Katarzyna Petru
YourChoose: Which “art-style” TV works best as a regular television?
In the latest episode of our TyWybierasz series, we’re comparing three TVs designed to look like a work of art on your wall. But instead of judging them on design or bezels, we focused on something entirely different – how do they perform as everyday, classic TVs? We tested three models:
Samsung The Frame – the most popular choice among interior design enthusiasts
Hisense CanvasTV – a newcomer aiming to challenge the market leader
TCL NXTVision – an alternative with Google TV
Samsung The Frame
This is a TV that people usually buy with their eyes first. It looks stunning on the wall, offers interchangeable frames, and features an Art Mode that can easily fool guests into thinking you’ve hung an actual painting. But once you step away from the museum vibes, switch off the gallery lighting, and fire up a regular movie or TV series, the real question emerges: does The Frame still deliver as a television, or is it simply a beautiful piece of décor that happens to play video?
In our tests, we set aside the marketing glamour to see how it handles everyday viewing – from streaming shows and sports broadcasts to late-night film sessions – because even the most stylish TV needs to prove its worth when the art mode is off and the popcorn is ready.
Hisense CanvasTV
A newcomer to the market that’s immediately aiming for the same premium niche as Samsung’s The Frame. It comes with a matte display coating, a free frame included in the box, and ambitions to become the stylish focal point of your living room. On paper, it ticks all the “design TV” boxes – but beyond the looks and a price tag that’s noticeably lower than its rivals, is there anything here that truly translates into picture quality?
That’s exactly what we wanted to find out. A blind test is the perfect way to strip away branding, hype, and first impressions, putting the Hisense CanvasTV on equal footing with the competition. Without the logo to sway you, all that matters is how well it renders colors, handles motion, and copes with tricky lighting conditions. It’s the kind of test that quickly reveals whether a product is a genuine alternative or just a budget-friendly imitation dressed in a designer frame.
TCL NXTVision
TCL has also decided to join the club of TVs designed to look like framed artwork hanging on your wall. The NXTVision tempts with a matte finish and the convenience of Google TV built in. But the big question remains: does this stylish façade come hand in hand with strong picture performance?
In a blind test, the NXTVision could go either way – it might turn out to be the dark horse that surprises everyone with its image quality, or it could end up as the disappointment of the lineup. Without the brand name to lean on, it’s all about how well it reproduces colors, manages contrast, and handles different types of content once the “art” is switched off.
Which “Art TV” Truly Delivers as a Television?
Three TVs, all designed to double as wall art, but with very different stories once the picture frame illusion fades away. Samsung’s The Frame is the established style icon, offering premium design and proven versatility. Hisense’s CanvasTV is the ambitious newcomer, undercutting the leader on price while promising a similar aesthetic. TCL’s NXTVision is the wildcard, blending a matte finish with Google TV smarts, but still needing to prove it can compete on image quality.
Our blind test strips away branding and reputation, leaving only the raw viewing experience. And in the end, that’s what matters most – because even the most beautiful “art TV” has to earn its place as a television first, and a decorative piece second.
