Everything You Wanted to Know about Samsung’s Tizen OS

When it comes to smart TV operating systems, Samsung‘s Tizen OS is one of the biggest players in the market. Developed and maintained by Samsung, Tizen powers millions of Samsung smart TVs, phones, watches and more.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything you need to know about Tizen – from its history and architecture to its key features, compatible devices, and how it compares to competitors like LG‘s webOS and Android TV.

What is Tizen?

Tizen is an open-source operating system based on Linux and Web technologies. It was launched in 2012 as a successor to Samsung‘s previous OS attempts like Bada and MeeGo.

Some key facts about Tizen:

Developed by the Tizen Association with Samsung as the primary contributor. Other members include Huawei and Intel.
Uses a modular architecture that allows adapting it for various device categories like phones, TVs, wearables, printers etc.
Supports Web APIs and HTML5 for app development along with native code development via C and C++.
Offers robust security through sandboxing, app vetting and real-time monitoring for malware.
Provides support for advanced media codecs and DRM standards.

So in summary, Tizen is Samsung‘s homegrown operating system across its devices focused on security, performance and media capabilities. Next, let‘s look at the history of how Tizen came into being.

A Brief History of Tizen OS

Tizen has its roots in Nokia‘s Maemo platform that later merged with Intel‘s Moblin to form MeeGo in 2010. After Nokia abandoned MeeGo to focus on Windows Phone, Samsung took over MeeGo and transformed it into Tizen.

Here are some key milestones in Tizen‘s history:

September 2011 – Samsung and Intel launch the Tizen project based on MeeGo.
January 2012 – Tizen 1.0 released and previewed across multiple devices.
May 2013 – Samsung confirms it will release Tizen phones later that year.
February 2014 – First Tizen phone, Samsung Z, unveiled at MWC 2014. But its release is delayed.
August 2014 – Samsung launches the Gear S smartwatch, its first Tizen wearable device.
January 2015 – Samsung Z1 phone finally launched in India, the first commercial Tizen phone.
2017 – Samsung merges its smartwatch OS with Tizen. All Samsung wearables now run Tizen.
2021 – Samsung announces partnership with Google to bring Tizen features to Wear OS in new Galaxy Watch 4 series.

So while Tizen struggled to make headway in the smartphone space against Android, it found success in other segments like smart TVs and wearables. Today it powers Samsung‘s entire portfolio of smart TVs and wearables.

What Devices Run Tizen OS?

Thanks to its flexible architecture, Tizen supports a variety of device categories:

Smart TVs – All Samsung smart TVs since 2013 run on Tizen giving it a strong presence in living rooms.
Wearables – Samsung‘s Gear watches and fitness bands have all transitioned from proprietary OS to Tizen since 2017.
Smartphones – Early attempts with phones like Samsung Z did not take off. No Tizen phones since 2017.
Smart home devices – Select appliances like Samsung refrigerators and washing machines use Tizen for smart features.
In-vehicle infotainment – Tizen IDE allows development of IVI systems for connected cars. Audi, Jaguar and Renault have used Tizen based IVI.
AR/VR – Samsung VR headsets use a custom version of Tizen as their operating system.

So Tizen has seen most adoption in Samsung‘s television and wearable product lines. Efforts to make it a third major smartphone platform behind Android and iOS were not successful.

Notable Devices Still Running Tizen

Although Tizen has been discontinued in smartphones and smartwatches, it continues to power a wide range of Samsung devices primarily in the TV and appliance space:

Samsung Smart TVs

All of Samsung‘s smart TV lineups from premium QLED 4K TVs to affordable HD models run on the latest version of Tizen OS. This gives Samsung a unified software platform across 130 million+ Tizen TVs sold to date.

Older Samsung Smartwatches

Samsung‘s smartwatches launched before 2018 like the Gear S3, Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro run on Tizen OS. These devices are still supported by Samsung with software updates.

Samsung Family Hub Refrigerators

The smart refrigerators from Samsung‘s Family Hub series use Tizen as their operating system powering the touchscreen and smart features.

Samsung Smart Cameras

Samsung‘s lineup of smart security cameras including the SmartCam, SmartCam HD and SmartCam HD Plus are powered by Tizen OS.

Samsung ARTIK Modules

ARTIK is a series of tiny system-on-modules from Samsung designed for IoT products. A few ARTIK modules meant for enterprise and industrial uses run on Tizen.

So Tizen continues to support Samsung‘s vision of an integrated ecosystem across its consumer electronics lineup ranging from TVs and appliances to cameras and IoT products.

How Tizen Played a Role in Wear OS

Samsung and Google recently joined hands to combine the best of Tizen and Wear OS in the new Wear OS 3 platform launching on the Galaxy Watch 4 series.

Here are some key contributions of Tizen to the new unified Wear OS:

Performance optimizations – Wear OS 3 brings the fluid UI, smooth animations and seamless multitasking of Tizen to Google‘s wearable platform.
Battery life – Tizen‘s power efficiency enhances battery life on Wear OS watches by providing over 24 hours of use per charge.
Health sensors – Advanced health and fitness tracking sensors like ECG and BIA for body composition analysis come from Tizen via Samsung.
Bixby integration – Samsung‘s voice assistant Bixby gets tightly integrated along with Google Assistant in Wear OS 3.
New UI – Tizen‘s One UI design language brings new watchfaces, intuituve menus and streamlined notifications.

So Tizen lives on as part of Wear OS 3 powering Samsung‘s Galaxy Watch lineup. Its technical contributions help elevate Wear OS as a formidable smartwatch platform against watchOS from Apple.

Tizen OS Features For Smart TVs

Having covered Tizen‘s history and devices, let‘s look at some of the standout software features that make it a robust smart TV platform:

Intuitive User Interface

The Tizen UI focuses on simplicity by organizing all content and apps in an easy to access strip. The home screen shows current programs, apps, settings and connected devices upfront without having to launch any app.

Universal Guide

The Universal Guide acts as a personalized program guide providing live TV schedule and recommendations tailored to your viewing habits across various channels and apps.

Smart Hub

This is the gateway to all of Tizen‘s features. It allows browsing live TV, recorded programs, apps, games, on-demand videos and more from one place without switching between inputs.

One Remote Control

Tizen lets you control compatible connected devices like soundbars, Blu-ray players and game consoles using just the Samsung TV remote. No programming of universal remotes needed.

SmartThings Integration

With SmartThings support, you can link your Tizen TV with smart home devices like lights, thermostats, cameras etc. and control them right from the TV screen.

Multi-Voice assistant support

Tizen TVs work with a choice of voice assistants – Bixby, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can pick one or use all three to operate the TV hands-free.

Smart View Screen Mirroring

Wirelessly mirror your smartphone or tablet‘s display on the Tizen TV. Useful to view photos/videos from your mobile device on the big screen.

Universal Search

Quickly find content like movies, shows, YouTube videos and music across installed apps and live channels with a single search instead of individual searches within each app.

Gaming Features

Tizen supports screen mirroring from your PC to play games in full HD or 4K resolution on your TV. You can even connect Bluetooth gaming controllers directly to the TV.

So Tizen delivers a potent mix of intuitive controls, smart home integration, voice assistance, screen mirroring and content discovery features for an excellent smart TV experience.

How Does Tizen OS Compare to Other Smart TV Platforms?

Let‘s see how Tizen fares against the two other major smart TV operating systems from LG and Google:

Tizen vs webOS

Both have very intuitive UIs that put curated content front and center without launching apps.
Tizen has more voice assistant options with Bixby, Alexa and Google. webOS only supports Alexa natively.
webOS provides live TV previews when channel surfing. But Tizen has better smart home control features through SmartThings.
For gaming, Tizen has native controller support and screen mirroring. webOS relies on cloud gaming services only.
Both support all popular streaming apps and services. webOS gets new apps slightly faster than Tizen.

Tizen vs Android TV

Android TV offers the largest app ecosystem being part of the Google Play Store. But its UI is not as refined as Tizen‘s.
Tizen has better integration of live TV/channel guide data compared to Android TV‘s fragmented approach.
Android TV supports Chromecast for easy screen mirroring. Tizen needs either Smart View app or Wi-Fi Direct.
Gaming on Nvidia Shield TV with Android TV is far better than any Tizen television. But Shield costs 3-4X more.
Tizen provides tighter integration with SmartThings and Bixby compared to Android TV‘s looser integration of Google services.

So Tizen holds its own against webOS and Android TV when it comes to critical functions like intuitive UI, voice controls, gaming and smart home integration. But Android TV offers the most expansive app ecosystem for those wanting maximum choice.

Best Tizen Smart TVs in 2025

Here are the top three Tizen smart TV models across various price points that provide the best features and performance:

Samsung Q80B QLED 4K Smart TV

With its brilliant picture quality powered by the Quantum Processor 4K and Quantum HDR 24X, the Q80B delivers cinematic visuals. For gaming, it has four HDMI 2.1 ports, low input lag and AMD Freesync Premium Pro support. All of this is backed by Tizen‘s excellent smart TV features and app support.

Screen sizes: 55", 65", 75", 85"

Price: $$1,099 and up

Samsung TU690T Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV

For budget shoppers, the TU690T offers solid 4K picture quality along with HDR, 60Hz refresh rate and Motion Xcelerator. The Crystal Processor 4K delivers an immersive viewing experience. As with all Tizen TVs, you get a huge library of apps and smart features.

Screen sizes: 43", 50", 55", 65", 75"

Price: $379 and up

Samsung The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV

This is for buyers wanting a television that doubles up as a beautiful art frame on the wall. The Frame blends its QLED display seamlessly into any living space. When not being used as a TV, it showcases high-res artworks, photos or your personal pictures.

Screen sizes: 32", 43", 50", 55", 65", 75", 85"

Price: $599 and up

So whether you want the best premium flagship experience, an affordable smart 4K TV or a novel aesthetic, Samsung and Tizen deliver excellent options catering to all needs and budgets.

Conclusion

As Samsung‘s homegrown operating system, Tizen powers millions of the brand‘s smart televisions, wearables and appliances. It offers a host of innovations from integrated voice control and smart home connectivity to an intuitive content-first user experience.

While Tizen could not displace Android in smartphones, its dominance in televisions continues going from strength to strength. And with its technical contributions to the new unified Wear OS platform, Tizen‘s legacy will endure via Samsung‘s market-leading smartwatches.

For consumers buying Samsung devices across categories, Tizen enables a connected, cohesive ecosystem augmenting their digital lifestyle. With its versatile modular architecture continuously evolving via open-source development, Tizen is geared to remain a key pillar of Samsung‘s vision for the future.