension
    67.27 Hz
    Std. Dev. @ 70
    3.90 dB
    Std. Dev. @ 80
    5.49 dB
    Std. Dev. @ Max
    8.58 dB
    Max
    89.1 dB SPL
    Dynamic Range Compression
    6.21 dB

    The Frame 2020 has a mediocre frequency response. It's reasonably well-balanced overall and the bass has a good amount of punch; however, there's not enough bass extension to produce any rumble or thump. It gets loud enough for large or noisy rooms, but there are quite a bit of compression artifacts at max volume.

    7.3
    Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted THD @ 80
    0.069
    Weighted THD @ Max
    0.259
    IMD @ 80
    2.36%
    IMD @ Max
    5.91%

    Decent distortion performance. It sounds very clean at moderate listening levels, and even when nearing max volume, the THD remains within an acceptable range.

    Smart Features
    8.0
    Interface
    Smart OSTizen
    Version2020
    Ease of Use
    Easy
    Smoothness
    Very Smooth
    Time Taken to Select YouTube
    2 s
    Time Taken to Change Backlight
    6 s
    Advanced Options
    Many

    Like all Samsung TVs, the Frame 2020 runs on Tizen OS. It's easy to use and runs very smoothly. We didn't encounter any overscan bugs, which we had observed on other Samsung TVs, likely because the TV was already set to 16:9 aspect ratio by default.

    0.0
    Ad-Free
    Ads
    Yes
    Opt-out
    No
    Suggested Content in Home
    Yes
    Opt-out of Suggested Content
    No

    There are ads and suggested content on the home screen and within the app store. Sadly, they can't be disabled.

    8.5
    Apps and Features
    App Selection
    Great
    App Smoothness
    Average
    Cast Capable
    Yes
    USB Drive Playback
    Yes
    USB Drive HDR Playback
    Yes
    HDR in Netflix
    Yes
    HDR in YouTube
    Yes

    Samsung's app store has a wide selection of apps and you should be able to find what you need. As the name of the TV suggests, one of the highlight features is its Art Mode. It displays artwork or photos when the TV is in standby mode, which you can start by pressing the power button on the remote. You can learn more about Samsung's Art Mode here.

    8.5
    Remote
    Size
    Small
    Voice Control
    Many Features
    CEC Menu Control
    Yes
    Other Smart Features
    Yes
    Remote AppSamsung SmartThings

    The remote control is the same one that comes with The Frame 2019. There are very few buttons, just enough to navigate the Smart Hub and to change settings like volume and channel. There are also some shortcuts to popular streaming services and a built-in microphone for voice control. The remote can be used as a universal remote control for other devices, even if the device doesn't support CEC.

    When it comes to voice control, it's a bit of a hit or miss. You can ask for general info like the time or weather, and to change TV settings such as the input source or brightness. We were able to search for content on YouTube, but not in Netflix.

    TV Controls

    There's a single button located on the underside of the TV. You can use it to turn the TV on/off, change the channel, change the input source, and adjust the volume.

    In The Box

    • Power cable
    • One Connect cable
    • Remote control
    • 2 x AAA batteries
    • No-gap wall mount
    • Wall mount spacers
    • Mounting hardware
    • User guide
    Not Shown:
    • One Connect Box

    Misc
    Power Consumption53 W
    Power Consumption (Max)149 W
    Firmware1113

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