Last week, Hulu started updating its TV apps with a redesigned interface that changes how users navigate through the app. In the previous version, buttons for search, Home, TV, Movies, News, My Stuff, and Hubs were placed across the top of the screen. However, in the new design, these navigational buttons are now located on the left side of the screen.
The old Hulu UI stood out in a negative way, with its categories at the top of the screen making it seem like users had to scroll back through everything they had already looked through to find something new to watch. But the new design makes it easier to navigate: users can simply scroll to the left (or press the back button) and the menu will pop up. This redesign makes the Hulu app look more like other streaming apps such as HBO Max, Netflix, YouTube, and Disney Plus.
The new interface will be rolling out over the next few weeks to smart TVs like Android TV, LG smart TVs, Samsung smart TVs, and Vizio SmartCast TVs, as well as streaming boxes like Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast. The redesign is expected to improve the user experience by eliminating the need to re-learn how to navigate the app after switching from another streaming service.