We knew it was coming, but it doesn’t hurt any less if you’re a Samsung appliance owner, as the brand is now set to unleash its ads across its line of smart refrigerators starting next month.
The Verge got the scoop today, with Samsung acknowledging that there will be a new widget that will arrive to compatible products on November 3. This widget will house four different pieces of information, showing users the weather, calendar, and news.
But the big one that’s getting the most attention is the one that’s going to show curated ads. There will also be other areas where ads will show up, and as you can imagine, this is a pretty big deal, considering that these refrigerators aren’t cheap, costing $2,199 or more.
Users can’t be happy with this change
Samsung does have other products with screens, but this update will solely focus on its smart fridges with displays 21 inches and larger. For now, the update that allows the ads to appear will only be rolled out to refrigerators with Family Hub in the US. According to The Verge, the initial ads will be focused on Samsung products, but there’s always a chance that this channel will be open to third-party advertisers.
It’s safe to say that while we saw this coming, it’s not something that you want to happen after you’ve purchased your device. However, there is a bit of good news here as Samsung will provide a way to turn off the ads, if you’re willing to get rid of the widget entirely.
Samsung’s playing a dangerous game here, and it could really change how smart appliances are seen going forward. They are already quite expensive, and while there is some value in having a large connected screen on your fridge, there isn’t enough at this point to make consumers choose one over more affordable non-connected models.
Naturally, the update isn’t just about putting ads on your fridge, but also brings a wealth of new features as well. Samsung shares that the update rolling out will bring a unified UI experience across its 2025 and 2024 models. The brand’s AI Vision will also become smarter, recognizing more foods and packaged goods that are inside your fridge.
Those that are still using Bixby will be able to have the fridge recognize a user’s voice and switch accounts on the fly in order to better organize data through one device. Security enhancements are also part of the update, ensuring that all your data is kept safe and out of the wrong hands.
So if you’ve got a Samsung refrigerator with a screen, there’s a pretty good chance that this update is headed your way. While the initial set of ads might not be intrusive, we have to remember that this is just the beginning.
