Samsung is introducing advertisements on its Family Hub smart refrigerators, following a test earlier this month.
These high-end appliances feature a large display screen that serves multiple purposes, including showing the time, weather, camera feeds, and family photos. The latest update introduces a new design, enhanced artificial intelligence, and a new widget for the Cover screen. This widget will display news, weather forecasts, and—yes—curated advertisements.
While the concept of advertising on smart home devices isn’t entirely new, Samsung is now expanding this feature to a broader range of its refrigerators. These devices start at $1,899 and can cost up to $3,499, positioning them as premium appliances where users might reasonably expect a feature set free from interruptions.
Fortunately, Samsung has provided users with options to manage these ads. Owners can:
1. Dismiss specific ads that appear on the Cover screen.
2. Completely disable Cover screen ads through the Settings menu.
It’s also worth noting that advertisements will not appear when the Cover screen is displaying art or album themes.
Although the ability to turn off ads is a positive step, ads on smart devices aren’t always optional. At least for now, Samsung has confirmed that these fridges aren’t tracking consumer behavior or collecting personal data
