Netflix is currently testing a significant redesign of its TV app’s homepage, aiming to streamline navigation and improve the overall viewing experience. This update transforms the traditional static tiles used for displaying shows and movies into dynamic boxes that expand to reveal more information when selected.
Unlike the current design, which plays a title’s trailer and shows details at the top of the interface, the new layout keeps all essential information readily accessible within the expanded tile. This includes the synopsis, release year, episode count, and genre. Suppose users hover over a selection long enough. In that case, Netflix will automatically play a brief preview within the tile itself, making it easier to decide what to watch without navigating away from the page.
In addition to the tile changes, Netflix is simplifying its navigation menu. The overhaul removes the old sidebar menu and introduces a more concise top-screen menu that features search, home, shows, movies, and My Netflix options. This new menu structure is designed to be more intuitive, allowing users to quickly switch categories without needing to scroll back to the top of the screen. Instead, they can simply hit the back button on their remote to access these options.
The new design also integrates the “My Netflix” tab, first introduced in the mobile app. This tab provides personalized recommendations and quick links to recently watched or saved content. Although “Categories,” “New & Popular,” and “My List” have been removed from the main menu, users can still find these options under the search tab.
According to Netflix, this redesign is an initial attempt to create a more engaging and efficient TV browsing experience. The company is set to roll out this new design to a select group of subscribers on smart TVs and streaming devices initially. Depending on the feedback and performance of this test phase, Netflix plans to extend the updated interface to a broader audience in the upcoming months.
