Compare: Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) vs TCL C7L

Samsung The Frame 2025 is a television unlike any other – and even though competition has emerged, it still does it best. The matte display, flush mounting with the wall, and a single thin cable thanks to the One Connect module make the device resemble a painting more than any other screen. The Art Store app continues to offer the best art scans on the market (even if they are subscription-based), and with interchangeable frames, we can adapt the TV to our interior almost like a piece of furniture. As for the picture itself, because we are also talking about an ordinary television, there are no significant changes, but also no disappointments compared to last year's LS03D model. The Frame still offers a high native contrast and solid brightness at 600 nits, which, combined with the matte finish, provides very comfortable daytime use. The colours are not as vibrant as in glossy screens, but against the backdrop of competing matte constructions – they perform the best. A novelty is the 144 Hz refresh rate, although in practice, mainly PC gamers will benefit from it. And indeed – in terms of gaming features, The Frame has almost everything: low input lag, variable refresh rate (VRR) support, auto low latency mode (ALLM), Game Bar, and a unique motion smoother designed for games. Unfortunately, not everything is as perfect as it might seem. Why? Well, because the HGiG mode is missing, which suddenly disappeared from the latest version of the Tizen system. And Samsung really should respond here because for many gamers, it’s a crucial aspect of choosing a screen. And we fully understand that. Even though LS03F The Frame 2025 does not bring significant revolutions, it remains a unique television that, aside from its appearance, offers a quite solid picture and extensive gaming features. It’s just a shame that year after year we also get new compromises.

[UPDATE] We have updated our tests of Samsung televisions from the 2025 range due to the release of software version 1131, which restored the crucial HGiG function for gamers.

The TCL C7L is an incredibly successful Mini-LED television and a fully deserved successor to the hit model C7K. The list of advantages of this device is truly extensive. At the top is the extremely high brightness of the panel. Thanks to this, the television handles brightly lit living rooms without any problems, offering a fantastic and dynamic image in HDR format. Huge applause is also due for the use of the new Super QLED coating – after professional calibration, the colours can be not only natural but also incredibly saturated. The best part is that the screen achieves this regardless of the scene displayed, which is often not the case with all TVs featuring RGB backlighting. The C7L is also a brilliant piece of equipment for gamers; it could even be said that it is a true "multimedia powerhouse." We get full support for consoles and PCs, refresh rates of up to 288 Hz, G-Sync, and low input lag, which doesn’t increase even when activating the demanding Dolby Vision Gaming mode. Everything is tied together by a well-optimised Google TV system, which in this generation of TCL devices operates noticeably smoother and more efficiently (at least that's the impression we got during our testing). Of course, the C7L is not a perfect device, and the manufacturer had to make certain compromises in this model. The biggest drawback of the C7L is the use of a less powerful image processor. Unfortunately, this translates to rather average digital processing and other design limitations, such as only two HDMI 2.1 ports. A more powerful chip has been reserved this year for the higher series, such as the C8L. From a business point of view, this is entirely understandable. Why? Because if TCL had included a better processor here, most people would probably not see any point in paying extra for a higher model. So even if certain compromises exist, the C7L series is once again shaping up to be one of the most cost-effective Mini-LED televisions this year. If you are looking for a versatile, extremely bright screen for movies, series, television, or gaming – literally for everything – and at the same time do not want to overpay for top series, then yes... the C7L is a brilliant choice that we can definitely recommend to you.

The year 2025 promises 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 shall see shortly – is quite significant. The standard model LS03F lacks any local dimming technology, unlike its more expensive sibling. This is important because 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 to its advantage. In the tested film scenes, details in the dark areas of the image were well visible, nothing blended together, and there was no formation of a uniform black/white blob. For the average viewer, this will be more than sufficient. But of course, not everything is perfect. The absence of local dimming means that the black levels on this television are not perfectly deep – they resemble dark navy rather than tar. Additionally, in our tested unit, we noticed slight blooming in the right part of the screen, but this could simply be the “quirk of the specimen” 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, this is rather impossible, as this television is meant to sit flush against the wall like a picture. So to achieve a better black visible to our eyes, we are forced to watch the LS03F with the lights on. That’s the charm of this technology.

TCL C7L is a Mini LED television, which in the 65-inch variant we tested, is equipped with over 1000 local dimming zones. This, combined with the proprietary VA panel (referred to by TCL CSOT as HVA 2.0), yields truly decent results in terms of blacks and contrast. In most of the scenes we measured, the black levels and contrast looked really good, and in the easiest shots, the black was deep enough to almost resemble that seen on OLED screens. Of course, we are talking about the least demanding shots with a lot of black on the screen. However, when a greater number of bright elements appear on the screen and black no longer dominates as strongly, it is apparent that the TCL C7L – like most Mini LED televisions – has its issues with managing local dimming zones.

This is particularly evident in the black bars in films recorded in the 2.35:1 widescreen format. At that point, a distinct halo effect, or bright light glow, can appear on the black bars or around small, bright objects. The contrast then drastically dropped – from laboratory values of around 200,000:1 to about 10,000:1, which is quite noticeable in a completely dark room. It is worth remembering that this should not be treated as a flaw of the television, but rather as a characteristic of mini-LED technology. Of course, this effect becomes significantly less bothersome when we turn on at least some soft, diffused light in the room... which I definitely recommend doing during screenings on any LCD television.

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

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

TCL C7L is undoubtedly an extremely bright television. In synthetic tests on static images, it can achieve peak brightness of around 2800 nits. This is an exceptionally phenomenal result, considering the price range it occupies. Unfortunately, tests of real film scenes are not quite as spectacular as measurements of white squares. Brightness in actual HDR shots drops to around 1200 nits in the C7L model. This is still a very good result, as this is the value to which the vast majority of contemporary films are mastered. However, when small, point-like elements appear on the screen, the brightness of these details drastically decreases – even down to around 400 nits – which diminishes the HDR effect somewhat. The television does this deliberately to maintain a better level of black and to avoid a giant light bloom. This is somewhat explainable, but it also shows that Mini LED technology is not entirely uncompromising in this regard. As for the HDR effect itself – alongside brightness, colours are of course key here. And those, thanks to the use of new "super" quantum dots, are simply outstanding and among the best on the market. The television can achieve about 90% coverage of the ultra-wide BT.2020 colour gamut and 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut, easily matching the best RGB MINI-LED screens. Best of all, the C7L can maintain such a high saturation of colours regardless of the scene being displayed, which often poses a challenge for competing RGB Mini-LED televisions.

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

When it comes to colours straight out of the box, a new feature in TCL televisions – including the C7L model – is the presence of a new picture mode called Filmmaker Mode. This is significant news, as such a mode was not available from this manufacturer before. By design, as indicated by the name itself, the image in this setting is meant to be presented with the full intention of the film's creator. After our tests, we can confirm that it is undoubtedly the best built-in mode on this television if you care about faithful colour reproduction straight out of the box. However, we certainly wouldn't say it is perfect. Like most devices on the market, this C7L also had its factory flaws. The white balance in Filmmaker Mode tended to shift towards a slightly greenish-yellow hue, primarily caused by an excess of green and a clear deficiency of blue. Of course, for the average viewer, this won't be a drastic flaw, but if you care about perfect whites, natural skin tones, and unlocking the full potential of those new "super" quantum dots, then the television is crying out for professional calibration.

After calibration, the movie mode has gained a completely new quality. The issue of the pink tint, which had been clearly visible before, especially in bright scenes, has been effectively eliminated. Colours now look much more natural, and the white balance no longer dominates the rest of the image. It is no longer the same exaggerated "box picture" – everything now has coherence and a cinematic character. Additionally, the tendency of the television to slightly brighten scenes, previously visible in the EOTF curve analysis, has been partially corrected. Of course, this is within the limits of what the design allows without local dimming – one cannot speak of perfect brightness management here. Nevertheless, the final effect was definitely closer to what one might expect from a mode called Filmmaker.

After conducting a professional calibration, we were able to significantly improve the situation in the factory mode Filmmaker Mode. Following our adjustments, errors in the ColorChecker test and across the entire wide colour gamut fell below the threshold of human perception – that is, below a value of 3, which is truly an excellent result. The TCL C7L definitely benefits from such an operation in terms of colour fidelity, and this is difficult to dispute. However, the management of brightness in HDR content post-calibration does not look as good. As I described earlier – even though we set up this model appropriately, when we turn on real film scenes on the television, it manages its brightness in quite a peculiar way. It often highlights certain elements on the screen contrary to the creator's intention, which can be clearly seen in the EOTF graphs measured in specific films. Despite this defect – or rather the specific trait of this television – one cannot deny that after calibration, the C7L was able to reproduce colours completely accurately.

In terms of the smoothness of tonal transitions, the LS03F maintains a high standard – just like last year’s models. The television did not encounter any issues when testing more challenging film scenes, where noticeable transitions between shades of colour can easily occur. The colour gradation is very good here – both in the lighter and darker areas of the image. We did not observe the typical banding effect or other disturbances that could be distracting while watching films. If we were to nitpick, in the most demanding scenes – with subtle transitions and delicate gradients – minor imperfections can be detected. But only if one approaches the screen very closely and begins to analyse the image from a distance not intended by the manufacturer.

Another element worth discussing is the fluidity of tonal transitions. Here, one must honestly admit that the TCL C7L simply looks good. In most scenes – especially in the brighter shots – absolutely no problems with gradients can be seen. In native 4K HDR content, the picture is clear, and the transitions between shades are very smooth. It looks equally good in Dolby Vision mode, where during testing, we did not notice any digital defects or unsightly colour banding. One could nitpick about very dark shots, where a heavily compressed signal is displayed on the screen. In such conditions, the C7L can occasionally reveal minor imperfections; however, in this model, it is not something that stands out significantly, especially during everyday film screenings.

LS03F has been equipped with the NQ4 processor, which is responsible for improving image quality – particularly in lower quality materials. In practice, this works surprisingly well, especially when it comes to older content and recordings with lower resolution. Activating the "noise reduction" function yields noticeable effects. The TV 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 advancement – previously, this function often smoothed everything too much, including details that it shouldn't remove. In this year's model, smoothing still occurs, but in a much more acceptable manner. Textures of materials, skin, and fabric details are no longer subdued as strongly as before – the image retains more naturalness. However, this does not change the fact that film grain is still removed by the TV, which may not appeal to everyone. On the other hand, it is no longer as aggressive an intervention as in previous models. It is also worth mentioning that the LS03F may struggle with very weak signals – for example, from VHS tape recordings or low-resolution video. In such cases, we noticed slight clipping of the image at the edges – so-called overscan. This can lead to a situation where a small part of the image (e.g., subtitles at the bottom edge) gets cut off.

This point could be called, in a sense, the Achilles' heel of the C7L model. Unfortunately, this television uses an older chipset from MediaTek – the Pentonic 700 – which has never been known for outstanding digital picture processing. This is clearly visible in the performance of the smoothing function, which is responsible for reducing jagged edges and removing digital noise. It simply works very poorly – when set to a low level, its effectiveness is practically nonexistent. A small credit should perhaps be given here for the fact that the algorithm does not additionally ruin the picture or blur details forcibly. The upscaling, which is the scaling of the image from lower resolutions to 4K, fares a bit better. It is simply adequate and does not stand out in any particular way against the competition. However, it cannot be denied that the C7L would greatly benefit in this aspect if the manufacturer decided to use the newer Pentonic 800 processor, which is now found in an increasing number of competing models.

The new feature in The Frame for 2025 is a display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. Yes – in a television that is mainly associated with displaying works of art, you can now not only watch Van Gogh but also comfortably play on a console or follow dynamic sports events. This is a definite step towards greater versatility. In the case of Samsung films, as usual in models with a display rate of 120 Hz and above, it allows you to adjust motion smoothness according to your preferences. You can set a more cinematic reproduction while maintaining frame rate or opt for full motion smoothing. The range of options is broad, allowing you to tailor the effect to your own taste – whether the viewing experience is meant to resemble classic cinema or a show on a modern theatre screen.

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

TCL C7L features a native 4K panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which at lower resolutions – when using a PC – can even ramp up to 288 Hz. These are, of course, very high values and commendable on paper, but in everyday life, it is worth remembering that almost all dynamic content you display on this television will still rotate around a maximum of 120 Hz. To tame this dynamism, the television's menu includes a motion smoothing system called "Motion Clarity." It offers several predefined modes, including a user mode, which we definitely recommend setting manually using our tried-and-tested guides on our YouTube channel. There, we have two key sliders at our disposal. The first one, "Motion Blur Reduction," is responsible for reducing blurring and improving sharpness in dynamic 60-frame materials, such as sports broadcasts. Meanwhile, the second slider, "Flicker Reduction," allows for the addition of artificial frames in films and series recorded at cinematic 24 or 30 frames per second. This certainly eliminates the irritating stutter in images during camera movement shots.

As we mentioned earlier – although The Frame likely displays images and artworks most of the time, Samsung has recognised that a Van Gogh enthusiast could just as easily be a passionate gamer. And it must be admitted that The Frame 2025 has almost everything to become a fully-fledged gaming television.

On board, we find support for ALLM (automatic game mode) and variable refresh rate (VRR) thanks to the implementation of one HDMI 2.1 port. The television handles lower resolutions at higher refresh rates without any issues and features an extensive Game Bar – already known from other Samsung models – which allows for quick preview and change of the most important gaming-related settings. For this, it earns extra points from us. It is also worth highlighting the custom motion smoothening technology, Auto Motion Plus Game, which – and it is worth emphasising – works without increasing input lag. Samsung remains the only manufacturer that has managed to implement this feature in a practically unnoticeable manner regarding delays. The result? Much better fluidity in games, especially those that struggle to maintain a stable 60 frames. This solution can genuinely improve the gaming experience in more demanding titles – particularly on consoles that do not always manage full fluidity, especially in AAA games.

As for the downsides – the lack of Dolby Vision is already regarded as standard in Samsung televisions, so there's nothing to specifically complain about here. However, the issue is something entirely different. In the latest version of the Tizen system, the HGiG option has disappeared. Literally – it is gone. This is a significant hindrance when configuring consoles for proper HDR content display in games. It is hard to understand why such a decision was made, but one thing is certain – ~~this should be fixed as soon as possible.~~ ~~We are talking about a brand that has set standards for years when it comes to gaming on televisions. If HGiG returns – and we hope it will –~~ The Frame LS03F can confidently aspire to the title of a genuine gaming television. Not just as a wall decoration, but as equipment that truly provides enjoyment in gaming.

[UPDATE] We have updated our tests of Samsung televisions from the 2025 model year due to the release of software version 1131, which restored the HGiG function crucial for gamers.

When it comes to gaming, the TCL C7L is simply an outstanding television for gamers. With the presence of two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, it provides access to all the key features that console and high-end PC owners require. It has a well-functioning ALLM mode with very low input lag and VRR frame synchronization that operates in an impressive range from 48 up to 288 Hz. Importantly, unlike some competitors, TCL has ensured a proper implementation of the console HDR10 HGIG profile and support for Dolby Vision in games. This is complemented by a very well-designed player panel, known as the Game Bar, which even allows you to customise its appearance and change the theme to perfectly match the style of your console.

The only thing that can – and indeed should – be critiqued here is the fact that the television offers only two full HDMI 2.1 ports, while the other two are older HDMI 2.0. This creates quite a significant logistical problem. Why? Because one of those fast ports also supports the eARC audio return channel. In practice, this means that if you connect a soundbar or home cinema system to the television, you will only have one free HDMI 2.1 port left. If you have two consoles or a console and a powerful computer at home, unfortunately, you'll have to give something up or frequently juggle cables at the back of the unit while maintaining convenient control over your audio system.

In terms of input lag, Samsung maintains a high level – and a very high one at that. 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 reference value. This result allows for gaming even in the most dynamic titles without delays and with full responsiveness. Well done!

It is worth taking a look at the dry numbers here, as in terms of input lag, the TCL C7L is absolute market leader. Our measurements showed that the input lag is extremely low, and for a 60 Hz signal, it is just around 10 ms. When we step up a level and launch a game at 120 Hz, the lag drops to an imperceptible 6 to 7 ms. However, even more importantly, these values are maintained by the television even after activating the Dolby Vision format in games.

The collaboration of The Frame 2025 with a computer is not a significant problem. Let's start with gaming, as this is where this model demonstrates its strengths – support for 144 Hz signal, low input lag, and compatibility with G-Sync technology (for NVIDIA cards) make it hard not to regard it as a fully-fledged gaming monitor. It is one of the more interesting "PC gaming" televisions available on the market in this category.

When it comes to everyday work, the situation looks equally good. The Frame handles chroma 4:4:4 without any issues, resulting in good font readability and overall user comfort. We only noticed minor problems with dimming very thin lines and dark details on a light background – this effect may occur especially when working with small interface elements. However, in practice, with a 55-inch diagonal screen and standard office working distance, it will be difficult to realistically notice this problem. Nonetheless, it is worth keeping this in mind if the television is to serve as a monitor not only for entertainment but also for precise work with graphics or text.

When it comes to gaming on PC, as I mentioned earlier, it is truly seamless. The television effortlessly supports high refresh rates: full 4K at 144 Hz, and in Full HD resolution, it can even ramp up to 288 Hz. Additionally, both G-Sync and FreeSync synchronization systems work here without any issues. For PC gamers, the C7L can thus serve as an excellent, massive monitor.

On the other hand, typical office work with text is somewhat less impressive, largely due to the rather oddly behaving panel in these conditions. When the highest refresh modes, 144 Hz and 288 Hz, are enabled, the readability and sharpness of dark text on a light background are fairly average – the fonts become slightly blurred and jagged. Fortunately, this can be easily fixed by changing the screen refresh rate in the graphics card settings to a stable 120 Hz. Then the text becomes perfectly sharp again, which is definitely worth remembering if you plan to use the C7L as a work screen.

As could be expected from a VA panel, the viewing angles on The Frame 2025 are at best mediocre. The image loses saturation and contrast when moved off-axis. It's a pity because we are talking about a model that displays digital artworks in standby mode – and it is precisely in such moments that wide viewing angles would make the most sense, enhancing the experience of engaging with a real image 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 – because for lifestyle televisions, it would have real significance not only in terms of functionality but also aesthetics.

Unfortunately, the powerful native contrast of the HVA 2.0 panel comes at a price. It concerns the viewing angles, which in the C7L model are simply poor. This is obviously due to the use of the aforementioned VA-type panel. It is a completely natural characteristic of this technology and something to consider when making a purchase. If you sit directly in front of the screen, the image will impress you with its depth, but it only takes a slight shift of several degrees sideways on the sofa for the colours to start fading immediately. By choosing this model, you are opting for a classic market compromise: you get brilliant black and fantastic contrast, but you lose out on viewing angles.

One of the most characteristic elements of The Frame is its matte display – and it must be said that Samsung has really refined this aspect. From our experience, it is one of the best solutions for suppressing light reflections, especially direct ones. If screen reflections can be irritating, it will be difficult to find a better display 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 washed out, and the image loses a bit of depth. However, it is something we consciously accept when choosing a matte screen – something for something. In practice, the colours and contrast on Samsung's matte screen are still better than on Chinese designs such as the TCL NXT Vision or Hisense Canvas TV. If effective suppression of reflections and the desire to use the television also as a "digital picture" in bright rooms is a priority, then there is hardly a better choice.

The Frame achieves around 600 nits of brightness, which combined with the matte finish allows the television to perform well in brightly 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.

It's also worth mentioning how the TCL C7L performs during everyday viewing in a sunlit living room. As we've established, it is an extremely bright television, and it is precisely due to such a powerful supply of luminance (up to 2400 nits in SDR!) that it excels in very bright rooms – the picture easily gets through the incoming light. The only thing to watch out for is direct reflections on the screen. The coating used this year on the panel is definitely glossier than the one we saw in last year's C7K model. The screen significantly worse at suppressing point light reflections, which in unfavourable conditions – for example, when the window is positioned directly opposite the television – can be quite annoying for some users. Nevertheless, in terms of sheer brightness, the C7L is simply a demon for bright living rooms.

Classic Television Features

In terms of classic features, The Frame does not stand out particularly from the competition. There are no options for recording to USB or PiP (picture-in-picture) functionality, which may be disappointing for some users. On the other hand, the television allows for 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 lack of conventional buttons on the remote, we were able to access teletext. In everyday use, the basic functions operate smoothly and without significant complaints.

Smart System – Tizen and Applications

The Frame 2025 runs on the Tizen system, which has long been regarded as one of the most refined Smart TV solutions on the market. This system is designed with the idea that devices are more than just a television – and it has been constructed with that spirit in mind. Tizen offers full integration with external devices – supporting both Apple AirPlay and Miracast. With the SmartThings app, it is 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 application. Although access to it is paid (in the form of a subscription), it offers the best scans of works of art available on the market – referring to scans, not ordinary photographs. As a result, the effect of a digital painting hanging on the wall is markedly better than in any other lifestyle television.

Google TV and Smart TV

The multimedia heart of the TCL C7L is of course the Google TV operating system, which provides access to a gigantic library of applications and all the most popular streaming platforms on the market. The Smart TV in this model works seamlessly, offering full support for useful network features such as Apple AirPlay or Chromecast. However, a huge and very pleasant surprise is the very performance of the software. We noticed that Google's system on the new C7L operates significantly more efficiently, smoothly, and quickly than on last year's TCL models. Much of this is due to better optimisation for the launch. Unnecessary pauses and minor interface stutters, known from older models, seem to have become a thing of the past.

Television Features

In terms of traditional aerial or cable television, the TCL C7L does not offer many additional advanced features. It is simply a straightforward receiver. The manufacturer did not strive for any revolutionary solutions here, so aside from the traditional programme guide, you won't find anything particularly special. A large nod towards traditional viewers is the classic remote control, which, contrary to the prevailing trend for minimalism, still features a full numeric keypad, making it much easier to switch channels quickly.

During testing, we did not 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, a lack of support for the HEIC format (used by Apple devices) – but it is difficult to consider this surprising. One positive aspect is the full support for high-resolution photos – the television displays files with a high number of megapixels without any problems, which may be particularly significant for those looking to treat The Frame as a digital frame as well. However, during testing, we noticed a limitation regarding subtitles – the television only correctly handled files in .txt format. It is worth keeping this in mind and ensuring that the downloaded subtitles for films are saved in this format; otherwise, they may simply not display.

At the very end of the multimedia section, it is worth mentioning the playback of files from external USB drives. During our tests, we did not notice any unpleasant surprises here – the factory player handles all popular video and audio formats exactly as it should. Interestingly, the TCL C7L also played photos saved in Apple's native format, namely HEIC, without any problems. This is an extremely rare feature in the factory applications of TV manufacturers. And although the Google TV system obviously gives you unlimited possibilities to install external media playback programs, in the case of the C7L, the built-in tool is refined enough that installing additional software will probably not be necessary for anyone.

For such a slim television, the sound is quite good. It is full, sufficient for everyday viewing, but without much excitement – typical for flat constructions. There is little bass, although at times it can be heard. The speakers in a 2.0.2 arrangement have a total power of 40 W (in the 55+ inch version). Unfortunately, the television does not support the DTS format, so for films with that sound, one has to rely on external equipment, such as a home cinema. A soundbar can be connected, and thanks to the Q-Symphony feature, the television plays along with it. Samsung also offers visually matched models for The Frame like S700D or S800D, but they are sold separately. (This shouldn’t surprise anyone😉).

The TCL C7L performs quite well and correctly. When it comes to sound quality, there has been practically no change compared to last year's model, the C7K. The manufacturer continues to use a speaker system branded Bang & Olufsen in a 2.2 configuration. The only thing that can be quite irritating during viewing sessions is the fact that after increasing the volume to higher levels – around above 50% on the scale – the volume no longer corresponds with the scale visible on the screen. The B&O audio system works great for daily viewing of current affairs or series at moderate volume, but if you are looking for good sound quality, it is worth purchasing at least a basic soundbar for the C7L.

Samsung The Frame 2025 (LS03F) vs TCL C7L

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

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Sound connection options

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

Senior accessibility

Classic Television Features

Smart System – Tizen and Applications

Google TV and Smart TV

Television Features

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements