We’ve seen ads on smartphones, computers, smart TVs, and tablets — but on a fridge now? Tech companies often use ads or promotional content to offset hardware costs for customers, but these practices are usually limited to budget or mid-range products.
Samsung, however, has taken a surprising turn by pushing ads onto its premium refrigerators via software update — devices that already cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,500. The change affects certain Family Hub models, though the Korean tech giant hasn’t specified exactly which ones.
According to a Reddit post, ads will now appear on the Cover Screen when using the Weather, Color, or Daily Board themes.
Samsung confirmed this to Android Authority, stating:
As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen that value, we are conducting a pilot program to offer promotions and curated advertisements on certain Samsung Family Hub refrigerator models in the U.S. market.
And yes, the company actually said the move is “part of their ongoing efforts to strengthen that value.” How exactly serving ads to premium-paying customers increases value is anyone’s guess.
To make matters worse, there’s currently no way to completely disable these ads. The only workaround is switching the Cover Screen to Art Mode or personal photo albums. Disconnecting the fridge from the internet also works, but that disables many of its smart features, defeating the purpose of owning a “smart” refrigerator.
On Reddit, users are already venting their frustration through humor.
- One Redditor joked, “Wait to find out what you need to replace in your fridge! Right after this ad.”
- Another quipped, “To gain ad-free fridge access, please update your subscription to Platinum Tier for just $14.99/month.”
- And yet another imagined, “Watch an ad before unlocking the door. Or pay $0.99 to skip.”
It feels like any device with a screen these days is a target for ads, but it’s frustrating to see Samsung testing this on a luxury product. Moves like this risk damaging brand trust in the long run and might even set a precedent for other manufacturers to follow.
