Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) Review

The Frame / LS03FAU

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”

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This TV was tested by:

Maciej Koper

Paweł Koper

Last updated::

7/26/2025 11:45:17 AM

SAMSUNG LS03F - Our verdict

7.0

Overall rating

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.

Advantages

Matte panel effectively reduces reflections
Screen customisation option with interchangeable frames + art mode
Free add-ons including wall mount + OneConnect module
High native contrast
Good brightness
High refresh rate - 120/144Hz
Plenty of features for gamers - VRR, ALLM, Gamebar, proprietary motion smoother functioning in games

Disadvantages

No HGiG mode – makes precise HDR settings on the console difficult.
No DTS support – requires additional equipment for some films on Bluray discs.
Paid picture mode

Movies and series in UHD quality

6.7
Classic TV, YouTube

6.5
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

6.4
Gaming on console

8.3
TV as a computer monitor

8.2
Watching in bright light

6.3
Utility functions

8.0
Apps

7.9
Sound quality

6.0

SAMSUNG LS03F - TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x HDMI 2.1 (40Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz

Build quality: Good

Stand type: Legs

Kolor ramki: Changeable Frame

Review Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) Appearance of the TV

Regulacja podstawy: stand-Height Adjustment
Montaż na płasko: Yes
Akcesoria: accessories-Stand, accessories-Wall Bracket, accessories-OneConnect Box

Design is undoubtedly one of the biggest advantages of The Frame. Samsung has taken care of the details - the package includes a special wall mount that allows for perfect alignment of the television with the wall, creating the impression of a hanging picture. Moreover, all cables are connected to an external One Connect module, which connects to the television via a single cable. This means you don't have to take the screen off the wall to connect a new device.

The television itself is quite slim, but it has intentionally been equipped with thicker bezels that resemble a classic picture frame. There's an option to purchase additional frames in various colours and styles, which can be quickly and easily swapped out. Unfortunately, the frames are not included in the package - you have to pay extra for them, although there are often promotions where you can get them for free or for a nominal fee when purchasing the television.

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SAMSUNG LS03F - Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

6/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Local dimming function: No

Review Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) Contrast and black detail

Result

4,800:1

Result

4,750:1

Result

14,900:1

Result

4,500:1

Result

4,300:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

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.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

SAMSUNG LS03F - HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

5.8/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 91.5%, Bt.2020: 72.2%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) Brightness measurement

Result

642 nit

Result

589 nit

Result

574 nit

Result

584 nit

Result

631 nit

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.

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

Although the LS03F is not among the televisions designed for extremely bright HDR scenes, its adaptive capabilities – that is, the way it handles very demanding material – can be considered quite successful. Test clips from the films Pan and Billy Lynn, known for their unusual dynamics and high brightness, were reproduced surprisingly well.

Even though these scenes exceed the typical capabilities of equipment in this class, the LS03F did not get lost in the details. Bright elements, like the sun in Pan or the fireworks in Billy Lynn, did not merge into one white blot. The image remained clear, and the transitions between brightness and the rest of the frame maintained a perceptible structure.

There are some reservations regarding the colour reproduction – particularly when it comes to skin tones. In some scenes, the palette appeared unnatural or was slightly skewed towards warmer tones. However, this is not a major drawback, but rather a detail noticeable in direct comparison.

It’s a bit of a shame that the TV was not equipped with properly functioning dynamic tone mapping. As is often the case with many Samsung models, the LS03F also simply brightens the entire image in active mode, flattening the contrast and robbing scenes of their intended depth. In our opinion, it’s better to leave the tone mapping set to static – the effect is more balanced and closer to the intentions of the filmmakers.

HDR luminance chart:

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

LS03F supports a wide range of HDR formats, including HDR10 and HDR10+, which has been gaining popularity in recent years. And that's great – the dynamic metadata that HDR10+ relies on can convey the creators' intentions much better than the static settings known from classic HDR10. This is very well demonstrated in the test scene with horses on a snowy clearing.

As usual, one might have concerns about the lack of support for Dolby Vision. Samsung consistently skips this format in all its televisions, which may be a downside for those using streaming platforms that focus on Dolby. On the other hand, if the pace of HDR10+ development continues – and it seems to be the case – the differences in content availability may gradually become less significant over time.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: HDR10+

SAMSUNG LS03F - Smoothness of tonal transitions

9/10

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.

Review Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6.7/10

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

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.

SAMSUNG LS03F - Blur and motion smoothness

6.9/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: Yes

BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)

BFI function 120Hz: No

Brightness drop with BFI: 43%

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.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

The smudging performance is actually quite decent. On the Ufo test, it's hard to talk about the perfection offered by OLED organic panels, but for an LCD TV, which will display static (images) or semi-static content 99% of the time, the effect was more than satisfactory. Motion remains clear, contours do not excessively blur, and individual artifacts do not hinder everyday use – even with dynamic sports footage or games.

It's also worth mentioning the feature called "LED Motion," or classic BFI. It works with 60 Hz material and does indeed make the image look smoother. Unfortunately – like with most TVs – its usefulness leaves much to be desired. Flickering occurs, possible ghosting outlines appear, and the screen loses almost half of its brightness. This can be regarded more as a curiosity than a function for real use.

SAMSUNG LS03F - Console compatibility and gaming features

8.1/10

ALLM: Yes
VRR: Yes
VRR range: 48 - 144Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode: No
Correct implementation of HGIG: No
1080p@120Hz: Yes
1440p@120Hz: Yes
4K@120Hz: Yes
Game bar: Yes

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.

SAMSUNG LS03F - Input lag

10/10

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!

SDR	HDR	Dolby Vision
1080p60: 13 ms	2160p60: 13 ms
1080p120: 8 ms	2160p120: 8 ms
2160p60: 13 ms
2160p120: 8 ms

SAMSUNG LS03F - Compatibility with PC

8.2/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Average

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 8ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR

Max refresh rate: 144Hz

G-Sync: Yes

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.

SAMSUNG LS03F - Viewing angles

3.5/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 70%

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.

SAMSUNG LS03F - TV efficiency during daytime

6.3/10

Matrix coating: Matte

Reflection suppression: Very Good

Black levels during daytime: Poor

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.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F): 596 cd/m2

SAMSUNG LS03F - TV features

8/10

System: Tizen
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
Recording programming: No
Picture in Picture (PiP): No
Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
AirPlay: Yes
Voice search in native language: Yes
Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes
Audio only mode: Yes
RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
Backlit remote control: No
Teletext: Yes

Review Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) TV features

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.

SAMSUNG LS03F - Apps

7.9/10

SAMSUNG LS03F - Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

8.5/10

Video Photos Audio

Maximum photo resolution:	Supported photo formats:
4 Mpix	JPEG
6 Mpix	HEIC
8 Mpix	PNG
10 Mpix	GIF
12 Mpix	WebP
16 Mpix	TIFF
20 Mpix	BMP
24 Mpix	SVG
28 Mpix
32 Mpix

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.

SAMSUNG LS03F - Sound

6/10

Subjective sound quality

Supported codecs

(TV speakers)

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Dolby True HD 7.1

Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

DTS-HD Master Audio

Supported codecs

(external HDMI eARC audio)

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Dolby True HD 7.1

Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

DTS-HD Master Audio

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😉).