Amazon’s initial genuine rival to Samsung’s The Frame now has a launch date set. The Amazon Ember Artline, a 4K QLED television designed for showcasing artwork, will make its debut in the U.S. on Wednesday, April 22, according to a company announcement. Preorders are currently open.
The Ember Artline is available in a 55-inch version ($899.99) and a 65-inch version ($1,099.99). Customers can select from 10 distinct frame colors.
Amazon first revealed the Ember Artline at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, where it also unveiled a rebranding of its smart TVs under the “Ember” label. (The Fire TV brand will continue to be utilized for Amazon’s TV interface, streaming media devices, and soundbars.) Updates to Amazon’s TV listings reflecting the new branding were completed by Wednesday, April 15.
Owners of the Ember Artline will have access to a complimentary library of more than 2,000 art pieces, as stated in the press release:
No extra fees or subscriptions are required to enjoy the thousands of complimentary art pieces available on the Amazon Ember Artline. Our collection features works from diverse artistic movements, showcasing Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Degas, and Renoir, along with modern street art, murals, mixed media, and photography. Customers will also find 60 exclusive motion video pieces by documentary filmmaker Sam Nuttmann, who traveled globally to capture landscape and wildlife footage.
If you’re uncertain about which artworks would best complement your wall, the Ember Artline can recommend selections through its AI-driven “Match the Room” feature. Simply upload a couple of room photos by scanning a QR code with your mobile device. The TV will present artwork recommendations based on the color palette and decor style of your area, along with any “recurring themes” in your existing wall art, as noted by Amazon.
Additionally, the Ember Artline can showcase slideshows and collages of your personal images when linked to your Amazon Photos account.
Significantly, the Ember Artline is the only television in Amazon’s range that features a matte finish, enhancing its appearance as artwork compared to a standard display.
Touted as “Amazon’s first lifestyle TV,” the Ember Artline is now the most cost-effective alternative to Samsung’s The Frame, a well-known premium 4K QLED TV that serves as art as well. Competing models such as the Hisense CanvasTV and the TCL NXTVISION TV are priced at $999.99 and $1,299.99, respectively, for their 55-inch variants. Samsung’s latest 55-inch The Frame is similarly priced at $1,299.99.
In 2022, Amazon revamped its more affordable Fire TV Omni QLED Series (now known as the Ember QLED Series) with an “Ambient Experience” gallery feature that imitates The Frame’s Art Mode, allowing it to display art or photographs. However, that version does not feature a matte finish and picture frame-like bezel, making the Ember Artline Amazon’s first authentic alternative to The Frame.
Beyond pricing, the Ember Artline’s vast and entirely free library also enhances its appeal. The Frame users receive access to a rotating selection of just 30 pieces monthly; its complete library of over 5,000 pieces is only available through a Samsung Art Store subscription ($4.99 per month or $49.99 per year). The Hisense CanvasTV comes preloaded with approximately 1,000 pieces, while the TCL NXTVISION TV only has access to over 350 artworks, though it boasts more than 100,000 pieces of AI-generated art.
From a brief glance at its specifications, the Ember Artline’s main disadvantages appear to be the absence of Dolby Atmos support and its standard 60Hz refresh rate. With superior refresh rates between 120Hz and 144Hz, its competitors are better suited for gamers and dedicated movie lovers.
The Ember Artline includes a custom wall mount, but for those who prefer to position it on a console, legs can be acquired for $19.99. Additional frames start at $74.99 each.