Samsung promises 7 years of updates for AI Smart TVs
Samsung is set to extend its firmware upgrade policy to include smart TVs, offering seven years of Tizen OS upgrades, according to KED Global citing a recent business briefing. This move follows the company's announcement earlier this year, that it would support flagship Galaxy phones with seven major OS updates over a similar period. The new policy aims to provide customers with extended access to key One UI features and enhanced security measures.
Policy to cover 2024 and select 2023 models
The extended upgrade policy will initially apply to Samsung's latest AI-powered TVs from 2024 and some selected models from 2023. This is a significant improvement over the current industry standard of providing firmware updates for smart TVs for only two or three years. The new policy aims to add more value by ensuring that users of these devices receive new features and improved security for an extended period.
Strategy to maintain market leadership
The extended Tizen update policy is part of Samsung's strategy to maintain its leading position in the TV market. The company has been a dominant player for over a decade but faces increasing competition from brands like Hisense and TCL. At a recent business briefing, Yong Seok-woo, president and head of Samsung's TV division, stated that this move aims to "widen the gap in market share with Chinese companies."
Uncertainty over policy extension to older models
It remains unclear whether Samsung's new seven-year upgrade policy will be extended to models older than those released in 2023. This uncertainty comes despite LG, a domestic competitor, announcing earlier this year that it would update some of its 2022 TV models "for the next five years." Samsung has yet to announce the scope of its software support for premium-tier models released in 2022.
