One of the big disadvantages of smart TVs is that we sometimes encounter the same problem that smartphone buyers have been facing for a long time: sometimes the manufacturer's software support stops long before the end of the device's lifespan, so you don't get the latest improvements, bugs gets fixes or app updates. So it's good to see LG promising several years of support for its 2024 webOS TVs.
The news comes as part of the launch of LG's new 2024 QNED TVs, which you can read more about here. One of the selling points is what LG is calling “webOS Re:New,” a program under which LG will offer free upgrades to its webOS smart TV platform until at least 2028. The program will also apply to some existing LG 8K TVs from 2022. but not 2023, because LG didn't launch any 8K webOS TVs this year.
Why software support is important with smart TVs
Software is one of the key ways TV companies differentiate their products from their competitors, and smart TV operating systems can be a crucial deciding factor in which TV you ultimately buy. And as we said in our guide to the best LG TVs, webOS is one of the best operating systems: “the webOS smart TV platform on LG TVs (is) fantastic, with a sleek and polished interface alongside good app support.”
The problem with software is that manufacturers are no longer interested in it. To be fair, that usually takes a long time – as we recently reported, Sony is removing Netflix app support from some TVs and Blu-Ray players, but they're pretty old – but problems can crop up long before the official end to the Software Support: As an enthusiastic early adopter of smart TVs, I have seen TVs become essentially obsolete before my eyes as manufacturers switch from one operating system to another and stop improving or updating the software on my TV. Apps become slower and less reliable, small but annoying bugs don't get fixed… you get the idea.
That means it's good to see LG making this promise: If you're always looking for the best home entertainment experience, you'll probably upgrade your TV within that five-year period anyway, so you can trust your smart TV software lasts just as long. as long as your hardware.
And if you're in the market for a new TV, this is another important issue worth checking before deciding which manufacturer best deserves your money.