Imagine turning your living room into a personal art gallery without ever leaving your couch – but at what cost to your wallet and your TV's longevity?
John Higgins, our senior reviewer specializing in TVs and audio, brings over two decades of expertise in audiovisual technology. He's previously contributed to publications like Digital Trends and Reviewed, where his insights have helped countless consumers navigate the ever-evolving world of home entertainment.
Over the last couple of years, the art TV segment – those sleek displays that double as digital picture frames – has exploded in popularity. Samsung's The Frame has long been the king here, but now competitors like TCL and Hisense are jumping in. And this is the part most people miss: LG is about to shake things up even further with its brand-new LG Gallery TV, unveiled at CES. This innovative model taps into LG's Gallery+ service, launched earlier this year, which offers an extensive library of visuals. We're talking thousands of options, from classic artworks and stunning cinematic shots to immersive gaming environments. Just like Samsung's Art Store, Gallery+ provides a limited free tier, but to unlock the full potential – including higher-resolution images or exclusive collections – you'll need a paid subscription. But here's where it gets controversial: Is a subscription model the future of art TVs, or just a sneaky way for companies to squeeze more money out of us? We'll dive into that later.
Importantly, don't mix this up with LG's G Series OLED TVs, such as the LG G5. The G Series was previously known as the Gallery Series until a rebrand a few years back. The new Gallery TV, on the other hand, is built on mini-LED technology. For beginners, mini-LED is like a souped-up version of LED TVs, using smaller LEDs for better contrast and brightness control, making images pop without the excessive glare of traditional screens. LG describes it as having 'a specialized screen that reduces glare and minimizes reflections for an art-like viewing experience' – which probably means a matte finish to diffuse light. While LG hasn't detailed the backlight setup, it's a safe assumption it'll use edge lighting, just like its art TV rivals. This is efficient and keeps the TV slim. Now, you might wonder why not OLED? OLED, or Organic Light-Emitting Diode, delivers superior picture quality with deeper blacks and vibrant colors because each pixel lights up independently. However, it has a drawback: displaying the same image for too long can cause 'burn-in' or image retention, where ghost images linger on the screen – a real headache for art TVs meant to showcase static visuals for extended periods.
Taking inspiration from Hisense, LG includes a frame with the Gallery TV to mimic a picture frame. The standard option is a clean white, but you can upgrade to a wood-colored frame for that rustic, gallery vibe. Sizes available are 55 and 65 inches, perfect for various room setups, though pricing details are still under wraps.
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- John Higgins *
What do you think? Should art TVs require subscriptions, or is it overkill? Is OLED's burn-in risk a deal-breaker, or does mini-LED hold the edge in this niche? Share your opinions in the comments – agree, disagree, or add your own take on the art TV revolution!
