Samsung’s The Frame has dominated the lifestyle TV market since its inception, inspiring numerous imitations but remaining unmatched in its unique blend of art and technology. In 2025, Samsung aims to solidify its leadership with The Frame Pro, a significant upgrade focused on enhancing the television’s performance beyond its established aesthetic appeal. While previous iterations prioritized design, often compromising on picture quality, The Frame Pro seeks to deliver a premium viewing experience alongside its artistic capabilities. This evolution reflects Samsung’s understanding that consumers desire a television that not only complements their decor but also excels in traditional TV functionalities.
The Frame Pro introduces two key advancements: a modified Mini LED backlight system and a higher refresh rate. Samsung’s implementation of Mini LED technology, however, differs from the conventional approach. Instead of distributing Mini LEDs across the entire back panel for precise local dimming, The Frame Pro places them along the bottom edge. While Samsung claims this configuration still offers some level of local dimming, it remains to be seen how effectively it improves contrast, brightness, and black levels compared to true full-array local dimming systems. The increased 144Hz refresh rate, up from 120Hz, caters to PC gamers seeking smoother gameplay, further broadening The Frame Pro’s appeal beyond art enthusiasts. Notably absent, however, is support for Dolby Vision, a high dynamic range format favored by cinephiles.
Beyond the display enhancements, The Frame Pro boasts a significant improvement in connectivity: a fully wireless connection to the One Connect Box. This eliminates the previously required thin cable, further streamlining the TV’s minimalist aesthetic and simplifying installation. The Wireless One Connect Box, compatible with Wi-Fi 7, houses all HDMI inputs and other processing components, allowing for a cleaner setup with only the power cord needing concealment. This wireless functionality extends up to 10 meters, even with obstacles, providing greater flexibility in positioning the box.
Samsung’s emphasis on artificial intelligence is evident in The Frame Pro, mirroring the company’s broader 2025 TV lineup. The included remote features a dedicated AI button for activating Click to Search, which provides contextual information about onscreen content, such as actors, locations, and even clothing. The new Samsung Food feature recognizes dishes and offers related recipes, adding a practical dimension to the viewing experience. Further AI integration enhances picture and sound optimization, while accessibility features like Live Translate provide real-time closed caption translation in multiple languages, showcasing the diverse applications of AI in modern televisions.
The Frame Pro retains the signature matte display finish of its predecessors, contributing to the realistic appearance of displayed artwork. However, this matte finish can sometimes subdue the vibrancy of the picture. The effectiveness of the bottom-edge Mini LED implementation in mitigating this potential drawback remains a key question. A comprehensive evaluation of The Frame Pro’s picture quality will be crucial in assessing its overall performance and determining whether the modified Mini LED technology truly delivers a noticeable improvement.
Ultimately, the success of The Frame Pro hinges on its pricing. While the upgrades, particularly the wireless One Connect Box and the enhanced refresh rate, are welcome additions, the unconventional Mini LED approach warrants further scrutiny. If Samsung prices The Frame Pro significantly higher than the standard model, it risks undermining its appeal, especially given the ongoing absence of Dolby Vision support. The balance between enhanced performance, innovative features, and competitive pricing will determine whether The Frame Pro solidifies Samsung’s dominance in the lifestyle TV segment or opens the door for competitors to gain ground.
