Plex Overhauls User Experience with New Mobile and TV App Updates

Plex, a popular platform known for its diverse blend of media offerings, is introducing a significant overhaul to its user experience. The company’s new «reimagined Plex experience» will initially be available on mobile platforms, with a rollout to TV platforms expected «very soon,» according to a company announcement.

The development of this updated experience has spanned nearly two years and is intended to provide a seamless interface that integrates personal media collections with Plex’s streaming and on-demand content. Despite the app’s redesign, the existing version will remain accessible during the preview period. The new version aims to close feature gaps over time.

One of the major changes in the new app is the redesign of its navigation system. The app now distinctly separates media stored on personal Plex servers from Plex’s streaming and on-demand services. The navigation includes dedicated tabs for personal media libraries, live TV, and on-demand movies and shows. The «Watchlist» feature, which allows users to compile a list of content to view later, is prominently displayed at the top of the app. Additionally, artwork is given more prominence in the new layout.

Plex also announced that it has rewritten its applications and unified its codebase to promote consistency across platforms. This transition will enable timely feature updates and improvements across most platforms. «With this new unified approach, our team can collaborate across platforms seamlessly,» Plex stated in a company blog post.

Currently, some features such as playlists, casting, and the «watch together» function are not available in the preview version. Nevertheless, the company plans to release weekly updates ahead of the full launch of the new apps in early 2025.

The readership of this announcement is large, with Plex boasting more than 25 million global users accessing over 50,000 on-demand titles and more than 600 live TV channels. The company has carved a niche for users who prefer maintaining personal media libraries alongside leveraging the live TV and on-demand services featured by Plex.

Plex highlighted in its blog that it has centralized media libraries onto a dedicated tab. This allows users to favorite specific libraries, enhancing personalization and easy access to power-user features. The ease of use and media exploration are core objectives in this update, moving away from older, more complex navigation systems.