For decades, the refrigerator has been the quiet, unassuming workhorse of the kitchen, a place to store food and a canvas for magnetic art. But what happens when this essential home appliance joins the ranks of your smartphone and smart TV? Owners of Samsung’s high-end Family Hub refrigerators are now finding out firsthand.
Samsung is rolling out a software update that will put advertisements on its Family Hub smart refrigerators in the U.S., with ads appearing on select idle screen themes. While the company insists the ads won’t interrupt daily use, the move raises big questions: is this the future of connected kitchens, or just another way to sneak ads into your home? Keep reading to find out how this change works, which fridges are affected, and whether you’ll be able to opt out.
Samsung confirms ads are coming to Family Hub refrigerators
The development may feel strange, yet it doesn’t come as a total shock. What was initially met with disbelief, a leaked changelog suggesting ad placements were coming, has now been officially confirmed by Samsung.
“Samsung is committed to innovation and enhancing everyday value for our home appliance customers. As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen that value, we are conducting a pilot program to offer promotions and curated advertisements on certain Samsung Family Hub refrigerator models in the U.S. market,” a Samsung spokesperson confirmed to Android Authority. “As a part of this pilot program, Family Hub refrigerators in the U.S. will receive an over-the-network (OTN) software update with Terms of Service (T&C) and Privacy Notice (PN).”
As part of the program, these refrigerators will display “promotions and curated advertisements” on certain Cover Screens when the Family Hub screen (i.e., the door display) is idle. The company notes that ads can be dismissed, and dismissed ads will not appear again. The ad design format will also change depending on the Cover Screen’s personalization options. Ads will not appear when the Cover Screen displays photos or art.
According to the changelog, ads will be displayed on the Cover Screen for the Weather, Color, and Daily Board themes, whereas the Cover Screen for the Art and Gallery themes will not display advertisements, in line with the company’s statement.
Which Samsung smart fridge models will get ads?
The specific models included in this update haven’t been confirmed yet. But for reference, Samsung’s current Family Hub refrigerator lineup in the U.S. is priced between roughly $1,800 and $3,500.
Can users disable the ads?
At the moment, there’s no way to completely turn off the ads. Disconnecting the fridge from the internet may stop new promotions from loading, but doing so also strips away the very smart features that justify its premium price. It’s a frustrating compromise — choose ad-free use, and you lose functionality; keep the features, and you’re stuck with commercials.
How users can push back against fridge ads
If you own a Samsung Family Hub refrigerator and aren’t happy about the new ads, there are a few ways to make your voice heard.
- Contact Samsung Support: Reach out through the official support page, live chat, or social media. One complaint may not change much, but a large number of them could push Samsung to reconsider.
- Speak Up on Social Media: Posting frustrations on X (Twitter), Facebook, or Reddit can grab attention, especially if posts gain traction.
- Check Privacy Settings: Samsung’s Terms of Service and Privacy Notice may let you limit some data sharing. This won’t remove ads, but it might reduce how personalized they are.
- Vote With Your Wallet: For potential buyers, the most powerful message is to not purchase Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerators or other products with similar ad policies.
As previously mentioned, there’s no built-in way to turn the ads off completely. Speaking up and sharing your concerns is the best chance users have to push back against Samsung’s move to put commercials on premium appliances.
Source: Android Authority