Samsung has announced that an update will be coming to its Family Hub refrigerators in July 2022, which will bring some pretty exciting features. Samsung's Family Hub line are refrigerators with smart functionalities, but their signature feature they have in common is a giant 21.5-inch touch display on the door. This display works just like a smart display would.
Apart from being able to surf the web, control and access connected smart home appliances, or stream podcasts from services such as Spotify, users can also create shopping lists, shop for groceries and plan meals using the fridge. Samsung has also added a camera that allows users to view what's inside the refrigerator from wherever they might be. This can be handy when out and there's a need to restock. The Samsung Family Hub will even recommend recipes based on what's inside.
At its recent Bespoke Home 2022 event, Samsung announced that an update is coming to the Family Hub. The update will bring Samsung TV Plus to the refrigerators, allowing owners to watch TV on its display. Samsung TV Plus is a free TV streaming service comprising over 200 ad-supported live and on-demand channels. The service is available on all Samsung TVs released since 2016 and even several Samsung phones. Before the announcement, the only way to watch TV on the Family Hub was by screen mirroring a Samsung TV to the refrigerator's display.
Which Models Are Supported?
Another exciting feature coming to the Family Hub refrigerator is Art mode. Currently, owners can pin photos, notes and calendar events to the home screen. However, with the new art mode, users can choose from a plethora of different artworks from an app called Art Gallery to display on the screen, turning it into a piece of art when not in use. This feature, like Samsung TV Plus, is being borrowed from Samsung's The Frame TV. The update will be available to models released in 2017 and later. However, it will be restricted to Korea and the U.S. It is not clear if the update will also bring the Art Gallery app or if that will be made available separately.
Another feature the update will bring is Smart Reorders which will allow Amazon Prime customers in the United States to reorder and replace water filters automatically. There is also Dual artificial intelligence Voice Assistant which enables customers to access both Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby on the same device. The feature is already available in Canada and the United States. It will be available in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and India in the third quarter of 2022. Samsung Family Hub owners in Korea and the U.S. will also get upgraded food recognition technology.
Source: Samsung