What is the Samsung smart television operating system?

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Written By Dinu Sri

Dr H. T. D. S. Madusanka is an electronic expert with 10 years of experience, involved in the research and development of SMART HOME systems.

One of the many multifaceted blessings of the Samsung Smart TV is its smart operating system (OS) Tizen. Smart TVs like Samsung arrive with a built-in proprietary operating system or OS known as Tizen.

Tizen is an open-sourced, Linux-based development that’s open to all users and supports a wide array of devices such as mobile phones, TVs, and other home applications. These are top-tier developments with incredibly stylish looks and can match up to the TV or your room’s aesthetics.

Samsung began its journey with Tizen back in 2015. Over the past few years, the generations went through minor changes but, the overall idea and image quality of generic Samsung TVs haven’t deteriorated since the introduction of Tizen.

With the help of Tizen, Samsung can offer brilliant image quality and a crystal clear interface. Tizen has been intuitively streamlined for the new age TV usage, which allows users to configure rows of favorites, separate between various sections, thus, easy maneuvering and interface.

Tizen OS VS Android OS For SMART TVs

SMART TV for Better Entertainment
SMART TV for Better Entertainment

Now, keeping up with so much tech-savvy information and electronic devices can be challenging. Thus, I’m here to break it down to you once and for all. Let’s see how the Android OS and Tizen OS differ in real-time.

  • Gaming

To put it straight, if you’re a gamer with a gaming console, Tizen TV might not provide you with the highest opportunities. Even though Tizen has gaming apps, and a wide range of games to pick on the App Store, they’re pretty lightweight and rather eligible for smartphones.

If you enjoy retro throwbacks and side-scrolling styles, you’ll love these. In hindsight, Android TVs provide over a thousand console and mobile-friendly games. You can connect these to TVs, PCs, and more.

  • Firmware Upgrades

In reality, updates on both Android and Tizen TVs are similar and straightforward. You can enable the automatic update default option in both and sit back as the system updates your model overnight if it’s connected to the home network.

If you opt for manual updates, the systems will update the firmware through the USB portal.

  • Apps

The entire look and interface of both the TV’s play store are similar, with ads settling at the top and easy navigation. However, with the Tizen model, navigation is made even more user-friendly with intuitive lists, categories, and selections customized just for you.

Needless to say, installing and downloading applications are super easy, too, and practically just a click away. You can skim through the descriptions and find out more about each app before installing it. None of these are paid apps which is a big win.

However, the selection is shorter than Google Play Store. The bottom line is since Tizen is Linux-based, you can’t install any Android apps on it. Moreover, you can’t sideload extra applications either thus, your selection’s layout is relatively confined within whatever Samsung offers.

The good news is that even with the limited storage and number of apps, streamers find great joy in its usability.

  • Features

Even with its extraordinary technological advancement, the Tizen TV has a high user-friendly interface. You can hook electronics to the device within minutes of detection. Moreover, everything has automatic configurations and requires zero effort from the user.

However, rarely when it fails to detect a device, you can take guidance from the Connection Guide walk-through, which informs users on how to connect different kinds of devices with ease. Fortunately, switching inputs is the easiest on Tizen compared to Android.

Tizen comes with a built-in web browser, which Android severely lacks. Virtual assistants are abundant on Tizen TVs, starting from Alexa to even Bixby; they’re all built-in to listen to you.

Advantages Of Samsung Smart TV OS:

So, where does the comparison lead us to? Obviously, it’s time for us to know about the pros and cons of Samsung Smart TV OS. After skimming through this section, you’ll know for sure if this model is a fit for you.

  1. Features – Tizen provides endless personalized features, apps, and content for users.

With just one click, you can customize experiences that are fit and unique to each individual’s preference, enable these with plenty of customizing controls, and select from over a thousand channels in over 23 countries worldwide.

  • Technicality – It consumes lower battery power with highly optimized screen time, display, and battery life.
  • Support – Intel supports Tizen so users can be confident that they’re receiving top-tier service and can expect further improvements in the future with the Tizen’s overall benefit.
  • Interface – Samsung Tizen series, especially for the 4K edition, has magnificent screen displays. Furthermore, the interfaces are lightweight, easy to navigate thus, making the entire experience pretty tough to beat.
  • Library – Even though the choices are a tad bit limited as of now, with the addition of Intel and Samsung’s overall advancement, it’s a no-brainer that future usability advantages will rise.

Moreover, since the application supports all famous streaming platforms and a smooth smartphone cast, it’s a big win for consistent players and users.

Disadvantages Of Samsung SMART TV OS:

  1. Skill – If you’re not entirely too tech-savvy, you might need some time to familiarize yourself with the system. The application allows numerous customization. Thus, going your way around takes time, especially with low knowledge.

The ordeal is more challenging because the instructions don’t aptly describe the navigations for customization or solutions to specific issues. Thus, you’ll need time to get used to the system and its controls.

  • App Store – Tizen doesn’t come with an app store, which heavily minimizes users’ content options and usability. Some users have disliked that the Tizen isn’t as highly intuitive as the Android based on the recommendations and suggestions it displays for individual users.