As a New Yorker who has lived in small apartments for the past 15 years, I gravitate toward solutions that can help me maximize my space from both a design and practicality perspective. When you’ve only got a 600 square foot home, every inch counts!
During the work week, my living room also functions as my home office, so keeping my space presentable for video calls is just as important as having a comfortable home entertainment setup. So when I got the chance to try out the new Hisense CanvasTV (available for $1,299.99 at Best Buy) — a TV that doubles as fine art — I was all in.
Credit: Josh Steinbauer
A high-tech blend of form and function
Over the years, TVs have gotten slimmer, but the newly released CanvasTV is one of the first in the market to fundamentally rethink its form, transforming it from a black box into a stylish design element for your home.
The CanvasTV includes all the tech specs that you want in your watch box, including 4K QLED that captures over a billion shades and a 144Hz refresh rate that guarantees you’ll be streaming your favorite shows with zero lag. Its surround sound audio makes movie nights feel like you’re in a theater.
But these tech specs come to life in a whole new way once you switch the TV to Art Mode and choose from one of the included 120 famous paintings to display on your wall. Capturing all the hues of a Monet painting is no easy feat, but with quantum dot technology, this TV renders a wider range of more accurate hues — something LED alone can’t achieve. Plus, it enhances the immersive experience, making every viewing feel truly spectacular in either mode.
The CanvasTV also has a hi-matte display which showcases artwork more realistically by removing any glare or distortion from ambient light. This thoughtful detail makes the experience as enjoyable as viewing actual artwork, with the added benefit of being lit up by QLED.
Credit: Josh Steinbauer
Credit: Josh Steinbauer
Thoughtful attention to detail
With all these features, the CanvasTV works impressively in both function and form equally, avoiding any cheesy gimmicks you might worry about. I can confirm: the CanvasTV is much more than a fun party trick!
Mashable Light Speed
Adding to its impressive design, the ultra-slim wall mount included with the CanvasTV is both sleek and sturdy. The two-part mounting system is easy to install with another person’s help (shoutout to George from Best Buy!).
As my first wall-mounted TV, my space instantly felt more open and airy, with my media console freed up to hold other objects. Flush against the wall, this device extends just a few inches outward — complementing the look and feel of the rest of the artwork adorning your walls and enhancing the feng shui of the room.
The teak frame is also a standout feature. Nothing would’ve ruined the art vibe faster or screamed TV louder than a shiny black plastic frame. The inclusion of a magnetic teak frame that easily snaps into place and has the Hisense logo displayed discreetly on the side rather than the front, ties the dual functionality of this product together in a really intentional way.
It helps that the teak effortlessly matched my acorn-finish media console and my parquet floors, blending mid-century modern vibes with cutting-edge tech.
Curate your own gallery experience
Your taste in art is your own, and who better to be the director of your new at-home art gallery than you? Art Mode comes preloaded with 120 famous paintings, ranging from iconic portraits like the Mona Lisa to modern abstract works from Klimt and van Gogh.
Personalize your picks to display your favorite work, or cycle through a slideshow that you can curate to set a specific vibe. A handy button on the remote overlays a description with the title, artist, and a brief description of the piece — so you’ll brush up on your art history, too. And if you want to add a personal touch, you can easily upload your own photos using the Art Mode app.
During my workday, I like to pair an upbeat music playlist with a modern or abstract masterpiece. When it’s time to unwind at night, I switch to Google TV’s intuitive layout of streaming apps and smart recommendations. A prominent Rotten Tomatoes rating helps me choose without searching for reviews on another device.
Here’s the takeaway: If you’re looking for a new TV or want to elevate the design appeal of your living space, the Hisense CanvasTV is a fantastic dual-function product that flexes on form and function. Turns out, a 65-inch Hisense CanvasTV (available for $1,298.00 at Walmart) can transform a small cozy Brooklyn apartment into a space with some grandeur. It’s also available in a 55-inch (available for $999.99 at Best Buy) version, so you can select the size that works best for you.
