Streaming services are getting to the point where they are just as expensive (if not more) than a cable subscription.so I asked myself: what’s the point? I deleted most of my streamers In favor of Jellyfin serverand i love it. I’m not a big fan of the live TV options on Jellyfin, so I started looking for other options. That’s where the Samsung TV Plus comes in, and it’s become my go-to choice for watching “live” TV.
The app comes pre-installed on most Samsung TVs as of 2016, but it’s only available to Samsung TV users. If you have a different brand, you’re out of luck.
Samsung TV Plus does not require installation
No account, no credit card
Even the simplest services require an account these days. The fact that the Samsung TV Plus works out of the box is part of what drew me to it. To access content, I need to create an account, remember login information, or provide my credit card number. After opening the service, it works like a traditional TV. I can change channels using the buttons on the remote, or go to the built-in guide to see what’s currently playing and go straight to it.
However, it has one requirement: an internet connection. Of course, if you use it smart tvyou probably already connected it to Wi-Fi. You can also create a Samsung account to access certain features, such as saving your favorite channels or hiding specific channels from your guide. This may come in handy if you want more advanced customization, but it’s by no means necessary.
There are hundreds of channels to choose from
Over 700 in the US alone and thousands globally
Samsung TV Plus has a ridiculous number of channels. Flipping through the channel guide takes quite a bit of time because of how many options there are, although most of them aren’t to my taste. Many of the channels are more like collections of YouTube videos that you can access by simply logging into YouTube, but they are programmed to play at specific times. It’s great for keeping something open for background noise (as long as you have the bandwidth to stream content like this), and there’s plenty to choose from.
Samsung TV Plus is divided into many different categories including News & Opinion, Movies, Action & Drama and more. Along with music channels, there are also many kid-friendly programs. If you’re looking for some nostalgic programming, any old souls out there can kick back and watch Westerns and Classic TV.
The downside? It’s painfully slow
Fast and responsive software this is not
The Samsung TV Plus is many things, but fast and responsive isn’t one of them. Maybe it’s my TV, but I have a 2022 model. It’s not old by any means, and my connection is solid – but despite these factors, I still waited several seconds per login for a response. Changing channels isn’t too bad, but the channel guide felt like wading through molasses and everything about the settings was an exercise in patience.
I noticed a few crashes when changing settings, especially when editing the channel guide. It’s not the most intuitive experience, and the on-screen diagram of how to use the remote was imprecise. It took a few Google searches and a deep dive into the Samsung subreddit before I found the answers I was looking for.
But the lack of subscription costs is worth it
I save a small fortune
There are a few streaming services I still use, but the biggest offenders (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) have been canceled. When there’s something I really want to see that’s specific to a service, I’ll get a monthly sub, but for daily browsing or just general fun while I’m doing other things? Samsung TV Plus is a great option. There’s a really impressive amount of free content out there, and it’s led me to discover things I never would have watched otherwise.
To be honest, most of what I watch are gaming related channels, but I have recently renewed my interest in gardening and find myself watching quite a bit of content on the subject. Some of the movie channels were great, giving me the chance to catch a few classics that I always wanted to see but never got around to (Point Break included).
Entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive
There’s a misconception that free TV services don’t have good ratings, but that’s simply not true. Samsung TV Plus has become a daily fixture in my home, and I’m disappointed I didn’t discover it until now. It offers more entertainment than just watching Friends again, and I’m not paying for that HBO Max either.
