Samsung's smart TVs have an Ambient Mode that users can activate to show beautiful scenes and add a bit of ambiance to their living spaces whenever the TV is not actively in use. Some TVs, like The Frame, even feature an Art Store and Art Mode that can turn the TV into a digital painting. But are these modes good for your Samsung TV? Are there any downsides to using them?
There are indeed a few downsides to using Ambient Mode and Art Mode. Depending on what you expect to get out of your TV, these downsides may or may not affect you or change how you will use your Samsung TV, but they are worth considering. It all boils down to the lifespan of your TV and your monthly bill.
Avoid these modes if you are trying to be economical
If you look up information about the lifespan of modern TVs, you'll find numerous reports claiming that, on average, a smart TV lasts for about 10 years or less. But this is in no way a guarantee, and there is no right and exact answer.
A TV's lifespan can vary drastically depending on numerous factors, such as brand, the type of panel and backlight it uses (if any), user settings (particularly brightness levels), and how long the TV stays on day by day. And you will find reports from people who say their TVs lasted for less than 5 years.
Logic dictates that a TV that stays powered on for 12 hours a day will last less than a TV that stays on for 6 hours. And the higher the brightness level, the quicker your TV's backlight will deteriorate.
But to what degree should you weigh in these factors? They can't be measured accurately, so how much should you care about them? Well, that's up to you, the type of TV user you are, your expectations, your budget, and so on.
It's probably safe to say that if you picked Samsung's The Frame for the Art Store and Art Mode, you probably won't care as much about the TV's lifespan factor and will want to enjoy the TV's capabilities without worrying about such details. In the end, it's a balancing act you will have to do on your own or maybe not at all.
There is yet another reason why you may want to avoid these modes on your Samsung TV. In short, if you care about lowering your monthly electricity bill, you may want to keep your TV off when you're not actively using it.
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Smart TVs aren't necessarily eco-friendly and have a relatively low energy rating. Most Samsung smart TVs have an “E” or “G” energy label, and the larger they are, the higher your monthly electricity bill will be. Let's just say they're not the most energy-efficient digital art pieces you can have in your home.
Thankfully, Samsung did introduce an Eco preset for smart TVs last year, and in some markets, it is enabled by default. Besides, Ambient Mode has independent brightness settings that can't be maxed out, so it won't overuse your TV's backlight or consume as much energy as a maximum brightness preset.
All things considered, these modes can beautify your home, and you may decide that the trade-off is worth it. On the other hand, if you are trying to be economical and want to keep your Samsung smart TV for as long as possible, you may want to avoid using the Ambient and Art Modes too often.
