Samsung has announced plans to integrate Google Photos into its smart TV lineup starting in 2026, expanding how users can view and interact with their personal media on large screens.
The partnership will introduce Google Photos’ “Memories” feature to Samsung TVs, allowing users to relive curated collections of photos and videos directly on their television. Samsung said the Memories experience will be exclusive to its TVs for the first six months following launch, giving the company a temporary edge over competing smart TV platforms.
The integration is aimed at turning televisions into more personal and family-oriented devices, beyond traditional streaming and gaming. Users will be able to access their Google Photos libraries, display albums, and view automatically generated highlights such as trips, events, and themed collections, all optimized for large-screen viewing.
Samsung did not provide detailed technical specifications, but the feature is expected to be deeply embedded into its Tizen-based smart TV ecosystem, likely leveraging voice controls and seamless account sign-in through Google services. The move aligns with Samsung’s broader strategy to position its TVs as central hubs for entertainment, productivity, and personal content.
For Google, the expansion of Photos to TVs represents a push to extend its services beyond mobile devices and computers, reinforcing Photos as a cross-platform product rather than just a smartphone gallery app. With billions of users globally, Google Photos remains one of Google’s most widely used consumer services.
The announcement also highlights intensifying competition among smart TV makers to differentiate through software and partnerships, as hardware innovation alone becomes less of a selling point. By securing a timed exclusivity deal with Google Photos’ Memories feature, Samsung is aiming to strengthen user engagement and brand loyalty ahead of rivals.
The Google Photos integration is expected to roll out to compatible Samsung TV models sometime in 2026, with further details on availability and supported devices to be announced closer to launch.
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