By: Dipin Sehdev

In an encouraging move for the smart TV industry, Hisense has announced it will provide up to eight years of software updates for its proprietary Vidaa operating system. This bold pledge positions Hisense alongside, and in some respects ahead of, other leading TV brands such as Samsung, LG, and Sony—each of which has recently updated its OS support policies in response to growing consumer demand for longevity and security in smart TVs.

While the promise of "up to 8 years" leaves some ambiguity, it still marks a significant step forward in the industry’s approach to post-purchase software support. For consumers—who typically keep their TVs for seven to ten years—this commitment enhances value, extends usability, and aligns with the growing expectation that smart TVs should receive software maintenance much like smartphones or computers.

Setting a New Benchmark for Smart TV Longevity

Hisense’s Vidaa platform currently powers over 30 million smart TVs across more than 400 brands, including both Hisense and Toshiba-branded sets. With its latest announcement, Hisense is raising the bar for smart TV longevity by pledging continued support for security updates, app compatibility, performance improvements, and new features for nearly a decade.

"Vidaa is committed to delivering long-term value to our customers, not just through cutting-edge technology, but by ensuring their devices continue to improve over time," said Tal Bone, VP of Product at Vidaa. "This up-to-8-year Updates program reflects our dedication to delivering a smart TV experience that grows with our users' needs and fulfills our brand promise of making entertainment easy, fast, and secure."

This future-focused vision aligns with broader industry trends. LG recently committed to four major webOS updates (typically spread over five years), and Samsung raised the bar even higher with its promise of seven years of updates for its Tizen-powered smart TVs. Now Hisense, with its eight-year offer, seeks to one-up the competition.

How It Works: What Does 8 Years of Vidaa Updates Include?

According to Hisense, the Vidaa update program encompasses:

• Enhanced Security: Regular security patches that protect user data and ensure ongoing platform integrity.

• App Compatibility: Updates to maintain compatibility with major streaming services, ensuring a seamless viewing experience.

• Performance Improvements: System enhancements, UI refinements, and optimizations to keep the user experience modern and efficient.

• Long-Term Value: An extended functional lifespan for TVs, helping consumers get more mileage out of their investment.

This holistic approach ensures that Hisense TVs powered by Vidaa can remain relevant, secure, and enjoyable to use years after their initial purchase.

Which TVs Are Eligible?

While Hisense's press release champions its eight-year pledge as an industry-leading move, there are caveats. The commitment specifically applies to TVs running the Vidaa platform, which is more common in European markets and select international regions. In the United States, however, most Hisense TVs ship with platforms like Google TV, Fire TV, Roku OS, or Android TV. As of mid-2025, only 11 models listed on Hisense USA’s website feature Vidaa OS, compared to over 150 models using other platforms.

That said, Hisense's focus on the Vidaa ecosystem remains strong. The 2025 Hisense smart TV lineup will include models launching with Vidaa 8.5, and some premium sets will be upgraded to Vidaa 9.0 later this year. Vidaa 9.0 is expected to leverage the new Pentonic 800 chip for faster processing and richer content integration.

Why OS Updates Matter More Than Ever

Historically, smart TVs have lagged behind smartphones and PCs in terms of software longevity. Manufacturers typically reserved new OS versions for new hardware, often leaving existing customers with outdated features and a deteriorating app experience. This practice has been widely criticized by media outlets like FlatpanelsHD, which began lowering review scores for brands that failed to provide meaningful post-purchase support.

Thankfully, industry sentiment is shifting. Increasingly, manufacturers are realizing that maintaining a robust software ecosystem benefits both users and their own bottom line. Up-to-date platforms enable new ad formats, facilitate continued data collection (which is monetized by many platforms), and reduce customer churn.

Samsung's 7-year Tizen update policy, LG’s webOS promise, and now Hisense’s 8-year Vidaa roadmap all reflect this growing understanding.

The Competitive Landscape: How Hisense Stacks Up

Here’s how the major TV brands compare in terms of software update support:

Hisense’s 8-year pledge sets a high bar. If fulfilled, it will establish the brand as one of the most forward-thinking players in the smart TV market.

More Than Just Updates: Vidaa’s Expanding Reach

Beyond longevity, Vidaa has emerged as a compelling platform in its own right. Originally launched in 2014, Vidaa has grown into a feature-rich OS offering global and local content, smart home integration, and voice assistant support. In addition to powering Hisense TVs, the platform is licensed to over 400 brands globally, making it one of the most widely distributed smart TV OSs in the world.

The latest version, Vidaa 9.0, will introduce performance enhancements, a refreshed user interface, and expanded content offerings—including deeper integrations with local broadcasters and global streamers.

Hisense and Vidaa are also investing in AI-powered content recommendations, improved search functionality, and smoother app transitions. All of these upgrades are expected to arrive through software updates, further justifying the company’s long-term support commitment.

A Smarter Investment for Consumers

The eight-year Vidaa update policy helps redefine what consumers should expect from a smart TV. Instead of being locked into a static user experience that ages poorly, buyers can now look forward to a platform that evolves.

This long-term approach aligns with how consumers actually use TVs. According to industry data, the average TV lifecycle spans 6.9 years—nearly identical to the length of Hisense’s pledge. Given that TVs have become hubs for streaming, smart home control, and even fitness or education apps, the need for continued software support is greater than ever.

For users in Europe and other Vidaa-heavy regions, this is fantastic news. Even for consumers in the U.S., where Vidaa has a smaller presence, the announcement signals Hisense’s ambition to strengthen its proprietary platform and offer greater consistency across global markets.

Final Thoughts: Hisense Pushes the Industry Forward

Hisense’s "up to 8 years" promise is not just a marketing move—it’s a call to action for the entire smart TV industry. In an age when software defines the user experience as much as (if not more than) hardware, long-term support is no longer optional.

While there are still questions—such as which specific models will get the full update treatment and whether the same commitment will eventually expand to Hisense’s Google TV and Fire TV models—the direction is clear. Hisense is investing in a smarter, more sustainable future for smart TVs.

By challenging Samsung’s seven-year commitment and surpassing LG’s five-year roadmap, Hisense is staking its claim as a leader not just in hardware innovation, but also in long-term software value.

Consumers should take note: smart TVs are finally growing up, and brands like Hisense are making sure your investment doesn’t just look good today—it stays good for years to come.