Google Photos is Finally Hitting the Big Screen (And No, It’s Not on Google TV!)

Monday, 29 December 2025 at 22:08

In a move that’s as ironic as it is impressive, Samsung just announced a massive partnership with Google to bring Google Photos to its smart TVs. What makes this a "mic drop" moment for Samsung is that even Google’s own Android TV and Google TV platforms don’t have a native Photos app yet. Starting in March 2026, Samsung’s Tizen-powered AI TVs will become the first to let you browse your library without fumbling with a Chromecast or AirPlay.

Three Phases of Memories

Samsung isn't just dumping a generic app on the TV. They are weaving Google Photos directly into the operating system. The rollout is split into three distinct "chapters":

Memories (March 2026): This is the flagship feature. It’s a six-month exclusive for Samsung, curating stories based on your best trips, people, and locations.
Create with AI (Late 2026): This is where it gets high-tech. Using Google’s Nano Banana generative model, you can use themed templates to "Remix" your photos or turn still shots into short cinematic videos directly on the big screen.
Personalized Results (Late 2026): Instead of scrolling through 10,000 photos, you can tell the TV to "show me hiking trips" or "photos of Paris," and it will generate a smart slideshow on the fly.

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Deep System Integration

This isn't just an app you open and close. Samsung is integrating these photos into Daily+ and Daily Board. Imagine walking into your living room and having your TV automatically surface a high-res memory of your last vacation as a contextual wallpaper.

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It’s also hooking into Samsung’s Vision AI Companion (VAC), which helps the TV understand the content of your photos to better display them in a "cinematic" format. It’s a clever way to turn a $2,000 screen into the world’s most expensive digital photo frame.

The Catch?

The rollout starts with the 2026 AI TV lineup (specifically Crystal UHD U8000 and above). If you have an older model, you’ll have to wait for the Tizen OS update schedule to catch up. But for anyone tired of squinting at their phone to show off family photos, March 2026 can't come soon enough.