In case you missed it, Amazon has officially entered the art TV market. I recently tested the new Ember Artline TV in my own home to see whether it lives up to the hype (and how it stacks up against competitors like Samsung’s frame TV). Its biggest selling point: displaying artwork is completely free—but more on that later.
The Ember Artline TV features a redesigned Fire TV interface, Alexa+, AI-powered tools, and a matte display designed to minimize glare and look like an art canvas. It’s available in 55- and 65-inch sizes and offers 10 snap-on frame options for a customizable, gallery-inspired look.
While I got an early preview of the TV ahead of its spring launch, nothing compares to using it in a real-world setting. I installed the 55-inch model in my bedroom and spent several weeks living with it. Here’s how it performed, from setup and everyday use to picture quality and art mode.
Bonus: it’s on sale for Prime Day at 22% off.
| Display | 4K QLED display with Dolby Vision support and HDR10+ |
| Screen finish | Matte |
| Sizes available | 55-inch and 65-inch |
| Inputs | Four HDMI, optical, ethernet, USB 3, cable, IR emitter, and headphones (all hidden) |
| Thickness | 1.5 inches (without frame), 1.8-inch (with frame), 1.15-inch wall-to-TV gap when mounted |
What is an art TV?
Art TVs are becoming more and more popular. Olivia Lipski, who has tested multiple art TVs (including three iterations of Samsung’s Frame TV) points out that an art TV seamlessly blends technology with decor. “You no longer have to sacrifice precious wall space to a big black screen. Instead, the screen can transform instantly into a favorite painting, photograph, or other piece of artwork,” she says. The art-meets-tech benefit is especially exemplified with the ability to swap out the art to your changing tastes, so you’re never limited to a single piece of art.
An art TV should feature a matte screen that “reduces glare and reflections, making the artwork look even more realistic, especially in bright rooms,” says Lipski. If you’re considering an art TV in the first place, you probably prioritize interior aesthetics, so you should get a size that appropriately suits your space, rather than the largest size available. She also recommends considering choosing one with energy-saving features, since the display will probably on often.
“I have an art TV in my own living room, and I always make sure the art mode is powered on when I have guests over. Without fail, they're always super impressed when they realize they’re looking at a TV and not a framed piece of artwork,” Lipski says.
Key Ember Artline features
No art subscription required
Unlike Samsung’s Frame TV, there’s no subscription required (meaning no added fee) to access and display artwork, which is pretty rare for an art TV, according to Lipski. “With all the subscriptions we're expected to pay for these days, the last thing most people want is another monthly fee. I appreciate that Amazon is making art more accessible by including artwork without requiring an ongoing subscription,” she says.
Amazon’s catalog includes more than 2,000 pieces, ranging from classics by Monet, Degas, and Renoir to modern works across mediums like street art, murals, mixed media, and photography. You’ll also find 60 motion video pieces featuring landscapes and wildlife, commissioned by documentary filmmaker Sam Nuttmann.
The biggest difference I noticed between Amazon’s art catalog and Samsung’s Art Store is that Amazon offers more mediums and art types, whereas Samsung houses more classical works of art from museums like the Met or the Louvre.
The Ember Artline TV also makes it easy to display personal photos from your Amazon Photos account. You can even ask Alexa to pull up a slideshow from a specific trip or album.
Match the room
Ember Artline TV’s “Match the Room” feature is, in my opinion, one of the most unique and standout AI functions. Here’s how it works: rather than sifting through all the artwork to find something that fits your space, you can upload photos of your room (including existing artwork, furniture, and decor) and it will suggest pieces that complement the color palette and interior style. For example, if your space has lots of greenery and earthy tones, you’ll probably get a curation of more nature-inspired artwork.
Omnisense technology
You may notice a small black box in the bottom center of the TV—it serves a purpose. It’s Amazon’s Omnisense technology, and it uses built-in sensors to detect when someone enters the room, turning the screen on to display artwork and turning off when the room is empty. It enables interactive art that responds to movement, so as you shift, the visuals can subtly move with you. The sensor also houses the microphone used to activate Alexa+, which you can manually turn on or off.
While these tech enhancements are pretty cool, they do interrupt the illusion of “framed canvas art” the TV is supposed to provide.
Testing Amazon’s Ember Artline TV
Picture quality
TV mode: Watching Love Island USA
Art mode: Claude Monet’s Water Lilies
In streaming or TV mode, the display is bright and brilliant; the contrast really shines through when I’m watching Love Island USA, which has a ton of neon colors. Although the matte screen doesn’t deliver a high saturated contrast like non-art TV counterparts, it does prevent glare from sunlight, making it easy to watch in midday. The Artline TV can automatically adjust its brightness based on the room’s lighting. When I dim the lights in my bedroom, the screen subtly adapts to match the ambiance, creating a more natural and immersive viewing experience.
In art mode, the screen is designed to highlight textured brushstrokes and vibrant colors for a more gallery-like display (as seen below). But, since this Artline offers other mediums of art, like video and even photography, the texture reflects those accordingly, where photos have grain and depth, and landscape videos have clarity and a lifelike feel.
Sound quality
The sound quality is average. I noticed that the speakers are placed behind the TV, so the sound bounces off the wall and is projected through the room that way. It’s good enough for a smaller space, or an enclosed room like a bedroom, but if you’re using it in a living room, I recommend supplementing it with a soundbar or speakers for a more theatrical, surround-sound effect.
Interface and features
The Artline TV uses the Fire TV interface, and it’s very easy to navigate and find my most-used streaming platforms. If you already have a Fire TV device or account, it can automatically import your data onto the new device.
Something to note: you don’t need to be a Prime member to use the Fire TV interface, but you do need to have at least a free Amazon account. You can also access standard Alexa features for free, but know that the Ember Artline TV also supports Alexa+ (a feature that does require a Prime membership or the Alexa+ membership).
Alexa+ is much more conversational than standard Alexa, making interactions feel more natural. It handled straightforward requests well—for example, recommending shows similar to “New Girl.” However, it struggled with more nuanced searches. When I asked for "the famous hockey show" and provided additional clues (“it’s a love story,” “it’s based in college”) it surfaced older, less relevant titles instead of popular recent options like “Off Campus” (a Prime Video produced show) or “Heated Rivalry.” Its AI capabilities aren’t always as intuitive as expected.
The interchangeable bezel frames
The included frame bezel of your choice easily snaps onto the TV.
Frames come in four wooden tones and six metallic shades.
The custom frame comes in four wooden tones and six contemporary metallic shades. You have plenty of options to select one that matches your interiors and complements the surrounding furniture for a cohesive setup. And, as you can see, it’s easy to install and switch out with its snap-on design.
Additional frames can be purchased for $75 or $85 dollars, depending on size.
Installation and setup of Amazon’s Ember Artline TV
The Artline TV comes with everything you need to wall mount the TV yourself, including the custom wall mounting bracket, screws, drywall anchors, yellow tape, a mounting template, and step-by-step directions (which you can also access here, along with a guided video of the installation process).
Because TVs are generally on the heavier side, it’s best to have at least two people to lift and attach the TV to the mount. Note: Amazon offers professional wall mounting services as an add-on with the purchase in select locations, but I asked my handyman, who had already mounted my living room TV and did a great job.
Handyman Nick screwing in the wall mount.
Artline TV mounted on wall with the mounting template taped to it.
My handyman just took a quick scan of the directions and knew what to do, and got started by installing the drywall anchors. Once the bracket was in position and stable, my handyman and I hung the TV, placing the mount bolts onto the mount hooks on the wall mount bracket until there was a click.
My bedroom is designed to accommodate a wall-mounted TV, with power, cable, and Ethernet connections centered on my wall to hide wires and make TV placement easy. However, the Artline TV’s power cord plug isn’t flat and protrudes out, so the TV can’t be installed flush to the wall as intended. It sticks out like a normal wall-mounted TV, but as you can see from the third image below which I took during the preview, the back of the TV is supposed essentially touch the wall.
TV wall mount above power outlets.
Side view of Artline TV wall mounted in my bedroom.
Side view of Artline TV wall mounted at Amazon’s preview.
Another thing to note is that the mounting bolts on the back of the TV are located toward the top rather than in the middle. As a result, my TV has a slight downward tilt, which actually works out for my viewing experience. Setup is generally straightforward, but not foolproof. If you're mounting it yourself, having someone experienced with TV installations can help. If you're unfamiliar with power tools or locating wall studs, professional installation is the safer option.
If you prefer not to wall mount the TV, note that the legs are sold separately for $20, and come with two stand legs, four screws, and an installation card.
How does the price compare to other art TVs?
Amazon offers two sizes of the Ember Artline TV:
- 55-inch TV at
$899.99$700 - 65-inch TV at
$1,099.99$900
Overall, it’s slightly more affordable than the Samsung Frame at full price—but the Frame is frequently discounted. The 55-inch is currently $700 on Amazon, down from $1,299 at Samsung. It’s also about the same price as the 55- and 65-inch 2026 Hisense Canvas TV. The Ember Artline is on sale at the time of publishing, ahead of Amazon Prime Day.
Don’t forget, your first frame choice is included in the purchase price (Samsung Frame bezels are an additional cost) and there’s no subscription fee to access and display the art (Samsung’s Art Store allows 30 free selections per month, but beyond that, subscription is $5 monthly or $50 annually; Hisense also offers no subscription fee, but the art selection is limited).
Pros and cons
Pros
- No art subscription
- Frame is included in purchase
- Matte, anti-glare screen
- Vivid 4k QLED display
- Auto-adjust brightness according to surroundings
- Seamless Fire TV interface with Alexa+ integration
- Amazon's art catalogue features various mediums like video, photography, and more.
- Affordable compared to other art TVs on the market
Cons
- Only two sizes available
- Doesn't deliver the illusion of a canvas on a wall compared to Samsung's Frame TV
- Need external speakers for better sound quality
Is Amazon’s Ember Artline TV worth buying?
If you’re in the market for an art TV, the Amazon Ember Artline TV is a good baseline model. Considering what it comes with, including no separate subscription for art, this is a worthy contender if you’re looking for an art TV that leans on the affordable end. Since it’s only available in two sizes, 55 inches and 65 inches, it’s ideal for small-to-medium living rooms or apartments. I’d describe this as an art TV for those who aren’t art snobs.
However, if you are in the market to make an investment in your entertainment setup, or an art enthusiast, Samsung’s Frame TV Pro is worth considering instead. Although it’s pricier, it has more sizes, better picture and sound quality, no Omnisense technology box that ruins the illusion of a framed canvas, and while its art store is an additional cost, it has plenty more as-seen-in-museum and real artist pieces than what Amazon’s catalog has to offer.
