Samsung has announced that it will release free updates for its Tizen smart TV platform for the next seven years, FlatpanelsHD reports.
Starting with the 2024 models, and then some 2023 models, Samsung TV owners can expect updates to the Tizen smart TV platform built into their TVs, and while specific details are scarce, it should mean that users will get many of the same new features you’ll find on newer models from 2025 onwards.
This follows in the footsteps of LG, which announced a five-year commitment to update 2024, 2023 and even 2022 models with free upgrades to the corresponding webOS, right behind newer TVs: for example, 2022 models will receive webOS 23 in 2024, webOS 24 in 2025 and so on.
Samsung was one of the last brands to hold off on these updates, reserving the latest version of its Tizen smart TV platform for new models only, while Roku, Google TV, Fire TV, and more provide updates to their smart TV platforms on older and newer models with each update, making it preferable to use a streaming set-top box instead of your TV’s software if it’s more than a few years old.
It's about time
It’s surprising that Samsung, the maker of some of the best TVs on the market, has taken so long to offer these free Tizen upgrades. Obviously, for Samsung fans and Tizen users, it usually forces them to upgrade to the latest models every time they want to access the latest version of Tizen, especially if they want to avoid having to switch to Fire TV, Roku, and the like, available through some of the best streaming devices.
Thankfully, it’s now listened to users and seen what the competition – primarily LG – has done and followed suit. In recent Samsung TV reviews, such as the Samsung S95D (the best OLED TV of 2024 when it comes to performance) or the Samsung QN85D (an entry-level mini-LED TV), Tizen has been a consistent highlight, and while it might not be everyone’s favourite, its easy-to-use design and robust library of apps and features mean that it’s one of the best smart TV platforms out there.
By committing to these free updates, Samsung is solving one of its biggest problems that has drawn criticism from users and critics alike: preventing users from feeling the need to update their TVs unnecessarily, for fear of apps disappearing or performing poorly or missing features.
It's a welcome announcement that puts the consumer first, which, after a year of smart TV platform news that included ads, ads, and more ads, is a joy to behold.
