LG webOS is coming to more TV brands — why that’s a big deal

LG webOS is coming to more Television receiver brands — why that's a big deal

(Image credit: LG)

LG webOS will be on more TVs than ever this twelvemonth. LG's exclusive smart TV software won't be limited to LG TVs going forward, as the company has announced that the webOS platform and app ecosystem is going to be licensed to a number of brand partners.

LG is opening upwards it's proprietary webOS smart TV operating organisation for use on other brands, according to a company press release. The motion positions LG to compete with Google and Roku equally a platform for third-party manufacturers, specially on budget smart TVs.

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In the declaration, Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Habitation Amusement Company, said "By welcoming other manufacturers to join the webOS Tv ecosystem, we are embarking on a new path that allows many new TV owners to feel the same great UX and features that are available on LG TVs. Nosotros look frontward to bringing these new customers into the incredible world of webOS TV."

We've previously looked at webOS on LG TVs, as seen in our LG CX OLED review, and praised it, saying that LG "may have the best proprietary program on the marketplace." We especially liked its on-screen cursor for motility control, too as a flexible system of tabs and easy-to-follow graphics. You tin also learn more than about LG's smart Television receiver software in our guide to LG Idiot box settings and features.

Unlike the nonetheless-proprietary Samsung Tizen or Vizio SmartCast, which are just found on TVs from its respective manufacturers, LG will be partnering with manufacturers similar RCA, Polaroid and Konka, making webOS a more common sight in the upkeep Tv department of your local Best Buy or Walmart.

According to LG'southward announcement, these partners volition exist able to use the webOS interface along with what LG calls "a rich pool of features such as voice search and control, integrated AI algorithms and easy connectivity." LG currently offers voice search that can use either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, and that dual-service functionality might get fifty-fifty more common every bit webOS filters onto TVs from other brands. The move besides paves the way for 3rd-political party Boob tube brands to adopt LG's Magic Motion remote control.

LG CX OLED review — (Epitome credit: LG)

The shift toward licensing positions LG to compete against brand-agnostic streaming platforms from Google and Roku. Roku, in item, has emerged as a leading smart TV platform cheers to its prevalence in the budget TV infinite, spearheaded by brands similar TCL.

There are several reasons for LG to make this motility, chief amongst them being coin. 3rd-party Tv set brands that desire to apply webOS will be paying LG to license the software, and it lets LG increment the visibility of its make in the TV category without having to dilute the more premium image held by LG OLED.

The webOS platform is also an LG-owned pipeline for advertizement and viewer analytics. And increasing the number of TVs on the market with LG'due south software on it volition probably be a lucrative move for the visitor, one that comes without the need to design and industry more of its own devices.

But having webOS in more TVs will also be a good thing for TV shoppers. Information technology makes it more likely that the apps and services offered through the LG content store will grow. LG currently boasts apps and content from Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and sports streaming service DAZN, simply it'south missing others, both paid apps like HBO Max and the Benchmark Channel equally well as free streaming services like Tubi Television set. Equally more than people tune in to webOS TVs, nosotros'd expect to come across more back up for new apps.

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Brian Westover is an Editor at Tom'southward Guide, covering everything from TVs to the latest PCs. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he wrote for TopTenReviews and PCMag.