Samsung has begun displaying ads on its Family Hub series of smart refrigerators, which it sells in the US market. The company describes this as a “pilot program,” but user reaction is growing, especially considering the high prices of the devices.

Samsung has begun displaying ads on smart refrigerators

Posts on social media platforms have shown numerous examples of ads appearing in certain display modes with the update.

Ads are displayed on the large touchscreen display located on the refrigerator door. Ads appear in weather, color, and daily dashboard modes, while users who prefer not to see ads can simply switch to art and gallery themes to avoid them.

Samsung stated that ads will only appear when the screen is idle, and ads that users dismiss once will not appear again. However, this does not prevent the addition of new advertising content.

Samsung stated that the app is being tested on a limited number of Family Hub models to add value. The company did not specify whether this pilot will be expanded to other countries or different models.

The Family Hub series stands out with touchscreen displays up to 32 inches. The refrigerators in the series feature advanced features such as indoor camera systems that identify products on shelves, offer recommendations with AI Vision technology, and remote smartphone connectivity.

The devices start at $3,000. Despite the high price tag, the display of ads has sparked outrage among users, who say that “ads are unacceptable on premium products.”

It remains unclear whether the ad feature will be implemented on other Samsung devices in the future. However, this move is considered part of a strategy by technology companies to increase advertising space on smart devices. Despite the backlash, no official announcement has been made regarding the continuation or expansion of the feature.