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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Older Samsung TV models will soon gain Google Cast support.
- The feature will roll out in phases for 2026, 2025, 2024, and possibly 2023 Samsung TV models.
- The update also includes support for Samsung’s Universal Gestures feature on the Galaxy Watch.
Google may have sunsetted the Chromecast hardware, but a new firmware update for Samsung TVs will add Google Cast support for all 2026 models as well as select older models – possibly as far back as 2023.
This means that you no longer need a Galaxy smartphone with Samsung’s Smart View feature enabled to share media, giving Android users much more flexibility.
Also: Why you shouldn’t skip your TV’s firmware updates
While there had been previous rumblings that Google Cast would have native support on all new Samsung TVs in 2026, Reddit users have reported that the Tizen update v2115 has started to roll out for 2024 and 2025 models to bring them up to speed.
Which Samsung TV models will get the update?
Android Authority has reported that models from 2023 will also receive Tizen OS updates, but it’s not confirmed whether or not they will also get Google Cast support. As with any update, it may take several weeks (or even months in some cases) for the firmware to be available for all applicable Samsung TVs.
To ensure you are included in the rollout, you must either enable automatic updates or check for the latest firmware version in your Samsung TV’s menu.
The v2115 update also appears to include support for Universal Gestures via the Galaxy Watch, so users can expect additional performance changes. Just don’t expect Samsung to make a big deal out of the update itself. But for the few who can finally stream content right from their Android and Chrome-powered devices, the wait is well worth it.
What about non-Samsung TVs?
If you have a smart TV that uses the Google TV platform, you already have built-in support for sharing media from both Android and iOS devices. Google Cast is also supported by LG’s webOS, enabling media sharing without the need for Google’s now-discontinued Chromecast dongle. However, you can always pick up a new Google TV Streamer device for guaranteed integration with just about any TV make or model – even “dumb” TVs.
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