Recently, Samsung confirmed that One UI will arrive on eligible smart TVs soon. The new firmware brings new features and offers a more consistent experience across the brand’s ecosystem of products. Now, as promised, Samsung has begun rolling out One UI for smart TVs, perhaps even faster than expected.
One UI for Samsung’s smart TVs still runs on Tizen
Samsung has become one of the brands closest to Google. The company already uses Android on its Galaxy phones, but it also worked with Google on Wear OS 3, ditching Tizen OS for smartwatches. However, the company continues to use Tizen for its own smart TVs, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon. In fact, the One UI update for TVs is a custom skin on top of Tizen instead of Android TV.
The One UI update for Samsung smart TVs is based on Tizen 8.0, which replaces the Tizen 7.0 that eligible models were still running on. It is currently seeking models on the S90C and S90D series (2023 and 2024). Recently, the company announced an expansion of software support for its TVs (starting with some 2022 models) for up to 7 years, in line with its flagship mobile support policy.
What’s new in the update?
After the update, the eligible TVs have a very similar look to that of Galaxy smartphones. This includes UI elements, app design, and icons. Of course, there are also several new features designed to improve the user experience. The official changelog mentions improved web navigation thanks to an updated web engine (108), a new “For you” tab, and “Watch Later” now being accessible from the content details screen. These options offer more possibilities for organizing your favorite content.
One UI turns supported smart TVs into a hub from which to control Samsung’s smart home and mobile ecosystem. You can use the same keyboard and mouse with multiple compatible Galaxy products linked to your Samsung account. You will also see health data obtained directly from your Galaxy smartwatch. The Smart Things app also allows you to use IoT cameras. The company has improved the programming guide with a new UI design that makes it more comfortable and convenient to use. The guide now includes a new “Samsung TV Plus” category.
Enhanced interoperability between Samsung TVs and mobile devices
One UI updates the “Game Bar” look to its latest design found on Galaxy phones. Additionally, the “ConnecTime” feature enhances interoperability between Galaxy TVs and mobile devices. For example, you can access video calls, messaging, and mobile screen sharing for TV and mobile. Samsung upgraded the WiFi Speaker Surround Setup to Q-Symphony. Lastly, there are new security measures that involve the use of a Samsung account.
