When Samsung first released the Frame TV, I thought it was a mere novelty—a TV that doubles as a picture frame when not in use seemed to have niche appeal. The last thing I expected was for competitors to copy the idea. Yet TCL's Nxtframe TV was just unveiled in August, and you can already find the 55-inch version 53% off. It's currently $697.99 (down from $1,499.99) on Amazon, the lowest price it has yet reached according to price-tracking tools.
The 65 and 75-inch models are also currently at their lowest prices ever, but the discount for those isn't as steep as for the 55-inch.
Like the Frame, the Nxtframe is a QLED 4K display with an anti-glare reflective screen and artistic outer bezels that give it that distinctive "frame" look. Unlike the Frame, the Nxtframe supports Dolby Vision on top of HDR10+, providing compatibility with a broader range of HDR content. It offers a 120 Hz refresh rate with a 144Hz Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
The TV is slim, measuring 1.1 inches deep, and comes with a flush wall mount, a free bezel set (light wood color, as seen in the product picture from Amazon), and a pre-loaded art library. Unlike Samsung's own Tizen OS, the Nxtframe is loaded with Google TV, which I personally like better.
One key difference to note between the Frame and Nxtframe is that the Frame uses an external One Connect Box to hook up things like a gaming console to keep the clean frame look (frames don't have cables sticking out behind them). The Nxtframe needs all input and output ports to be directly connected to the back, which means you'll need to conceal your wires in the wall if you want that slick wall art look.
Still, the $320 savings over the Frame will give you some cash to work with if you need to call in a handyman to get the Nxtframe set looking good. And if you're interested in it as a gift, right now it will arrive before the holidays.
