In a move that could shake up the burgeoning so-called art TV market, Hisense has launched the CanvasTV, a more affordable alternative to Samsung‘s The Frame, offering a compelling combination of affordability and features that rival or even surpass The Frame. Following a similar approach to The Frame, Hisense’s new CanvasTV features a matte screen that doubles as a digital canvas for displaying artwork and photos, allowing it to blend seamlessly into your living space and decor when not actively used as a TV.
However, the real game-changer is CanvasTV’s aggressive pricing. Starting at USD$999 (or AUD$1,500) for the 55-incher and going all the up to USD$1,300 (or AUD $1900) for the 65-inch version, Hisense’s new TV offers most of the features found in The Frame (which is priced at AUD $1999 for the 55-inch model) at a significant discount and will surely attract budget-minded buyers looking for a TV that can double as a work of art.
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Unsurprisingly, Hisense’s CanvasTV shares many features with Samsung’s The Frame, as both favour aesthetics over delivering the brightest or sharpest picture when functioning as art displays. Like the latter, the CanvasTV also utilizes anti-glare technology to mimic the look and feel of real paintings in Art Mode and comes fitted with a 4K QLED anti-glare display, an RGB sensor for automatic light adjustment, and 2.0.2 channel surround sound.
There’s also a ton of artwork that comes pre-loaded on CanvasTV in various styles, including abstract, modern, and renaissance. The “Art Mode” button on the remote lets you easily switch between displaying artwork and your personal photos. Plus, the TV has a motion sensor that automatically turns the TV off when the room is empty, thus saving energy.
The most notable difference lies in the refresh rate. The Frame 2024 maxes out at 120Hz (dropping to 60Hz in Art Mode), while Hisense’s CanvasTV has a native 144Hz refresh rate. Now, a super high refresh rate might be overkill for an art-focused TV, but it does highlight Hisense’s ability to offer a potentially better viewing experience at a lower price point.
“CanvasTV represents Hisense’s philosophy of melding premier home entertainment with modern design sensibilities,” David Gold, president of Hisense Americas and Hisense USA, said in a press release. “With the ability to transform a living space into an art gallery when not in use, CanvasTV offers the perfect balance of high aesthetics, exceptional technology, and industry-leading picture quality all at Hisense’s best-in-class value.”
Unlike The Frame’s Tizen OS, Hisense utilizes Google TV, offering relatively more freedom but potentially a less polished experience. To complement its art-centric design, Hisense promises “a curated world of free artistic masterpieces with a collection of pre-loaded works spanning abstract, modern, and renaissance styles.”
While an exact Australian release date for the CanvasTV hasn’t been announced yet, Hisense has confirmed a “late summer” launch in the US. We’ll be sure to update you as soon as we learn about the official Australian pricing and release date of the CanvasTV.
