Flutter on Smart TVs: From Pioneer to Global Trend

Flutter on Smart TVs: From Pioneer to Global Trend

Flutter arrives to Smart TVs and embedded systems, revolutionizing cross-platform experiences.

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  • Flutter
  • SmartTV
  • webOS
  • CrossPlatform
  • UX
  • Embedded
  • Portfolio

Flutter on Smart TVs: From Pioneer to Global Trend

The recent adoption of Flutter by LG for its new generation of webOS marks a turning point in cross-platform development.
Flutter is no longer just mobile: it now powers interfaces in Smart TVs, appliances, and embedded systems.

Why did LG choose Flutter?

LG had been using React for its webOS apps, but faced performance issues: slow boot times, high memory consumption, and poor responsiveness on limited-resource devices.
Flutter, with its Skia rendering engine, provided a more efficient, smooth, and scalable solution.

"Flutter allowed us to improve boot performance and user experience on our webOS TVs." — LG webOS Developer Team

My experience with Flutter for Smart TVs

As a developer who has worked on multi-platform OTT, I've faced the challenges of bringing Flutter to environments like webOS, Tizen, and Android TV when documentation was scarce.
Here are some solutions I implemented:

  • Spatial navigation adapted to remote control, with visual focus and smooth transitions.
  • Modular architecture that allows sharing logic between mobile and TV.
  • Automated CI/CD for deployments on multiple platforms.
  • Performance optimization on devices with limited GPU, leveraging Skia and lazy rendering techniques.
Flutter lets you maintain a single codebase for multiple platforms, without sacrificing UX or performance.

Flutter in embedded systems and appliances

Beyond Smart TVs, Flutter is being adopted in industrial embedded systems, such as HMI panels from Toyota and BMW.
Thanks to its layered architecture and Dart's portability, it's possible to create custom embedders for specific hardware.

Emerging use cases:

  • Interfaces for refrigerators, washing machines, and smart ovens.
  • Industrial dashboards with real-time visualization.
  • Control systems in automotive and home automation.

A universal framework for modern interfaces

Flutter offers a consistent experience on:

  • Mobile (iOS, Android)
  • Web
  • Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • Smart TVs (webOS, Tizen, Android TV)
  • Embedded (RISC-V, ARM, HMI)

This makes it an ideal choice for connected products, where visual and functional consistency is key.

Conclusion

LG's bet on Flutter validates what many developers had already been exploring.
Flutter is more than a mobile framework. It's a universal platform for building modern, fluid, and scalable experiences.

As a pioneer in Flutter for Smart TVs, I'm glad to see this technology consolidating in the market and opening new opportunities for technical teams, designers, and companies.

Interested in applying Flutter in your company, project, or team?
Let's talk! Contact me to send me your inquiry directly.
Or if you prefer, discover my full portfolio here.