Samsung has announced that it will unify all of its product lines, including TVs starting in 2025, under 'One UI,' hinting at changes to the Smart TV user experience.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone or watch, you may be familiar with One UI, which is the user interface layered on top of Android.
There is nothing to suggest that the company will switch from the Tizen to the Android operating system in its Smart TVs, but Samsung will unify the user interface across devices.
- "In addition, the company announced that it will integrate the software experience of its major product lines – from mobile devices to TVs and home appliances – under the name One UI next year. By providing a cohesive product experience and committing to software upgrades for up to seven years, Samsung will continue to bring innovation for its customers," Samsung announced at SDC 24, the company's annual developer conference.
One UI coming to TVs next year
Samsung did not provide details but did drop a few hints, stating that it is exploring a "brand new UX design" for the upcoming version 7.0 of One UI.
- "For a little teaser, you can now control your Samsung TV more easily with your smartphone through the media panel," Sally, Hyesoon Jeong, EVP, Head of Framework R&D, said onstage at SDC24.
Samsung said that it will start using the One UI name for its Smart TV user interface starting in 2025, so we expect to learn more at CES 2025 in January.
It is part of Samsung's commitment to finally upgrade Tizen in its Smart TVs after the purchase, although the company has now altered its wording from "7 years" to "up to 7 years". This could suggest that select older TV models will be updated to the One UI, too.
Samsung is now saying "up to 7 years" for Tizen OS upgrades. Photo: SDC24
AI-powered TV features
Samsung also highlighted its efforts to improve Bixby voice control and introduce AI screensavers on its TVs, including AI-generated photos created on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone via 'Samsung AI Cast.'
The company will open up the Tizen OS's 'Daily Board' to third-party developers, allowing them to display information in widgets on your TV when it is not in use. Samsung TVs will be able to turn on when you walk by to show these widgets that can also present the weather forecast. Part of the vision is to let users control smart home devices via their TV.
The company even mentioned potential future features for TVs, such as the possibility of "maybe" live-transcribing video calls on the TV through a nearby external device.