Samsung The Frame 55-Inch LS03HE Review: Art TV With 144Hz Gaming

The Samsung The Frame 55-inch LS03HE is a 2026 lifestyle TV designed to look like framed artwork when you are not watching movies or shows.

It combines a 55-inch 4K QLED display, Glare Free matte screen, Art Mode, NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, 144Hz refresh rate and Samsung Vision AI in a slim wall-friendly design.

Samsung The Frame LS03HE Specs

All four HDMI inputs support 4K at up to 144Hz, making the LS03HE much more capable for gaming than older Frame models.

Art Mode

Art Mode is the main reason to buy The Frame.

Instead of displaying a black screen when you’re not watching TV, the LS03HE can show paintings, photography or your own images.

Samsung includes access to a rotating collection of 370+ free artworks, while additional artwork is available through Samsung Art Store services.

The TV also includes:

• Motion detection
• Automatic brightness adjustment
• Adjustable colour tone
• Custom photo uploads
• Multiple digital mat styles

A built-in brightness sensor automatically adjusts artwork to match the lighting in your room.

Glare Free QLED Display

The LS03HE uses Samsung’s Glare Free coating, one of its strongest features.

The matte surface dramatically reduces reflections and helps displayed artwork look more like a physical print rather than an illuminated TV screen.

Independent testing found reflection handling excellent, making The Frame particularly suitable for bright rooms.

Picture Quality

The TV uses a 4K QLED panel with Quantum HDR, Dual LED and NQ4 AI Gen2 processing.

Samsung also includes:

• 4K AI Upscaling
• Real Depth Enhancer
• HDR Brightness Optimizer
• Colour Booster Pro
• Filmmaker Mode
• Auto HDR Remastering

Upscaling is a strong point. Independent testing found lower-resolution content is cleaned up well without excessive sharpening.

Contrast & HDR

This is where The Frame makes compromises.

Unlike Samsung’s premium Neo QLED TVs, the LS03HE does not have local dimming.

Independent testing found that dark-room contrast is limited and black areas can look gray rather than truly black. HDR peak brightness is also modest compared with premium Mini LED or OLED TVs.

The Frame also does not support Dolby Vision.

For serious home-theater users watching movies in a dark room, there are better choices.

144Hz Gaming

Gaming support is surprisingly strong.

The 55-inch LS03HE supports:

• 4K up to 144Hz
• VRR
• HDMI 2.1 bandwidth
• Low input lag
• FreeSync
• G-SYNC Compatible operation
• Samsung Gaming Hub
• AI Auto Game Mode

All four HDMI inputs can accept 4K/144Hz, which is excellent for high-end gaming PCs.

The TV can also reach 240Hz at lower resolutions through Samsung’s DLG mode.

Gaming Performance

Independent testing found input lag excellent and gaming responsive.

However, fast movement can show some blur, particularly at lower refresh rates, and HDR gaming lacks the brightness and contrast of Samsung’s Neo QLED lineup.

So the LS03HE is strong from a gaming-features perspective, but it is not primarily a performance gaming TV.

Sound Quality

The LS03HE includes a 20W 2-channel speaker system.

Features include:

• Dolby Atmos
• Object Tracking Sound Lite
• Q-Symphony
• Adaptive Sound Pro
• Active Voice Amplifier Pro
• 360 Audio

Q-Symphony can combine the TV speakers with compatible Samsung soundbars.

The built-in sound is adequate for everyday viewing, but a soundbar is recommended for movies and stronger bass.

Smart TV & Samsung Vision AI

The Frame runs Samsung’s Tizen smart platform and includes Samsung Vision AI Companion.

Smart features include:

• Major streaming apps
• Samsung TV Plus
• Gaming Hub
• SmartThings
• Voice assistants
• AI picture optimization
• AI gaming features
• Vision AI Companion

Samsung also promises up to seven years of Tizen system updates for this generation.

Connectivity

The LS03HE includes:

• 4× HDMI
• 4K/144Hz on HDMI 1–4
• eARC
• 2× USB-A
• Ethernet
• Optical audio
• Wi-Fi 6E
• Bluetooth 5.3

This is an excellent connectivity package for both streaming and gaming.

Design

Design remains The Frame’s biggest differentiator.

The TV uses a slim picture-frame-style body and includes support for Samsung’s Slim Fit Wall Mount, allowing it to sit almost flush against a wall.

Optional magnetic bezels let you change the appearance to better match your furniture and room.

Pros

✓ Excellent Art Mode
✓ Glare Free matte screen
✓ Beautiful picture-frame design
✓ 4K QLED panel
✓ Up to 144Hz refresh rate
✓ Four 4K/144Hz HDMI inputs
✓ Excellent reflection handling
✓ Strong AI upscaling
✓ Wi-Fi 6E
✓ Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony

Cons

✗ No local dimming
✗ Black levels are weak in dark rooms
✗ HDR brightness is only average
✗ No Dolby Vision
✗ Only 20W built-in audio
✗ You pay extra for the art-focused design

Samsung The Frame LS03HE Rating

Design: 9.8/10
Art Mode: 9.8/10
Picture Quality: 8.5/10
Bright-Room Performance: 9.3/10
Gaming: 9.1/10
HDR: 7.8/10
Smart Features: 9.4/10
Value: 8.4/10

Overall: 8.9/10

Verdict

The Samsung The Frame 55-inch LS03HE is an excellent lifestyle TV for users who care as much about interior design as traditional TV performance.

Its biggest strengths are the Glare Free matte display, Art Mode, picture-frame design, excellent reflection handling and surprisingly strong 144Hz gaming support.

Its biggest weakness is picture quality in a dark room. Without local dimming, blacks and HDR performance cannot compete with premium OLED or Mini LED TVs.

If your priority is having a TV that looks like artwork when turned off while still offering modern 4K/144Hz gaming, The Frame LS03HE is one of Samsung’s most distinctive options.