Samsung TVs will lose two Google apps used by millions next month, is YOURS affected?

It’s unclear what’s behind the Google exodus. An update to the FAQ page on the Samsung website hinted that the removal was due to a “change in Google’s policy.” However, it’s unclear which policy has triggered this newfound incompatibility.

Samsung started to ship Smart TVs with Google Assistant built-in back in 2020. Two years later, Google Meet made its debut on the South Korean brand’s televisions. It was retroactively added to all TV models released in 2021 and 2022 via a software update.

External monitors powered by Samsung’s Tizen software, like the M8 Smart Monitor, also added support for Google Meet at the same time.

Since Samsung doesn’t include a front-facing camera in its Smart TVs, you’ll need to connect a USB webcam to the TV and connect to a wired or wireless internet connection to make use of Google Meet. After that, you’ll be able to make and receive video calls from contacts saved to your Google account, just like you would on a smartphone or tablet.

Google and Samsung both still have pages on their websites advertising the feature. We haven’t had official confirmation from either brand about the decision to pull Google Assistant or Google Meet.

One possible explanation proposed by Samsung-focused blog SamMobile, the loss of these popular Google services ―used by millions of people across all platforms worldwide ― could signal a decision within Google to focus its resources on its own Google TV and Android TV platforms.

This software is used by a number of television manufacturers, including Sony, TCL, Hisense, and Philips’ Ambilight range. It supports both Google Meet and Google Assistant.

Making video calls from the comfort of your sofa is something that several companies have tried to accommodate in recent years. Apple TV added support for FaceTime in September last year, allowing users to take their calls on the big screen.

Amazon’s Fire TV Cube also supports calls via Zoom if you’ve connected an external webcam and Sky Glass ― the all-in-one television from the satellite broadcaster ― has a dedicated camera accessory that lets you watch with friends from anywhere in the UK.

Unsure if you’ll be impacted by the change to Samsung TVs coming in March? The complete list of Samsung Smart TVs that will reportedly lose access to Google Meet and Google Assistant are as follows...

• All Samsung Smart TVs released in 2021 and newer
• All Samsung 4K and 8K QLED TVs released in 2020 and newer
• All Samsung Lifestyle TVs (The Frame, Serif, Terrace, Sero) released in 2020 and newer

Many of these models support other smart features, including Samsung’s chatty AI helper Bixby and Amazon’s Alexa. Both of these alternatives will be available to perform many of the same tasks, including answering questions about the latest forecast, controlling nearby smart home devices, setting timers and reminders, and more.