Considering Samsung’s The Frame? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Samsung’s The Frame is designed to look like a piece of artwork on your wall — not a television. When it works, the effect is genuinely impressive. But there are several things about The Frame that make it different to purchase, install, and live with compared to a standard TV. Understanding these before you buy will save you frustration and help you get the clean result The Frame is designed to deliver.

1. The One Connect Box — what it is and where it goes

The most important thing to understand about The Frame before buying is the One Connect Box. Unlike a standard TV where all the inputs (HDMI, power, USB) plug into the back of the screen itself, The Frame routes all connections through a separate external component — the One Connect Box — that’s roughly 14″ × 6″ × 3″. A single ultra-thin cable runs from the box to the TV.

This is what makes The Frame look so clean on the wall. There’s only one nearly-invisible cable connecting the TV to anything. But it also means you need to decide where to put the One Connect Box before the TV goes up, because dealing with it after the fact is significantly harder.

Your options for concealing the One Connect Box

Most Austin homeowners choose one of three approaches:

Behind the wall in a recessed box — the cleanest option. A small recessed box is cut into the wall behind the TV to house the One Connect Box completely out of sight. This is the zero-cable look The Frame is really designed for.

In the media console below the TV — simpler to install, works well when the console is directly below and close to the wall. The One Connect cable runs down to the console.

In a separate AV cabinet — if you have a media closet or AV rack in another room, the One Connect cable can run a significant distance, keeping all your equipment completely out of the living space.

2. The No-Gap Mount — why it matters

Standard TV wall brackets leave a gap between the TV and the wall — typically an inch or more. On a regular TV this isn’t really noticeable. On The Frame, which is designed to look like a picture hanging on the wall, that gap is immediately obvious and looks wrong.

Samsung makes a proprietary wall mount called the No-Gap Wall Mount specifically for The Frame. As the name suggests, it places the TV completely flush against the wall with zero gap — it sits the same way a canvas would. This is the only way to achieve the genuine framed-art look The Frame is designed for.

3. Mounting on brick, stone, or tile

The Frame can be installed on masonry surfaces — brick, stone, concrete — but it’s significantly more complex than a standard drywall installation, and the One Connect Box solution becomes more challenging.

Running a recessed outlet box through a brick or stone wall requires specialized tools and isn’t always feasible depending on the wall construction. In some situations, alternative cable management solutions work well. In others, the wall genuinely isn’t suitable for a clean Frame installation and we’ll tell you that honestly before you commit to the TV.

4. Bezel and frame customization

Every Frame TV comes with a standard Modern Bezel included. But Samsung also sells a range of customizable bezels separately — in different materials and colors — that let you match the TV’s frame to your room’s aesthetic. Current options include modern matte finishes in multiple colors, wood-look options, and a Customizable Frame that allows mix-and-match combinations.

Swapping the bezel is straightforward and doesn’t require taking the TV off the wall or reinstalling anything. The bezels click on and off by design. If you’re particular about the look — and if you’re buying The Frame, you probably are — it’s worth browsing the bezel options before the TV goes up so you have what you want on hand for the install.

5. Art Mode and the matte display

The Frame uses a matte anti-reflection display specifically engineered to look less like a TV screen and more like a framed print. Standard TV displays have a glossy finish that reflects room lighting and looks obviously like a screen even when off. The Frame’s matte finish significantly reduces this, which is what allows Art Mode to be convincing.

Art Mode displays curated artwork — paintings, photographs, illustrations — from Samsung’s Art Store subscription service when the TV isn’t actively being used. The subscription costs around $4.99/month and provides access to thousands of works. You can also upload personal photos to display for free.

One thing worth noting: the matte display handles high-contrast content like sports and action slightly differently than a glossy QLED. The Frame is excellent at what it does — displaying art and handling general TV viewing beautifully — but if ultra-high-contrast sports viewing in a dark room is your primary use case, a standard QLED or OLED might be a better fit. We’ll give you an honest recommendation either way.

6. Sizes — what we carry and what fits your room

The Frame is available in seven sizes from 32″ to 85″. As an authorized Samsung dealer, we carry all current sizes and can advise on what works best for your specific room, wall, and viewing distance.

Call 512-865-6185 for current pricing. We price-match authorized dealer pricing and your full Samsung warranty is always intact when you purchase through us.

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