Current Events > Samsung's pricey smart fridges to show ads

(+) Yeah! (+)

These smart fridges cost $1800-3500 and they are going to show ads. Ill stick to a regular dumb fridge.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/09/samsung-forces-ads-onto-fridges-is-a-bad-sign-for-other-appliances/

Days after someone revealed the news on social media, Samsung confirmed today that it is showing advertisements on some US customers smart fridges. Samsung said the ads showing on some Family Hub-series fridges are part of a pilot program, but we suspect that they may become more permanent additions to Samsung fridges and/or other types of screen-equipped smart home appliances.

In a statement sent to Ars Technica, Samsung confirmed that it is conducting a pilot program to offer promotions and curated advertisements on certain Samsung Family Hub refrigerator models in the US market.
Samsung currently lists nine Family Hub refrigerators in the US, which have MSRPs ranging from $1,800 to $3,500. Family Hub fridges have 21.5- or 32-inch screens, which, until now, users have had autonomy over for displaying helpful or fun things, like photos and videos, memos, weather, timers, and a web browser. Some of those abilities require a Wi-Fi connection or a Samsung account.

Now, Samsung is commandeering some of the screens already set up in homes to display ads. As Samsungs rep explained:

As a part of this pilot program, Family Hub refrigerators in the US will receive an over-the-network (OTN) software update with Terms of Service (T&C) and Privacy Notice (PN). Advertising will appear on certain Family Hub refrigerator Cover Screens. The Cover Screen appears when a Family Hub screen is idle. Ad design format may change depending on Family Hub personalization options for the Cover Screen, and advertising will not appear when Cover Screen displays Art Mode or picture albums.

If a user doesnt like a particular ad, they can remove it so that they wont see the ad again during the campaign period, Samsungs rep noted.

Samsung declined to respond to specific questions sent about the pilot program, including which fridge models are affected and its response to customers who may be irked that their expensive appliance is suddenly showing ads.

Samsung hasn't been particularly forthcoming about the program, which appears to have been publicly disclosed for the first time by a Reddit user, as spotted by SamMobile.

A picture that the Redditor posted shows a message purportedly displayed on a Samsung fridge informing owners of the ads, reading: "To enhance our service and offer additional content to users, advertisements will be displayed on the Cover Screen for the Weather, Color, and Daily Board Themes.

Samsung recently downplayed the idea of using smart appliances' screens for ads. While speaking with The Verge in April, Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and head of the R&D team for Samsung Electronics' Digital Appliances Business, said Samsung had no plans regarding the inclusion of advertisements on AI Home screens.

Technically, the pilot program is running on fridges' larger "Cover Screens," not AI Home Screens, which are smaller (7 -or 9-inch) touchscreens that Samsung introduced to appliances in late 2024. But it still feels like Samsung missed numerous opportunities to manage expectations with its rollout of ads on Samsung products.
Despite this, some may have been tipped off to Samsung's potential shift to ads from the company's growing obsession with putting screens on products that are usually controllable with more repairable, affordable, and simpler solutions, like buttons and dials. But there are still bound to be people upset to see their fridge updated to display commercial messaging where their family eats and cooks.

Another reason to leave appliances offline
Based on Samsungs statement, users can prevent ads from showing on their smart fridges by having the screen show photos or art. However, that limits the ways people can use their expensive fridge.
Another option is to disconnect the fridge from the Internet. Again, though, this would eliminate some core capabilities, like its meal planner, recipes, and shopping list features.

On the other hand, some Samsung fridge owners may not even notice the update, considering that vendors have struggled to get people to connect home appliances to the Internet. Less than half of the smart appliances that LG had sold were online in 2023, for example.

Smart appliance makers that would like to access the valuable user data and ad revenue that are available when people connect their appliances to the web battle privacy concerns, indifference, and technical limitations. Samsung's reminder to everyone about how easy it is for tech companies to turn people's smart appliances into billboards is another deterrent.

But with expensive and large electronics purchases happening infrequently for most households, many tech companies are increasingly relying on ads for recurring revenue. It's very unlikely that Samsung's pilot program will be the last we hear of the sudden appearance of ads on smart home devices.

Sheesh their appliances are already POS's now this?

The less circuitry you can have in your appliances the better.

Theres a reason those old fridges in your garage/basement keep trucking along.

I'm going to stick to dumb appliances and dumb services whenever possible.

Why do you need a smart fridge? You set the temperature and put the food in. That's it. What the fuck do you need a screen for?

for people in the know, it's very easy to take full control over a smart fridge

the people buying them are not the people in the know, however, because those people would not buy these garbage fridges that last maybe 4 years.

How about you fix your ice maker first?

GenesisReturns posted...

Sheesh their appliances are already POS's now this?

Yeah, our new Samsung stove is so bad. Food always comes out of the oven burnt unless you turn the temp down and take it out early. I honestly hate the thing and wish our old LG one didn't kill itself.

Also fuck all these stupid devices that connect to the internet. I don't want my refrigerator to connect to the internet, and hated how the stupid stove required you to connect to the internet to set the time on it.

pokedude900 posted...

Why do you need a smart fridge? You set the temperature and put the food in. That's it. What the fuck do you need a screen for?

Gotta play Doom wherever possible.

Well the good news is that Samsung appliances are straight dooky butter, so maybe it'll fuck up and not show ads after all. lol

Bass posted...

Yeah, our new Samsung stove is so bad. Food always comes out of the oven burnt unless you turn the temp down and take it out early. I honestly hate the thing and wish our old LG one didn't kill itself.

Also fuck all these stupid devices that connect to the internet. I don't want my refrigerator to connect to the internet, and hated how the stupid stove required you to connect to the internet to set the time on it.

We've had good luck with our GE Profile dishwasher and stove. Wife can remotely turn it on if she needs it, and literally nothing with our dishwasher after 4 years.

Hopefully we can replace our old Amana side by side fridge with a GE one next year.

I still iffy on the GE Profile Washer machine though. It seems to go out of balance easily.

Bass posted...

Yeah, our new Samsung stove is so bad. Food always comes out of the oven burnt unless you turn the temp down and take it out early.

or you just change the calibration, like you are supposed to do with all ovens

Epitome of a "first world problem" TBQH. I've always looked at so-called 'smart fridges' since the late 90s and thought "but why though, we have computers that do that function far better, why would I want a computer on my bloody fridge?"

That question has only increased in the age of smartphones, an era where everyone and their dog basically has a supercomputer connected to the Font of All Knowledge in their pocket at all time. Why one would need any kind of extra "smart" device when the smartphone exists is beyond me.

The bigger concern is that, as this is Samsung who make phones, one should probably ask themselves how long it will be before they start doing this on their phones.

Lol, they found a way to make me even less interested in smart fridges.

M1Astray posted...

The bigger concern is that, as this is Samsung who make phones, one should probably ask themselves how long it will be before they start doing this on their phones.

about two decades ago

HudGard posted...

The less circuitry you can have in your appliances the better.

Maybe they'll be like HP printers: where everything about the thing is a hunk of junk EXCEPT for the ads, which will work impeccably, every single time, until the end of time.

ConfusedTorchic posted...

or you just change the calibration, like you are supposed to do with all ovens

Never knew that was a thing, tbh. Neither does my mom apparently, since she hated it too when she used it, lol. I will have to research.

At some point in the mid 2000s, Western society seemed to accept that 'the future' meant having everything connected to the Internet at all times.

And now they yell at light bulbs to save themselves the bother of flicking a switch. Meanwhile, the devices note the yelling and send them a push notification urging them to buy throat sweets.

So are they gonna give these fridges away for free based on the fact they are now ad supported?

M1Astray posted...

Epitome of a "first world problem" TBQH. I've always looked at so-called 'smart fridges' since the late 90s and thought "but why though, we have computers that do that function far better, why would I want a computer on my bloody fridge?"

That question has only increased in the age of smartphones, an era where everyone and their dog basically has a supercomputer connected to the Font of All Knowledge in their pocket at all time. Why one would need any kind of extra "smart" device when the smartphone exists is beyond me.

The bigger concern is that, as this is Samsung who make phones, one should probably ask themselves how long it will be before they start doing this on their phones.

Samsung is already filling the phones with bloatwear.

So stupid. I bought a new fridge last year for $600...Works great too.

Amazon pulled this **** with their Echo Show.

I have never chucked a piece of equipment into the garbage so quickly.

It's gonna get to the point where every single aspect of our lives are inundated with ads.

My take

............... This is the difference between being well-off and being rich-and-powerful. The well-off get ads on their $3500 refrigerator while the rich-and-powerful do not even know the word.

MC_BatCommander posted...

It's gonna get to the point where every single aspect of our lives are inundated with ads.

Here's a dystopian thought: Want to enter your home? You'll need to watch this 3 minute ad displayed on the front door first, and cameras will be scanning your retinas to confirm your attention.

DuneMan posted...

Here's a dystopian thought: Want to enter your home? You'll need to watch this 3 minute ad displayed on the front door first, and cameras will be scanning your retinas to confirm your attention.

I could see ICE using the same kind of tech from the Fifth Element to scan people indoors.

modena posted...

I could see ICE using the same kind of tech from the Fifth Element to scan people indoors.

"Smoke you!"

DuneMan posted...

Here's a dystopian thought: Want to enter your home? You'll need to watch this 3 minute ad displayed on the front door first, and cameras will be scanning your retinas to confirm your attention.

On the other hand, if they made guns with a compulsory 3 minute ad break before you could pull the trigger . . .

This makes me laugh and cry at the same time

Im not far away from going completely off grid at this rate. Id rather live like its 1930 than deal with this shit.

pinky0926 posted...

This makes me laugh and cry at the same time

Im not far away from going completely off grid at this rate. Id rather live like its 1930 than deal with this shit.

Either way, you get to experience the rise of fascism.

M1Astray posted...

That question has only increased in the age of smartphones,

I think it actually makes a little more sense in the age of smartphones, because probably the only really useful part of it at all is the ability to interact with it remotely. which is more useful when everyone is carrying remote access points (smartphones) around with them everywhere they go

that said a smart fridge like that is clearly not worth the hassle despite having a few minor upsides

kirbymuncher posted...

I think it actually makes a little more sense in the age of smartphones, because probably the only really useful part of it at all is the ability to interact with it remotely.

Why do you need to operate your fridge remotely?

Raycon posted...

Amazon pulled this **** with their Echo Show.

I have never chucked a piece of equipment into the garbage so quickly.

my echo show doesn't show ads at all

because i turned them off. it was right there in the settings

pokedude900 posted...

Why do you need to operate your fridge remotely?

Maybe it could have cameras inside as part of some auto-inventory thing and you could use it as a reminder if you're out shopping and forgot if you need to buy certain foods or if you already have enough

Sure it's kinda niche and you can mostly substitute for it by just making shopping lists or etc (which is definitely the route I'd take...) but I really do think with a lot of smart appliances basically all of their even-slightly-useful features are about remote access and/or monitoring

About 10 years ago I saw that someplace like Japan had smart fridges that would order your groceries when it sensed you were low or out...not sure how that worked out.

I check my fridge in the morning a lot to see if I need to pick up beer after work.

Now would I have/buy one? Hell nah.

kirbymuncher posted...

Maybe it could have cameras inside as part of some auto-inventory thing and you could use it as a reminder if you're out shopping and forgot if you need to buy certain foods or if you already have enough

Sure it's kinda niche and you can mostly substitute for it by just making shopping lists or etc (which is definitely the route I'd take...) but I really do think with a lot of smart appliances basically all of their even-slightly-useful features are about remote access and/or monitoring

The theme of smart devices is that you get to solve a non problem by inviting a large corporation to spy on you 24/7 in return for having a more expensive and less reliable appliance

But the good news is that instead of having to engage your brain for 3 seconds to consider if you currently own a stick of butter, now your fridge will be able to do that for you with at least 80% reliability

pinky0926 posted...

The theme of smart devices is that you get to solve a non problem by inviting a large corporation to spy on you 24/7 in return for having a more expensive and less reliable appliance

But the good news is that instead of having to engage your brain for 3 seconds to consider if you currently own a stick of butter, now your fridge will be able to do that for you with at least 80% reliability

Right after a word from this sponsor

Surely you've at least had a few moments where you were unsure, made the wrong call, and ended up with either two or zero of a thing you wanted to have one of?

To be clear, I don't think it's worth the price, security, privacy, etc tradeoffs at all. But they do have features of some sort and I think it's pretty obvious the features are most useful when you have a remote terminal for them. Why do you think they generally have internet access?

Yeah, i wouldnt buy a smart fridge today just for this feature but the biggest reason to own one is stuff like stock monitoring and alert you when youre low, the ability to place orders to replenish what you need, check the internal camera when out and about to see whats in the fridge, etc. not worth a price premium, but can see maybe 30 years from now fridges like that being more affordable and baseline and more reliable
all the extra stuff like using it as a TV/calendar/photo gallery are just gimmicks and not really the main benefit

Our 20yr old GE dishwasher broke and it cost more to fix than to buy a new one. The newer dishwashers are quieter and more efficient, but It is basically impossible to buy one without WiFi that only works with with a GE-proprietary app. Needless to say, the app has terrible reviews and prioritizes ads over functionality. We won't be using that feature.

tankboy posted...

Our 20yr old GE dishwasher broke and it cost more to fix than to buy a new one. The newer dishwashers are quieter and more efficient, but It is basically impossible to buy one without WiFi that only works with with a GE-proprietary app. Needless to say, the app has terrible reviews and prioritizes ads over functionality. We won't be using that feature.

I admittedly have a smart stove and a smart fridge. The fridge sole features are it monitors the temperature and doors (I have young kids so this is helpful) and if something gets out of line it alerts me.

My stove is great for pre heating on my way home.

The dishwashers and washing machines? I don't get it. Outside of sending alerts when they're done, what's the point? Not to mention I already have those set up with smart outlets that monitor power draw.

I've had pretty good success with all my Samsung appliances. Smart fridge, microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer. Haven't seen these ads on my fridge but will deal with it if/when that happens.

Thanks Nintendo

dystopic

Cyberpunk

they can go to hell

I-I just need something to keep my food/drinks cold...