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Key Facts

  • Google Photos will be available on TVs starting in 2026.
  • The Google Photos Memories feature will be exclusive to Samsung for six months.
  • There is currently no native TV app for Google Photos, even on Google TV.
  • Samsung announced the integration will bring photos from phones to TVs in a 'larger, cinematic format.'

Quick Summary

Google Photos is scheduled to become available on televisions starting in 2026, with Samsung TVs receiving the integration first. Samsung announced that the planned update will 'seamlessly bring the photos people capture on their phones to Samsung TVs,' allowing them to be viewed in a larger format.

The Google Photos Memories feature will be exclusive to Samsung for six months. Currently, there is no native TV app for Google Photos, even on the Google TV platform. Samsung's announcement did not specify if the new integration will launch as a dedicated app, but the company aims to make Google Photos 'deeply woven into the TV experience.'

Samsung and Google Photos Partnership

Google Photos is finally making its way to television screens next year. The integration will begin with an upcoming update for Samsung TVs, marking a significant expansion for the photo storage service into the living room.

Samsung announced the collaboration with the goal of enhancing how users view their digital memories. The company stated that the integration will 'seamlessly bring the photos people capture on their phones to Samsung TVs.' This functionality is designed to display images in a 'larger, cinematic format,' transforming the television into a digital photo frame.

Samsung expressed a desire for the service to be 'deeply woven into the TV experience.' This suggests a tight integration rather than a simple port of a mobile interface.

"seamlessly bring the photos people capture on their phones to Samsung TVs, where they can appear in a larger, cinematic format"

— Samsung Announcement

Exclusive Access and Features 📸

The rollout includes a period of exclusivity for specific features. The Google Photos Memories feature will be exclusive to Samsung for six months.

This exclusivity period gives Samsung users early access to the automated curation tools that Google Photos provides. The feature typically highlights past events and trips, creating dynamic slideshows for users.

Current State of TV Apps

The arrival of Google Photos on Samsung TVs fills a notable gap in the market. Currently, there is no native TV app for Google Photos available to consumers.

This absence extends even to the company's own Google TV platform. Users have previously been unable to access their photo libraries directly through their televisions without using workarounds or casting methods.

Despite the announcement, Samsung has not specified exactly how the integration will function. It remains unclear if this will launch as a dedicated app or a different type of system-level integration.

Timeline and Availability

The integration is targeted for release next year. While an exact launch date has not been provided, the announcement confirms that 2026 will be the year for this expansion.

The partnership highlights a continued trend of tech giants collaborating to improve interoperability between devices. By bringing the service to TVs, Google Photos aims to capture a wider audience who prefer viewing media on larger screens.

"deeply woven into the TV experience"

— Samsung Announcement