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  "description": "A controversial software update for owners of Samsung FamilyHub fridges in the US sparks outrage among customers who paid thousands for premium appliances.",
  "path": "/samsung-australian-fridges-ad-free/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-09-19T02:15:15.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.bttr.reviews",
  "tags": [
    "putting screens into its range of appliances",
    "official statement to Android Authority",
    "told The Verge"
  ],
  "textContent": "Samsung's has been committed to putting screens into its range of appliances, and there are plenty of benefits to having easy connectivity in a smart home. But there's also a darker side: it makes it tempting for the company to update the platform to put ads on those screens.\n\nIn the US, there's been a lot of outrage this week because this is exactly what has happened. As part of a pilot program, some owners of Samsung FamilyHub fridges were notified that, following a software update, they would be seeing ads on the screens in their fridge.\n\nFortunately for Australians though, it is a US-only initiative. I spoke with a Samsung rep about this this morning and confirmed that the \"**pilot program was US-only** \".\n\n## What is the pilot program doing?\n\nIn its official statement to Android Authority, Samsung said it was: \"_conducting a pilot program to offer promotions and curated advertisements on certain Samsung Family Hub refrigerator models in the U.S. market_ \" as part of efforts to \"_strengthen that value_ \" for customers.\n\nIt's quite the change in strategy, though. As recently as April, Samsung told The Verge that it had \"no plans\" to incorporate advertisements into its smart home displays.\n\nThe ads will appear on the fridge's Cover Screen when idle, but only on the Weather, Colour, and Daily Board themes. The Art and Gallery themes will remain ad-free. Users that are part of the program can dismiss individual ads and they won't be displayed again during the campaign period, but there's no way to disable the advertising system entirely.\n\n## What this means for Australia\n\nWhile Australian consumers are safe from fridge advertising for now, the pilot program's existence raises questions about Samsung's long-term strategy. If the US pilot proves financially successful for Samsung, it would be naive to assume the practice won't eventually spread to other markets.\n\nThe controversy also highlights the importance of considering long-term implications when purchasing smart home devices, as manufacturers retain the ability to significantly alter functionality and user experience through software updates.\n\nFor now, Australian Samsung fridge owners can continue using their appliances ad-free, but they may want to keep a close eye on future software update notifications.\n\n### Latest fridge deals",
  "title": "Samsung pushes ads onto premium smart fridges in the US – But Australia is still ad-free",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-11T02:15:39.886Z"
}