Google Photos is heading to living rooms, but not all smart TVs will get it at once. Samsung has confirmed that its 2026 smart TVs will be the first to natively support the popular photo platform, letting users browse, edit, and even transform their memories using AI, directly on the big screen.
Google Photos on Samsung TVs brings deeper integration
While Android TV and Google TV have existed for years, Google Photos has never been fully available until now. Samsung’s upcoming models will be the first to offer real Google Photos support, going far beyond screensaver functionality.
This integration means users can sign in with their Google Account and immediately see their photos organized by people, places, and moments. It’ll be baked into Samsung’s Daily+ and Daily Board experiences, making photos feel like a core part of the TV interface rather than an afterthought.
Samsung TV users will get three stages of Google Photos
Samsung outlined a phased rollout that adds features over time:
- Memories (March 2026) – Curated collections based on people and moments
- Create with AI (Late 2026) – Add themes, Remix images, or generate short videos
- Personalized Results (Late 2026) – Search-based slideshows using location or activity terms
Each feature will debut first on Samsung’s 2026 lineup, with older Samsung TVs receiving updates later as part of the standard OS update cycle.
Other smart TVs will have to wait for it
Despite Google Photos being a Google product, it’s Samsung, not Google TV or Android TV, that’s getting early access. Samsung’s exclusive window lasts six months starting in March 2026, meaning competitors like Sony, TCL, and Hisense won’t see native support until late 2026 at the earliest.
Big-screen photos powered by AI, if you’re on Samsung
The new features aim to turn static galleries into dynamic, AI-curated visual stories. Samsung’s collaboration with Google will allow users to generate themed slideshows, apply art-style transformations, or animate their photos into short clips all without leaving the couch.
Of course, there are a few catches. You’ll need a Google account, and your photos must already be backed up in Google Photos. Older Samsung TVs won’t be left out completely, but the timing depends on software updates.
The push to bring photo memories to smart TVs is long overdue. But for now, Samsung’s early lead shows that sometimes, being first doesn’t mean being on a Google-powered TV.
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