Plex is rewriting its mobile and TV apps from the ground up. The new apps, launching in early 2025, feature a full-redesigned interface and a unified codebase.
We’re still waiting to see the redesigned Plex smart TV app. However, the new mobile app is available in Preview today. It places a stronger emphasis on artwork, and its design language more closely aligns to that of Plex companion apps like Dash and Photos, at least as far as buttons and other navigational elements are concerned. The new app also tidies up user profiles and other new-ish features that felt “tacked on” in the original Plex mobile app.
App redesigns are always somewhat controversial. However, the Plex team is keen to note that “this overhaul is more than a facelift.” Instead of using separate codebases for its mobile and TV apps, Plex is writing a unified codebase from the ground up. This should streamline development and ensure that all Plex users receive new features on most platforms simultaneously.
And, from what I’ve seen, the redesign itself is pretty solid. One of my biggest complaints about the old Plex mobile app is that self-hosted Movies and TV Shows categories are difficult to navigate—I always have to show people how to hit the “Library” tab that’s hidden at the bottom of the screen. The new app places useful filters and tabs at the top of the screen, it makes these filter buttons larger, and it changes the “Library” tab to “Browse,” which is probably what it should’ve been called from the start.
I’m also happy to see that the Plex mobile app is implementing a bottom navigation bar with dedicated tabs for self-hosted, Live TV, and ad-supported content, which seems a lot more intuitive than the old app’s breakout menu. Plus, you can finally navigate Live TV channels without minimizing whatever channel you’re currently watching.
The redesigned Plex mobile and TV apps will arrive in early 2025. That said, mobile users can begin testing the app in Previewtoday. This initial release lacks some important functionality, including playlists, though it will be updated each week. You may continue using the old Plex app while testing the separate, redesigned app. I should also point out that, due to App Store rules, only a select number of iOS users may sign up for the Preview.
Source: Plex
