Samsung recently confirmed the leak that it will begin showing ads on the display screens of its smart refrigerators. This news has not been well received by many people who have already bought these high-priced appliances. People paid extra to get features like calendar tracking, a list of what is inside their fridge, and an easy way to display their children’s pictures and art. Now, these screens will also show ads, which was not what most people expected when they chose to pay more for a smart fridge.
The information about these ads first came to light through a leak on Reddit. According to the leaked message, Samsung is adding ads to the Cover Screen when using the Weather, Color, and Daily Board themes. If users have chosen the Art or Gallery themes, ads will not appear. This means that anyone using the fridge display for practical updates or to keep track of daily life will now have to see ads mixed in with their information.
Samsung says that this move is meant to “enhance our service and offer additional content,” but it has left many people feeling frustrated. The main reason most people buy a smart fridge is to make daily life easier or to add some fun to their kitchen. They did not expect to have paid extra just to end up with more ads in their home. While the company has updated the Daily Board theme by adding a Samsung News widget and some examples of Bixby voice commands, these changes come along with the new ads, which many people see as a step back.
This is not the first time companies have added ads to products that people have already paid for. When smart fridges first came out with screens, some thought ads might show up someday. Still, most people hoped it would not actually happen. Now that it has, buyers are left wondering if this will become the new normal for other smart home devices too.
People who use the smart fridge for its intended features will now have to think about whether the ads are worth it. Some may choose to switch to themes that do not show ads, but this means giving up features they liked. Others may decide not to use the screen at all. Either way, it seems that the experience of owning a smart fridge has changed in a way that many did not want.
As companies keep adding ads to more products, the line between helpful technology and unwanted advertising gets thinner. For now, Samsung smart fridge owners have to decide if they want to keep using the features they paid for or find ways to avoid the ads. Many are left disappointed, wishing that the extra money they spent on a smart appliance had bought them a better experience.
View the original press release.
