I have my first Frame TV opportunity and wondering if the features of the set and unique installation outweighs the cost of alternatives or custom solutions? I know from a coordination standpoint I can just order the parts and install.

As an alternative I could supply an ultra-thin mount and TV (gain about an inch in depth). Then have a few good cabinet guy build a frame to cover the wall gap/bezel, save some money and have a simpler install. The TV would not have the ambient light features or native artwork, so it would be a manual process for that.

Thanks.

By reading this, I think you're deciding to use a Frame TV or have custom cabinetry built combined with using other methods of delivering a Frame TV-like product?

Use the Frame

That's correct...in summary (boxing ring bell)

Corner #1 = Frame TV ($$$)
Corner #2 = Regular TV + thin mount + custom wood frame ($$)

And the winner is...

How much is your time worth to manage that process...and deal with artwork...and teach the client how to procure, upload, and manage the artwork...I think you're underestimating how much "simpler" the installation might be in your second option.

Don't listen to the naysayers. You are on the right path about doing your own frame.

There are only 2 things special about Samsung's Frame TV. 1) How crazy thin to the wall it is. 2) the art mode.

The TV itself is nothing special and the bezel around it is plain Jane. They charge $100 for a piece of vinyl that changes the color.

The last 65" Frame I did, the customer was not impressed with how it looked on the wall. The Mrs. was expecting more. She ended up looking over this website below and ordering a real frame to put on the TV. She installed it herself and it came out great. She like how it looks now.
[Link: framemytv.com]

So.... How much money could one save with using a regular TV, thin mount, and a custom frame? It depends.
The Samsung Frame is one of Samsung's higher end TVs, so to equal the picture quality you have to use a higher end model from other manufactures. The overall savings would be $0.
But if a customer was just wanting the art look and didn't care about the actual TV picture quality, then it would be possible to save a few hundred $$$.

The problem with all this however is Samsung's "art mode". If the customer actually wants art to display on the screen when not in use, no other TV (that I'm aware of yet) has a mode that will dim down the screen and work like this.
You can easily create a screen saver to display on a customer's TV with artwork. But the dimming of the screen and changing of the video settings is not something I have seen, that you can recreate with another TV.

Doesn't sound like a simpler install. What is the issue with the frame TV? cutting in a structured can behind the tv to put the one connect box in?

For my customers, it's the fact that it just looks like a flat TV on the wall. Oh gee, we haven't seen that before *cough* LG Gallery TVs *cough*.
I've had customers have difficulty with the Samsung app to control the art work. And the fact their isn't a good selection without paying more money in the app.

That website I linked to is a great way to give the customers what they actually were envisioning this to be. But some of those frames can add another $700 to the overall cost.

And with Samsung's stupid One Connect box, how is cutting in a full media enclosure NOT a complication to the install. Not to many people are happy, when you tell them you have to cut out a 14" x 18" hole in the wall & rewire electrical power. Add to the fact that framing might cause additional issues with a large media enclosure as well.

As a TV/picture frame thing it's a neat solution.

As an actual TV I think they're dogshit.

I have a 2019 55" and a 2020 32"

The 55" obviously doesn't look as good as the LG OLED in my living room. It also doesn't look as good as the circa 2013 Panasonic VT60 the OLED replaced. In a darker room it doesn't even look as good as the "higher end" TCL Roku TV in the bedroom. This TV is in my office so thankfully that isn't a huge concern here but I still can't stand Samsung's UI "quirks"

The 32" is a miserable little TV to use as the processor is garbage and doing anything on it is slow and irritating. Even at dealer price I feel ripped off - but I needed a 32" you can integrate and the one connect box was an added plus here due to where it was being installed.

If I recall the PC program to push photos to this thing was broken when I tried to use it in 2019, maybe it works now, who knows. I think using an iPad or thumbdrive might still work.

Thanks for all the comments and insight. I don't have a problem integrating the one connect box since I have a laundry room behind the wall that I can hide it in. So, the question was really about value for me and the owner, which the Frame TV won.

One of its functions will be artwork in a public space meeting room (with varying light conditions), so the Frame TV is really the best choice. The owner is a friend that I could help work through a less standard solution, so I was debating the alternatives, but simplicity and a clean solution really wins the battle.

Now, we'll see if my local distributor has the one I need one in stock.

I have done a couple.
Fortunately the larger job was a remodel on an existing/returning client's house and was able to call out space and conduit for the One Connect boxes.

Was able to house 1 in a rack next to the fireplace (semi local system), 2 were able to make it back to the main rack with longer One Connect cables and the 3rd I lopped a hole in the wall and stuck it in a back box. The last one was the biggest PITA as it was a smaller one (55"), had specific mount requirements (flush but long throw articulating) and they (of course) had just wallpapered the room when he decided to add the tv. No pressure to not mess up (sigh).

Two of the locations came out amazing. Both 75s, one on an all white paneled wall that the spacing of the trim was designed around the dimensions of the display (white frame), the other's frame was an almost perfect color match to the mantle and cabinetry.

Client was super happy with the results. And I got to make money off tvs, haven't had a whole lot of that for a while.