Come 2025, your Samsung TV will use One UI and no longer Tizen OS. It’s a bittersweet moment for the company and fans as they officially replace their long-running OS. On the bright side, they’re making the ecosystem more unified with the same interface used on their Galaxy smartphones and tablets. One UI promises a brand-new design and exciting AI features like Live Transcribe. Here’s more to expect.
One UI offers smoother connections between Galaxy devices
As of 2015, Samsung has been using Tizen OS in its smart TVs for nine years. Tizen OS is a Linux-based operating system developed by Samsung and the Linux Foundation. They originally designed the OS to reduce Samsung’s reliance on Google’s Android and to make Samsung’s software more popular. But it didn’t really catch on with smartphones or smartwatches, so they used it in their smart TVs where it was a bigger success in home entertainment.
At the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) 2024, Samsung announced that they’ll be bringing One UI to TVs. The first device to launch the software is the OLED S90C TV. Besides the TVs, One UI has long served Galaxy phones and tablets since 2019. The Galaxy S10 series was the first to launch it.
If you have a 2023 TV model, you’ll be able to download the update to join in. One of the big changes includes Home Screen tabs and a Watch Later feature. For gamers, there’s even a gaming bar that helps you switch between games quickly. Plus, Samsung promises these TVs will get updates and support for seven years, just like their latest Galaxy S24 series.
Tizen-powered smartwatches are ending, so upgrade soon
Tizen OS is not just leaving Samsung TVs. It’s also being phased out of Samsung’s smartwatches. Since 2021, Samsung shifted its Galaxy Watch lineup from Tizen to Google’s Wear OS, and now the company has officially announced that full support for Tizen smartwatches will end by 2025.
They’re offering a trade-in deal of up to $100 for older Tizen-powered models like the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active, encouraging users to upgrade to newer Wear OS devices.
Key dates have been set, and paid Tizen watch content sales have stopped since September 2024. Free content downloads will end by May 2025, and by September 2025, you will no longer be able to re-download previously purchased apps or watch faces.
If you have a Tizen watch, now’s the perfect time to upgrade to the newer Galaxy Watch models running Wear OS.
What is One UI?
One UI is Samsung’s custom Android user interface designed for its Galaxy phones, tablets, smartwatches, and laptops. It’s a launcher that sits on top of Android and brings more customization and multitasking features compared to Google’s stock Android.
For example, One UI offers Edge Panels, which lets you swipe from the side of your screen to access shortcuts to apps, contacts, or tools. Another example is Samsung DeX that allows you to connect your Galaxy device to a monitor and use it like a desktop. In contrast, Google’s Pixel devices run a near-stock that’s minimalist and less customizable than One UI.
