Samsung Puts Ads on Its $1,900+ Refrigerators
▼ Summary
– Samsung will begin showing ads on Family Hub refrigerator displays in the U.S. starting November 3, 2024, via a new widget during idle screen time.
– Users can opt out of ads through the Settings menu, but this disables all widget features, and ads are enabled by default for all users.
– The ads will initially promote Samsung products, with plans to include third-party advertisements in the future according to reports.
– Family Hub refrigerators are premium appliances priced from $1,899 to $3,499 and feature large screens for connectivity, recipes, and smart home functions.
– Samsung’s ad introduction has surprised customers, as the refrigerators have been available for years without advertising, contrasting with Apple’s expansion of ads in apps like Maps.
For consumers investing in premium smart appliances, the experience is about to change. Samsung is introducing advertisements to the display screens of its high-end Family Hub refrigerators, a move that affects models priced from $1,900 to nearly $3,500. A new software update, rolling out this week, will activate a Cover Screen widget that shows promotional content when the refrigerator is not in active use, with the program officially launching on November 3.
This initiative follows a confirmed pilot program where select refrigerator owners received promotions and curated ads. Now, the program is expanding to a wider user base in the United States. The Family Hub line is marketed as a central family communication tool, featuring large screens ranging from 21.5 to 32 inches. These screens allow users to share photos via Google Photos, access recipes, stream music, manage family calendars, and even make purchases through Amazon. The most advanced models include an “AI Vision” system designed to monitor the contents inside the appliance.
The advertisements will appear as part of a new widget that also displays information like the local weather, calendar events, and news headlines. Samsung has stated that users can opt out of the ads through a dedicated Advertisements tab in the Settings menu. However, disabling ads also turns off all other widget functionalities. Individual ads can be dismissed directly from the Cover Screen, and once dismissed, that specific ad will not reappear for the duration of its campaign. The company also notes that ads will not be displayed when the screen is set to show personal art or music album themes.
This decision has taken many longtime customers by surprise, as the Family Hub refrigerators have been on the market for several years without this feature. Many owners purchased their appliances with no expectation of encountering advertising on a device they paid thousands of dollars for. A significant concern is that the ad feature is enabled by default, meaning some users may be unaware they have the option to disable it.
Initially, the advertisements will be limited to Samsung’s own products and services. However, reports indicate that the company appears to be laying the groundwork to eventually open the platform to third-party advertisers. This trend of inserting ads into new hardware and software environments is not isolated to Samsung. While Apple does not manufacture refrigerators, it is similarly increasing its advertising footprint, with recent reports suggesting that Apple Maps could begin displaying ads within its search results as early as next year.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
