A common request from integrator clients is that the installed technology should be as invisible as possible and not detract from the often beautifully designed homes and architectural masterpieces.

However, this is difficult to do with large screens and TVs that are often front and center in living rooms and other areas. Sure, the screen looks incredible when it’s on and displaying 4K content in stunning quality, and you can minimize a lot of clutter with a recessed wall mount, but when it’s off, it’s literally just a dark screen.

Frankly, this does not achieve the goal of integrating technology into the design of the home.

So the industry has adapted and developed art-style lifestyle TVs, such as Samsung’s The Frame, which are designed to serve as works of art even when the user isn’t watching anything. Essentially, they pull images from an art library and, when combined with a decorative frame, transform the display into a work of art.

According to Mike Gleason, sales manager for the US business of Chinese television maker Skyworth, there is a real possibility of coming second behind Samsung in this category.

For many high-end projects in the CEDIA channel, integrators often work with interior designers who care deeply about how home technology projects look when not in use.

“They’re building out the rest of the room, and there’s this big TV, which is usually ugly, and they want the rest of the room to match what they’re trying to create,” Gleason says.

The trend has something to do with the miniature digital photo frames that were popular a few years ago.

“When people found out they could get art that changed and it didn’t cost them $30,000 to hang a piece of art in their home, it really brought flexibility and creativity into their homes,” Gleason says.

That’s why Skyworth recently announced the C1, a sleek Google TV that looks like a work of art when not in use (read more about that TV below). In fact, TCL and Hisense recently announced similar TVs that the companies will showcase at CEDIA Expo 2024.

A short list of Art TVs

Samsung The Frame

• Sizes: 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″, 85″
• Price: $999 – $4,299.99
• Operating system: TizenOS

Samsung’s Frame is the top dog in this category and also the oldest, having launched in 2017. The TV features customizable frame options, an Art Mode when the TV isn’t being used as a TV, a brightness sensor to adjust to ambient lighting, a power saving mode, and a wall mount that makes it look like a picture frame.

TCL NXTFRAME

• Sizes: 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”
• Price: $1,999.99 – $4,999.99.
• Operating system: GoogleTV

TCL’s NXTFRAME was recently released and features a cream frame and a light wood-colored magnetic frame. An included wall mount, high matte anti-glare screen, art library, AI art features, and a personal photo gallery mode are also included. The NXTFRAME can display a rotation of artwork, including a pre-installed art library with customizable matte styles, multiple static and moving personal photo gallery options, a screen saver mode, and the ability to play background music. The Pro models feature a soundbar and subwoofer jointly developed by TCL and audio giant Bang & Olufsen, so this TV sounds as good as it looks.

Hisense Canvas TV

• Sizes: 55”, 65”
• Price: $1,999.99 – $4,999.99
• Operating system: GoogleTV

The recently announced 4K QLED Hisense Canvas TV features Quantum Dot Color technology, a Hi-Matte anti-glare screen and a 144Hz refresh rate. Google TV built into CanvasTV allows control of smart home devices set up with Google Home via Google Assistant. CanvasTV also includes a teak frame with optional magnetically attached add-on frames for customization and versatile wall mounting options. Key features include automatic brightness adjustment via a light sensor and an energy-saving motion sensor that turns the screen off when the room is empty.

LG OLED evo G4

• Sizes: 55″, 65″, 77″, 83″, 97″
• Price: $2,299.99, $2,799.99, $4,299.99, $5,999.99, $24,999.99
• Operating system: webOS

LG hasn’t made a TV in this category yet, but has simply included an art gallery display mode on its Gallery Edition TVs (in addition to a few other home models), most recently the G4. The company seems to be more focused on performance and specs than some others on this list, and the price may reflect that. LG says the OLED G4 features a modern LG design that leaves no gaps when wall-mounted. Users can display paintings, photos, and other content to “blend the LG OLED evo G4 into their environment.” The LG OLED evo C4 offers similar features.

Skyworth C1

• Sizes: 55”, 65”
• Price: $1,200-1,600
• Operating system: GoogleTV

The Skyworth Canvas Art TV with its narrow bezel and 29mm diagonal not only offers QLED 4K video quality, but also the ability to display digital art and favorite photos when not in use as a TV. Instead of just having a black screen, the TV looks like a piece of art hanging on the wall. The all-in-one C1 Canvas Art TV features a flush mount design with no external connection box for a clean look, and all connection ports are located on the back of the TV. Installers can also mount the slim 1/8-inch bezel TV flush on the wall without having to break through walls or drill unnecessary holes, the company said.

C Seeds N1

Sizes: 103”, 137”, 165”

Price: Up to $200,000

Operating system: N/A

The C Seed N1 is a little different from the other TVs in this category as it doesn’t offer the ability to display artwork when not in use. Rather, the MicroLED TV unfolds from a sleek base to sizes ranging from 103 to 165 inches. When folded into its base, the TV looks like a contemporary sculpture or a fine piece of furniture. When unfolded, the N1 uses cutting-edge MicroLED technology and advanced video processing to produce lifelike images with a color processing depth of 16 bits per color and advanced HDR and HDR10+ processing for a superior viewing experience. There’s also an outdoor counterpart to this TV that looks just as impressive.