Compare: Sony X85L vs Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F)

Sony X85L is a model from 2023 that will continue to be available in the 2024 range from the Japanese manufacturer. Its biggest advantage is the Google TV system. It currently provides the greatest access to applications, so we don’t have to worry about missing any of our favourite apps. The intuitive interface and voice control feature using Google Assistant make daily use of the television convenient and modern. As for picture quality, Sony X85L performs well. Thanks to local dimming (albeit with a very mediocre number of zones), black levels look quite decent. Additionally, its fairly high brightness allows for comfortable TV viewing during the day, even in well-lit rooms. Moreover, the television offers a program recording feature from built-in tuners, which is a great convenience for those wanting to control what and when they watch. In terms of motion smoothness, X85L also does not disappoint. The 120 Hz panel and Motionflow system provide smooth display of dynamic scenes, which will satisfy both movie lovers and sports fans. The television is also equipped with a range of features for gamers, including VRR, Game Bar, and G-Sync support, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. Of course, the television is not without its flaws. The lack of HGiG support and high input lag in Dolby Vision mode may be disappointing for more demanding gamers. Additionally, the compromise between font readability and smoothness of the image when connected to a PC may not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, Sony X85L is a decent piece of equipment that is particularly worth considering if it can be purchased on sale.

Samsung The Frame 2025 is a TV like no other – and even though it has competition now, it still does it best. The matte panel, flush with the wall, and one thin cable thanks to the One Connect module make the device resemble a piece of art more than any other screen. The Art Store app continues to offer the best scans of artworks on the market (even if they are subscription-based), and with interchangeable frames, we can match the TV to the interior almost like furniture. When it comes to the picture itself, because after all, we are also talking about a regular TV, there are no major changes, but also no disappointments compared to last year's model LS03D. The Frame still offers high native contrast and solid brightness at 600 nits, which combined with the matte coating provides very comfortable daytime use. The colours are not as vibrant as in glossy screens, but compared to competitive matte constructions – they fare the best. A novelty is the 144 Hz refresh rate, though in practice it will mainly benefit PC gamers. And indeed – in terms of features for gamers, The Frame has nearly everything: low input lag, support for variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic game mode (ALLM), Game Bar, and a unique motion smoother designed for gaming. Unfortunately, not everything is as perfect as it might seem. Why? Because the HGiG mode is missing, which suddenly disappeared from the latest version of the Tizen system. And here Samsung really should respond, as for many gamers this is a key element in choosing a screen. And we fully understand that. Although LS03F The Frame 2025 does not bring major revolutions, it is still a unique TV that, aside from its appearance, offers a quite solid picture and advanced gaming features. It’s just a pity that year after year we also receive new compromises.

The Sony X85L television is equipped with a VA panel, which offers quite decent contrast on its own. Additionally, this model features local dimming technology – in the 55-inch version, it includes 24 zones. Although this number isn’t impressive, it naturally increases with the size of the television. The contrast in the X85L is good, though not the best, especially compared to other televisions also equipped with advanced local dimming technology. Results at a level of 8000:1 are satisfactory, but they average out against the competition. In some cases, such as the third scene from the movie Arrival, the contrast is promising and performs quite well. This is thanks to the very good dimming algorithm that Sony has been using in its televisions for years. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of local dimming zones, the television struggles with noticeable blooming, which can be seen in scenes with the helicopter from the movie Sicario 2.

The year 2025 is shaping up to be quite interesting when it comes to lifestyle televisions. Why? Because Samsung has prepared two versions of the iconic model The Frame – one standard and the other with the addition of "Pro". In this review, we take a look at the version without "Pro", which – as we will soon see – makes a significant difference. The standard model LS03F lacks any local dimming technology, unlike its more expensive sibling. This is important as it affects not only the overall picture quality but primarily how this television handles black levels.

The VA panel used in The Frame 2025 has a high native contrast – and this obviously works in its favour. In the tested movie scenes, details in the dark areas of the image were well visible, nothing blended together, and there was no uniform black/light blob. For the average viewer, this will be perfectly sufficient. But of course, not everything is ideal. The lack of local dimming means that the black levels on this television are not perfectly deep – they resemble a dark navy blue rather than pitch black. Additionally, in our tested unit, we noticed slight blooming on the right side of the screen, but this may simply be the "character" of the unit rather than a rule. Theoretically, one could try to improve the perception of black by backlighting the screen – for example, with an LED strip – but in the case of The Frame, that’s rather impossible, as this television is meant to sit flush against the wall like a piece of art. So to achieve better blacks visible to our eyes, we are forced to watch LS03F with the lights on. Such is the charm of this technology.

The Sony X85L TV offers solid HDR performance with a brightness of 750 nits, which is sufficient to enjoy vibrant effects. In scenes of moderate difficulty, such as the first, third, or fifth test scenes, a brightness of around 600 nits allows you to fully experience the HDR effect. Unfortunately, in more demanding segments, like the scene from the film Sicario 2, the TV reveals its limitations. Drops in brightness to 250 nits make the HDR effect lose its impressive quality and resemble ordinary SDR. Nonetheless, it is worth highlighting the very good coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette at 95%, which definitely deserves praise and positively impacts the overall image quality.

The Frame LS03F is a television that can surprise with its brightness. The maximum luminance reaches around 650 nits, which already looks solid on paper. But as we know – lab tests are one thing, and real film scenes are quite another story. When watching HDR materials in natural conditions, The Frame 2025 maintains very good results. In most film scenes, peak brightness stayed at around 550–650 nits. This is enough to feel the difference between standard picture and that in HDR quality – bright highlights, reflections on water, or moonlight look distinct and impressive.

It's also worth noting that the LS03F is a QLED television, which translates to solid colour saturation. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space reaches about 92%, allowing for vibrant, intense colours in HDR content. It's not at the level of top premium models, but for a lifestyle screen – the result truly deserves recognition.

The television Sony X85L has been tested in IMAX Enhanced mode, which, while associated with world-class cinema, does not guarantee an image consistent with the director's intent. The main issue is the white balance – there is a noticeable strong dominance of blue and significant deficiencies in red. As a result, the image becomes unnaturally cool and looks artificial. Errors in colour reproduction were confirmed by the Colour Checker test, which showed significant discrepancies – colours were "scattered" like shots from a rifle, and only a few samples hit the target values. This clearly shows that the precision of colour reproduction leaves much to be desired.

The brightness of the image is one of the positive features of the television. The gamma for HD content is at an acceptable level, although minor errors occur, but generally it is quite good. However, the issue remains the brightness characteristic for 4K materials, controlled by the EOTF curve. It is evident here that very small, bright elements of the image are too dim, which is the result of the limited number of backlight zones due to the design of the television.

When it comes to picture quality right out of the box, even in Filmmaker mode, which is supposed to be the closest to reference, there were some issues. In both HD and 4K HDR content, we noticed clear deviations in white balance. The picture was heavily skewed towards red and blue, giving the screen a distinctive pinkish hue. This effect was most noticeable in bright scenes – for example, in shots with a lot of white, where neutral light should naturally dominate. In such moments, the screen clearly took on pink tones, which is also evident in the attached comparative photo. As for brightness characteristics – it wasn't as bad as one might expect given such colour inaccuracies. Analysis of the gamma curve and EOTF showed a slight brightening of the image compared to the reference, but not enough to drastically spoil the viewing experience.

Thanks to the use of calibration tools offered by Sony X85L, it has been possible to significantly improve the image quality. After calibration, the white balance for HD content is much more stable, making colours look more natural and enhancing the authenticity of the image. Although it's not perfect, these changes allow viewers to enjoy a more realistic representation of colours, eliminating the earlier cool tone. The gamma, which already performed reasonably well, has been adjusted to an even better version. As a result, tonal transitions and brightness are more consistent, positively impacting the depth and detail of the image.

As for 4K content, despite efforts, the white balance still struggles with a lack of red, which can cause overly warm colours in some scenes. Synthetic tests showed that the EOTF curve in HDR is fairly stable, with a slight boost in mid-bright scenes. However, in actual film material, the TV can still be too bright with fine, light details, which is a result of the limitations of large local dimming technology.

Nonetheless, the calibration has brought significant benefits, particularly in terms of colour accuracy, improving overall image quality and providing a more natural and consistent directorial vision.

After calibration, the movie mode gained a completely new quality. The issue of the pink tint, which was previously clearly visible, especially in bright scenes, has been effectively eliminated. Colours started to look significantly more natural, and the white balance no longer dominated the rest of the image. It was no longer the same oversaturated "picture from a box" – everything took on coherence and a cinematic character. Additionally, the tendency of the TV to slightly brighten scenes, previously visible in the EOTF curve analysis, has been partially corrected. Of course, within the limits of what the design allows without local dimming – it's difficult to speak of perfect brightness management here. Nevertheless, the final effect was definitely closer to what one might expect from a mode named Filmmaker.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in Sony X85L is at a good level – the colour gradation is smooth, even in more demanding areas, making the perception of scenes positive and natural. The biggest issues arise in shadow areas, where subtle colour joins can be visible. Despite this, the television performs well enough that most viewers should not notice these minor imperfections.

In terms of the smoothness of tonal transitions, the LS03F maintains a high standard – just like last year's models. The television didn’t have any issues during testing of more challenging film scenes, where visible transitions between shades can easily occur. The colour gradation performs very well here – both in lighter and darker parts of the image. We did not observe the typical banding effect or any other disturbances that could be noticeable while watching films. If we were to nitpick, in the most demanding scenes – with subtle transitions and delicate gradients – minor imperfections can be seen. But only if you get really close to the screen and start analysing the image from an unintended distance.

In terms of smoothing tonal transitions, the Sony X85L television doesn’t offer any dedicated enhancement options, which is a bit of a downside. On the other hand, the image scaling performs quite well – the television adds a touch of artificial sharpness, which can make details such as tree branches more pronounced, although sometimes with visible jagged edges. This type of effect may appeal to some viewers who prefer a more detailed image.

LS03F is equipped with an NQ4 processor, which is responsible for improving image quality – especially in lower-quality materials. In practice, it works surprisingly well, particularly when it comes to older content and recordings with lower resolution. Activating the "noise reduction" feature delivers noticeable results. The television effectively smooths tonal transitions and removes digital noise that can appear in darker areas of the image. Compared to previous generations, there is a clear improvement – earlier, this feature often smoothed everything too much, including details that it shouldn't have removed. In this year’s model, the smoothing still occurs, but it happens in a much more acceptable way. Textures of materials, skin, or fabric details are not as heavily muted as before – the image retains more naturalness. However, this does not change the fact that film grain is still removed by the television, which may not appeal to everyone. On the other hand, it's no longer such an aggressive intervention as in previous models. It's also worth mentioning that the LS03F may struggle with very weak signals – for example, from VHS tapes or low-resolution video. In such cases, we noticed slight clipping of the image at the edges – the so-called overscan. This can lead to situations where a small part of the image (e.g., subtitles at the bottom edge) gets cut off.

Sony X85L, equipped with a 120 Hz panel, will meet the expectations of a wide range of users – from sports and gaming fans to movie enthusiasts. Movie lovers will surely appreciate the presence of one of the best motion smoothing systems, known as Motionflow. This system offers adjustment using smoothness and clarity sliders – smoothness is responsible for fluid motion, eliminating the stuttering effect, while clarity enhances the sharpness of fast scenes, reducing blur.

The new feature in The Frame for 2025 is a 144 Hz refresh rate display. Yes – in a television primarily associated with displaying works of art, you can now not only watch Van Gogh, but also comfortably play on a console or follow fast-paced sporting events. This is a significant step towards greater versatility. In the case of Samsung movies, as usual in models with a 120 Hz display and above, it allows you to adjust motion fluidity according to your preferences. You can set a more cinematic reproduction that maintains frame rate or opt for complete image smoothing. The range of options is broad, allowing you to tailor the effect to your tastes – regardless of whether the screening is meant to look like classic cinema or a performance on a modern theatre panel.

*this part of the test refers to the model LS03FAU in sizes 55 and 65 inches, which is equipped with a 144Hz display; the sizes 43 and 50 inches have 60Hz displays, and consequently perform much worse in terms of motion fluidity.

Sony X85L offers a fairly solid set of features for gamers, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. First and foremost, the television has a 120 Hz panel, which translates to smooth and dynamic image display, ideal for both fast-paced action games and more demanding sports titles. It is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s, allowing for the full capabilities of next-generation consoles to be utilised. Additionally, Sony X85L supports VRR (variable refresh rate) technology, which helps reduce stuttering and artifacts during gameplay, ensuring a smooth experience. The television also supports G-Sync, which is particularly beneficial for gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards, allowing for screen refresh rate synchronization with GPU performance, eliminating screen tearing. It’s worth mentioning the Game Bar feature, which facilitates quick access to important game-related settings, such as VRR, brightness levels, or display modes, making it convenient and useful during gameplay.

However, there are some limitations. The television does not support HGiG, which may be a downside for some gamers, as HGiG optimises HDR effect rendering in games, providing a more authentic visual experience. Additionally, the Dolby Vision mode, although available, is not practical for gaming due to very high input lag.

As we mentioned earlier – although The Frame likely displays images and artwork for most of the time, Samsung recognised that a Van Gogh fan could just as easily be an avid gamer. And it must be said that The Frame 2025 has almost everything to become a fully-fledged gaming TV.

Onboard, we find support for ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) thanks to the implementation of a single HDMI 2.1 port. The TV handles lower resolutions at higher refresh rates effortlessly and features an expanded Game Bar – already known from other Samsung models – which allows for quick preview and adjustment of key gaming-related settings. For this, it gets extra points from us. Noteworthy is also the proprietary motion smoother, Auto Motion Plus Game, which – and this is worth emphasising – works without increasing input lag. Samsung remains the only manufacturer that has managed to implement this feature in a practically unnoticeable way regarding delays. The result? Much better fluidity in games, especially those that struggle to maintain a stable 60 frames. This solution can genuinely improve gaming comfort in more demanding titles – particularly on consoles that don’t always manage full fluidity, especially in AAA games.

As for the downsides – the lack of Dolby Vision is already something we consider standard in Samsung TVs, so there’s not much to specifically nitpick here. However, the problem lies elsewhere. In the latest version of the Tizen system, the HGiG option has disappeared. Literally – it’s gone. This is a significant inconvenience when configuring the console for proper HDR content display in games. It's hard to understand why such a decision was made, but one thing is certain – this needs to be fixed as soon as possible. We’re talking about a brand that has set standards for gaming on TVs for years. If HGiG returns – and we hope it does – The Frame LS03F can confidently aspire to be a proper gaming TV. Not only as a decoration on the wall, but as equipment that truly enhances the gaming experience.

Generally speaking, the input lag on the Sony X85L is very good, which is crucial for smooth gameplay and quick reactions in games. In standard modes, particularly when using HDMI 2.1 and playing at 4K resolution at 120 Hz, the input lag is minimal.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode is an exception to this rule. In this case, the input lag reaches as high as 95 ms. Such a high level of latency makes the Dolby Vision mode practically unplayable, as responses to commands are noticeably delayed.

When it comes to input lag, Samsung maintains a very high standard. The LS03F, like most of this year's models from the brand, achieves a score of 8 ms for 4K content, which is practically a benchmark value. This result allows you to play even the most dynamic titles without delays and with complete responsiveness. Well done!

The collaboration of the television Sony X85L with a PC involves a bit of balancing between image quality and user comfort. If we want to use the TV for work, where clear fonts matter, we need to set the refresh rate to 60 Hz. In this mode, text looks good and doesn't strain the eyes, which is crucial if we plan to spend a longer time in front of the screen.

On the other hand, if the TV is intended for gaming, where we can take full advantage of its capabilities at 120 Hz, we must consider that the readability of the fonts noticeably decreases. The image becomes less sharp and the text harder to read, which can be frustrating. In short – Sony X85L works well for occasional connection to the computer, but if we need it daily for work and gaming, this compromise may not appeal to everyone.

Collaboration of The Frame 2025 with a computer poses no major issues. Let's start with gaming, as this is where this model shows its strengths – support for 144 Hz signal, low input lag, and compatibility with G-Sync technology (for NVIDIA cards) make it hard not to consider it a full-fledged gaming monitor. It’s one of the more interesting "gaming with PC" televisions available on the market in this class.

When it comes to everyday work, the situation looks just as good. The Frame easily handles chroma 4:4:4, which translates to good font readability and overall user comfort. We only noticed slight issues with dimming very thin lines and dark details on a light background – this effect may occur, particularly when working with small interface elements. In practice, however, with a 55-inch screen and standard office working distances, it will be hard to realistically notice this problem. Nonetheless, it's worth keeping this in mind if the television is to serve as a monitor not only for entertainment but also for precise graphic or text work.

Viewing angles on the Sony X85L, as is often the case with VA panels, are not the best. The picture looks great when you’re watching the TV head-on, but all it takes is a slight shift to the side to notice that the colours lose their vibrancy and the contrast noticeably weakens. This could be a problem if the TV is meant for watching in larger groups, where viewers are seated at different angles. For those who typically watch solo or from one central spot, it won't be a major downside, but the picture quality unfortunately drops when watching from the side.

As one could expect from a VA panel, the viewing angles on The Frame 2025 are at best mediocre. The image loses saturation and contrast when viewed off-axis. It's a shame, because we're talking about a model that displays digital artworks in standby mode – and it's precisely in such moments that wide viewing angles would make the most sense, enhancing the feeling of interacting with a real piece of art rather than just its screen imitation.

Perhaps in the future, manufacturers will decide to introduce special coatings or modified versions of VA panels that improve this aspect – as it would have real significance not only in terms of functionality but also aesthetics for lifestyle televisions.

The performance of the television Sony X85L during the day is quite decent. Its satin screen coating handles light reflection moderately well, which means that in bright rooms there may be some glare, but it is not bothersome enough to significantly interfere. The brightness in SDR mode at 570 nits is sufficient for comfortably watching TV during the day, even with natural light coming in through the windows. This ensures that colours remain vibrant and the picture is clearly visible, making the television suitable for everyday use.

One of the most distinctive features of The Frame is its matte display – and it must be said that Samsung has really perfected this aspect. From our experience, it's one of the best solutions for reducing reflections, especially direct ones. If reflections on the screen can be irritating, it will be hard to find a better screen in this budget than the matte panel used in Samsung TVs. Of course, this comes with a certain compromise. In very bright sunlight, colours may appear slightly faded, and the image loses a bit of depth. However, this is something we consciously accept when opting for a matte screen – you win some, you lose some. In practice, the colours and contrast on Samsung's matte screen still outperform those on Chinese models such as TCL NXT Vision or Hisense Canvas TV. If effective reduction of reflections is a priority and you want to use the TV also as a “digital artwork” in bright rooms, it’s hard to make a better choice.

The Frame achieves around 600 nits of brightness, which, combined with the matte coating, ensures that the TV performs well in well-lit daytime conditions. It may not be at the level of flagship models, but in everyday use – in a living room with plenty of light – it handles it without any problems.

Sony X85L operates on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage for many users. The television offers wide access to apps, and using streaming platforms is smooth and user-friendly. The interface is intuitive and easy to master, allowing for quick switching between apps and searching for favourite content. Google TV allows for personalization of the home screen, enabling each user to tailor it to their preferences. Google Assistant further enriches the experience by offering voice control and quick changes to settings or searching for films without using the remote.

In terms of user features, Sony X85L offers many useful options. The television has the capability to record programs, which is a great convenience for those wanting to watch their favourite content at any time. AirPlay support allows seamless streaming of content from Apple devices, which iPhone and iPad owners will appreciate. In addition, with built-in Bluetooth, various devices such as headphones or keyboards can be connected. However, one drawback is the absence of the PiP (picture in picture) function, which may disappoint users who prefer multitasking on the screen.

The design of the Sony X85L TV, while perhaps not the slimmest, is sturdy and elegant. The metal base with adjustable legs is one of its strong points, allowing for the height and width of the television to be adjusted to fit various furniture and spaces. This practical solution enhances the interior and adds a modern character to it.

Classic TV Features

In terms of classic features, The Frame doesn’t stand out in any significant way compared to its competitors. There’s no option for USB recording or PiP (picture in picture), which may be disappointing for some users. On the other hand, the TV allows simultaneous use of speakers and headphones, which can be useful – especially for older users. The EPG, or electronic programme guide, is quite readable, and despite the absence of traditional buttons on the remote, we managed to launch even the teletext. In everyday use, the basic functions work smoothly and without major complaints.

Smart System – Tizen and Apps

The Frame 2025 runs on the Tizen system, which has been regarded as one of the most refined Smart TV solutions on the market for years. It’s a system designed for devices that are more than just a television – and it has been designed with this spirit in mind. Tizen offers full integration with external devices – supporting both Apple AirPlay and Miracast. Thanks to the SmartThings app, it’s possible to control not only the television but also other devices within the smart home framework. Since last year, Samsung has also been developing its own voice assistant with support for the Polish language, which significantly facilitates operation. However, the greatest strength of the Smart system in The Frame remains the Art Gallery app. Although access to it is paid (via subscription), it offers the best art scans on the market – we’re talking about scans, not just ordinary photos. This makes the effect of a digital painting hanging on the wall appear significantly better than in any other lifestyle TV.

Sony X85L handles playback of most popular file formats from USB without any issues, which is a big plus for those who often access external content. However, it's worth mentioning a minor drawback – the built-in player does not allow for changing the font colour in subtitles, which may be troublesome for some. Fortunately, thanks to the extensive Google TV system, users have a wide range of options. Alternative media players can be easily installed, offering more personalisation options.

During testing, we didn't notice any major issues with playing files from a USB memory stick. The television handled both video materials and photos well. Of course, there are some exceptions – for example, the lack of support for the HEIC format (used by Apple devices) – but it's hard to consider this surprising. On the positive side, it fully supports high-resolution photos – the television displays high megapixel files without any problems, which can be significant for those wanting to treat The Frame as a digital photo frame as well. However, during testing, we noticed a limitation regarding subtitles – the television only correctly handled files in .txt format. It's worth keeping this in mind and ensuring that downloaded subtitles for films are saved in this format; otherwise, they may simply not display.

The sound on the Sony X85L is good – it's clear across the entire scale, allowing enjoyment of both dialogue and music. The bass, though light, is noticeable and adds some depth to the overall sound. However, it should be emphasised that this is a subjective assessment – some may be satisfied with this sound profile, while others might require additional audio equipment to fully experience the stronger tones and a more spacious sound.

For such a slim television, the sound is quite decent. It’s full, adequate for everyday viewing, but lacks much excitement – typical of flat designs. There's not much bass, although at times it can be heard. The speakers in a 2.0.2 configuration have a total power of 40 W. (in the 55+ inch version) Unfortunately, the television does not support DTS format, so for movies with that sound, you'll need to rely on external equipment, like a home theatre system. You can connect a soundbar, and thanks to the Q-Symphony feature, the television plays along with it. Samsung also offers visually matching models for The Frame like S700D or S800D, but they are sold separately. (This shouldn’t really surprise anyone😉).

Sony X85L vs Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F)

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Classic TV Features

Smart System – Tizen and Apps

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound