LG is changing its strategy regarding webOS updates and postponing software upgrades for older TV models for a full year as the official release of the 2024 TV lineup approaches

FlatpanelsHD, who attended the event in Frankfurt, Germany, discovered that LG has been working on the so-called "webOS reNew program," which will update the webOS platform for older models on a five-year cycle

Currently, LG is working on a new webOS platform for older models

Now LG has reversed course and is delaying software updates for TV models beyond 2023 by one year This means that newer models like the LG G4 OLED and LG C4 OLED will be the only TVs using the more advanced webOS 24 software until 2025

The more advanced webOS 24 upgrade will invite new features for LG TVs in 2022 and 2023, including Chromecast support and a much more streamlined interface, a very disappointing change for consumers

After announcing the price of the C4 OLED and G4 OLED TVs, LG will hold the upgraded, more advanced webOS platform hostage to the new models for a full year, meaning that TVs purchased in 2023 with WebOS 23 will only be upgraded to WebOS 24 in 2025 In other words, TVs purchased in 2023 with WebOS 23 will not receive the WebOS 24 upgrade until 2025

Television manufacturers claim that this is to continually improve the stability of older hardware, as WebOS 24 can cause various problems with 2022 and 2023 TVs

This may be a bit frustrating for consumers who were looking forward to upgrades like Chromecast support and an improved UI; LG's webOS 24 will undoubtedly bring exciting changes, but LG is not going to be able to update its software updates by delaying it, they may be trying to lure new users to these models

Tom's Guide has reached out to LG representatives for comment We will update this page as soon as we hear back from them regarding these webOS changes

LG announced its webOS Re:New program in early January, citing in a press release that it is "investing heavily in the webOS business" and will "continue to evolve through significant upgrades" The program promises up to five years of OS updates for older LG TV models, keeping them fresh and refreshed despite their current release

As far as we know, LG will still keep its promise and continue to support TVs for five years of software updates The only catch is that they will be at least a year behind the latest version of WebOS

On a brighter note, two upgrades have been witnessed in the past few months of 2024 In February of this year, LG offered early access to WebOS 23 for TVs released in 2022; in January, LG's OLED TVs from the same year were also updated with an improved UX, including quick card UI features and improved security

A little put off by LG's new software strategy? You can upgrade to the best Google TVs like the Hisense U8K mini LED TVs or the affordable Roku TVs like the Roku Plus series QLEDs